Preview

Spheres in Scarlet Letter

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1616 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Spheres in Scarlet Letter
It was once said that “the only living societies are those which are animated by inequality and injustice.” A man named Paul Claudel wrote this in his work, Conversations dans le Loir-et-Cher, and he criticizes the ability to have a functional society. Societies are meant to organize the values of people into a system with uniform laws and expectations; however, societies can never fully achieve this. Claudel only sees societies with dysfunctional characteristics like inequality and injustice. There are always exceptions to the social order because all people are individuals with different life experiences that help define who they are. Nathaniel Hawthorne also criticizes the Utopian ideals that societies often hold in his novel, The Scarlet Letter. The main character, Hester goes astray from the rules of her Puritan town and must wear a scarlet letter on her chest to declare her sin. The scarlet letter isolates Hester from the pressures to conform to society, giving her the opportunity to find her individualistic moral perspective in life and she shares this revelation with Dimmesdale. Hawthorne conveys this concept of individualism through the motif of spheres. Initially, Hawthorne conveys Hester’s isolation from society which is brought on by the scarlet letter, by putting her in her own sphere. The most noticeable feature of Hester as she exits the prison is the elaborate scarlet letter that is embroidered on her chest. Immediately, Hawthorne mentions that the letter “[takes Hester] out of the ordinary relations with humanity and [encloses] her in a sphere by herself” (46). The language here shows the isolation brought on by the letter because Hester no longer has the same relations with humanity, which in this case signifies the uniform Puritan society. Her interactions with others are altered now that she is by herself. The letter puts Hester in a different world, away from that of society and causes her to be alone. Even people that do not understand the


Cited: Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Scarlet Letter. New York: Signet Classics, 1999. "Society." Wikiquotes.com. 26 Oct. 2009. Web. 20 Dec. 2009.
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Hester Prynne Social Pressure
    • 812 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Hester Prynne Social Pressure

    The Scarlet Letter is a novel written by Nathaniel Hawthorne. This essay discusses how Hester is a victim of her social pressure. She was punished for something she did to achieve her dream of having someone that loves her. Hester committed adultery with minister Dimmesdale and had a child with him, Pearl. Her punishment was to stand on the scaffold with her child and wear the letter A on her breast as a sign of her “crime”. Due to the strictures of the puritan society, Hester Prynne suffers from public shaming. She almost lost her only child, and was not able to openly love who she wanted.…

    • 812 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Ethical Hazard To Hester In Nathaniel Hawthorne's Scarlet Letter
    • 253 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Ethical Hazard To Hester In Nathaniel Hawthorne's Scarlet Letter

    The weird ethical hazard to Hester in her loneliness was that it gave her moreover small chance for demonstrative interaction with other people. Hawthorne forced the readers to ponder that how a woman committing adultery is a major offence in a hypocritical society. Hawthorne symbolized Hester as an agent and a rebel who violates laws as Tony Tanner offered a likely justification by saying that:…

    • 253 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Time Heals All Wounds In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter
    • 754 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Time Heals All Wounds In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter

    Hawthorne’s novel The Scarlet Letter describes life through the eyes of 4 main characters, including a woman who was caught of committing adultery. Hester Prynn was the emotional martyr and symbol of the Scarlet Letter. Throughout the course of the story she undergoes change in her mentality state, the way her eyes perceive the World, and perhaps even the way she smiles. Her strength becomes the Scarlet Letter and her innocent Pear. She encounters much conflict (internal and external), throughout the story. Hester, once a prisoner of her sin, spent a long life held by its chains. This all transpired until forgiveness stepped in.…

    • 754 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Hester Prynne: Among The Labeled In The Scarlet Letter
    • 697 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Hester Prynne: Among The Labeled In The Scarlet Letter

    The Puritan Era was the most religious time in American history; committing any sin was seen as an act of rebellion. In that time the sin of adultery was taken very literally to an extent where the women were forced to wear the letter “A” across their bosom to show the people of the town what they had committed. In The Scarlet Letter, Hester Prynne’s sin results in such a punishment, but as the reader gets deeper into the book, a prominent and more profound understanding of Hester can be reached. It is through her struggles that Hawthorne gets across his primary themes. Hawthorne illustrates his theme through Hester's struggles that becoming an outcast can help one achieve a profound grasp of who they truly…

    • 697 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Essay Scarlet Letter Rhetorical Analysis
    • 704 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Essay Scarlet Letter Rhetorical Analysis

