1. Nathaniel Hawthorne and The Scarlet Letter Overview Video

2. NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE HHHH aaaa wwww tttt hhhh oooo rrrr nnnn eeee '''' ssss L L L L iiii ffff eeee

3. Born July 4, 1804 in Salem, MA Born July 4, 1804 in Salem, MA Education- Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine (38 freshmen, 5 faculty members) Education- Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine (38 freshmen, 5 faculty members) Married Sophia Peabody in 1842 Married Sophia Peabody in 1842 Job at Custom House 1839-40, 46-49 Job at Custom House 1839-40, 46-49 3 Children 3 Children Moved to England, France, and Rome after Salem Moved to England, France, and Rome after Salem Died in 1864 Died in 1864 Do you want to learn more? Do you want to learn more?Do you want to learn more?Do you want to learn more?

5. NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE “The Scarlet Letter is powerfully written but my writings do not, nor ever will, appeal to the broadest class of sympathies, and therefore will not obtain a very wide popularity.” -Hawthorne, after finishing the novel -Hawthorne, after finishing the novel

6. NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE As a literary artist… First American “pro writer”: college educated, familiar with the great European writers 4,000 copies of The Scarlet Letter sold in the first 10 days

7. OVERVIEW The Scarlet Letter tells the story of Hester Prynne who has committed adultery and must wear a scarlet "A" publicly as punishment. When her husband, whom she believed to be dead, suddenly reappears, he determines to discover the identity of the father of Hester's child, although Hester steadfastly refuses to reveal his identity. Through the use of rich symbolism and supernatural events, Hawthorne shows the destructive effects of guilt and revenge. The Scarlet Letter tells the story of Hester Prynne who has committed adultery and must wear a scarlet "A" publicly as punishment. When her husband, whom she believed to be dead, suddenly reappears, he determines to discover the identity of the father of Hester's child, although Hester steadfastly refuses to reveal his identity. Through the use of rich symbolism and supernatural events, Hawthorne shows the destructive effects of guilt and revenge.

8. HISTORICAL CONTEXT The Scarlet Letter was finished in 1850….. 1850

9. What was going on in America in 1850? HISTORICAL, SOCIAL, AND LITERARY EVENTS TIMELINE HISTORICAL, SOCIAL, AND LITERARY EVENTS TIMELINE HISTORICAL, SOCIAL, AND LITERARY EVENTS TIMELINE

10. HISTORICAL CONTEXT To what “period” of American Literature does Hawthorne belong?? Lets take a look at the h h h h h iiii ssss tttt oooo rrrr yyyy of American Literature…..

11. English Heritage (Elizabethan Age) English Heritage (Elizabethan Age) 1650-1770: Early Colonial period- Puritan writings, no distinctive American literature 1650-1770: Early Colonial period- Puritan writings, no distinctive American literature 1750-1800: Later Colonial period- Age of Reason/Enlightenment (Neoclassicism, Rationalism) 1750-1800: Later Colonial period- Age of Reason/Enlightenment (Neoclassicism, Rationalism)

12. HISTORICAL CONTEXT 1800-1850: American Renaissance/ Romanticism- slave narratives, inner feelings, the burden of a Puritan past, the rejection of Neoclassicism 1800-1850: American Renaissance/ Romanticism- slave narratives, inner feelings, the burden of a Puritan past, the rejection of Neoclassicism Transcendentalism was a part of this… Transcendentalism was a part of this…

13. HISTORICAL CONTEXT TRANSCENDENTALISM Boston-centered movement, led by Emerson, was an important force in New England circles Boston-centered movement, led by Emerson, was an important force in New England circles Human existence transcends the sensory realm Human existence transcends the sensory realm Formalism in favor of individual responsibility Formalism in favor of individual responsibility Belief in individual choice and consequence Belief in individual choice and consequence Focus on the positive Focus on the positive

14. HISTORICAL CONTEXT SUBDIVISION OF ROMANTICISM: GOTHIC LITERATURE, the “dark romantics”(1800-1850) -use of supernatural -use of supernatural -motif of double (both good and evil in -motif of double (both good and evil in characters; sin and evil does exist) characters; sin and evil does exist) -depression, dark forests -depression, dark forests -Poe, Hawthorne, Melville -Poe, Hawthorne, Melville -emphasis on symbolism (which we will discuss later) -emphasis on symbolism (which we will discuss later)

15. HISTORICAL CONTEXT In what ways can you see the Transcendentalist influence on Hawthorne? In what ways can you see the Transcendentalist influence on Hawthorne? (His wife was a Transcendentalist and had some effect on his literature, and he also became friends with Transcendentalists in Concord, Emerson and Thoreau) (His wife was a Transcendentalist and had some effect on his literature, and he also became friends with Transcendentalists in Concord, Emerson and Thoreau) How is he also ANTI- TRANSCENDENTALIST/ GOTHIC, as exhibited in the novel? How is he also ANTI- TRANSCENDENTALIST/ GOTHIC, as exhibited in the novel?

