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ESSAYS AND THEMES – what Hawthorne talks about, not in general
1. Old Massachusetts 2. American Dream 3. Sin and Forgiveness 4. Freedom and Fate
Old Massachusetts
Salem was losing popularity and population. Many people were going to Boston from Salem. Although, Massachusetts was not as busy as it used to be according to Hawthorne. It was becoming less active everyday due to new ports in New York and other bigger cities during the 1600s. Old Boston seemed as a foreshadowing to a gloomy setting to set the theme for this book in a way. When the Puritans came over, they created a society very much like the one they left in England.

American Dream
The American Dream includes possibilities and tolerance. When the Puritans traveled to America they expected to rid themselves of the controlling Roman Catholic Church. They expected new opportunities in the New World and more tolerance from the government and from the religious authority; instead they got another controlling religion that just changed their name to “Puritan.”

Sin and Forgiveness: why so much of one, too little of the other?
There was always a lot of sin in the Puritan society and not too much forgiveness. For example: they believed in strict punishments for committing sins. They never completely forgave Hester for her sin even though she was sorry for committing it. Dimmesdale also knew the community would never forgive him for the sin he committed. This unhealthy balance led to corruption and disorder.

Fate and Freedom
Freedom is the choice made by people and they are the ones held responsible for their actions. Fate is just the opposite. It is choices already made and people are not held responsible. People are in control of freedom, while fate is more of God’s will. In the Puritan society, there was more fate and less freedom, but they were held responsible for their actions at times.