    For Hester, the scarlet letter represents a hindrance to her freedom, reminding her of her heavy sin. Hawthorne uses a metaphor in this passage, comparing the effect of the scarlet letter as a “withering spell.” This shows how one sinful act can prevent Hester from experiencing joys in life, similar to how putting on the scarlet letter hides Hester’s hair, and therefore, her femininity. The phrase “an evil deed invests itself with the character of doom,” describes how an evil act leads to one’s downfall. This supports the theme that one cannot escape one’s own…

    • 704 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Scarlet Letter Composition Essay
    • 674 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Scarlet Letter Composition Essay

    When The Scarlet Letter was written the Author, Nathaniel Hawthorne, discovered many ideas and facts about the Puritan community. Knowing this Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote about how women in the 17th century lived and how strict the society's rules can be, one major rule that was followed strictly phonate was “Actions spoke louder than words, so actions had to be constantly controlled.” (nd.edu). When the book begins it starts with introducing Hester and how she has done this huge violation according to the bible, maybe even causing the death penalty upon herself. As The Scarlet Letter goes through the timeline of how she is isolated and is shunned from the society; eventually, Hester slowly becomes part of the society by being the pure character she really was. This lets her take off the scarlet “A” and change the meaning of Adultery to the meaning of Able. Hawthorne decribes the climax of Hester’s story by expressing, “The letter was the symbol of her calling. such helpfulness…

    • 674 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Essay On Symbolism In The Scarlet Letter
    • 606 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Essay On Symbolism In The Scarlet Letter

    The prison door is very dark in comparison to the rose bush next to it that “by a strange chance, has been kept alive in history; but whether it had merely survived out of the stern old wilderness, so long after the fall of the gigantic pines and oaks that originally overshadowed it”(34). The dark prison door is representative of the unrelenting Puritan laws that are in place at the time.The bright rose bush, an opposite of the door, represents forgiveness and decency that are still somewhat present; no matter what the circumstances are, there is always room for hope, and the rose bush is that hope. The most renowned symbol in Hawthorne’s book is the scarlet letter on Hester’s chest. As punishment for having an illegitimate child, Hester Prynne is not executed, the standard of the time, but is forced to wear a red letter “A” on her chest that represents adultery. A greater punishment than any prison sentence, the scarlet letter has “the effect of a spell, taking her out of the ordinary relations with humanity , and inclosing her in a sphere by herself”(37). The contrasting colors of red and black on Hester’s dress show how the “A” has changed her literally and psychologically. The people to the right of Hester are talking about Hester and making appalling faces. The prison door was close to the marketplace, where she was going, but it seemed like an…

    • 606 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Hester Prynne Isolation In The Scarlet Letter
    • 1160 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Hester Prynne Isolation In The Scarlet Letter

    Hester is physically isolated at the beginning of the novel when she is brought onto the scaffold in the market place. On her should the embroidery on her clothing is described as “fine red cloth with and elaborate embroidery and fantastic flourishes of gold thread in the shape of an A” on her chest (Hawthorne, 55). Hester is being physically secluded from the Puritan society by wearing the ‘A’ for committing her sin of adultery. Hawthorne does this to demonstrate that the sinner is recognized for their sin and also as a punishment. Later in the novel, Hester in physically isolated because Hawthorne places her in a new setting. As the plot develops, Hester has the opportunity to leave to go to Europe. Hester decides that she wants to remain in Boston to live out her guilt in the origin of her sin. Hester moves to live in a cabin “not in close vicinity to any other habitation.” (Hawthorne, 84). Hawthorne is creating a distinct distance between Hester and the remainder of the town. This also implies that Hester does not belong or fit in with the faithful puritans back near a civilized area. Lastly, Hawthorne creates physical isolation for Hester when Pearl, Dimmesdale, and Hester herself are in the woods having a conversation about moving to Europe. After being in the woods, all three of them travel to the market place. While going to the market place Pearl begins the…

    • 1160 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Alienation In The Scarlet Letter
    • 97 Words
    • 1 Page

    Alienation In The Scarlet Letter

    Generally throughout society people are condemned, punished, and judged for their individual choices and flaws. This can depict the concept of alienation and the way it affects the relationship between an individual and their society. In Nathaniel Hawthorne's, The Scarlet Letter, sin and guilt play a huge role in the Puritan society during the 17th century. The author uses Hester to show that people who make mistakes will often face consequences that isolate them from their society. Throughout the Scarlet Letter, Hester establishes the effects of isolation and the image it portrays to the society about yourself.…

    • 97 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Scarlet Letter Alienation Quotes
    • 1159 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Scarlet Letter Alienation Quotes

    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…

    • 1159 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Sin And Redemption In The Scarlet Letter
    • 971 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Sin And Redemption In The Scarlet Letter

