Conformity and Identity in the Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne - Book Report/Review Example

?Running head: THE SCARLET LETTER Scarlet Letter Essay Jessica Jarosz Baker College Online Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter remains one of the best examples of Puritan literature – a novel, which points to the inadequacy of the Puritan beliefs and the moral duality of the Puritan culture. This paper reviews Hawthorne’s novel from a new, conformity vs. individuality angle. The context in which the novel was created is discussed. Hester’s silent challenge against conformity is evaluated. The paper reviews the place of Dimmesdale in the development of the conflict and assesses the gap between man’s law and personal uniqueness. The goal of this paper is to understand what message Hawthorne’s novel sends to readers. Keywords: Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne, Hester, Puritan, Dimmesdale, conformity, identity. Scarlet Letter Review Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter remains one of the brightest reflections of the conformity vs. identity conflict in the Puritan society. Written by a person of the highest moral order, the novel reveals the complexity of the Puritan ideals and beliefs and points to the moral inadequacy of the Puritan culture. The novel itself was created during one of the most difficult moments in Hawthorne’s life – his fight against the prejudiced conventions of the Puritan society added rigor and pain to the moral and physical tortures of his characters. In The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne’s characters constantly fight to maintain a balance of uniqueness and conformity. The appearance versus purity contradiction accompanies the protagonists in their way to self-actualization and happiness. Hawthorne’s novel is profoundly philosophical and exposes the deficiencies of the Puritan world. In The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne sends the final message of duality in the Puritan culture, in which society tries to achieve the ultimate point of conformity, and individuals use silence and physical tortures to construct and reproduce their identity in the repressive realities of life. Hester Prynne: Silence as a Passive Revolt against Conformity The duality of the Puritan society and an ongoing fight between conformity and individuality is the main thread of Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter. Better than anyone else, jobless Hawthorne realized that any attempt to stand out from the Puritan conformity would be inevitably crushed by conformity. In the first chapter of The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne (1850) compares “the colony to a kind of utopia, where a portion of the virgin soil must be allotted as a cemetery, and another portion of the soil become a site for a prison” (Hawthorne, 1850). In other words, in a small community torn between a prison and a cemetery, there is no place left to individuality, self-realization, and achievements. All members of Hawthorne’s society are bound to comply with the rules set by the Puritan majority. This is probably because the Puritan culture consciously tries to separate individuals from subjective feelings and meanings. The Puritan community deprives people of their right to freedom – freedom of speech, freedom of expression, and even freedom of thought. The however is the most problematic aspect of Puritan existence, since even the strictest rules cannot guarantee the destruction of individuality. In his novel, Nathaniel Hawthorn sends a message of ineradicable, inconsumable individuality, which people try to preserve through silence and physical tortures against the repressive realities of Puritan life. Hawthorne’s novel centers on the discussion of Hester Prynne and her moral failure. Guilty of adultery, Hester carries the red letter A and must spend the rest of her life in isolation and humility. With a small child in her hands, Hester has no chance to escape Puritan condemnation. Her feelings do not matter, as far as she is a member of the Puritan community and must abide to its laws and principles. Hester is subjected to public judgment. She is faced with the realities of the Puritan life, which leave no room for individuality. She is used as an example of immorality and religious non-compliance – a lesson, which other women of the colony must learn by heart: “It would be greatly for the public behoof, if we women, being of mature age and church-members in good repute, should have the handling of such malefactresses as this Hester Prynne” (Hawthorne, 1850). Hester Prynne is what should and should not be done by those, who want to be (or to look?) church members in good repute (Hawthorne, 1850). In Hawthorne’s novel, this passage speaks of the role of public humiliation and condemnation, which show how the Puritans must behave. It is a good lesson for goodwives, who want to escape the fear of public humiliation and live their lives in accordance with the basic conventions of the Puritan church. Hester is silent, and her silence creates an impression of humility, obedience, and agreement with what is happening to her in the Puritan community. She refuses to reveal the name of her lover and assumes a role of a speechless, impersonal