The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, is a novel set in Boston in the early 17th century that narrates the effects of an act of adultery. The main character, Hester Prynne, is forced to wear a Scarlet Letter ‘A’ as punishment for her sin. The novel was published in the 1800’s during the Romantic period of literature. Romanticism is a philosophy that emphasizes individualism, distrust in nature, and a belief in the good nature of mankind. Classicism, the opposing ideal, focuses on organized society as a way of correcting the inherent evil in mankind. The Scarlet Letter contrasts the restrictions in the strict Puritan town of Boston with the freedom in nature to highlight the romantic notion of the potential dangers of society. Our first
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For the Puritan community, the forest is associated with the devil. Hawthorne repeatedly mentions “the black man”, presumably Satan. The forest is also connected with Mistress Hibbins, who the narrator mentions will soon be executed for a being a witch, furthermore associating the forest with a dark, sinful place to the Town of Boston. However, while the forest is a place of evil for most of the townsfolk, is serves as a sanctuary for Hester Prynne and Pearl. For example, Pearl is often seen throughout the novel with nature, often described as a bird or a squirrel in the story. The narrator explains that for Pearl, “The passes of the dark scrutable forest were open to her, where the wildness of her nature might assimilate herself with a people whose customs and laws were alien from the law that had condemned her”. Pearl was born of sin, and just like Hester Prynne, she has never fit into society, and has been called the “devil’s child” by the townsfolk For Pearl, the forest is where she feels in place, and the only place where she might escape the judgemental eyes of the town. The view of nature is one of the prominent differences between Classicists and Romanticists. The Puritan town, with strict Puritan beliefs, shun the forest as the devil’s land, and by extension, nature itself. But for Hester and Pearl, nature is where they are free to live their lives without judgement of
For the Puritan community, the forest is associated with the devil. Hawthorne repeatedly mentions “the black man”, presumably Satan. The forest is also connected with Mistress Hibbins, who the narrator mentions will soon be executed for a being a witch, furthermore associating the forest with a dark, sinful place to the Town of Boston. However, while the forest is a place of evil for most of the townsfolk, is serves as a sanctuary for Hester Prynne and Pearl. For example, Pearl is often seen throughout the novel with nature, often described as a bird or a squirrel in the story. The narrator explains that for Pearl, “The passes of the dark scrutable forest were open to her, where the wildness of her nature might assimilate herself with a people whose customs and laws were alien from the law that had condemned her”. Pearl was born of sin, and just like Hester Prynne, she has never fit into society, and has been called the “devil’s child” by the townsfolk For Pearl, the forest is where she feels in place, and the only place where she might escape the judgemental eyes of the town. The view of nature is one of the prominent differences between Classicists and Romanticists. The Puritan town, with strict Puritan beliefs, shun the forest as the devil’s land, and by extension, nature itself. But for Hester and Pearl, nature is where they are free to live their lives without judgement of