The Scarlet Letter as a Love Story - Essay Example

Section/# The Scarlet Letter as a Love Story One of the unique aspects of exceptional literature is the fact that it is oftentimes the case that different scholars can approach key points of understanding within such literature in a variety of different ways. For instance, even the Greek classical works continue to elicit a level of controversy and discussion among scholars that seek to interpret true philosophical undertones and overtones that the respective writers sought to impart to the reader. In much the same way, Nathaniel Hawthorne’s penultimate novel, The Scarlet Letter, has continued to evoke a level of controversy among scholars and casual readers alike. The underlying root of this controversy is whether or not this particular novel can in fact be described as a love story between Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale; the two main characters around whom the novel focuses. Accordingly, in seeking to analyze this particular question and providing a level of textual support to serve as evidence with regards to the stance of this particular student, the following discussion will be concentric upon promoting the idea and understanding that even though many other themes exist within this particular novel, an unmistakable and easily denoted reality is that the action of the entire piece is predicated not upon lust, betrayal, adultery, or public censure; rather, it is predicated upon a disarmingly complex yet simple love story between the two main characters. Strangely enough, one of the first textual points of evidence that will be presented with respect to the fact that the novel is indeed a love story, is with regards to the introductory sentences that help to introduce The Scarlet Letter. Says Hawthorne, “A writer of story-books! What kind of a business in life,—what mode of glorifying God, or being serviceable to mankind in his day and generation,—may that be? Why, the degenerate fellow might as well have been a fiddler!” Such are the compliments bandied between my great-grandsires and myself, across the gulf of time! And yet, let them scorn me as they will, strong traits of their nature have intertwined themselves with mine” (Hawthorne 23). Even though this particular quote might not seem to evoke any special response, it must be understood that the meaning behind these lines is something of an apology. Ultimately, the author, Hawthorne, was somewhat disquieted about writing such a simple love story. In this way, the introductory quote that is referenced above helps to serve as something of a preliminary apology with regards to presenting such a complex love story within the guise of something seemingly different. Further on in the story, Pearl asks a telling question that turns into something of a prophetic comment which further helps to prove the underlying nature of the novel as a love story. Says Pearl, “Mother,” said little Pearl, “the sunshine does not love you. It runs away and hides itself, because it is afraid of something on your bosom. . . . It will not flee from me, for I wear nothing on my bosom yet!” (Hawthorne 99). The clear level of understanding that can be had with regards to this specific quote is the fact that even though it is not clear whether or not Hester waits for the father of Pearl to come back into her life, Pearl seems to understand perfectly well that this is the case; equating “the sunshine” with Dimmesdale; retreating, hesitant, uncertain, and fearful because of the stigma that the adulteress has upon her character. In this way, even though a clear determination at this point of the story does not reveal whether or not the entire tale should be considered a “love story”, Pearl’s prophetic level of understanding seems to leave no doubt with regards to the true nature of the novel. Similarly, another quote that helps to solidify the understanding that the novel of the Scarlet Letter is in fact a love story is with regards to the following quote. Says Hawthorne, But Hester Prynne, with a mind of native courage and activity, and for so long a period not merely estranged, but outlawed, from society, had habituated herself to such latitude of speculation as was altogether foreign to the clergyman. She had wandered, without rule or guidance, in a moral wilderness (Hawthorne 91).  Ultimately, a clear picture of Hester as a spinster that wanders aimlessly throughout a world of meaninglessness and ostracism points to the tacit understanding that this exile must have some type of denouement in which all of the pain, suffering, and self imposed hardship will be salvaged to have a meaning. Further evidence of the hushed and hopeful nature of the relationship that Hester harbored is found with respect to the way in which Hester admonishes Pearl of what is and what is not kosher for discussion. Says Pearl to Hester, Mother, was that the same minister that kissed me by the brook?” “Hold thy peace, dear little Pearl!” whispered her mother. “We must not always talk in the market-place of what happens to us in the forest (Hawthorne 208).” Although it is of course true that Hester was uniquely interested in keeping the further relationship between Pearl’s father and herself a secret, an element and undertone of hope and a perennial belief that somehow the situation could write itself in the future is represented throughout the entire novel. Perhaps the greatest and most profound quote that helps to point towards the understanding that this particular novel is in fact a love story is with regards to the following quote: says Hawthorne, “Love, whether newly born or aroused from a deathlike slumber, must always create sunshine, filling the heart so full of radiance, that it overflows upon the outward world (Hawthorne 139).”  In such a way, the tacit understanding that is represented is with regards to the belief that even though life is represented an unrealistic hardship for Hester and for the minister, the ultimate reward that could be had and the ultimate patients, long-suffering, and hope that provided power for Hester to continue on with her life was an undying bond that existed between these two individuals. Although their past relations had of course been brief, it was an undiminished hope for the future necessarily would allow an individual such as Hester, ostracized as she was from our own society, to continue to open believe that the future was worth living for. Even though the novel itself represents something of an asymmetrical approach to the traditional “love story”, the thing of Hawthorne presents something of a warning to the reader with respect to the type of love and passion that was exhibited within the novel itself. Says Hawthorne, “Let men tremble to win the hand of woman, unless they win along with it the utmost passion of her heart!” (Hawthorne 124). As such, such a warning is not only represented as a means of helping the reader to understand love in a more profound way, it is also represented with the specific aim of underscoring the fact that Hester maintained such a love for the minister and was willing to endure the hardships and suffering that necessarily defined her life as a result of this unrequited and exceptional level of love. Once again, Hawthorne is able to present a word of warning to the reader and an understanding of what the ultimate impacts of such a level of love, as represented by Hester, could in fact portend. From the information that is thus far been presented, it can definitively be seen that even though a traditional interpretation of love is not clearly denoted within the novel in question, a more hidden and elusive definition of this concept is represented throughout. Rather than coming directly out within the first few chapters and pointing to the fact that Hester could not let the memory of the minister escape her mind nor ceased to hold on from the belief that somehow, someday the two of them would be together, Hawthorne instead eases the reader into something of a innate belief that the novel itself is far from what could otherwise be understood as a trite love story. However, as the chapters progress and the reader is left with a more full and nuanced interpretation of the way in which Hester direct her life and seeks to define the future, it is slowly but surely understood that each and every decision that is made, whether it is with regards to fleeing the town, living a life of hardship, or facing an individual that she has sworn to protect on a nearly daily basis, each of these actions is undertaken as a labor of unimaginable love and kindness. Although it is not fair to interpret that all of Hester’s actions are predicated upon belief that she and the minister would one day reconcile and her love would be complete, it is fair to say that an underlying aspect of the entire love story is perennial and ceaseless level of devotion and hope that Hester had with regards to what the future might hold. Work Cited Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Scarlet Letter. New York: Dover Publications, 1994. Print. Read More