Power In The Scarlet Letter

The Power of “A” The novel The Scarlet Letter was written by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Hawthorne wrote the novel in 1850, making it a part of the Romanticism era that lasted from 1750 to 1870. The Romanticism era was a literary movement that focused on the liberation from rules, relationships between humans and nature, and the use of imaginary worlds and beings. The novel became an instant best-seller and was the start of Hawthorne’s most productive period. Although it was very popular, several natives of Salem were angered by Hawthorne’s description of them in the beginning of the novel. The Scarlet Letter is considered to be Hawthorne’s masterpiece. The novel The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne should be considered an American literature …show more content…
Hester refuses to let the letter define who she is. She focuses on living her life and it ends up changing the letter’s meaning from shameful to sacred. The letter ends having “the effect of the cross on a nun’s bosom. It imparted to the wearer a kind of sacredness, which enabled her to walk securely amid all peril” (Hawthorne 151). Due to Hester’s hard work and charity, the “A” changes from sin and adultery to able woman. People start to see the “A” in a better light and start to respect it and Hester. The Scarlet Letter is a great representation of the historical Romanticism era. The Romanticism era focused on creating a deeper meaning. Hawthorne creates this by showing the connection between nature and humans. There was a rose bush outside of the prison that everyone saw when they went in and out of the prison. The rose bush showed that no matter how dark it seems, there is always a tiny glimmer of hope. “It may serve, let us hope to symbolize some sweet moral blossom, that may be found along the track, or relieve the darkening close of a tale of human frailty and sorrow” (Hawthorne …show more content…
It intrigues the reader’s thoughts on humanity. The novel shows the struggle that the people want to do their own thing, but due to their occupation or status, they are unable to. Dimmesdale is a prime example of this struggle because he is the religious figure of the town that committed a grave error. Dimmesdale is seen as an angel by the people, therefore he is unable to tell the people that he is the father of Hester’s baby. The townspeople magnify Hester’s act because she has contaminated Master Dimmesdale’s church. A stranger questions why Hester is being punished and a townsman say “Else you surely would have heard of Mistress Hester Prynne and her wrong doings. She hath raised a great scandal, I promise you, in godly Master Dimmesdale’s church” (Hawthorne 80). The people do not realize that it takes two people to make a baby, therefore Hester’s act was not just her fault. Hester knows that Dimmesdale was a part of it, but to save him from condemnation from the people, she keeps his