Romanticism in The Scarlet Letter - 1596 Words

A Puritans FollyNever forget that only dead fish swim with the stream. -Malcolm Muggeridge. This famous quote justifies that to be an individual, one must break from society and think for himself, and only when he has done this, is he truly alive. Nathaniel Hawthornes novel The Scarlet Letter is about a courageous woman, Hester Prynne, and her struggle to split from society in order to live the loving life she has always wanted. By the use of symbolism, Hawthorne is effectively able to portray the forest, which promotes individuality, and the town, which rewards conformity. The clothes portrayed by the Puritans, the town, are dull and plain whereas those expressed by the Romantics, the forest, are vivid and eccentric. Also, the various†¦show more content†¦Even after the town has unfairly punished Hester, they still wish to punish her more. This signifies the cold and unjust nature of the Puritans, who want nothing more than strict laws and harsh punishment. In consequence, Hester refuses to show that the town has broken her and continues to keep her pride and remain dignified. In addition, the act when Dimmesdale mounts the scaffold to relieve himself of his guilt, serves as a transition between the town and forest, for although he is splitting from society, his is doing so in the confines of his own knowledge, not making it public. Dimmesdales ascend of the guilty platform serves as a remedy for his suffering for prior seven years (137). Although the act does not fully relieve him of his pain, as it should not, it gives him an excuse to keep moving on. This event shows that Dimmesdale is a weak and cowardly man, not yet strong enough to confess his sins, therefore forced to relieve his pain in this cowardly fashion. This event foreshadows that when Dimmesdale finally enlightens the town of his past adulteries, relieving him entirely of his guilt. Lastly, their confrontation in the forest allow Hester and Dimmesdale the freedom to express their true f eelings towards each other. As they sat next to each other, hand clasped in hand, on the mossy trunk of the fallen tree Hester and Dimmesdale were finally able to express their love and plan their escape from the horridShow MoreRelatedRomanticism in the Scarlet Letter Essay852 Words   |  4 PagesRomanticism is categorized as â€Å"a preference for simplicity and naturalness, a love of plain feelings and truth to common place reality, especially as found in natural scenes†. Nathaniel Hawthorne was an anti-transcendentalist and believed in the dark side of man, hence his dark romantic novel The Scarlet Letter. This allegorical novel depends heavily on symbol and character. The novel is chock full of symbolic dimension of images, characters, and descriptions. The Scarlet Letter defines the AmericanRead MoreRomanticism And Nathaniel Hawthorne s The Scarlet Letter1461 Words   |  6 PagesRomanticism and Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter Literary Romanticism was a literary movement that started in Europe toward the late 1700’s and reached America in the early 19th century just in time for its peak years. Originally sparked by the Industrial Revolution, it was a response to the political and social conditions of the time as well as a challenge to the new type of scientific exploration and rationalization of everyday life. Writing that was grand and inspired great feeling andRead MoreRomanticism And Transcendentalism In Nathaniel Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter956 Words   |  4 Pages The Scarlet Letter - Research Paper Nathaniel Hawthorne is 19th-century author whose works were primarily classified as romanticism and transcendentalism. His works held many controversial elements for his time including the extensive use of feminist principles. 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The most famous Dark Romantic writer, Nathaniel Hawthorne, emphasizes human proneness to sin and self-destruction, uses symbols that are considered dark, and believes that evil can overtake good. In The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel HawthorneRead MoreRomanticism Is Essential to the American Culture954 Words   |  4 PagesRomanticism is essential to the American culture. It was sought out to be the central movement of the American Renaissance, being most mediated through transcendentalism and it continues to influence on American thought and writing. â€Å"Romanticism has very little to do with things popularly thought of as ro mantic, although love may occasionally be the subject of Romantic art. Rather, it is an international artistic and philosophical movement that redefined the fundamental ways in which people inRead MoreNathaniel Hawthorne s The Scarlet Letter1187 Words   |  5 PagesPuritanism in Red Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter shows the early view of Puritanism by concentrating on sin, guilt, and its effects on society. Nathaniel Hawthorne conveyed a dark and romantic style of writing in â€Å"The Scarlet Letter†, impacting the society by focusing on the concepts of romanticism. The Scarlet Letter is considered a classic book and is still read today. Nathaniel Hathorne was born in Salem, Massachusetts on July 4, 1804. He was the son of Nathaniel and Elizabeth Clark