Literary Criticism Of Nathaniel Hawthorne's 'The Scarlet Letter'

The Scarlet Letter, Critical Essay

Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel, The Scarlet Letter was the greatest writing of American Literature of his time and even to this day. His beliefs in this book are based on the ideas of the Romantics. The story of Hester Prynne and her journey, talks about her going against the nature of society and clearly stating that emotion is superior to reason. It is apparent in the novel Hawthorne believed emotion was superior to law, and humans are intrinsically good. The following quotes pulled out of the book, as well as the literary criticisms, all give examples as to why Hawthorne was believed to be a Romantic. “[He] experienced a sensation not altogether physical, yet almost so, as of burning heat; and as if
That literary criticism represents Hester wearing the scarlet colored A on her breast for everyone in town to see. Even with the whole town against her thinking she had done wrong, she knows in her heart what she did was for a good reason and she had a right to do it. The red A showed so much passion to Hester as well as Hawthorne that he didn’t believe it was just cloth on her chest but it was more than cloth, it was a way of living now. Throughout the criticism and ridicule dealt with she kept her head held high and not letting the society corrupt her mind and go with her heart instead. Hawthorne believed the A didn’t mean sin like the fellow townspeople thought; he interpreted it as a sign of passion with her heart to be doing what she was doing. Hester showed passion in her soul by not letting the other people get to her emotionally. It was physically and emotionally difficult to deal with over the years, but by her taking orders by the people and not giving in showed she still had compassion for others. “So, to their own unutterable torment, they go about among their fellow-creatures looking
Since everyone found out the truth eventually what he should have done is let the truth out earlier so no one would have gotten as hurt as they all did. Dimmesdale knew there was going to be a consequence down the road for his actions but what he did, was through his heart. His mind and reason wasn’t telling him to stay with the norm but to actually find love and carry it out with true happiness. Between the town, saving himself and saving his loved ones he kept everything a secret for too long he hurt the people who meant the most to him. That usually happens with most people, we hurt others who mean the most to them, its human nature weather we realize it or not. “Let men tremble to win the hand of woman, unless they win along with it the utmost passion of her heart!’ (Hawthorne 159). Letting men struggle for a woman’s hand isn’t a bad thing. Hester Prynne is very angry with Roger Chillingworth with him putting her in this situation. Two years she was left alone cold needing some company and what happens? She falls in love with the town’s minister, and he falls in love with her. It certainly wasn’t intentional for her to have