The Infliction of Tragedy
Throughout The Scarlet Letter, numerous characters face some form of tragedy. It becomes clear, however, that Hester faces more adversity than any other character. In The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Hester Prynne is displayed as the main victim of tragedy because most of her tragedy is inflicted by the hands of other people, which is shown through her life as a single mother, her public and internal punishments, and through Roger Chillingworth’s involvement in her life. Because Hester’s accomplice in her sin is not revealed to the townspeople until the very end of The Scarlet Letter, Hester is forced into becoming a single mother. Throughout the story, Hester’s daughter, Pearl, is not always the best-behaved …show more content…
As her punishment, Hester must wear a scarlet letter on her bosom for the entirety of her life. This “red-hot brand” (169) makes it clear to everyone that Hester is a sinner and that they should look down upon her. Since she cannot take the letter off, the shame and punishment never go away, which is an affliction put upon her by the Puritans. Not only does she have to walk around wearing this letter, but she also receives no kindness because of it. Even in doing charitable acts, the poor often insult “the hand that [feeds] them” (87). Hester does not even hear a word of gratitude when she gives her time and energy into making something for the poor! This is a clear indication of “the ever-relentless vigor with which society [frowns] upon her sin” (86). Hester is a complete outcast from society because of the way the Puritans treat her, which furthers her tragedy even more. Though she is shamed publicly, Hester herself also has to live with her sin, and she faces an internal battle because of the punishment given to her by the Puritans. Hester even “’[thinks] of death’”, which really reveals how much pain she feels. When there is talk of Hester being allowed to take the letter off, she is the one who refuses the idea. She thinks that if she is “’worthy to be quit of it, it would fall away of its own nature’” (176). Hester’s hesitance about taking the letter …show more content…
Chillingworth has been a tragic force in Hester’s life since before the novel even begins. Though he does recognize that “’It was [his] folly’” (77) to have Hester marry him, she is still married to a man whom she doesn’t love, and, furthermore, he knows that she does not love him. The marriage is not a happy one for Hester, which is lamentable in the first place. When Chillingworth comes to Massachusetts and finds that Hester has committed adultery, Hester thinks that he may try to harm her, but he resolves that it is “Not [her] soul” (80) that he wants to ruin, but, instead, the soul of the baby’s father. Once he succeeds in doing this, Hester resolves that she “[hates] the man!” (183). It is uncharacteristic of Hester to have such strong hatred for someone, which shows the reader how much Chillingworth is harming Hester by destroying the soul of the man she loves, furthering the tragedy which he puts upon her. By the end of the novel, Chillingworth has managed to be the reason for Dimmesdale’s death. Hester’s pain is clear as she asks the dying minister if they “’Shall…meet again’” and that “’surely, [they] have ransomed one another, with all this woe!’” (267). Dimmesdale dies because of Chillingworth, which makes the amount of pain Chillingworth puts her through clear because of her desire to be with Dimmesdale for eternity. Chillingworth’s involvement in Hester’s
Throughout The Scarlet Letter, numerous characters face some form of tragedy. It becomes clear, however, that Hester faces more adversity than any other character. In The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Hester Prynne is displayed as the main victim of tragedy because most of her tragedy is inflicted by the hands of other people, which is shown through her life as a single mother, her public and internal punishments, and through Roger Chillingworth’s involvement in her life. Because Hester’s accomplice in her sin is not revealed to the townspeople until the very end of The Scarlet Letter, Hester is forced into becoming a single mother. Throughout the story, Hester’s daughter, Pearl, is not always the best-behaved …show more content…
As her punishment, Hester must wear a scarlet letter on her bosom for the entirety of her life. This “red-hot brand” (169) makes it clear to everyone that Hester is a sinner and that they should look down upon her. Since she cannot take the letter off, the shame and punishment never go away, which is an affliction put upon her by the Puritans. Not only does she have to walk around wearing this letter, but she also receives no kindness because of it. Even in doing charitable acts, the poor often insult “the hand that [feeds] them” (87). Hester does not even hear a word of gratitude when she gives her time and energy into making something for the poor! This is a clear indication of “the ever-relentless vigor with which society [frowns] upon her sin” (86). Hester is a complete outcast from society because of the way the Puritans treat her, which furthers her tragedy even more. Though she is shamed publicly, Hester herself also has to live with her sin, and she faces an internal battle because of the punishment given to her by the Puritans. Hester even “’[thinks] of death’”, which really reveals how much pain she feels. When there is talk of Hester being allowed to take the letter off, she is the one who refuses the idea. She thinks that if she is “’worthy to be quit of it, it would fall away of its own nature’” (176). Hester’s hesitance about taking the letter …show more content…
Chillingworth has been a tragic force in Hester’s life since before the novel even begins. Though he does recognize that “’It was [his] folly’” (77) to have Hester marry him, she is still married to a man whom she doesn’t love, and, furthermore, he knows that she does not love him. The marriage is not a happy one for Hester, which is lamentable in the first place. When Chillingworth comes to Massachusetts and finds that Hester has committed adultery, Hester thinks that he may try to harm her, but he resolves that it is “Not [her] soul” (80) that he wants to ruin, but, instead, the soul of the baby’s father. Once he succeeds in doing this, Hester resolves that she “[hates] the man!” (183). It is uncharacteristic of Hester to have such strong hatred for someone, which shows the reader how much Chillingworth is harming Hester by destroying the soul of the man she loves, furthering the tragedy which he puts upon her. By the end of the novel, Chillingworth has managed to be the reason for Dimmesdale’s death. Hester’s pain is clear as she asks the dying minister if they “’Shall…meet again’” and that “’surely, [they] have ransomed one another, with all this woe!’” (267). Dimmesdale dies because of Chillingworth, which makes the amount of pain Chillingworth puts her through clear because of her desire to be with Dimmesdale for eternity. Chillingworth’s involvement in Hester’s