Scarlet Letter
Page 4. Quote
Page 7. Puritans
Page 30. Scarlet Letter.
Page 33. Writer’s block: Considers it fiction
Page 43, 44. Bottom paragraph
Page 49. The young wife says they should just put a crest on her clothes and if she tries to cover it up, then it will always be felt on her heart
Page 54. “Papist” – pope… Divine Maternity – Mary. “Slam on Catholicism, slur from Protestants.”
Page 56 paragraph 2. Hester’s past. She had a good past. Hester married Roger to get to America.
Page 58. First sign of Roger, told Hester to be quiet because he wanted to find the “father.”
Page 63. Wilson – older clergyman, made Dimmesdale the “advisor” of Hester… ironic
Page 65. Irony of Dimmesdale – He said that the man who did this should come forward
Page 66. Hester’s loyalty to Arthur. Love - giving. Lust - taking
Page 69. Hester and Roger. Master Brackett – jailer. Tells her to be quiet.
Page 75. Hester is free, has to carry big A on her chest the rest of her life
Page 78. Aloneness sets in. She has a great skill of sewing… she uses that for money and food
Page 82. Hester’s isolation.
Page 86. Pearl – she is too bright for her own good. No physical defect in her, not ugly looking.
Page 92. Bottom, about the “A” and Pearl… she is showing Hester’s limits and making her guilty
Page 94-95. God shows up… Pearl wants to know who her dad is.
Page 100. Connections back to England. Governor Bellingham’s house is filled with things from England
Page 106-108. Convinces Bellingham to keep Pearl with the help of Dimmesdale
Page 114, 115. Roger Chillingworth shows up… Helps Dimmesdale
Page 118. Revenge from Roger. Talking to Dimmesdale… Dimmesdale doesn’t want help from the Leech
Page 127. Roger tries to work Dimmesdale’s conscience. He is indirectly telling him that he “knows”
Page 132. Middle of the page. Discusses if Dimmesdale has been open with Roger.
Page 137. Arthur becomes more popular. Makes him feel worse.
Page 141. Dimmesdale goes into his “closet” and sees a bloody scourge that he whipped himself with
Page 143. Dimmesdale stands out on the scaffold… but where no one can see him. Pearl & Hester show up – symbolic of what should have happened… later on Roger shows up
Page 148-151. Dimmesdale and Hester together
Page 152. Roger shows up
Page 157. Gives to the charity, don’t let the right hand see what the left hand is doing… nothing in return
Page 161. Bottom. Would have gotten in trouble even if she wouldn’t have been caught for the adultery
Page 165. Evil of Roger. Lies to Hester. Doesn’t actually want her to take the A off.
Page 168. Roger speaks out. Used to be a good man
Page 172. Hate and passion comes out. She said she hates Roger.
Page 175 and 177. Pearl’s awareness… asks why she wears the letter and why Dimmesdale covers heart
Page 187. Hester and Arthur get together. Arthur is very sad and negative and depressed
Page 205. Issue is hope. Freedom and Fate.
Page 229. Bristol Captain… would take them back to Europe
Page 236. Mistress Hibbins sees Arthur and Hester and thinks Arthur is the Father. Blackmail
Page 240-41. Pearl and Seaman
Page 247-249. Dimmesdale calls for Pearl and Hester. Hester’s quote – 248-49.
Page 250. Dimmesdale confesses. Tells about his “scarlet letter” and shows it. Not actually a red “A” on his chest. He just feels it and believes it is there. 251-52– Chillingworth. & Arthur’s conversation with Pearl
Lecture
Custom House- nonfiction about Hawthorne’s life… port for planes and ships
Salem has been run down and is losing influence… now people move to Boston and New York.
Patronage is the name for giving most of these people jobs with connections. Unqualified
Franklin Pierce gave Hawthorne the job, eventually president.
Not all authors are as successful as J.K. Rowling. “Keep your day job”
Scarlet Letter – takes place in Boston. Hawthorne – from Salem. Salem was not very popular or busy.
Preternatural – beyond what is normal or natural
Scapegoats – people who they use as an excuse for problems… like the women were called “witches”
White Anglo-Saxon Protestant – have all the power in the United States
You do one bad thing and it obliterates all the good things you have done.
Brook Farm: Socialist Experiment… more like communism in the sense of communal living… hard work, didn’t work out. Left after a year. Total equality doesn’t exist. Even in America.
Stitching on the scarlet letter was amazing. Don’t assume the “A” means “adultery.”
Fiction story – don’t look for a historical background
Writing relies on universals. Basis of Fiction: Conflict, complications, resolution
Psychological romance is the form of this book.
Witch trials didn’t literally happen in this book, it was elsewhere. He talked about it in the intro.
Not a Utopia, doesn’t exist since Eden
Need jails and cemeteries, jail- contain criminals who had been locked up in England, then gave the choice to come to the New World… cemetery- to bury the dead & put away the smell
Nature is indifferent to us. We project ourselves on nature.
Rosebush – “volunteer”… symbol of Hester Prynne. She is the only “beautiful thing in the jail”
Hawthorne inserts his own little inputs into certain parts of the story. This sense of “modernism” was erased in the early 20th century. No longer are there points heard by the author in stories.
The dame of fifty is saying that they were too easy on Hester and should have “branded” her.
Beadle – town official, he put his hand on Hester’s shoulder. She shrugged away from him.
Pearl has lived for three months completely in jail. Page 50-54
Black- death, evil: seen as plain, Amish. White- all colors together. Scarlet – showy, flashy
Sociopath – no conscience. Don’t care what they do to others.
Pain = good, pleasure = evil… said back in the day.
Altruism – absolute selflessness
Exceptional people in a conformist society. 1. Suicide 2. Insane 3. Assimilate
Laird Scarlet Letter Character and Vocabulary List for IDs
Nathaniel Hawthorne – author
Hester Prynne - The main character in the book. A young married woman from Europe who has come to Boston without her husband. She is beautiful black hair, black eyes, and shining skin. She has an illegitimate child, Pearl, with Arthur Dimmesdale.
