Hawthorne and the Scarlett Letter

Background info

• Born in Salem, MA
• (1804–1864)
• Best known novels 'The Scarlet Letter' and 'The House of Seven Gables,'
• Studied at Bowdoin College, Maine

Main lesson: Don't take naps

May 19, 1864

Buried near Concord, Sleepy Hollow Cemetery on Author's Ridge, where Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau and Louisa May Alcott are also buried.

Dark Romanticism

Cautionary tales that suggest that guilt, sin, and evil are the most inherent natural qualities of humanity

Thomas Cole The Course of Empire 1833–1836

The Scarlet Letter as genre exemplar

• Puritan society works as an analogue for mankind, portraying the human soul under extreme pressures.
• From Salem, Purtians were close to Hawthorne's own background, and could be used also to reference the contemporary political setting.
• Hester, Dimmesdale, and Chillingworth, all move within the Puritan world, while expressing universal norms.
• Anyone remember Monica Lewinsky? Can we relate this for modern day online moral outrage?

Discussion Questions

1. Identify the characteristics of Dark Romanticism as expressed in works by American authors.

2. Explain the difference between "Romanticism" and "Dark Romanticism."

3. How does Gothic Literature differ from "Dark Romanticism"?

4. Nathaniel Hawthorne began his writing career considered a Romantic author, then moved towards Transcendentalism, before rejecting it in favor of the genre of his greatest success: "Dark Romanticism." Think of an example of his work from each of these genres and discuss their contrasting styles.

5. Discuss the treatment of morality and social conventions (peer pressure) in this genre. Feel free to draw from The Scarlet Letter.

6. Identify a modern author whom you think fits the Dark Romanticism genre (e.g., Stephen King, J.K. Rowling, Joyce Carol Oates). Provide evidence to support your choice, providing examples from their work.

Symbolism

Red rose is symbolic of love

Dove is symbolic of peace

White color is symbolic of purity

Black color is symbolic of evil or death

*symbols are often cultural

THE DOOR

AND

THE ROSE

BUSH

THE LETTER 'A'

... AND THE

COLOR RED

THE SCAFFOLD

THE METEOR

SHADOW AND LIGHT

THE FOREST

PEARL

Dimmesdale and Chillingworth

THE BLACK MAN

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

• What is significant about the novel's title?
• What do YOU think Pearl symbolizes? How is her name significant?
• What is the significance of Pearl not recognizing Hester without her scarlet 'A'?
• What are some other symbols in The Scarlet Letter? How do they relate to the plot and characters?

WHAT IS ALLEGORY??

GRACE

SECRETS

GUILT

JUDGEMENT

HYPOCRISY

A

A SYMBOLIC STORY

DISCUSSION

• Is Hester Prynne an admirable character? Why or why not?
• How do we learn the true character of Roger Chillingworth? Is he believable as a villain?
• Is Arthur Dimmesdale an admirable character? How would you describe him and his relationship with Hester?
• What is the moral statement Hawthorne is making throughout The Scarlet Letter?
• Do you agree with what how Hawthorne interprets the shortcomings of Puritan society?
• Does the story end the way you expected? What's significant about the novel's ending?

FILM ADAPTATIONS

THE CRUCIBLE

SCARLET LETTER IN POP CULTURE TODAY

Monica Lewinksy Case

Affairs and public shaming

McCarthyism

DISCUSSION

• Would you consider The Scarlet Letter to be a work of feminist literature? Why or why not?
• How essential are the settings, both geographical and temporal, to the story? Could the story have taken place anywhere else or in any other time period?
• Do you think the Scarlet Letter will continue to be a popular piece of literature? Is it still relevant?
• The Scarlet Letter is considered a romance by many literary scholars. Do you think that is an accurate categorization? Why or why not?

That's the end! You survived!

YAAAAAYYYYYYYYY!