being that experiences the sense of guilt and wants to redeem her fault by all possible means. She stands in front of the crowd, keeping her baby close to her bosom (Hawthorne, 1850). Lady-like, tall, and elegant, she is blushing and smiling at the same time (Hawthorne, 1850). She looks unusual and unused to wearing a letter A, embroidered on her gown with red and gold threads (Hawthorne, 1850). At this moment, she looks as if she has given up her individuality. From now on, the scarlet letter A is her name, title, and status. Coupled with Hester’s physical beauty, the scarlet letter creates an effect of a spell (Hawthorne, 1850). It takes her out of the ordinary system of Puritan relations, inclosing her in a unique sphere closed from the rest of the Puritans (Hawthorne, 1850). It should be noted, that The Scarlet Letter was written in 1850, the time of serious anguish and loss for Hawthorne (Ghasemi & Abbasi, 2009). Jobless and desperate, Hawthorne sat down to write a novel, which would later become one of the best and most popular works of Puritan literature. Hawthorne’s jobless status threw him into the struggle against his own individuality. Hawthorne tried but could not meet Puritan society’s expectations. The Puritan community haunted and zeroed every aspect of individual creativity ever imaginable (Ghasemi & Abbasi, 2009). To be public, individuals had to wear a mask of guilt, humiliation, and piety, which most of the Puritan community members willingly removed at home. Only at home many of them could enjoy the sense of relief and happiness at being themselves. Hawthorne recognized and realized the gravity of the situation but, as a member of that community, could hardly do anything against it. “In appearance the Puritan culture stressed human nature common to all its members while in reality each individual is a unique self with personal desires to be fulfilled” (Ghasemi & Abbasi, 2009, p.3). It is possible to assume that Hawthorne’s novel is a step to challenge the established order of things in the Puritan society (Ghasemi & Abbasi, 2009). Moreover, it is Hester Prynne, who becomes the main instrument of revenge in Hawthorne’s hands – a revenge equally silent, unexpected, and surprisingly effective. Really, this silence is deceptive as it is also vengeful. This silence is not the sign of compliance but an instrument of passive rebellion against the conventions of the Puritan society. Hester chooses silence as the most reliable method of survival in her community. It actually denies the validity of the Puritan penal machine (Hawthorne, 1850). It is the most relevant way to challenge the power of the Puritan norms and preserve her identity. “I will not speak![…]And my child must seek a heavenly Father; she shall never know an earthly one!” (Hawthorne, 1850). Hester does not want to reveal the name of her child’s father; this is how she tries to keep her inner world intact by the power and influence of Puritans. Hester is so compelling in her silence that this form of passive revenge becomes almost ironic. Really, men choose to silence women in their search of domination and compliance, but when a woman consciously subjects herself to the oath of muteness, the latter helps her to preserve her individuality, autonomy, and uniqueness. Hester’s silence does not mean compliance; nor does it mean that she agrees with how the community treats her. Her silence is more rebellious than any act of eloquent speech could ever be. This silence causes paradoxical effects on Hester and the community in which she lives. On the one hand, it gives her freedom of speculation, which is a crime deadlier than being stigmatized by a scarlet letter (Hawthorne, 1850). On the other hand, silence pushes Hester to the edge of the social margin and leaves no space for moral retreat. Hester’s silence is the silence in action. It is more dangerous to the stability of the Puritan order than any word Hester could ever try to utter. Silence gives Hester freedom of thought. It is through silence that she successfully fights against conformity and manages to preserve her individuality against all odds. It is through silence that Hester successfully reconstructs her own reality, in order to be what she wants to be in the Puritan world. Certainly, Hester’s silence is not without controversy. She confines herself to the world of her own ideas, preferences and illusions. However, her silence causes much pain and suffering to her lover Dimmesdale. Moreover, it aids Chillingsworth in his revenge on Dimmesdale: with Hester’s being silent, Chillingworth confirms his suspicions about Dimmesdale and leads the young minister to the tragic end. Yet, no revolution is possible without losses. No revenge is possible without blood. No revolt happens without suffering and, probably, Dimmesdale is a logical sacrifice. Hester’s “interview with the Reverend Mr. Dimmesdale, on the night of his vigil, had given her a new theme of reflection, and held her up to her an object that appeared worthy of any exertion and sacrifice for its attainment” (Hawthorne, 1850). Hester’s interview with the Reverend suggests that any sacrifice is justified, when freedom and individuality are at stake. Dimmesdale’s death is partially the product of his conscious choice and the inadequacy of the