Narrator Surveyor of Revenue – May be Hawthorne. He discovers an old manuscript in the building’s attic that tells the story of Hester Prynne; when he loses his job, he decides to write a fictional treatment of the narrative.
Jonathan Pue Surveyor - A Custom House employee from a number of years ago who died suddenly, leaving some undiscovered personal papers in the Custom House building. These papers include documents recounting the story of the scarlet letter, as well as the letter itself. This story was of great personal interest to Mr. Pue.
Custom House p.1 - The legal point of entry at Salem, Massachusetts for cargo ships. The scene of the Introductory chapter of the Scarlet Letter, where the narrator finds the scarlet letter itself wrapped in a paper detailing the story of Hester Prynne.
Salem - Home of the Salem Customs House, where the novel begins. Salem was also the site of famous witch trials, and the ancestral home of Hawthorne himself.
Boston - The colonial city where the story of Hester Prynne takes place. Although the novel begins in the Salem Customs House, the action of the story takes place in early Boston. One of the first English settlements in the New World, and the home of the Puritans, a religious sect whose strict beliefs governed the laws and behavior of the entire population.
Permanent Inspector - A man who inherited his position in the Customs House from a long line of men in his family. This is his career, from which he has complete job security.
Rosebush P.46 – Located just outside the prison door, it is the only sign of life near the prison, and has a single red blossom on it. Symbolizes the ability of nature to endure and outlast man’s activities. Yet, paradoxically, it also symbolizes the futility of symbolic interpretation
Reverend Master Arthur Dimmesdale p.49 – Hester Prynne’s pastor, young clergyman. Defends Hester in attempt to keep Pearl. Weakening in his health. Father of Hester’s illegitimate child. Whipped himself
Penal machine/Town Scaffolds p.53 - The scene of Hester's punishment. She must stand upon the scaffolds for an hour with her baby in her arms. There she is asked to name the father of her child, but refuses. Has a machine that could be used for public shame or penalty, Hester was displayed on this for sometime to be shown to all.
Scarlet letter – A small piece of red cloth, with a capital “A” embroidered in gold on it. Made by Hester Prynne while in the jail cell where she went to give birth to her bastard child. Worn by Hester Prynne as punishment for her crime of adultery for the rest of her life. It is highly ornate and a contrast to the somber dress of the Puritan settlement.
Prison Door - The door to the prison where Hester spends her pregnancy and the three months following, prior to serving her sentence of standing on the town scaffolds. The scene of her first private meeting with Roger Chillingworth.
Governor Bellingham p.62 – Sat on a balcony behind the pillory. Witness and guard to Hester
John Wilson p.62 – Called Hester’s name, a great scholar and eldest clergyman of Boston. Examined Pearl at the governor’s house.
Master Brackett p.67 – the jailer, introduced physician, Roger, to Hester. Jailer & officer who announces Hester's appearance from the prison, & pushes Hester out the door of the jail when she first emerges.
Roger Chillingworth p.68 – physician to Hester, he and Hester exchanged glances while she was on the pillory… turns out to be Hester’s husband in disguise. Appeared unannounced in the town and is the medical adviser to Reverend Dimmesdale.
Pearl p.85 – Hester’s illegitimate child, named Pearl because she was her mother’s “only treasure”… Way to remember the shame. Moody, mischievous spirit and an ability to perceive things that others do not. Primary function within the novel is as a symbol. She is the physical consequence of sexual sin and the indicator of a transgression. She’s also a blessing to her mother.
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Pearl’s garb – similar in color to the scarlet letter. Worn by Pearl and shows that Pearl is also a reminder of the adultery that Hester committed.
Mistress Hibbins p.113 – Gov. Bellingham’s bitter-tempered sister who was executed as a witch.
Black Man p.113 – Hester is invited to go into the forest one night to ride with Mistress Hibbins and visit the “Black Man”… may be a symbol of the devil or evil itself.
Leech p.119 – possible way to cure Dimmesdale, it may still hurt him… Chillingworth is a leech and is trying to get the truth out of Dimmesdale; doctors were commonly called leeches at that time.
Three Ladies at the Prison Door - female, married residents of Boston who are waiting at the prison door to see Hester as she appears for the first time with her daughter, Pearl
Deacon - A pious old man confronted by Arthur Dimmesdale while he is struggling not to say evil things inspired by the devil.
Commander of the Spanish Pirate Ship - A colorful character who has license, simply because of his station, to wear outrageous things and act inappropriately by Puritanical standards.
General Miller Collector - A former hero from the War of 1812, who retired to a job in the Salem Custom House. A man with a great deal of presence, but very frail and old when we meet him.
Collector's Junior Clerk - Assistant to General Miller. The only person educated and interested enough to have literary conversations with Nathaniel Hawthorne.
Governor Winthrop p.146 – died, Mr. Wilson, Chillingworth, and Hester were at the deathbed.
Meteor p.152 - Traces out an “A” in the night sky. To Dimmesdale, it implies that he should wear a mark of shame just as Hester does. The meteor is interpreted differently by the rest of the community, which thinks that it stands for “Angel” and marks Governor Winthrop’s entry into heaven.
Sexton p.155 – gives Dimmesdale a black glove that was found from where he was standing on the scaffolds. Said that the “A” from the meteor represents Winthrop’s entry into heaven.

