Individualism in Nathaniel Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter...

Individualism in Nathaniel Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter Often in society people are criticized, punished and despised for their individual choices and flaws. In the novel, The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, the author uses Hester Prynne to symbolize that those who challenge social conformities can benefit society as a whole. Though she has been banished for committing adultery, she sees that the community needs her. Through her generous accomplishments the community realizes she is a person who, regardless of her sin, can affect the community in a positive way. The new Puritan society wanted to punish Hester Prynne horribly so that she would set an example of the consequences the others would receive if they committed a†¦show more content†¦This closed mindedness could only see hatred for Hester Prynne and the need to identify her with the letter A. This way everyone would look at her rather than one another. The society was still not satisfied with this punishment and chose to pass their negativity on to their offspring. Thus the young and pure would be taught to look at her, with the scarlet letter flaming on her breastÂ…as the figure, the body, the reality of sin (83). The mothers of the children in the community would point her out and tell their children not to be like her. They would use her as an example of the consequences of being an individual and going against societys rules. Children too young to comprehend wherefore this women so be shut out from the sphere of human charitiesÂ… coming forth along the pathway that lead town ward; and, discerning the scarlet letter on her breast, would scamper off with a strange, contagious fear (85). The fact that the community went to so much trouble to never let her forget what she had done, and the fact that she accepts societies condemnation, says she does not run away from her problems. As much as the community tries to totally ost racize her from everything, both physically and mentally she still sticks with it and that shows how she willingly accepts the consequences of her past decisions. Hester is forced to live apart from the townspeople, but society begins to learnShow MoreRelatedThe Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne1397 Words   |  6 PagesJohn Graves Professor Connie Caskey English 251: American Literature I 8 February 2016 The Scarlet Letter was written by Nathaniel Hawthorne in 1850 which is based on the time frame of the Puritans, a religious group who arrived in Massachusetts in the 1630’s. The Puritans were in a religious period that was known for the strict social norms in which lead to the intolerance of different lifestyles. Nathaniel Hawthorne uses the puritan’s strict lifestyles to relate to the universal issues among usRead MoreSins inThe Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne Essay1517 Words   |  7 Pagesworst, yet some trait whereby the worst may be inferred† (Hawthorne). As this sentence is read in the The Scarlet Letter, the reader will realize that the main theme of the book is the sentence above. Throughout the book, secret sin damages the lives, soul, and the integrity of the main characters. However, it could have easily been evaded through open confession of their sins. Nathaniel Hawthorne’s purpose in writing this novel is an attempt to influence the re ader to openly confess their sins and neverRead MoreNathaniel Hawthornes The Scarlett Letter Essay1269 Words   |  6 Pagescreator. Through the portrayal of The Scarlet Letter’s Pearl, Nathaniel Hawthorne argues for the importance of individuality, the supremacy of nature over civilization, and the wisdom of children. Together, these transcendentalist principles function together to make Pearl a fitting representation of Hawthorne’s themes and ideologies. Pearl’s individuality, symbolized in dress and epitomized by behavior, opposes Puritan conformity and thus supports Hawthorne’s transcendentalist ideals. One ofRead MoreA Romantic View Of Hester Prynne Essay1316 Words   |  6 PagesCollegio Ms. Slevin and Mr. Arthur Final Draft A Romantic View of Hester Prynne Individualism, emotion and the purity and simplicity of nature are at the foundation of American Romanticism. Essays such as Thoreau’s Walden and Emerson’s â€Å"Self-Reliance† call on humans to look inward and avoid conformity in order to find meaning and purpose in life. Nathaniel Hawthorne is also sympathetic to these ideals, but in The Scarlet Letter, he conveys them in the format of a novel where one of his main charactersRead MoreThe Scarlet Letter, By Nathaniel Hawthorne Essay1389 Words   |  6 PagesNathaniel Hawthorne’s fictional work, The Scarlet Letter, is significantly influenced by his experience with transcendental beliefs and values. Transcendentalists believe they are at their best when they are self-reliant and independent. His wife, Sophia Peabody, practiced transcendentalism, but he spent a year living and working at Brook Farm in Massachusetts, which was a transcendental community. Influenced by Sophia’s interest in the transce ndentalist movement, Hawthorne invested money in an experimentalRead MoreNathaniel Hawthorne s The Scarlet Letter864 Words   |  4 PagesIn Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, he thoroughly exposes the social depths of the Puritan society. As a Romanticist, his values and ideals go in line with nature and individualism, which is lucidly seen by the way he writes of the so called pious who contradict this and rather emphasize conformity. To further depict the hypocrisy within the Puritan community, the use of rhetorical devices is evident as Hawthorne utilized the character of Pearl to epitomize the beauty of yielding societalRead MoreRomanticism s Impact On America Essay1374 Words   |  6 Pagesbetween the years 1800 and 1860, left a significant impact on not only the literature of that time, but the literature of today as well. Prior to romantic writings, the world focused on society and logic. Romanticism allowed people to start valuing individualism and to appeal to emotional responses. This new way of thinking brought new literary styles, themes, and genres that were never explored before and are still found today. The literature of Romanticism allowed people to escape the harshness of realityRead MoreRomanticism s Impact On America Essay1376 Words   |  6 Pagesbetween the years 1800 and 1860, left a significant impact on not only the literature of that time, but the literature of today as well. Prior to romantic writings, the world focused on society and logic. Romanticism allowed people to start valuing individualism and to appeal to emotional responses. This new way of thinking brought new literary styles, themes, and genres that were never explored before and are still found today. The literature of Romanticism allowed people to escape the harshness of realityRead MoreWhat Is the Moral of the Scarlet Letter Essay1116 Words   |  5 Pages The scarlet letter is a text written by Nathaniel Hawthorne in 1850 a fictional work which tells about the history of England during the puritan age and the story of women named Hester Prynne. The author feels this text as a romantic work because the text includes about love and the adulteress. The text involves facts and fiction of the author such as the â€Å"Custom-House is a fact and real, while the author was working as a surveyor in the Salem custom house inRead MoreThe New American Literature : The Period Of Romanticism Essay1265 Words   |  6 Pagesbetween the years 1800 and 1860, left a significant impact on not only the literature of that time, but the literature of today as well. Prior to romantic writings, the world focused on society and logic. Romanticism allowed people to start valuing individualism and to appeal to emotional responses. This new way of thinking brought new literary styles, themes, and genres that were never explored before and are still found today. The literature of Romanticism allowed people to escape th e harshness of reality