Being the bystander is as dangerous as being the perpetrator. Nathaniel Hawthorne exemplifies this adage in his novel, The Scarlet Letter, through his brilliant characterization of the protagonist: Hester Prynne. Hawthorne follows Hester’s lamentable alienation from society through her affair with Arthur Dimmesdale. In her segregation, Hester is revealed as an affectionate, intelligent, and sympathetic figure that is forced to persevere and endlessly battle the constant, everyday struggles of her shameful life. In a spring of independence, Hester establishes radical views of human nature and social organization. However, although Hester’s anguish allows her to explore her freedom of thought, it restricts her freedom of action. Nathaniel Hawthorne
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Before Hawthorne introduces Hester Prynne, he sets up her character through the townswomen’s opinions as a delinquent in need of social redemption. Against this backdrop, Hawthorne reveals Hester Prynne’s true personality as she shrugs off the town-beadle in “an action marked with natural dignity and force of character” (Hawthorne 31). Even in the face of public shame, Hester is able to pry off the hands of the law and stand as her own independent person. The differentiation drawn between Hester and her fellow female residents elevates Hester’s brilliance and independence. She is described as ladylike and polite whereas the townswomen are described as manlike and rude. The crowd even pales in comparison to the token of Hester’s shame: the scarlet letter. Despite the letter’s inferior connotation as a figure of darkness, Hawthorne describes the letter as “elaborate embroidery” with “fantastic flourishes” (Hawthorne 31). Hawthorne’s juxtaposition is supplemented by his alliteration, which rolls off of the tongue to establish Hester as a figure of sophistication and elegance that makes the crowd seem monotonous in comparison to the unparalleled woman that they look upon. Furthermore, Hawthorne’s description of the colors on the scarlet letter contains juxtaposition that supplements the feeling of grace and beauty. The scarlet letter was made with “fine red cloth...surrounded with...gold thread” (Hawthorne 31). Although the red cloth in the middle represents sin, the gold thread surrounding it is a heavenly color that symbolizes beauty, forgiveness, and dignity. Hence, Hawthorne maintains a tone of reverence towards
Before Hawthorne introduces Hester Prynne, he sets up her character through the townswomen’s opinions as a delinquent in need of social redemption. Against this backdrop, Hawthorne reveals Hester Prynne’s true personality as she shrugs off the town-beadle in “an action marked with natural dignity and force of character” (Hawthorne 31). Even in the face of public shame, Hester is able to pry off the hands of the law and stand as her own independent person. The differentiation drawn between Hester and her fellow female residents elevates Hester’s brilliance and independence. She is described as ladylike and polite whereas the townswomen are described as manlike and rude. The crowd even pales in comparison to the token of Hester’s shame: the scarlet letter. Despite the letter’s inferior connotation as a figure of darkness, Hawthorne describes the letter as “elaborate embroidery” with “fantastic flourishes” (Hawthorne 31). Hawthorne’s juxtaposition is supplemented by his alliteration, which rolls off of the tongue to establish Hester as a figure of sophistication and elegance that makes the crowd seem monotonous in comparison to the unparalleled woman that they look upon. Furthermore, Hawthorne’s description of the colors on the scarlet letter contains juxtaposition that supplements the feeling of grace and beauty. The scarlet letter was made with “fine red cloth...surrounded with...gold thread” (Hawthorne 31). Although the red cloth in the middle represents sin, the gold thread surrounding it is a heavenly color that symbolizes beauty, forgiveness, and dignity. Hence, Hawthorne maintains a tone of reverence towards