Puritan norms. It is a sacrifice which is inevitable, given Hester and Dimmesdale’s mutual striving to preserve their individuality against the conformity of Puritanism. It is the ultimate expression of their mutual success in meeting their “individuality” goals. Dimmesdale, Man’s Law, and Individuality Where Hester chooses silence to rebel against the conformity of the Puritan norms, Dimmesdale tries to preserve his individuality through physical and moral suffering. The latter indicate Reverend’s willingness to withstand the pressure of the Puritan norms. Like no other character, Dimmesdale exemplifies the duality of life in the Puritan society and exposes the power of individuality behind the mask of conformity in the Puritan colony. The character of Dimmesdale is much more complicated than that of Hester and Chillingsworth. In his acts and endeavors, Dimmesdale confirms the complexity of his mind and spirit and reveals profound knowledge of human vulnerabilities. His decision to subject himself to moral tortures suggests that he, like Hester, does not want to give up his individuality. Through fasting and torturing himself, Dimmesdale creates and reproduces a new reality of his life. At the other side of his moral continuum, Dimmesdale also confirms the power of conformity in the society, to which he belongs. His role of a Reverend and his public image will never give him a second chance, if he decides to confess. His role is that of a remorseful hypocrite, as Hawthorne (1850) calls him. That Dimmesdale does not confess means that (a) he is too weak to rebel against the Puritan conventions, and (b) the power of conformity is too strong to let him go. This hypocrisy is just another form of punishing Dimmesdale for his sin. Negative connotations aside, the choice of hypocrisy can be reasonable and acceptable, given the social pressure of norms in the colony. What Dimmesdale does to save his individuality is also necessary to protect Hester from further condemnation and punishment. In the meantime, he wants to speak out the truth about Hester and himself (Hawthorne, 1850). He longs to confess and alleviate the burden of moral pain. However, his public image of sanctity and holiness makes it extremely difficult to speak out. He does not have enough courage to tell people what he really is. He is a coward and hypocrite, but these features are merely products of the social and religious conformity, which borders on hegemony and moral totalitarianism. In case of Dimmesdale, hypocrisy and cowardice serve a reliable shield against the destructive power of conformity. Both are justified to the extent, which lets the Reverend preserve his individuality. Both send a message of duality in the Puritan society and suggest that individuals would rather choose to create and reproduce their own realities rather than sacrifice their uniqueness for the sake of public approval. The man’s law which Hawthorne mentions in his novel has far-reaching implications for understanding the individuality vs. conformity conflict. What is a man and what role does he play in the evolution of the Puritan society? These are the questions which Hawthorne (1850) is trying to answer. These “man’s” laws are not created by men who are unique, sensual, and individual in their decisions but by men who are abstract, moral, political, and, as a result, artificial. This artificiality creates a mass of indistinct humans, who are vexed with the ambiguity of impressions but never reveal their concerns (Hawthorne, 1850). These laws distort the power of the Biblical world and turn love into a sin. In a society of conformity, no one is allowed to speak out his truth. No one is allowed to stand out and against the hegemony of Puritanism. However, even against the overwhelming potency of the religious and social norms, humans have everything needed to be and act like individuals. Hester uses silence to preserve her individuality. Dimmesdale’s uniqueness expresses and reflects through continuous agony, physical pain, suffering, hypocrisy and cowardice. None of these features is bad, as long as it gives people another chance to stand out of the crowd. Neither Dimmesdale nor Hester is guilty of sin, hypocrisy or cowardice, as it is because of the hegemony of Puritanism that they are fated to create and reproduce their own realities for the sake of attaining the goal of individuality and uniqueness. Conclusion Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter is one of the brightest reflections of the conformity vs. identity conflict in the Puritan society. In his novel, Nathaniel Hawthorne sends the final message of duality in the Puritan culture, where society fights to achieve the ultimate point of conformity, whereas individuals seek to preserve their identity by constructing and reproducing new realities of life. Through silence and self-torture, Hester Prynne and Reverend Dimmesdale subject themselves to the hegemony of Puritanism and simultaneously manage to preserve their individuality. In case of Dimmesdale, hypocrisy and cowardice serve a reliable shield against the destructive power of conformity. Both are justified to the extent, which lets the Reverend preserve his individuality. However, even against the overwhelming potency of the religious and social norms, humans have