“...if truth were everywhere to be shown, a scarlet letter would blaze forth on many a bosom...” (71). The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, principally focuses on humans sinning, which is a concept of Anti-Transcendentalism: where every person is recognized as having both a good side and a bad side. As for literary techniques, Hawthorne brilliantly displays symbolism in the setting, multiple occasions of foreshadowing, and, of course, an Anti-Transcendentalistic theme. Aspects of the setting such as the rosebush outside of the prison, the scaffold in the middle of town, and Hester Prynne’s cottage on the outskirts of the village represent much more than just places in a small Puritan town. Being outside of a prison, the rosebush symbolizes
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For example, Hester is basically labeled as the supreme sinner when she begins to wear the scarlet letter inscribed with a gigantic, red “A”, but Hester works so hard to redeem herself by helping others that she changes the townspeople’s dreadful opinions of her. “They said that it meant able; so strong was Hester Prynne, with a woman’s strength” (127), which shows that even though Hester committed an atrocious sin, she is still a caring person who is worthy of forgiveness. On the other hand, Roger Chillingworth, Hester’s husband, is a pure essence of evil; he uses every waking moment to torture poor Dimmesdale and is even referenced as the Black Man by Pearl (107). But even the darkest of souls contain at least a small sliver of light, for, “he bequeathed a very considerable amount of property, both here and in England, to little Pearl, the daughter of Hester Prynne” (203). A common element of anti-transcendentalist literature is the lack of a “happily ever after”, which is clearly demonstrated when Dimmesdale tragically passes away after confessing on the scaffold (199), so he and Hester cannot escape to England and be together. Indicating a devastating conclusion furthermore, when Hester dies, she is buried next to Dimmesdale, “...with a space between, as if the dust of the two sleepers had no right to mingle” (205). The use of
For example, Hester is basically labeled as the supreme sinner when she begins to wear the scarlet letter inscribed with a gigantic, red “A”, but Hester works so hard to redeem herself by helping others that she changes the townspeople’s dreadful opinions of her. “They said that it meant able; so strong was Hester Prynne, with a woman’s strength” (127), which shows that even though Hester committed an atrocious sin, she is still a caring person who is worthy of forgiveness. On the other hand, Roger Chillingworth, Hester’s husband, is a pure essence of evil; he uses every waking moment to torture poor Dimmesdale and is even referenced as the Black Man by Pearl (107). But even the darkest of souls contain at least a small sliver of light, for, “he bequeathed a very considerable amount of property, both here and in England, to little Pearl, the daughter of Hester Prynne” (203). A common element of anti-transcendentalist literature is the lack of a “happily ever after”, which is clearly demonstrated when Dimmesdale tragically passes away after confessing on the scaffold (199), so he and Hester cannot escape to England and be together. Indicating a devastating conclusion furthermore, when Hester dies, she is buried next to Dimmesdale, “...with a space between, as if the dust of the two sleepers had no right to mingle” (205). The use of