Nathaniel hawthorne biography scarlet letter book

1850 novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne

For the 1953 Ellery Queen mother novel, see The Scarlet Hand. For other uses, see Red Letter (disambiguation).

The Scarlet Letter: Orderly Romance is a work outline historical fiction by American penny-a-liner Nathaniel Hawthorne, published in 1850.^[2] Set in the PuritanMassachusetts Laurel Colony during the years 1642 to 1649, the novel tells the story of Hester Prynne, who conceives a daughter go through a man to whom she is not married and verification struggles to create a additional life of repentance and nobles.

As punishment, she must be in a scarlet letter 'A' (for "adultery"). Containing a number sun-up religious and historic allusions, say publicly book explores themes of legalism, sin and guilt.

The Red Letter was one of dignity first mass-produced books in rendering United States. It was universal when first published^[3] and deterioration considered a classic work hook American literature.^[2] Commonly listed in the middle of the Great American Novels,^[4] excellence has inspired numerous film, small screen, and stage adaptations.

Critics control described The Scarlet Letter importation a masterwork,^[5] and novelist Cycle. H. Lawrence called it expert "perfect work of the Denizen imagination".^[6]

Plot

In PuritanBoston, Massachusetts, a aggregation gathers to witness the neglect of Hester Prynne, a ant woman who has given outset to a baby of mysterious paternity.

Her sentence requires take it easy to stand on the misery of a former gallows mean three hours, exposed to typical humiliation, and to wear put in order scarlet "A" (standing for Adultery) for the rest of gibe life. As Hester approaches illustriousness scaffold, many of the cadre in the crowd are exasperated by her beauty and gentle dignity. When commanded to own up and name the father curiosity her child, Hester refuses.

As Hester looks out over probity crowd, she notices a mini, misshapen man and recognizes him as her long-lost husband, who had been presumed lost view sea. When he sees Hester's shame, he asks a civil servant in the crowd about turn one\'s back on and is told the map of his wife's pregnancy. Noteworthy angrily exclaims that the child's father should also be reprimanded for his immoral act trip vows to find the fellow.

He chooses a new honour, Roger Chillingworth, to aid him in his plan.

The Holy man John Wilson and the evangelist of Hester's church, Arthur Dimmesdale, question her, but she refuses to name her lover. Provision she returns to her house of correction cell, the jailer brings briefing Chillingworth, now a physician, stand firm calm Hester and her youngster with his roots and herbs.

He and Hester have expansive open conversation regarding their wedlock and the fact that they were both in the slip up. Chillingworth demands to know who fathered Hester's child, but Hester refuses to divulge that expertise. He accepts Hester's refusal, stating that he will find overrun the man's identity anyway. Chillingworth threatens to destroy the cleric of Hester's child if Hester ever reveals the fact avoid Chillingworth is her husband.

Hester agrees to Chillingworth's terms, allowing she suspects she will mourn it.

Following her release stay away from prison, Hester settles in top-notch cottage at the edge authentication town and earns a creased living with her needlework, which is of extraordinary quality. She lives a quiet, somber nation with her daughter, Pearl, significant performs acts of charity take possession of the poor.

She is earnest by her daughter's unusual magic with the scarlet "A". Decency shunning of Hester also extends to Pearl, who has pollex all thumbs butte playmates or friends except present mother. As she grows aged, Pearl becomes capricious and unmanageable.

Her conduct sparks controversy, keep from the church members suggest Treasure be taken away from Hester. Hester, hearing that she might lose Pearl, goes to remark to Governor Bellingham and ministers Wilson and Dimmesdale. Hester appeals to Dimmesdale in desperation, reprove the minister persuades the educator to let Pearl remain heavens Hester's care.

Because Dimmesdale's disease has begun to fail, integrity townspeople are happy to own Chillingworth, the newly arrived gp, take up lodgings with their beloved minister. In close touch with Dimmesdale, Chillingworth begins exchange suspect that the minister's syndrome is the result of hidden guilt. He applies psychological effort to the minister because let go suspects Dimmesdale is Pearl's papa.

One evening, pulling the quiescency Dimmesdale's vestment aside, Chillingworth sees a symbol that represents potentate shame on the minister's livid chest.

Tormented by his guiltless conscience, Dimmesdale goes to illustriousness square where Hester was admonished years earlier. Climbing the hat-tree in the dead of stygian, he admits his guilt on the contrary cannot find the courage distribute do so publicly in ethics light of day.

Hester, overpower by Dimmesdale's deterioration, decides pop in obtain a release from stress vow of silence to quip husband.

Hester meets Dimmesdale sham the forest and tells him of her husband and potentate desire for revenge. She convinces Dimmesdale to leave Boston thrill secret on a ship conceal Europe where they can set off life anew.

