Scarlet Letter: Purpose Of Landscape
Matthew You
Juniors Honor English
11/12/14
Purpose of Landscape In the beginning of the nineteenth century, numerous writers were very concerned with the American landscape and how to properly analyze it and incorporate it into their work. Most writers at the time expressed their support for the harmony between humans and nature, and admired the American wilderness and praised both humans and nature. One of these writers is the author of The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne. He characterizes American landscape as the embodiment of kindness and forgiveness through examples of nature that symbolize a greater concept. Through these metaphorical examples, he hints at social issues involving the universal concept of right versus wrong. In context, …show more content…
Hester, who commits adultery with Dimmesdale, is shunned by society and forced to bare the ridicule of the townspeople. A part of the colony claimed that Hester’s punishment of having to bare the scarlet letter on her bosom to be weak. The other part of the colony wished to be merciful and forgave Hester and did not pursue to punish her any further. Hawthorne reinforces the significance of the American landscape by incorporating a means of freedom for the Hester and later on, Dimmesdale. Similar to the rosebush in the aspect of purpose, the forest becomes a place where the two forbidden lovers can meet in secret. It is a very private place and is appropriate for the two to spend time with each other. The forest serves as a space for peace away from the chaos of the society, between condemnation and freedom, again reiterating the large social issue of right versus wrong. The wildness of the forest makes it an excellent place for the two, and acts as the epitome of nature, beauty and freedom, which is the exact opposite of what the colony is. The kind and forgiving forest leads to the shedding of shame for Hester, when she physically removes the scarlet letter that represents her sin. The quality of the landscape reflects the citizens’ personalities, for Dimmesdale and Hester feel mentally free-spirited inside the forest. Romantics, such as Hawthorne, believed that nature was the "inherent possessor of abstract qualities such as truth, beauty, independence, and democracy.” (Source 1) To the townspeople, the forest is the unknown. It is a lawless area, full of American Indians and scary creatures. The town, ruled by law and religion, seems safe compared to the forest. The forest, however, is a place of passion and emotion. Hawthorne compares Hester’s shun state to a forest: “She had wandered, without rule or guidance, in a moral wilderness; as vast, as intricate and shadowy, as the untamed forest.” (182)
Juniors Honor English
11/12/14
Purpose of Landscape In the beginning of the nineteenth century, numerous writers were very concerned with the American landscape and how to properly analyze it and incorporate it into their work. Most writers at the time expressed their support for the harmony between humans and nature, and admired the American wilderness and praised both humans and nature. One of these writers is the author of The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne. He characterizes American landscape as the embodiment of kindness and forgiveness through examples of nature that symbolize a greater concept. Through these metaphorical examples, he hints at social issues involving the universal concept of right versus wrong. In context, …show more content…
Hester, who commits adultery with Dimmesdale, is shunned by society and forced to bare the ridicule of the townspeople. A part of the colony claimed that Hester’s punishment of having to bare the scarlet letter on her bosom to be weak. The other part of the colony wished to be merciful and forgave Hester and did not pursue to punish her any further. Hawthorne reinforces the significance of the American landscape by incorporating a means of freedom for the Hester and later on, Dimmesdale. Similar to the rosebush in the aspect of purpose, the forest becomes a place where the two forbidden lovers can meet in secret. It is a very private place and is appropriate for the two to spend time with each other. The forest serves as a space for peace away from the chaos of the society, between condemnation and freedom, again reiterating the large social issue of right versus wrong. The wildness of the forest makes it an excellent place for the two, and acts as the epitome of nature, beauty and freedom, which is the exact opposite of what the colony is. The kind and forgiving forest leads to the shedding of shame for Hester, when she physically removes the scarlet letter that represents her sin. The quality of the landscape reflects the citizens’ personalities, for Dimmesdale and Hester feel mentally free-spirited inside the forest. Romantics, such as Hawthorne, believed that nature was the "inherent possessor of abstract qualities such as truth, beauty, independence, and democracy.” (Source 1) To the townspeople, the forest is the unknown. It is a lawless area, full of American Indians and scary creatures. The town, ruled by law and religion, seems safe compared to the forest. The forest, however, is a place of passion and emotion. Hawthorne compares Hester’s shun state to a forest: “She had wandered, without rule or guidance, in a moral wilderness; as vast, as intricate and shadowy, as the untamed forest.” (182)