Book Analysis Project Taylor Heasley Period AB

Nathaniel Hawthorne was born on July 4, 1804 in Boston, Massachusetts. Hawthorne was the son of Elizabeth Clarke Manning and Nathaniel Hawthorne. When Hawthorne was only 4, his father who was in the navy died. Hawthorne’s ancestors were some of the first Puritans to settle into the New England area. His great grandfather lived during the Salem Witch Trials which provided a theme for most of his novels such as The Scarlet Letter and The House of Seven Gables. From , Hawthorne attended Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine. Hawthorne had no interest in professional jobs and was already writing short stories of his own. Hawthorne married Sophia Peabody on July 9, 1842 in Boston. Sophia was a painter. Hawthorne and Sophia had 3 children together; 2 daughters, Una and Rose, and a son Julian who would become a future writer. In 1853, the Hawthorne family set sail for Liverpool, England where Hawthorne would be serving as U.S Consul. Common Sense Media writes, “Hawthorne's prose is dense with irony and symbolism, but readers who persevere will be rewarded by his subtle humor and acute understanding of human foibles.” Other works of Hawthorne’s include, The Blithedale Romance, Tanglewood Tales for Girls and Boys, The Marble Faun and Our Old Home, which was his last publication before his death. Sadly, Hawthorne died on May 19, 1864 and his wife Sophia died in 1871 after spending her remaining years editing Hawthorne’s books for publication. Hawthorne is buried on Author’s Ridge in the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Concord, Massachusetts. Nathaniel Hawthorne Source: literature.com/hawtho rne /

Character Profile: Hester Prynne Hester Prynne is a woman who wears the letter, “A” for committing adultery. Hester is married to Roger Chillingworth, who sends her to Massachusetts alone while he finishes up some business in London. While alone in Massachusetts, Hester and the Reverend Dimmesdale have an affair.This affair results in Hester becoming pregnant. She is arrested for committing adultery and is sentenced to wear a scarlet letter “A” to let everyone know what she was. Hester refuses to admit to who her partner in this crime was. Hester admits her feelings to Roger on page 69, while he is posing as a physician. Hester states, “thou knowest that I was frank with thee. I felt no love, nor feigned any.” Pearl and Hester live in a cottage on the outskirts of town. Hester is independent and makes a living to support herself and Pearl by becoming a seamstress and selling her work throughout the town. The letter “A” on Hester’s is embroidered with gold to show that she is embracing her punishment and who she is.

Character Profile: Continued Dimmesdale eventually reveals that he is Pearl’s father to the public. Soon after, Dimmesdale dies. Hester and Pearl leave the colony of Massachusetts but Hester returns years later. When Hester returns she is honored and people come to her whenever they are in need.

Conflict Analysis: Hester Prynne And Roger Chillingworth Hester, who is mainly in conflict with Arthur Dimmesdale also finds herself to come into conflict with Roger Chillingworth. Roger is Hester’s husband. During Chapter 3, Roger arrives in Massachusetts just in time to see his wife Hester being publicly shamed for committing the crime of adultery. Roger does not reveal his true identity, and instead poses as a doctor. On page 66, Roger Chillingworth is announced as the physician Hester was waiting to see. On Page 70, Roger admits to having wronged Hester and attempts to find out the identity of Hesters lover.“We have wronged each other,” answered he. “Mine was the first wrong, when I betrayed thy budding youth into a false and unnatural relation with my decay. Therefore, as a man who has not thought and philopisized in vain, I seek no vengance, plot no evil against thee. Between thee and me, the scale hangs fairly balanced. But, Hester, the man lives who has wronged us both! Who is he?”

Conflict Analysis: Continued Hester refuses to give up Dimmesdales identity, which angers Chillingworth. Chillingworth states that he wants to keep his true identity a secret. “‘I will keep thy secret, as I have his,’ said Hester. ‘Swear it!’ rejoined he. And she took the oath.” Chillingworth and Hester talk for a little longer, and then Chillingworth leaves. On his way out he bids Hester goodbye and questions her about her sentence. “ Doth thy sentence bind thee to wear thy token in thy sleep? Are thou not afraid of nightmares hideous dreams?”

Conflict Analysis: Continued “Why dost thou smile so at me?” inquired Hester, troubled at the expression of his eyes. “Art thou like the Black Man, that haunts the forest round about us? Has thou enticed me into a bond that will prove the ruin of my soul?” “Not thy soul,” he answered, with another smile. “No, not thine!” Chillingworth then leaves.

Theme The punishment imposed on us by others may not be as destructive as the guilt we impose on ourselves. Dimmesdale was afraid of the consequences he might receive for being Hester’s lover, so he didn’t own up to his actions. In the end, the outcomes of his own guilt were much worse. Dimmesdale chose to keep his role in the crime a secret causing his guilt to build up inside him. Dimmesdale wants to take responsibility for his actions but, he is worried of the punishments he may receive especially because he is a reverend. The guilt building inside him causes him to become ill. Secretly, Dimmesdale is punishing himself and the readers soon find out that Dimmesdale also wears an “A” on his chest under his clothing. Eventually, Dimmesdale admits to being Hester’s lover, and also Pearls father. Once his guilt is gone, Dimmesdale eventually dies. The punishment you may receive, is not always as bad as the punishment you might inflict on yourself. However, Dimmesdale did not realize this and let his own guilt ruin him. Dimmesdales mistakes provide an example of what your own guilt can do for you, and that keeping sins a secret isn’t always the better way to go.

Personal Reflection The Scarlet Letter is an intriguing novel about an adulteress in the mid-17 th century. I enjoyed reading and learning about the history and laws of this time. This is a book that I would recommend reading. The book has given me a perspective about the consequences of sin and not telling the truth. The novel is about Hester Prynne, who commits adultery with Arthur Dimmesdale. This act of sin results in a pregnancy and Hester is shunned for her actions. The identity of her lover isn’t revealed and Dimmesdale suffers due to guilt. Hesters is punished by having to wear a scarlet letter “A” on all of her clothing to let everyone know of the crime she committed. Dimmesdale also wears an “A” on his chest under his clothing, all though no one knows he was her partner. I can relate to the theme of this story. Growing up with a younger brother, we fought a lot and I would blame my actions on him. My guilt led me to feel bad and eventually tell the truth. This novel would be best for adolescents and teenagers. It shows the consequences of lying and sin. The novel could help teenagers accept their punishments and to tell the truth.