Within 17th century Puritan communities, individualism was a concept that few dared to espouse. The idea that a person could think for themselves and diverge from the rest of society was harshly suppressed. Puritans instead had a resolute belief in simplicity, conformity, and enforcing deadly punishment for anyone who strayed from the path of God. An unwavering loyalty to this way of life and a fear of individualism caused those who opposed or dishonored the community to face a deadly fate, either physically or socially. In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, however, Hester Prynne discovers the strength to embrace her individualism after being condemned for a sin, despite being constantly surrounded by a Puritan society. Through her
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Ralph Waldo Emerson, the leader of this movement, discusses the importance of individualism in his work “Self-Reliance.” Through the lens of Emerson’s transcendentalist ideas, Hawthorne criticizes the Puritan community in The Scarlet Letter by demonstrating the repercussions of its disregard to individuality. He suggests that living while in touch with the desires of the individual, rather than remaining restrained by societal constructs, leads to a more fulfilling life.
Being self-reliant benefits a person’s emotional wellbeing and satisfaction with their surroundings, as Hawthorne’s character Hester and Emerson both emphasize. “Self-Reliance” discusses how easily a person can simply “live after the world’s opinion” (Emerson 4). Without conviction and independent thinking, no intellectual gain or lessons can be acquired. In The Scarlet Letter, the Puritan society is based around the idea that everyone goes with the flow of society, and they do not question their actions. As Hester stands in front of the crowd with her sin displayed on her chest, “[the crowd was] stern enough to look upon her death, had that been the sentence, without a murmur at its …show more content…
In “Self Reliance,” Emerson says to “insist on yourself; never imitate. [...] of the adopted talent of another, you have only an extemporaneous, half possession” (Emerson 14). If a person only imitates others and fails to take initiative to explore themselves, their life will be akin to others’ and any uniqueness obscured. In The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne uses his description of the Puritans as a contrast to Hester’s. A prominent aspect of Puritan society was their plain clothing and simple way of life that prevents them from expressing individuality. Hawthorne uses words such as “ugly” and “pitiless” to describe some of the women in the crowd watching Hester. He even describes the presence of the town-beadle as “grim and gristly” as well as his entrance “like a black shadow emerging into sunshine”; however, Hester, although she has sinned against the Puritan society, is described much more favorably (Hawthorne 49). She has a “figure of perfect elegance on a large scale[,] [...] dark and abundant hair, so glossy that it threw off the sunshine with a gleam; and a face which, besides being beautiful from regularity of feature and richness of complexion, had the impressiveness belonging to a marked brow and deep black eyes” (Hawthorne 50). This description, with the inclusion of flattering phrases such as “glossy” and “perfect elegance,” provides
Ralph Waldo Emerson, the leader of this movement, discusses the importance of individualism in his work “Self-Reliance.” Through the lens of Emerson’s transcendentalist ideas, Hawthorne criticizes the Puritan community in The Scarlet Letter by demonstrating the repercussions of its disregard to individuality. He suggests that living while in touch with the desires of the individual, rather than remaining restrained by societal constructs, leads to a more fulfilling life.
Being self-reliant benefits a person’s emotional wellbeing and satisfaction with their surroundings, as Hawthorne’s character Hester and Emerson both emphasize. “Self-Reliance” discusses how easily a person can simply “live after the world’s opinion” (Emerson 4). Without conviction and independent thinking, no intellectual gain or lessons can be acquired. In The Scarlet Letter, the Puritan society is based around the idea that everyone goes with the flow of society, and they do not question their actions. As Hester stands in front of the crowd with her sin displayed on her chest, “[the crowd was] stern enough to look upon her death, had that been the sentence, without a murmur at its …show more content…
In “Self Reliance,” Emerson says to “insist on yourself; never imitate. [...] of the adopted talent of another, you have only an extemporaneous, half possession” (Emerson 14). If a person only imitates others and fails to take initiative to explore themselves, their life will be akin to others’ and any uniqueness obscured. In The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne uses his description of the Puritans as a contrast to Hester’s. A prominent aspect of Puritan society was their plain clothing and simple way of life that prevents them from expressing individuality. Hawthorne uses words such as “ugly” and “pitiless” to describe some of the women in the crowd watching Hester. He even describes the presence of the town-beadle as “grim and gristly” as well as his entrance “like a black shadow emerging into sunshine”; however, Hester, although she has sinned against the Puritan society, is described much more favorably (Hawthorne 49). She has a “figure of perfect elegance on a large scale[,] [...] dark and abundant hair, so glossy that it threw off the sunshine with a gleam; and a face which, besides being beautiful from regularity of feature and richness of complexion, had the impressiveness belonging to a marked brow and deep black eyes” (Hawthorne 50). This description, with the inclusion of flattering phrases such as “glossy” and “perfect elegance,” provides