Nathaniel Hawthorne
Artist of the front rank in Literature
He had great efforts but was not shown in his accomplishments.
Taught of themes significant to Americans.
Sensitive and concern in his writing where it feels like he knows us.
Has common traits like most of the common people.
One of our “Fabulists”
Explored conflict between art and business

Wanted to be accepted in society, but felt cold and aside from others.
New meanings are constantly being found in his books
Went to Bowdoin College
Interested in composition in college
Spent years after college in the third floor room of his uncle’s house-reading and writing
Hawthorne suffered a recurring theme of failure
Managed to publish much of his work
Worked at the Custom House in Boston -1885
At Brook Farm, he looked for a sense of community to help the cold detachment from writing
Left the community after 1 year and found he was really poor
Married Sophie Peabody when he moved back to Salem
Felt that he and Sophie were a new “Adam and Eve”
They lost their “Eden” when they lost their house. Becoming poor and they moved to Salem once again and this was where Hawthorne wrote the Scarlet Letter
Got job at custom house- didn’t last because his mother died suddenly
Sin and guilt is seen at a different perspective after central themes are seen in the Scarlet Letter
Glimmers of light in the book and Hawthorne leaves them to the reader to discover
In 1851, Hawthorne published The House of the Seven Gables
In 1852, he grew upon his experience at Brook Farm to write his third novel.
Leading themes of Hawthorne are based on an internal conversion of the character
Man’s accidents are God’s purposes
In 1860, he published the Marble Fawn – hero Donatello is innocent who has fallen into sin. Murdered someone and sent to prison
My Kinsman was an important short story of his. FIND INFORMATION
Point is that Robin’s shrewdness will not save him.
May 19, 1864…. Death at 59
Said he wanted to sleep for a thousand years at one point

Scarlet Letter Notes – Novel History Film
Novel is rather new, but it is a big part of the world. 18th century – became popular
Novel is normally spoken and of prose.
Miguel de Cervantes composed a satire on the romance. Wrote a book with a comic hero with a realistic portrayal of man. Don Coyote
Novel came from the Italian word “novella”
People liked novels because people wanted to see life like it was on Earth right now.
People were also encouraged to learn to read specifically to read the Bible
Wanted to read novels with an edifying tone, also the growth of the middle class gave rise to the novel because it was what they were searching for.
Richardson wrote “Pamela” to entertain and teach correct conduct
Instruments for teaching moral conduct were than seen as a purpose of novels
Every novel has one or two special features: Literary style of Romanticism was one of them – Gerta was a pioneer, and the other was… Historical novel is a form.
Victor Hugo – Hunchback of Notre Dame
Cooper is also a big pioneer in Romanticism
The Gothic Novel also uses Romanticism, like Frankenstein – greatest of all European gothic novels
American gothic novels – Hawthorne is an example in his Puritan book the Scarlet Letter set during the Salem Witch Trials.
Improvements in technology and mass printing made books available faster and cheaper.
Romanticism was hurt with this growth in novels. Then, Realism was used to show actual lives of peasants and poor without glamorizing… Honoree de Balzac led the way in realism.
The details were shown in realism with strong background descriptions in the setting and characters.
Realists always attempted to portray people really; they were real people with both good and bad sides.
Some novelists would use their books to show corruptions and issues within society
Realism was a very strong force into the development of the novel into the way we know it today.
Romanticism and Realism were the two main features seen in early novels.
Not every novelist fell into these topics.
Novel is a very versatile art form.