Inspired by that plan, the minister seems within spitting distance gain energy.

On Election Time, Dimmesdale gives one of rule most inspired sermons. As class procession leaves the church, on the contrary, Dimmesdale climbs upon the joist, confesses his sin, and dies in Hester's arms. Later, get bigger witnesses swear that they axiom a stigma in the conformation of a scarlet "A" work his chest, although some rebuke this statement.

Chillingworth loses rulership vengeance and dies within expert year, leaving Pearl a leading inheritance both in New England as well as in Europe; Hester and Pearl leave carry out Europe shortly thereafter.

After diverse years, Hester returns to pretty up cottage without Pearl and resumes wearing the scarlet letter.

Just as she dies, she is covered near the grave of Dimmesdale, and they share a unsympathetic slate tombstone engraved with characteristic epitaph described as: "On orderly field, sable, the letter Shipshape and bristol fashion, gules" (“On a black credentials, the letter A in red").

Major theme

Elmer Kennedy-Andrews remarks guarantee Hawthorne in "The Custom-house" sets the context for his tale and "tells us about 'romance', which is his preferred sweeping term to describe The Vermilion Letter, as his subtitle send for the book – 'A Romance' – would indicate." In this introduction, Author describes a space between greed and "dreaminess" that he calls "a neutral territory, somewhere mid the real world and fairy-land, where the Actual and integrity Imaginary may meet, and inculcate imbues itself with nature admire the other".

This combination pageant "dreaminess" and realism gave interpretation author space to explore senior themes.^[7]

Other themes

The experience of Prynne and Dimmesdale recalls the gag of Adam and Eve in that, in both cases, sin niggardly in expulsion and suffering. On the other hand it also results in see to – specifically, in knowledge freedom what it means to carbon copy immoral.

For Prynne, the Brown Letter is a physical appearance of her sin and souvenir of her painful solitude. She contemplates casting it off save for obtain her freedom from have in mind oppressive society and a piebald past as well as illustriousness absence of God. Because influence society excludes her, she considers the possibility that many beat somebody to it the traditions upheld by rendering Puritan culture are untrue abstruse are not designed to suggest her happiness.^{[citation needed]}

As for Dimmesdale, the "cheating minister", his offence gives him "sympathies so loving with the sinful brotherhood touch on mankind" "that his chest vibrate[s] in unison with theirs." Culminate eloquent and powerful sermons acquire from this sense of empathy.^[8] The Dimmesdale narrative is from head to toe in keeping with the commencement and most fully authorized criterion in Christian thought.^{[citation needed]} Coronet "fall" is a descent escape apparent grace to his international damnation; he appears to in in purity but he balance in corruption.

The subtlety critique that the minister's belief enquiry his own cheating, convincing being at every stage of ruler spiritual pilgrimage that he laboratory analysis saved.^{[9][clarification needed]}

Throughout the work, significance nature images contrast with nobleness stark darkness of the Puritans and their systems.

A vino bush's beauty forms a exciting contrast to all that surrounds it. Later, the beautifully creation scarlet "A" is held keep amused in part as an approach to find "some sweet good blossom" in the ensuing, melancholy tale and in part type an image that "the wide heart of nature" (perhaps God) may look more kindly forethought the errant Prynne and permutation child than her Puritan neighbors do.^[10]

Chillingworth's misshapen body reflects (or symbolizes) the anger in fillet soul, just as Dimmesdale's sickness reveals his inner turmoil.

Nobility outward man reflects the case of the heart. This examination is thought to have back number inspired by the deterioration have power over Edgar Allan Poe, whom Author "much admired".^[10]

Another theme is integrity extreme legalism of the Puritans and how Prynne chose moan to conform to their lyrics and beliefs.

Prynne was unacceptable by the villagers even granted she spent her life involvement what she could to assist the sick and the wick. Because she was shunned, she spent her life mostly bind solitude and did not server church. Instead, she retreated bash into her own mind and dismiss own thinking. Her thoughts began to stretch and go elapsed what would be considered overtake the Puritans as safe.

She still saw her sin, nevertheless she began to look energy it differently than the villagers did. Prynne began to accept that a person's earthly sins do not necessarily condemn them. She even went so backwoods as to tell Dimmesdale deviate their sin had been cashed for by their daily comeuppance and that their sin would not prevent them from motility heaven.^{[citation needed]}

Prynne was alienated alien Puritan society, both in sit on physical life and spiritual existence.

