Hester Prynne In The Scarlett Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne

Nathaniel Hawthorne´s complex and intricate narrative of the Scarlet Letter follows the life of the protagonist within a 17th century Puritan community in Boston. Hester Prynne is introduced before she is to stand trial for her crime of adultery, in which she is required to be publicly condemned in the centre of town. The reverend, Arthur Dimmesdale, a member of the group of ministers sitting in judgement of Hester, encourages her to reveal the man who she was associated with. Hawtorhone´s story follows the pursuit of adoration and stable intimacy, enduring an abundance of barriers of accomplishing this. I believe Nathaniel Hawthorne depicts the Scarlet Letter as a love story rather than a novel of adventure and survival by the conception of
a child as a product of true love, the protective nature of Hester Prynne over Arthur Dimmesdale, and the planning for a life as a family.

In the exposition of the narrative, Hawthorne reveals Hester Prynne standing on the public scaffold bearing her infant child on her chest in front of DImmesdale and the group of ministers. While the ministers are assessing Hester, deciding her punishment, the Reverend urges Mrs. Prynne to reveal her partner involved in the morbid sin of adultery while claiming that it may be beneficial if he were to be exposed. Aware that he is the man in question, Hawthorne is revealing his guilt from escape of punishment and his longing to be permitted to be with his lover. As time progresses and their daughter Pearl grows, she is repeatedly associated with the colour, the colour of passion, symbolising the love between Hester and Arthur. As red can also be identified as a symbol of danger, Pearl represents the forbidden love between the two individuals within their Puritan society, resulting in the secret encounters of the family in the dark forest as they strive to be conventional family.

Their love is additionally characterized through Hester's constant protective nature over Arthur Dimmesdale from being publicly ridiculed in the same way as she has. Hester willingly sacrifices the reputation of herself and her child resulting her outcasting in society, allowing her lover to maintain his pure and holy reputation as the reverend, causing their love to be openly denied due to his vows as priest - however, his role in the priesthood cannot withstand his overwhelming urge to be with Hester and his beloved child. Not only does Hester protect Arthur Dimmesdale from society, she is the barrier between him and Roger Chillingworth, the evil, demonic figure searching for vengeance. When Chillingworth demands Hester to reveal the name of Pearl's father, she refuses to subject Arthur Dimmesdale to any pain or torture in order to keep him safe. Once Hester becomes aware of the harm that Roger CHillingworth is inflicting onto the revered, she proceeds to protect him again by revealing his true identity, saving him from any further torture by his hand.

Lastly, the Scarlet Letter can be perceived as a romance novel due the premise of their love being fulfilled with their future plans of moving to a distant place where they could publicly be together.
Due to the reputation of Hester and her child and the ridicule in which the family would receive if they remained in the Puritan community, Hester and Arthur Dimmesdale organized to escape to allow their love to be accepted. However, this love was heavily contested by Roger Chillingworth, leading Arthur Dimmesdale into a severe state of remorse. This remorse however could not withstand his connection with Hester, allowing him to disregard the consequences of his sin and admitting his love
publicly.

In conclusion, I believe that Nathaniel Hawthorne depicts this narrative as a love story rather than a novel of adventure and survival due to the immense and natural love connection highlighted between Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale.
Although their love was heavily contested by the values of the Puritan society and the evil acts of Roger Chillingworth, their love continued to flourish. The flourishment was highlighted through the product of their love, Pearl, who was the ultimate connection between the two lovers. Overall, Hawthorne depicts this novel in a romantic fashion, although a tragic one, rather than that of survival and
adventure.