Assignment:
The Scarlet Letter- Themes of Identity and Conformity
The thesis needs to answer this question: What is Hawthorne's ultimate message regarding conformity and individual identity? Please revise so that it will answer the above question.
The Scarlet Letter which was authored by Nathaniel Hawthorne is considered as one of the premier true American novels which attempted to explore the Puritanical society's complexities and in some way, early American society. The book basically discusses the Hester Prynne's tribulations that happen to be the female lead, as well as, the Reverend Dimmesdale's tribulations that had been featured as the main male lead. On the basis of their errors along with tribulations in addition to function of numerous symbols, a reader of the Scarlet Letter gets in the position of digging deeper within the underlying themes which ultimately bind the literary work under review together. Therefore, in respect to the interpretations of the numerous symbols like the Hester's exterior scarlet letter that develops the individuality idea, Dimmesdale's interior scarlet letter that develops the conformity idea, as well as, Pearl who signifies the light which illuminates the said characteristics, the identity versus society theme is developed so that one can comprehend that individuality is of great essence than giving in to the society's ideals.
It has been established that Hester's scarlet letter actually had played a vital role in the development of the identity versus society theme. After the incidence whereby Hester is shamed before the public eyes and made to wear the humiliation badge considered as her adultery's scarlet letter, she gets back to her life within the town's outskirts. Nonetheless, no one who has forced her to reside within the Massachusetts Bay colony thus she could have deserted the town and commenced a new life within any other colony thereby removing the scarlet letter stigma. However, in accordance to the quote "Here, she said to herself, had been the scene of her guilt and here should be the scene of her earthly punishment"; it becomes outright that Hester is not ready to turn out as the person which the society had molded her to be (Baym, 2008).
Hester, in spite of the resentment being felt for her within the society, she manages to find her own identity via her isolation. The isolation which she experiences as a result of isolation assists her in embracing who she truly is. However, Hester with the native activity, as well as, native courage in addition to for such a long period not only estranged but also outlawed from society, she definitely wandered, with no rule or guidance, within moral wilderness, as intricate, as vast, as well as, shadowy as a forest which is untamed. Both Hester's intellect, as well as, heart had their unique home. Given that it was within desert places, within which Hester roomed freely like the wild Indian within his woods. Actually it can be said that the scarlet letter was Hester's passport into places whereby other females dared not tread. By being distanced from not only the other Puritans but also the society in general, Hester is in the position of doing what others were not able to do because of the restrictions imposed upon them (Baym, 2008). At the end of the day, it is Hester's scarlet letter, which is actually her punishment that grants her the capability of reaching out beyond the Puritan beliefs limitations and succeeds in adapting her identity fully.
The forest within which Hester along with her secret lover, Dimmesdale meet is actually the very balance symbol which she seeks between the community's prevailing attitudes along with her own individuality. Within its isolation from the village physically, as well as, its inhabitants, Hester is definitely free to not only speak but also act as her real self together with her associate, who is also a sinner. Pearl, Hester's daughter, establishes that while they are en route to the forest, it is like the sunshine hates her mother. Society had actually suppressed Hester's true identity, thereby making no sunshine to at least fall upon her. However, upon speaking unreservedly within the forest with her beloved man, that part of her which had been concealed by the Puritan community expectations was allowed to shine again with the sun. Her real self is reveled because she at last gets in the position of relieving herself of both the guilt, as well as, anguish which has once overburdened her shoulders as a form of punishment. While embracing her identity, "Her sex, her youth, and the whole richness of her beauty, came back ..." (156). This beauty is actually the symbol of Hester's persona prior to being subjected to the Puritan society weight which repressed both her individuality, as well as, true self. Thereby reappearing as she initially was makes her appreciate the identity expression.
Running away or removing the scarlet letter would have to be considered as an acknowledgement of the power of the society over her s she would have ended up admitting the blot of shame which is something that she attempts to escape. Instead, she prefers staying on and refiguring the stigma associated with the scarlet letter as a symbol of the experiences, as well as, ideals she has gone through. Nonetheless, Hester does not make any attempt of escaping from it but accepts it. Hester's actions in the refiguring of the stigma of the scarlet letter entails of charitable works which later turned out as successful, because prior to her time of death, the scarlet letter did no longer have any of its stigma making Hester to somehow be a legend within her town (Baym, 2008). Therefore, the identity versus society theme is developed as a result of the fact that Hester failed to succumb to give in to the ideals of the society but instead stuck to her individual ideals, and within the end, such an action turns out as the appropriate choice.
Dimmesdale is no better because he also struggles much in opposition of am identity which can be said to be socially determined. Putting into consideration that Dimmesdale is the community's minister, the society basically views him as more of a symbol instead of a human being. With the exception of Chillingworth, the people who are around the minister out of their free will take no notice of his anguish, by misinterpreting it as holiness which can actually be said to have been a great mistake. To make the matters worse, Dimmesdale never manages to recognize fully the truth about what had been learned by Hester: that individuality, as well as, strength is acquired through quiet self-assertion, as well as, reconfiguration, but not denial of one's assigned identity.
Moreover, similarly to the Hester's scarlet letter, it is also evident that Dimmesdale is in possession of an interior scarlet letter which assists readers in developing the identity vs. society theme through the manner in which it develops the conformity idea. Both Dimmesdale along with Hester had committed adultery although it is only Hester who ends up receiving a punishment in addition to being forced to put on the scarlet letter as her sin's sign. Given that Dimmesdale was a highly ranked public officer, there was no need for him to put on the scarlet letter. Dimmesdale is considered by the society to be a devout Reverend. Nonetheless everyone knows that Dimmesdale just pretends to be a reverend. In regard to Chillingworth's words, said to herself, had been the scene of her guilt and here should be the scene of her earthly punishment"(126). Indifferently from Hester who accepts her adultery sin, Dimmesdale denies his by conforming to the society's ideals thereby his internal battle between his portrayal by society and his individual identity makes him to undergo great suffering (Hawthorne, 1850). Afterwards, the interior scarlet letter commences to develop within his chest, and it has been illustrated by the quote, "...his cheek was paler and thinner, and his voice more tremulous than before- when it had now become a constant habit, rather than a casual gesture, to press his hand over his heart" (117). This second scarlet letter is considered to be the symbol of the pains which can be related to acting in opposition of one's ideals so as to obey the society's ideals and assists in the development of the theme by its demonstration of conformity vs. identity.
Pearl can also be considered to be part of the main symbol which develops the identity vs., society theme. Unlike the earlier mentioned two symbols, Pearl herself cannot be said to have faced the dilemma of having her identity clash with the society's illustration of her. As an alternative, Pearl symbolizes the light which illuminates the identity of the others such Dimmesdale together with Hester. Due to the fact that Pearl was brought up in isolation, as well as, considerably young, she does not have the society's biasness therefore her interpretations are considered as pure and comprise of nature's empathy. In that regard, once Pearl realizes that Dimmesdale is experiencing pain in his heart, the reader is able to deduce that the paining heart is simply used to symbolize the pains of having to conform to the society's ideals. Pearl seems to notice Dimmesdale's inner pain within the quote," A strange, sad man is he, with his hand always over his heart!" (225). In addition, Pearl sheds light on the inner battle being fought by Hester between identity Vs. society for once Hester does away with the scarlet letter, Pearl solemnly receives the act. Pearl's reaction portrays that something was actually wrong with attempting to escape personal identity instead of accepting it. Pearl responds to the Hester's removal of letter within the quote, "Bring it hither!" said Hester "Come thou and take it up!" answered Pearl" (207). The general empathy of Pearl mostly related to nature would make her to be considered as the right symbol of casting light upon the other characters featured within the novel so as to develop the identity vs. society theme (Hawthorne & Person, 2004).
It can be concluded that by making use of numerous symbols, the identity vs. society theme is developed with considerable bias to the concept that no one is expected to shun away from his identity with the objective of conforming with society. The intertwining of the aforementioned symbols diligently has resulted to the development of an amazing literary art piece and sheds fresh light on both the Puritanical society, as well as, ideals. Basically, Nathaniel Hawthorn authored the Scarlet Letter to demonstrate the Puritans' austere standards for the society. In addition, he manages to illustrate that the Puritan society is basically dominated by the urge of conforming. Only the characters who manage to isolate themselves from those stringent community expectations succeed to develop their individuality fully.
References
Baym, N (Ed) (2008). The Norton Anthology of American Literature, Shorter= Seventh Edition. New York: W.W. Norton & Company.
Hawthorne, N. (Author), & Person, L. (Editor) (2004). The Scarlet= Letter and Other Writings. New York: W.W. Norton & Company.
Hawthorne, N. (1850). The Scarlet Letter. Boston, MA: Ticknor, Reed & Fields.