Literature Analysis #1 (2.0?)

1.       The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne is the story of Hester Prynne, who is condemned to wearing a large “A” on her chest so that everyone can know that she committed adultery and she will have to live with the shame. She has a daughter named Pearl, who was a product of her affair, but will not confess to who she had the affair with, which is why she has to wear the “A.” Her husband, Roger Chillingworth, finds out who she had the affair with, Arthur Dimmesdale, and subtly tortures him to the point that he goes in front of the town and in an enraged sermon confesses to the affair with Hester and then drops dead. Hester and Pearl leave town and are never heard of. But eventually Hester returns and dies in the town, and is buried with Arthur.

2.       The theme of the book is revenge. Throughout the whole story Chillingsworth exhibits revenge on Hester and Dimmesdale, in fact the hate that he feels seems to have changed him from the man that he used to be. Chillingsworth turns into someone whose whole existence is to make Hester and Arthur feel shame and guilt for what they have done. It is a central part of the story.

3.       The story has a very serious tone. There aren’t many laughs, but instead focus on the problems with the society Hester is a part of and the hardships that she has to endure.

 “If thou feelest it to be for thy soul’s peace, and that thy earthly punishment will thereby be made more effectual to salvation, I charge thee to speak out the name of thy fellow-sinner and fellow-sufferer.”

“Thus, we seem to see that, as regarded Hester Prynne, the whole seven years of outlaw and ignominy had been little other than a preparation for this very hour.”

“Dreadful as it was, she was conscious of a shelter in these thousands of witnesses, It was better to stand thus, with so any betwixt him and her, than to greet him, face to face, they two alone.”

4.       There are many important literary techniques in this story. One of the most important is setting. Early America was a harsh theocratic place. The laws of the religion (which were very strict and harsh) were the laws of the land, and that is the world Hester finds herself in. Another important technique is symbolism. Though her letter is an important symbol, probably the most important is Pearl herself, who represents her sin.  Another important one is the point of view. The narrator allows the reader to get into the heads of all the characters, as well as put in his own thoughts here and there. Imagery is another important technique; it allows the reader to vividly picture the events that are unfolding in the book.  The diction is also very important, as it creates a story with a very specific message.