Scarlet Letter
Scarlet Letter
Hawthorne’s roots in romanticism are evident throughout The Scarlet Letter. He uses fanciful language and a very particular writing style. Hawthorne infuses imagery, metaphors and diction in The Scarlet Letter in order to convey the effects of the scarlet letter on both the sinner, Hester Prynne, and the town in which she lives. Through the use of these rhetorical devices, Hawthorne reveals to the reader how this “red-hot brand”(line 47) impacts everyday puritan life. Hawthorne uses imagery to present a picture of the Puritan town in which Hester Prynne resides. These Puritans are described as strict and unforgiving, a society based on the “iron frame-work of reasoning”(line 7). The scarlet letter represents this town’s “gray” feel. There is no tolerance for any ungodly behavior, however the A also represents this town’s gossipy nature. Hawthorne writes, “Then, it is true, the propensity of the human nature to tell the very worst of itself…to whisper the black scandal of bygone years“ (Lines 26,27,29,30). As word of Hester Prynne’s affair travels, the scarlet letter more and more defines Hester as the town reject. Using metaphors such as, “the scarlet letter had the effect of the cross on a nun’s bosom. It imparted the wearer a kind of sacredness…” show that while the townspeople saw Hester as an outcast because of the letter A, she saw it as somewhat of a positive. While Hawthorne wants the reader to know that Hester in no way enjoyed wearing the scarlet letter, she embraced it and made the best of it. In conjunction with metaphors, Hawthorne uses diction to create a dynamic feel of intelligent language mixed with the reality of Hester’s terrible situation. Even the town began too see the scarlet letter in a new light. “They had begun to look upon the scarlet letter as the token…”(line 18). The scarlet letter gave the town something to be recognized by, and through is use of diction, Hawthorne presents this. The use of this
Hawthorne’s roots in romanticism are evident throughout The Scarlet Letter. He uses fanciful language and a very particular writing style. Hawthorne infuses imagery, metaphors and diction in The Scarlet Letter in order to convey the effects of the scarlet letter on both the sinner, Hester Prynne, and the town in which she lives. Through the use of these rhetorical devices, Hawthorne reveals to the reader how this “red-hot brand”(line 47) impacts everyday puritan life. Hawthorne uses imagery to present a picture of the Puritan town in which Hester Prynne resides. These Puritans are described as strict and unforgiving, a society based on the “iron frame-work of reasoning”(line 7). The scarlet letter represents this town’s “gray” feel. There is no tolerance for any ungodly behavior, however the A also represents this town’s gossipy nature. Hawthorne writes, “Then, it is true, the propensity of the human nature to tell the very worst of itself…to whisper the black scandal of bygone years“ (Lines 26,27,29,30). As word of Hester Prynne’s affair travels, the scarlet letter more and more defines Hester as the town reject. Using metaphors such as, “the scarlet letter had the effect of the cross on a nun’s bosom. It imparted the wearer a kind of sacredness…” show that while the townspeople saw Hester as an outcast because of the letter A, she saw it as somewhat of a positive. While Hawthorne wants the reader to know that Hester in no way enjoyed wearing the scarlet letter, she embraced it and made the best of it. In conjunction with metaphors, Hawthorne uses diction to create a dynamic feel of intelligent language mixed with the reality of Hester’s terrible situation. Even the town began too see the scarlet letter in a new light. “They had begun to look upon the scarlet letter as the token…”(line 18). The scarlet letter gave the town something to be recognized by, and through is use of diction, Hawthorne presents this. The use of this