Nathaniel Hawthorne had some very good insight that he wanted to share with the rest of the world through his writing. His masterpiece made famous by its mysterious title: “The Scarlet Letter” is full of symbolism and meaning that delve deep into the human heart.
The story takes place in the 1600s during a cruel time period. Anyone declared by the Puritan leaders as being guilty of adultery was publicly humiliated and punished for his or her crime. In the story, Hester Prynne cares for her young bastard daughter named Pearl. Soon, when she’s found guilty of committing adultery against her husband, Hester is forced to attend a trial where she undergoes severe questioning by the Puritan leaders.
Ironically, Hester’s partner in crime is pastor Dimmesdale, who resides over Hester’s trial as a respected figure. At this point, the crowd has no idea of the minister’s true identity and still looks upon him with admiration. Throughout the story, the two lovers sneak behind closed doors and no one but they know about their well-kept secret.
Contrary to the townspeople’s opinion of her, Hester is a dignified and courageous woman. Even after being relentlessly ordered by the Puritan officials to identify her secret lover, she refuses to do so and firmly stands her ground.
All this time, her lover Dimmesdale had been a role model for the townspeople and everyone looked up to him as their religious leader. After their affair, Dimmesdale is scared to death of turning himself in. Throughout the story, he struggles with his cowardly fears.
Hawthorne further entices the reader by adding depth and meaning to the characters and objects in the story. Hester carries a badge or mark on the cloth of her breast that’s shaped like the letter ‘A’ that stands for adultery. The abstract sense of shame that Hester experiences deep in her heart is given a physical and outward appearance. The ‘A’ mark symbolizes the guilt Hester feels inside. Furthermore, Hawthorne’s strange depiction of the small, devilish child Pearl makes the reader view her as a curse rather than the blessing a child is supposed to be. Because she received life from Hester’s adulterous act, Pearl is a constant reminder to Hester of her mother’s sense of guilt.
Nathaniel Hawthorne’s work “The Scarlet Letter” tells the intriguing story of a young couple and how they cope with danger, humility, and guilt.