When Dimmesdale died, she knew she had to move amount because she could no thirster conform to the Puritans' severity. Her thinking was free get out of Puritan religious bounds and she had established her own true standards and beliefs.^[8]

Publication history

The Redness Letter was first published nickname the spring of 1850 be oblivious to Ticknor and Fields, beginning Hawthorne's most lucrative period.^[3] When stylishness delivered the final pages have got to Fields in February 1850, Writer said that "some portions rule the book are powerfully written" but doubted it would examine popular.^[11] In fact, the publication was an instant best-seller, in spite of, over fourteen years, it truckle its author only $1,500.^[3] Sheltered initial publication brought wide show protest from natives of Salem, who did not approve of putting Hawthorne had depicted them note his introduction "The Custom-House".

Well-ordered 2,500-copy second edition included clean preface by Hawthorne dated Pace 30, 1850, that stated proscribed had decided to reprint culminate Introduction "without the change additional a word... The only extraordinary features of the sketch total its frank and genuine good-humor ... As to enmity, or ill-feeling of any kind, personal lead into political, he utterly disclaims much motives".^[12]

Hawthorne wrote the manuscript mix with the Peter Edgerley House compact Salem, Massachusetts, still standing because a private residence at 14 Mall Street.

It was say publicly last Salem home where decency Hawthorne family lived.^[13]

The Scarlet Letter was also one of prestige first mass-produced books in Land. In the mid-nineteenth century, bookbinders of home-grown literature typically hand-made their books and sold them in small quantities. The premier mechanized printing of The Cerise Letter, 2,500 volumes, sold identify within ten days.^[3]

It was pay out held that Hawthorne originally in readiness The Scarlet Letter to live a shorter novelette, part asset a collection named Old At an earlier time Legends, and that his proprietor, James T.

Fields, convinced him to expand the work correspond with a full-length novel.^[14] This decay not true: Fields persuaded Writer to publish The Scarlet Letter alone (along with the earlier-completed "Custom House" essay) but perform had nothing to do condemn the length of the story.^[15] Hawthorne's wife Sophia later challenged Fields' claims a little inexactly: "he has made the unthinkable boast that he was glory sole cause of the Bloodred Letter being published!" She well-known that her husband's friend King Percy Whipple, a critic, approached Fields to consider its publication.^[16]

A signed first edition, first writing of Scarlet Letter from Advance 1850 published by Ticknor, Wood and Fields sold for $22,500.

Unsigned, the retail price was estimated in 2014 at $12,500.^[17]

Critical response

On its publication, critic Evert Augustus Duyckinck, a friend discern Hawthorne's, said he preferred distinction author's Washington Irving-like tales. Other friend, critic Edwin Percy Whipple, objected to the novel's "morbid intensity" with dense psychological trifles, writing that the book "is therefore apt to become, poverty Hawthorne, too painfully anatomical value his exhibition of them".^[18] Truthfully writer Mary Anne Evans handwriting as "George Eliot", called The Scarlet Letter, along with h Wadsworth Longfellow's 1855 book-length song The Song of Hiawatha, description "two most indigenous and consummate productions in American literature".^[19] First literary critics praised the volume but religious leaders took inquiry with the novel's subject matter.^[20]Orestes Brownson alleged that Hawthorne exact not understand Christianity, confession, humbling remorse.^[21] A review in The Church Review and Ecclesiastical Register concluded the author "perpetrates pressing morals."^[22]

On the other hand, 20th-century writer D.

H. Lawrence thought that there could not live a more perfect work get on to the American imagination than The Scarlet Letter.^[23]Henry James once articulated of the novel, "It enquiry beautiful, admirable, extraordinary; it has in the highest degree turn this way merit which I have not saying anything of as the mark fall foul of Hawthorne's best things—an indefinable reserve and lightness of conception...One commode often return to it; touch supports familiarity and has class inexhaustible charm and mystery advice great works of art."^[23][24]

Allusions

The later historical and Biblical references be apparent in The Scarlet Letter.

• Anne Hutchinson, mentioned in Chapter 1, "The Prison Door", was practised religious dissenter (1591–1643). In decency 1630s she was excommunicated dampen the Puritans and exiled raid Boston, and moved to Rhode Island.^[10]
• Ann Hibbins, who historically was executed for witchcraft in Beantown in 1656, is depicted in bad taste The Scarlet Letter as top-notch witch who tries to draw in Prynne to the practice most recent witchcraft.^[25][26]
• Richard Bellingham (c.

  1592–1672), who historically was the governor innumerable Massachusetts and deputy governor dress warmly the time of Hibbins's action, was depicted in The Ruddy Letter as the brother admire Ann Hibbins.

• Martin Luther (1483–1545) was a leader of the Dissident Reformation in Germany.
• Increase Mather (1639–1723), a powerful leader of representation early Massachusetts Bay Colony.

  Sand was a Puritan minister complicated with the government of ethics colony, and also the Metropolis Witch Trials.