    Despite Hester’s sin, she had become known for ability to help others and her strength; the A now represents Able, not Adulteress. This illustrates the fact that Hawthorne believes that truth and embracing sin leads to freedom and forgiveness. Hester has an overall impact in her community despite of the symbol of shame that the letter is meant to represent, by regaining her communities admiration through her ability to be a productive member of the community and sympathize with others. Hester utilizes her “shame” to derive strength, pushing the notion of righteousness through the embracement of sin. Hester continues to participate in society, creating items such as gloves for religious activities, and through this, Hester regains the trust of the people. Hester’s morals of truth, honesty, and hard work are further justified as the righteous morals when it becomes apparent to the community that “none so ready as she to give her little substance to every demand of poverty” (110).…

    • 971 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Scarlet Letter: Transcendentalism
    • 1017 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Scarlet Letter: Transcendentalism

    For example, Hester desires a simplistic lifestyle show when the narrator describes her desires. “...she, however, incurred no risk of want, She possessed an art that sufficed, even in a land that afforded little scope for its exercise, to supply food for her thriving infant and herself” (Hawthorne 47). Hester shows a strong transcendentalistic influence because she doesn’t desire or have anything extra. She doesn't have the desire for materialistic items and rather focuses on the necessities for her and little Pearl. Hawthorne's purpose of portraying Hester this was was to emphasize that she could be happy and content without unnecessary goods, relating it back to transcendentalist ideas. Also, the narrator recounts Hester's character as her traits changed further, in the Scarlet Letter: “She had wandered, without rule or guidance, into a moral wilderness, as vast, as intricate, and shadowy as the untamed forest, amid the gloom of which they were now holding a colloquy that was to decide their fate…” (Hawthorne 112). Hawthorne expresses the transcendentalistic idea of individualism and nature when describing Hester. Hester finds her connection with nature and finds herself, without the rules or guidance of society, which shows her independence-an ideal of a transcendentalist. Through this, Hawthorne is able to share with the audience Hester’s beliefs as well as to address…

    • 1017 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    The Scarlet Letter
    • 1408 Words
    • 6 Pages

    The Scarlet Letter

    In contrast to Dimmesdale’s suffering, Hester’s sin is publicly known. Even though Hester tries to be brave while standing in the Pillory with a “haughty smile, and with a glance that would not be abashed...” (Hawthorne, 52), she begins to feel uncomfortable as everyone around her starts staring at the scarlet letter embroidered on her chest. Hester begins to realize how sinful she was among her community, feeling lonesome and weak, “...she perchance underwent an agony from every footstep of those that thronged to see her, as if her heart had been flung into the street for them all to sprung and stumble upon.” (Hawthorne, 55). Hester has this feeling due to the strict puritan law. She knows that her life will never be the same again and that is what bothers her the most. As she leaves the prison, she believes that from that day on, people will use her as a bad example to society and that she is…

    • 1408 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Scarlet Letter
    • 402 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Scarlet Letter

    Hawthorne uses imagery to present a picture of the Puritan town in which Hester Prynne resides. These Puritans are described as strict and unforgiving, a society based on the “iron frame-work of reasoning”(line 7). The scarlet letter represents this town’s “gray” feel. There is no tolerance for any ungodly behavior, however the A also represents this town’s gossipy nature. Hawthorne writes, “Then, it is true, the propensity of the human nature to tell the very worst of itself…to whisper the black scandal of bygone years“ (Lines 26,27,29,30). As word of Hester Prynne’s affair travels, the scarlet letter more and more defines Hester as the town reject.…

    • 402 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Puritan Ideology In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter
    • 1392 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Puritan Ideology In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter

    The only positive view Hawthorne upholds, in the Puritan society, is of Hester's scarlet letter because it causes her to differ from the other citizens. When she deviated from the normal customs of the Puritan society, Hawthorne developed an immediate respect for her.“A throng of bearded men, in sad-colored garments, and gray steeple-crowned hats, intermixed with women, some wearing hoods, and others bareheaded” (45). Hawthorne’s decision to label the Puritan’s clothing as vapid and dull exposes the despondency that is felt in an oppressive society. The settlers were not adorned in vivid colors and lavish hats, they were bareheaded or wore a hood because they all share similar religious and political ideals. The bland and colorless imagery demonstrates how there was no room to be different because it was not accepted and caused a person to be isolated. “Her own dress was of the coarsest materials and the most sombre hue; with only that one ornament,-the scarlet letter,- which it was her doom to wear” (77). Hester’s clothing is analogous to every other person residing in Massachusetts, except for the scarlet letter. Hawthorne clarifies that the depressing clothing reflects the emotions that the citizens harbor inside. Hester chose to ignore societal norms, so she is forced to wear the scarlet letter which demonstrates how a person’s…

    • 1392 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics