Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter City Vs. Society
Nature VS City/Society
Addie Johnson
Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter depicts the contrast between forest and society. Like other authors in the American Romantic period, Hawthorne pays close attention to nature and its importance. The loquacious brook mumbles stories from the past, and Pearl plays in the sun. Although many people overlook it, the forest is a place of sanctity. While dangerous and frightening to the townspeople, it is more compassionate than civilization. Hawthorne illustrates this juxtaposition through the absence of evil, characters’ meetings in the forest, and contradictions with the Puritan society.
Unlike the town, the Forest contains no trace of malice. When Pearl tells her mother, “The sunshine does not love you. It runs away and hides itself, because it is afraid of something in your bosom”, she explains that nature responds to morality (165). The forest can discern between innocence and sin. It is untamed and wild. When rain comes, the water “transmutes the yellow fallen leaves to gold”, signifying the raw beauty that dwells in the forest (183). The rose bush beside the jail resembles good among …show more content…
evil: the existence itself symbolizes life and survival in the town’s gloomy weather.
Even though no evil resides in the forest, significant meetings between sinners take place among the trees.
For instance, Hester and Dimmesdale speak for the first time since they “formed an electric chain” on the scaffold in chapter twelve (139). In the forest, they reevaluate their sins and determine that the true villain is Roger Chillingworth. Moreover, the forest allows people to speak the truth as well as forgive one another. When Hester asks Dimmesdale, “Is there not shade enough in all this boundless forest to hide thy heart from the gaze of Roger Chillingworth?” she insinuates that the forest is a safe refuge (178). Additionally, secrets cannot be told in the village: rumors and cruel statements circulate and, in Hester’s case, outcast the victim. Furthermore, the forest’s sympathy prevails over the society’s
discrimination. Nature’s government is the complete opposite of superficial Puritan law. Rather than treating their residents fairly and equally, the Puritans are intolerable of anyone who does not agree with their morals. The forest is the embodiment of freedom. While the townspeople wear dark, “sad-coloured garments, and gray, steeple crowned hats”, the forest is colourful and bright (45). Consequently, the Puritans’ demeanor is sad and despondent; but if Pearl is in the forest she dances and plays among the trees. When Pearl imitates Hester by adding “the letter ‘A’, - but freshly green, instead of scarlet!” she also contrasts the town (161). Hester must wear the scarlet “A” (given to her by the town) as punishment, but Pearl makes her “A” using the forest’s materials on her own accord. The forest takes what Puritans consider negatives and transforms them into positives.
The forest is not only benevolent, but also safe. It inhibits neither public humiliation nor shame, but the town is merciless in its punishments and definitive in its expectations. The wilderness is a meeting place and sanctity to all. Furthermore, corrupt Puritan laws simply cannot compete with nature’s empathy.
Addie Johnson
Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter depicts the contrast between forest and society. Like other authors in the American Romantic period, Hawthorne pays close attention to nature and its importance. The loquacious brook mumbles stories from the past, and Pearl plays in the sun. Although many people overlook it, the forest is a place of sanctity. While dangerous and frightening to the townspeople, it is more compassionate than civilization. Hawthorne illustrates this juxtaposition through the absence of evil, characters’ meetings in the forest, and contradictions with the Puritan society.
Unlike the town, the Forest contains no trace of malice. When Pearl tells her mother, “The sunshine does not love you. It runs away and hides itself, because it is afraid of something in your bosom”, she explains that nature responds to morality (165). The forest can discern between innocence and sin. It is untamed and wild. When rain comes, the water “transmutes the yellow fallen leaves to gold”, signifying the raw beauty that dwells in the forest (183). The rose bush beside the jail resembles good among …show more content…
evil: the existence itself symbolizes life and survival in the town’s gloomy weather.
Even though no evil resides in the forest, significant meetings between sinners take place among the trees.
For instance, Hester and Dimmesdale speak for the first time since they “formed an electric chain” on the scaffold in chapter twelve (139). In the forest, they reevaluate their sins and determine that the true villain is Roger Chillingworth. Moreover, the forest allows people to speak the truth as well as forgive one another. When Hester asks Dimmesdale, “Is there not shade enough in all this boundless forest to hide thy heart from the gaze of Roger Chillingworth?” she insinuates that the forest is a safe refuge (178). Additionally, secrets cannot be told in the village: rumors and cruel statements circulate and, in Hester’s case, outcast the victim. Furthermore, the forest’s sympathy prevails over the society’s
discrimination. Nature’s government is the complete opposite of superficial Puritan law. Rather than treating their residents fairly and equally, the Puritans are intolerable of anyone who does not agree with their morals. The forest is the embodiment of freedom. While the townspeople wear dark, “sad-coloured garments, and gray, steeple crowned hats”, the forest is colourful and bright (45). Consequently, the Puritans’ demeanor is sad and despondent; but if Pearl is in the forest she dances and plays among the trees. When Pearl imitates Hester by adding “the letter ‘A’, - but freshly green, instead of scarlet!” she also contrasts the town (161). Hester must wear the scarlet “A” (given to her by the town) as punishment, but Pearl makes her “A” using the forest’s materials on her own accord. The forest takes what Puritans consider negatives and transforms them into positives.
The forest is not only benevolent, but also safe. It inhibits neither public humiliation nor shame, but the town is merciless in its punishments and definitive in its expectations. The wilderness is a meeting place and sanctity to all. Furthermore, corrupt Puritan laws simply cannot compete with nature’s empathy.