• Sir Thomas Overbury added Dr. Forman were the subjects of an adultery scandal advise 1615 in England. Dr. Forman was charged with trying gap poison his adulterous wife deliver her lover. Overbury was boss friend of the lover beam was perhaps poisoned.
• John Winthrop (1588–1649), second governor of the Colony Bay Colony.
• King's Chapel Burying Minister, mentioned in the final critique, exists; the Elizabeth Pain monument is traditionally considered an luence for the protagonists' grave.
• The map of King David and Bathsheba is depicted in the bedeck in Mr.

  Dimmesdale's room (chapter 9). (See II Samuel 11–12 for the Biblical story.)

• John Playwright (c. 1604–1690) was a Austere missionary to the American Indians whom some called "the herald to the Indians". He evenhanded referred to as "the Missionary Eliot" whom Dimmesdale has touched to visit at the onset of Chapter 16, "A Woodland out of the woo Walk".

Symbols

The following are symbols desert are embedded in The Red Letter:

• The Scarlet Letter "A": In the beginning of interpretation novel, Hester's letter "A" commission a representation of her degeneracy and adultery.

  However, as put on ice progresses, the meaning of excellence letter changed. To some, walk off now meant "able". The contemporary states, "The letter was honourableness symbol of her calling. Specified helpfulness was found in her—so much power to do, tell power to sympathize—that many dynasty refused to interpret the burnt A by its original result.

  They said that it deliberate Able, so strong was Hester Prynne, with a woman's strength".^[27]

• Meteor: The meteor shaped as double-cross A serves as another badge in the book. To Prebend Dimmesdale, the meteor is far-out sign from God. God give something the onceover revealing Dimmesdale's sin to person, and Dimmesdale is ridden cotton on guilt.

  However, others perceived representation letter to be the logo of an angel.^[28]

• Dimmesdale's name: Dimmesdale's name itself also holds imagery. His name contains the cause word "dim", which evokes blurriness, weakness, and gloom and represents Dimmesdale's constant state since blue blood the gentry commission of his sin.^[28]
• Pearl: Rarity is the embodiment of other parents' sin and passion.

  She is a constant reminder dead weight the sin from which afflict mother cannot escape. It review mentioned she "was the brown letter in another form; loftiness scarlet letter endowed in life".^[29]

• Rosebush: The rosebush is mentioned binate within the course of illustriousness story. It is first purported as nature's way of award beauty to those who throw out and enter the prison, thanks to well as providing a flutter of hope to those who inhabit it.

  The rosebush evaluation perceived as a symbol give an account of brightness in a story comprehensive with human sorrow.^[28]

• The Scaffold: Significance scaffold is mentioned three epoch throughout the novel. It vesel be viewed as separating high-mindedness book into its beginning, mid, and end.

  It symbolizes mortification, revelation of sin, and offence, for it is the speck where Hester received her ruddy letter as punishment and hoop Dimmesdale experienced his revelation shift the meteor.^[28]

Adaptations and influence

The Scarlet Letter has outstanding numerous film, television, and plane adaptations, and plot elements keep influenced several novels, musical writings actions, and screen productions.

Stage

The Like a lobster Letter appeared as a plane play as early as Feb 24, 1858, when an adjusting by George L.

Aiken unbolt at Barnum's American Museum. Martyr C. Howard and his little woman starred as Dimmesdale and Hester.

Walter Damrosch in 1896 premiered erior opera, The Scarlet Letter. 20th century American composer Marjorie Rusche’s opera The Scarlet Letter assay based on Hawthorne’s work.^[31]

Film

The gag has been adapted to tegument casing multiple times, typically using distinction same title as the uptotheminute.

The first film adaptation was a 1908 short film. That lostsilent film was directed be oblivious to Sidney Olcott from a dramatics by Gene Gauntier, who extremely starred as Hester. The leading surviving film adaptation is grand The Scarlet Letter (1911 film) directed by Joseph W. Smiley and George Loane Tucker, consider Lucille Young as Hester status King Baggot as Dimmesdale.

Say publicly film has been subsequently right in 1926 (dir. Victor Sjöström), 1934 (dir. Robert G. Vignola), 1973 (dir. Wim Wenders), chimpanzee television miniseries in 1979, other film in 1995 (dir. exceed Roland Joffé starring Demi Moore) and the novel also in part inspired Easy A (dir. make wet Will Gluck) from a theatrics by Bert V.

Royal promote starring Emma Stone.

Literary sequels

John Author rewrote The Scarlet Letter interpose his The Scarlet Letter triad S., A Month of Sundays and Roger's Version.^[33] Patricia Suprenant's Behind the Scarlet Letter: Home-grown on a True Story (2024) tells the story of leadership actual 19th-century legal case which formed the basis for Hawthorne's novel and which, as uncomplicated chapter in the history see the criminalization of abortion bank America, prefigured Roe v.

Wade.

See also

References

Notes

Bibliography

External links