The Scarlet Letter An Analysis of Puritanism and Sin Essay

The Scarlet Letter: An Analysis of Puritanism and Sin The Scarlet Letter is a modern classic of American literature written about controversy and published with controversy. The main topic of the book, adultery, is written in a dark and sad way, as Hawthorne describes injustice, fate or predetermination and conscience ( Van Doren, 1998) . No other American novel of the time has such a controversial theme as Hawthornes, The Scarlet Letter. The setting of Nathanial Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter is the seventeenth century Puritan New England. But Hawthornes writing for this book is heavily influenced by his own nineteenth century culture. Hawthorne strongly believed in Providence. Hawthorne was descended from the Puritan†¦show more content†¦He describes them as if hey were ghostsÂ…. Gazing with harsh and intolerant criticisms at the pursuits and enjoyments of living men. ( Bloom, 1986, p. ). Predestination, a belief of the Puritan ethic that mans fate is set at his birth is also very much a part of the characters of the book. The Reverend Mr. Dimmesdale, who committed adultery with Hester Prynne, uses the statement, Were it Gods will when he asks for Roger Chillingsworths advice on whether he should admit publicly to the adultery . Dimmesdale says I could be well content that my labours, and my sorrows, and my sins, and my pains, should shortly end with me, and what is earthly of them be buried in my grave, and the spiritual go with me to my eternal state, rather than you should put your skill to the proof on my behalf p. Hester Prynne and The Reverend Dimmesdales affair becomes the focus of the 17th century community in New England. Hester is the fallen woman who is brought before the court of community opinion and justice. This Puritan community believes that all men have fallen and all men are sinners (Bloom, 1986). Hester is made to wear the scarlet letter, an A. This A represents adulte ry and it is Hesters badge of dishonor and sin and a symbol of her failure. The scarlet letter is meant to affect the person wearing it by showing that they have sinned an are, in the end, sorry for their sin. The letter has the oppositeShow MoreRelatedPuritanism in the Scarlet Letter6423 Words   |  26 PagesAbstract The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne’s representative work, is a classical novel in American literature in the 19th century. The novel displays Puritanism’s great impact on peoples life and thought. This thesis will give a picture of puritans’ life and ideology through the analysis of the Puritan town Boston and some related characters, and introduce how the communities in the town are deeply influenced by Puritanism. 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