16. LITERARY ELEMENTS Characters Characters Mood Mood Setting Setting Plot Plot Symbolism Symbolism Themes Themes

17. LITERARY ELEMENTS:CHARACTERS Hester Prynne- protagonist, married to Chillingworth, adultery with Dimmesdale Hester Prynne- protagonist, married to Chillingworth, adultery with Dimmesdale

18. LITERARY ELEMENTS:CHARACTERS Arthur Dimmesdale- pastor, intense suffering, tragic figure Arthur Dimmesdale- pastor, intense suffering, tragic figure Roger Chillingworth- physician, old, evil, deformed, diabolical vengeance on Dimmesdale Roger Chillingworth- physician, old, evil, deformed, diabolical vengeance on Dimmesdale Pearl- beautiful daughter, sometimes imp-like, rebellious, inquisitive Pearl- beautiful daughter, sometimes imp-like, rebellious, inquisitive

19. LITERARY ELEMENTS:CHARACTERS Gov. Bellingham- based on actual governor of Boston Gov. Bellingham- based on actual governor of Boston John Wilson- eldest clergyman, based on actual English minister John Wilson- eldest clergyman, based on actual English minister Mistress Hibbins- based on figure executed for witchcraft, appears to know a great deal about the adultery Mistress Hibbins- based on figure executed for witchcraft, appears to know a great deal about the adultery

20. LITERARY ELEMENTS: MOOD The SOMBER, DARK mood is well- defined from the beginning: “sad-colored garments” of spectators, the prison door which is “heavily timbered and studded with iron spikes”

21. LITERARY ELEMENTS: SETTING 17 th century Puritanical New England (Mass.) What was America like then?

22. LITERARY ELEMENTS: SETTING Life in the Mid 1600s Boston was founded just 2 decades earlier Boston was founded just 2 decades earlier 1 st governor was John Winthrop, who governed based on religious and civic ideals 1 st governor was John Winthrop, who governed based on religious and civic ideals People were hardworking and devoted People were hardworking and devoted 1630s- Puritans established a number of settlements in Massachusetts 1630s- Puritans established a number of settlements in Massachusetts PURITANISM involved belief that the church of England was too much influenced by the Catholic church PURITANISM involved belief that the church of England was too much influenced by the Catholic church Strict code, on which people were expected to act and judged upon Strict code, on which people were expected to act and judged upon Rejected belief that divine authority is channeled through any one single person (i.e. the pope) Rejected belief that divine authority is channeled through any one single person (i.e. the pope) THEOCRACY- state governed by the church THEOCRACY- state governed by the church

23. LITERARY ELEMENTS: SETTING What aspects of this type of religious society can be seen in The Scarlet Letter? How do you think Hawthorne views this type of society?

24. How do you think his own past might have affected his writing? (Hawthorne was intrigued and even haunted by his past ancestors, and they appeared quite often in his fiction. Hawthorne’s past greatly influenced his writing of The Scarlet Letter.)

25. How did his life affect the writing of the novel? John Hathorne presided over the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 Major William Hathorne (1608- 1681) persecuted quakers 1. Influences on Hawthorne: Puritan background

26. How did his life affect the writing of the novel? 2) Salem- childhood, later work at the Custom House, as Surveyor of the Port “The Custom House” introduction creates a FRAME STORY This introduction gives an account of his experience as surveyor; he attacks the officials who connived in his dismissal… Like his heroine Hester, Hawthorne emerges from confrontation with a self-righteous society as an individual of integrity,passion, and moral superiority. This introduction gives an account of his experience as surveyor; he attacks the officials who connived in his dismissal… Like his heroine Hester, Hawthorne emerges from confrontation with a self-righteous society as an individual of integrity,passion, and moral superiority.

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28. LITERARY ELEMENT: SYMBOLISM IN THE NOVEL

29. MAJOR THEMES PURITAN MORALITY v. PASSION AND INDIVIDUALISM PURITAN MORALITY v. PASSION AND INDIVIDUALISM Self-trust v. accomodation to authority Self-trust v. accomodation to authority Conventional v. unconventional gender roles Conventional v. unconventional gender roles Guilt: sense of guilt forced by puritanical heritage/society Guilt: sense of guilt forced by puritanical heritage/society The penalties of isolation/ isolation because of self-cause and societal cause The penalties of isolation/ isolation because of self-cause and societal cause Patriarchal power Patriarchal power Belief in fate/free will Belief in fate/free will Impossibility of earthly perfection Impossibility of earthly perfection

30. MAJOR THEMES Perhaps his greatest interest was the human capacity on how sin operates on the inner workings of minds With the superstition common to his brotherhood, he fancied himself given over to a fiend, to be tortured with frightful dreams, and desperate thoughts, the sting of remorse, and despair of pardon; as a foretaste of what awaits him beyond the grave. But it was the constant shadow of my presence!--the closest propinquity of the man whom he had most vilely wronged!--and who had grown to exist only by this perpetual poison of the direst revenge! Yea, indeed!--he did not err!--there was a fiend at his elbow! A mortal man, with once a human heart, has become a fiend for his especial torment!" The unfortunate physician, while uttering these words, lifted his hands with a look of horror, as if he had beheld some frightful shape, which he could not recognize, usurping the place of his own image in a glass. With the superstition common to his brotherhood, he fancied himself given over to a fiend, to be tortured with frightful dreams, and desperate thoughts, the sting of remorse, and despair of pardon; as a foretaste of what awaits him beyond the grave. But it was the constant shadow of my presence!--the closest propinquity of the man whom he had most vilely wronged!--and who had grown to exist only by this perpetual poison of the direst revenge! Yea, indeed!--he did not err!--there was a fiend at his elbow! A mortal man, with once a human heart, has become a fiend for his especial torment!" The unfortunate physician, while uttering these words, lifted his hands with a look of horror, as if he had beheld some frightful shape, which he could not recognize, usurping the place of his own image in a glass. “smile with a sinister meaning”

31. THE END