Scarlet Letter Alienation Quotes

"A" for Alienation

Alienation is a common theme in all writing; however, in The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, never has alienation been so vividly accounted. The Scarlet Letter is a story about Hester Prynne, a woman who commits adultery against her husband named Roger Chillingworth, with the local reverend named Arthur Dimmesdale; the result is a strange child named Pearl. The plot thickens as the mistress and the reverend strive to keep their sin a secret, and as Chillingworth appears back in town hiding his true identity; it climaxes on a scaffold where all secrets are revealed. Alienation is a heavy theme throughout the book, and it adds an incredible twist to see it's affect on the characters. Alienation is portrayed through
The most important symbol in the book, the embroidered "A" on her bosom, sewed on as punishment for adultery, is also a symbol for alienation. She is different from all of society because of that mark, and can never live a normal life because of it. "...Let her cover the mark as she will, the pang of it will be always in her heart," (38), said a townsperson at first sight of the scarlet letter. As seen in this quote, society will always look at the scarlet letter as a wall between themselves and Hester. Hester's behavior shows how greatly she is affected by her alienation. "Lonely as was Hester's situation and without a friend on earth who dared to she herself, she, however, incurred no risk of want," (57); in this quote one sees how being alienated from society can cause a person to become an introvert and become a lifeless body as Hester had become. There is a lot of drama surrounding Hester; all of society looks at Hester in shame. This complete shun from society drives Hester to live in an isolated cottage away from people. "In this little, lonesome dwelling...Hester established herself with her infant child," (57). This particular dramatic event alienated Hester geographically as well as socially. Hester's alienation also causes others to become alienated like her daughter and the one she has an affair with; however, Hester is most sharply alienated from
Her alienation has different circumstances, however, because she was born an alien, she did nothing wrong. Since she is the product of sin, many consider her a "demon child" with supernatural powers. For this reason, she herself is a symbol of her alienation; "It [Pearl] was the scarlet letter in another form; the scarlet letter endowed with life!" (70). She is compared to Hester's symbol of alienation, but she is a breathing, living form of the same symbol. She alienated herself and her mother from society. She is not your normal child, she acts very different; "She [Hester] could recognize her [Pearl] wild, desperate, defiant, mood, the flightiness of her temper, and even some of the very cloud-shapes of gloom and despondency that had brooded in her heart," (63). In this description of Pearl's behavior, we see a child that does not fit in your normal Puritan mold; she is a child filled of energy, character, and mischief. She finds a way to live a happy life regardless of being an outcast from society. Because of Pearl's behavior and her mother's sin, lots of drama occurs around the possession of the child; "Women it is thy bandage of shame! ...It is because of the stain which that letter indicates, that we would transfer thy child to other hands," (76). Here, Governor Bellingham is trying to take Pearl from her mother to give her a "normal" life in attempt to raise the child into your average, molded Puritan. Pearl