The Story of Seduction, Sex, and Sin In D.H. Lawrence’s critical essay on Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel, The Scarlet Letter, he argues that Hester Prynne is flat and static: a lustful sinner whose only desire is to destroy the lives of the purest men. The young Puritan colonist is known for her sexual affairs with the revered Reverend Dimmesdale and giving birth to his child. Hester Prynne’s impurity is best depicted through Lawrence’s use of sarcastic diction, satirical tone, and biblical allusions. Lawrence uses sarcasm to support his argument that Hester is ultimately inconsiderate and selfish. This is evident when Hester’s punishment is to wear a scarlet letter on her bosom, “the proudest insignia” that the Puritans bestow upon a woman
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He sees that many women are like Hester and that they can only find joy through “the triumph of seducing a man” (Lawrence). The pleasure that a female receives after an inappropriate encounter with man — such as the one Hawthorne presents his readers — is sickening and implants an uncomfortable image into one’s mind. The adultesess’s evil deed is interpreted as qualities that Lawrence pictures in all women. A typical woman, after reading Lawrence’s piece, would realize that “Hester Prynne is the nemesis of women” (Lawrence). Her disgraceful act only taints the unadulterated reputation that is set by the female population. Nobody should offer a miniscule of respect to Hester whose grotesqueness reflects back to all of womankind. Lawrence’s scornful tone is the best way to explain how similar the lechery of Hester correlates with the characteristic of all …show more content…
This is seen when the pure Dimmesdale dies and Hester “lives on and is Abel” to continue on without him (Lawrence). Lawrence purposely misspells the name “able” to show a connection between Hester and Abel, the favorite son of Adam, Eve, and God. Abel devotes his entire life to God when his twin, Cain, slays him out of jealousy. The moment Hester commits her atrocity, the sin of her actions is what slays her heart, killing her spiritually. Her formerly divine heart no longer beats for the Lord any longer. Hester Prynne “is a demon” and that is the way she is going to live the rest of her days (Lawrence). If Dimmesdale dies from the guilt of Hester’s sin, then that would mean she is responsible for the death of a holy figure. Lucifer, a former angel of God, also makes it his mission to destroy God, and from that moment he becomes a demon known as the Devil. Lawrence wants to use this logic to express how similar Hester is to the Devil and how they are causing a decay to the pure. The work’s of the Devil is what consumes her heart, making it clear that her ways are unchangeable. Allusion is necessary to express how the greatest evil of the Bible is what Hester has become.
In order to illustrate his point better, Lawrence uses sarcastic diction, satirical tone, and biblical allusions to express the contamination of Hester’s soul. She is a spitting image of the Devil, for they
He sees that many women are like Hester and that they can only find joy through “the triumph of seducing a man” (Lawrence). The pleasure that a female receives after an inappropriate encounter with man — such as the one Hawthorne presents his readers — is sickening and implants an uncomfortable image into one’s mind. The adultesess’s evil deed is interpreted as qualities that Lawrence pictures in all women. A typical woman, after reading Lawrence’s piece, would realize that “Hester Prynne is the nemesis of women” (Lawrence). Her disgraceful act only taints the unadulterated reputation that is set by the female population. Nobody should offer a miniscule of respect to Hester whose grotesqueness reflects back to all of womankind. Lawrence’s scornful tone is the best way to explain how similar the lechery of Hester correlates with the characteristic of all …show more content…
This is seen when the pure Dimmesdale dies and Hester “lives on and is Abel” to continue on without him (Lawrence). Lawrence purposely misspells the name “able” to show a connection between Hester and Abel, the favorite son of Adam, Eve, and God. Abel devotes his entire life to God when his twin, Cain, slays him out of jealousy. The moment Hester commits her atrocity, the sin of her actions is what slays her heart, killing her spiritually. Her formerly divine heart no longer beats for the Lord any longer. Hester Prynne “is a demon” and that is the way she is going to live the rest of her days (Lawrence). If Dimmesdale dies from the guilt of Hester’s sin, then that would mean she is responsible for the death of a holy figure. Lucifer, a former angel of God, also makes it his mission to destroy God, and from that moment he becomes a demon known as the Devil. Lawrence wants to use this logic to express how similar Hester is to the Devil and how they are causing a decay to the pure. The work’s of the Devil is what consumes her heart, making it clear that her ways are unchangeable. Allusion is necessary to express how the greatest evil of the Bible is what Hester has become.
In order to illustrate his point better, Lawrence uses sarcastic diction, satirical tone, and biblical allusions to express the contamination of Hester’s soul. She is a spitting image of the Devil, for they