Within this essay Derrick discusses the contest between two versions of the body in Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Scarlet Letter." These versions inform and introduce the representation of homosexuality within the novel. Derrick analyses the production of homosexual personality and uses the novel as an important basis for a clearer understanding of the materialization of sexual identity that arose within the nineteenth and twentieth century. The Scarlet Letter drew a lot of attention to the subject of the desexualized body of Hester and the haunting “rape” of Dimmesdale; although the idea of gender and sexuality shouldn’t be ruled out, the body is the subject of more criticism in this day and age.
Derrick relies heavily upon the book which S.Graham composed, which focuses it’s ideas upon the relationship between the ‘rational mind and the erotic body.’ Using Dimmesdale as the premise for his argument, Derrick argues that passages view the ‘body as an espoitological problem’. Arguing the idea of heterosexuality, he identifies the idea of masturbation being linked to …show more content…
Therefore when looking at the puritan society within which this was written, we see this idea of organized political parties and religion that essentially ruined the purity of each individual. Hawthorne appears to concentrate a lot within the legacy of the puritan force. The darkness within the novel that transpires and circulates around the character of Chillingdale, which is the very foundation of the puritan imagination that only borders upon mania in the nineteenth century. Hawthorne essentially uses the Salem period indirectly to create this illusion of darkness through betrayal, seduction and the shame that is enforced by society. It is shown through multiple characters including Hester, that the view upon sin has many different
Derrick relies heavily upon the book which S.Graham composed, which focuses it’s ideas upon the relationship between the ‘rational mind and the erotic body.’ Using Dimmesdale as the premise for his argument, Derrick argues that passages view the ‘body as an espoitological problem’. Arguing the idea of heterosexuality, he identifies the idea of masturbation being linked to …show more content…
Therefore when looking at the puritan society within which this was written, we see this idea of organized political parties and religion that essentially ruined the purity of each individual. Hawthorne appears to concentrate a lot within the legacy of the puritan force. The darkness within the novel that transpires and circulates around the character of Chillingdale, which is the very foundation of the puritan imagination that only borders upon mania in the nineteenth century. Hawthorne essentially uses the Salem period indirectly to create this illusion of darkness through betrayal, seduction and the shame that is enforced by society. It is shown through multiple characters including Hester, that the view upon sin has many different