everything needed to be and act like individuals. Hester uses silence to preserve her individuality. Dimmesdale’s uniqueness expresses and reflects through continuous agony, physical pain, suffering, hypocrisy and cowardice. It is because of the hegemony of Puritanism that they are fated to create and reproduce their own realities for the sake of attaining the goal of individuality and uniqueness. References Ghasemi, P. & Abbasi, P. (2009). A thematic analysis of Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter. K@ta, 11(1), 1-17. Hawthorne, N. (1850). The Scarlet Letter. Ibiblio.org. Retrieved from http://www.ibiblio.org/eldritch/nh/sl.html Criterion Factor Level 4 Level 3 Level 2 Level 1 Outstanding Acceptable Developing Failing Content Thesis statement of topic and controlling idea Identifiable, strong statement of the controlling idea (thesis) that enhances the topic discussion Identifiable, clear statement of a controlling idea (thesis) that focuses only through structure Identifiable yet overly broad or weak controlling idea (thesis) Lacks an identifiable or appropriate thesis and/or controlling idea Critical Thinking engagement with the material; demonstrates insightful ideas from a thorough examination and understanding of the topic Balance of source and original ideas shows consistent interaction with the sources and evidence of critical thinking Balance of source and original ideas shows inconsistent interaction with the sources and a decrease in thinking Ideas rely too heavily on sources rather than on critical thinking; shows minimal interaction between sources and original ideas Lacks engagement with the material or lacks evidence of critical thinking Development Supports the thesis through use of relevant and sufficient evidence and explanation Supports and explains ideas, using appropriate, relevant and objective evidence that applies deductive reasoning and useful distinctions Supports and explains ideas, using some relevant, objective evidence that applies some deductive reasoning or useful distinctions Supports and explains ideas by relying on subjective and/or irrelevant information that does not apply deductive reasoning and distinctions are missing Lacks support, explanation, and development of ideas; lacks reasoning, and/or distinctions Research Integration proper incorporation of credible source material Consistent integration of research that provides analysis; uses a variety of credible sources Integration of research that provides commentary; uses a variety of credible sources Inconsistent integration of research without commentary; does not use a variety of credible sources Lacks integration of research; lacks credible sources Organization Introduction (including thesis) creation of interest and theme Creates strong focus and theme, interesting construction Demonstrates clear focus and theme, straightforward construction Demonstrates weak focus and theme, uninteresting construction Lacks focus, theme, and/or interest Body writing relates to the thesis, fits together, and flows in effective order Writing maintains a unified focus on the thesis with fluid order and effective transitions Writing connects to the thesis but with lapses in focus; uses transitions and displays order Writing occasionally lapses in focus and connection to the thesis; uses ineffective transitions and order Lacks focus, order, and/or transitions Conclusion refocuses reader on theme and controlling idea Uses an effective conclusion strategy; leaves a strong impact on the reader Provides closure but leaves minimal impact on the reader Repeats main points; leaves no impact on the reader Lacks a conclusion or includes an irrelevant conclusion Writing Conventions Rhetorical Strategies purpose, assignment, and audience (voice, tone, word choice, academic language) Addresses purpose and audience; demonstrates excellent use of academic language (style, voice, tone, word choice); fulfills the assignment Awareness of purpose and audience; demonstrates appropriate level of academic language with some minor errors (style, voice, tone, word choice); fulfills the assignment Lapses in awareness of purpose and/or audience, use of non-academic language interferes with readability (style, voice, tone, word choice); lapses in meeting assignment Lacks purpose and/or attention to audience, displaying lack of academic language (style, voice, tone, word choice); does not fulfill assignment APA Document Design in-text citations, references page, formatting Correctly uses in-text citations for all sources; properly formats essay and references page Uses in-text citations to identify sources; formatting and /or references page displays minor errors Frequently missing in-text citations; improperly formats essay and references page Lacks in-text citations; lacks proper formatting; missing or irrelevant references page Surface Features sentence structure, run-ons, fragments, agreement, punctuation, capitalization, spelling, etc. Demonstrates knowledge and use of conventions; enhances the readability of the essay Uses conventions with minor errors in grammar, punctuation, etc. that do not detract from the readability of the essay Difficulties with readability due to incorrect application of conventions Lacks proper use of conventions; lacks readability Read More