During Romanticism, the novel was written to entertain the reader with a glamorous feel.
Realism novels were used to make people more aware of a problem in society.
Some authors tried to mirror the world in their book with many new developments- touched on important messages for their novels, which would cause problems for the authors.
Charles Darwin’s advancements were one of the reasons for exploring all aspects of life in novels.
Naturalism - style & theory of representation based on accurate depiction of detail.
Naturalism found a very strong following in American novelists.
“Life in the Slums” is a form of naturalism.
Naturalism, pure and undefiled, became dominant only for a few years.
Psychology would be used in writing to feel subjective feelings & happenings in their characters’ minds.
Psychoanalytic theory was later used in novels
Another influence on novels were Sociology
Sociology - study of the development, structure, and functioning of human society.
Russian master Tolstoy wrote “War and Peace”
John Steinbeck’s “Grapes of Wrath” went along with the sadness from the Great Depression.
Henry James – wrote profound authoritative prefaces to his own novels.
More freedom was felt to write novels by using technique.
Now novels would be used as a dramatic art and show a life that was not manipulated in a character’s life
James Joyce “Ulysses” went through a day with three characters and delved into their lives.
Expressionism - a style in which the artist or writer seeks to express emotional experience rather than impressions of the external world.
Impressionism - a style originating in France in the 1860s, characterized by a concern with depicting the visual impression of the moment, esp. in terms of the shifting effect of light and color.

Vary wide range of topics and ideas in the advancements of the novel.

Some books were more to make money instead of sending out insights in life.

The future of the novel seems that it might be fading with the advancement of film and technology, but the novel may hold on because it has all the various styles and techniques that make it more unique.

Colonial America Film
Puritans wrote the “New World” book as they sailed over.
John Smith founded Jamestown.
The Mayflower brought over people who saw the New World as wilderness and not very good.
There was little time for writing for the people when the arrived in America.
Literature was not very prominent during this time.
Of Plymouth’s Plantation talks about relationships of the Puritans and its history
The Puritans believed they were part of a bigger plan from God.
Richard Mather, Increase Mather, Cotton Mather. - Salem Witch Trials are described in their novels
The Scientific Enlightenment had its effect in America once people came over from England.
Mrs. Sarah Kimble Knight’s Journal is full of life not often seen by her Puritan predecessors.
“History of the Dividing Line” – Bird’s Writing
Literature didn’t develop as early in the Southern Colonies as it did in the Northern ones.
Great Awakening – Methodist teachings came to the colonies in the 1730s.
The new individualism has its effects even in the Great Awakening – people are to be moved by new ideas.
Jonathan Edwards tried to bring his listeners back into religion, appealed to reason & fate of his listeners.
“On the Death of the Reverend Mr. George Whitefield” – written by black slave. First black writer in America
Most memorable writing was by the American founders & the most common were essay and the speech.
Big influence was Benjamin Franklin in writing. – Thought writing should have a practical purpose. “Poor Richard’s Almanac”
Political Journalism was seen through pamphlets. Thomas Paine – Common Sense, most important pamphlet in American History. Provided the necessary push for revolution. “Crisis” is another pamphlet of Paine’s.
Another writer was Thomas Jefferson – Declaration of Independence… universal sense of right and wrong. Fine piece of literature and important to America
Group of men called the Federalists wanted a stronger government. Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison wrote “Federalist”
Colonists were colonists no more, and they wanted an independent national literature
The dilemma of American cultural independence has never been completely solved.
Identity is a common recurring theme in literature. – Some reference to that person’s or country’s upbringings, origins, and heritage.