Kim Rolin
Rough Draft: Puritanism and the Scarlet Letter

    Puritan beliefs have had a strong influence on the roots of early American History. Nathaniel Hawthorne briefly touched upon the lives of puritans in his novel, The Scarlet Letter, and the trials and tribulations they shared in their faith. Their  strict set of principles and controlling faith have most famously led the puritans to be tied to persecution. Puritan morals set a guideline to all of those in their faith, and those who crossed the line faces humility, scorn, punishment, isolation, and even death. All of the restrictions imposed on this group of people foreshadows the horrific events taken in early American history. It is important to realize what these restrictions were and how they effect the characters in Hawthorne’s, The Scarlet Letter.
    As The University of Notre Dame states, Puritans believed in “conversion not repression.” Those outside of the puritan faith were acceptable, but unless converting to the Puritan faith was wanted by these outsiders, many of them had to leave the Puritan colonies. The Puritans were formed in America. Those who dissented the Church of England created a new faith that could only be acceptable away from the church and it’s leaders. The puritans believed the Church of England was a “product of political struggles and man made doctrines.” (UND) They decided to immigrate over to America, where they could practice their pure belief in God. The Puritans believed in predestination, the idea that God had a destined plan for every person, usually before they are born. Work ethic was an important part of puritan society, as puritans believed that work was an honor to God and that work could be a reward to get into Heaven. This same principle was used in concentration camps in Nazi Germany. Above the concentration camp Auschwitz, there was an inscription over the gate reading, “Work makes you free”.
    It was a strict lifestyle that kept most Puritans grounded in their faith. However, with a no forgiveness policy, extreme precautions and consequences were taught and given to those who were seen to disgrace their faith. Hester, the protagonist of Hawthorne’s novel, receives an “A” for her sin of adultery and is scorned for the duration of her life for her sin. In 1692, the Salem witch trials took place. A series of trials that took place in Salem, <Massachusetts by the Puritans. A mass hysteria swept over Puritan society, accusations and disapproved behavior led many women to be judged on whether or not they were witches. Although men were sent to the gallows as well, it was mostly women being accused of being coerced by the devil. Nineteen were hung, one man was pressed to death, and another four died in prison. At least, that was what was recorded.
    In Puritan society, men were the most elite figures. Patriarchy played a heavy hand in the Puritan lifestyle. Women were wives and mothers, and without the leadership of a man, women were expected to stray from their pure belief in God. Education was a very important cornerstone of the Puritan faith. In fact, Puritans established the first formal school in America, the Roxbury Latin school in 1635. (UND) Four years later, Harvard college was established by the Puritans as well. Women were seen almost as a reward to men, but certainly not treated as one. The professions of women in puritan society consisted of mother, wife, and especially if you were a widow, a teacher. These were the only honorable positions for women to upkeep, and if they did not fulfill these duties to the highest expectations, usually from men, they were scorned. Hester who was abandoned by her husband for seven years, clearly had an affair with the birth of her daughter Pearl. Though her affair remains unknown by the public of Salem, Hester has failed her role as a woman in puritan society. Overlooked however is her husband, known in the novel as Chillingsworth. He abandoned his wife in a different country for seven years, and yet there are no repercussions given towards his behavior.
    Hawthorne expands upon the puritan system and its workings in The Scarlet Letter. Hester’s sin of committing adultery effects every aspect of her life. Just as she is isolated by the townspeople, her isolation becomes physical. Hester lives on the outskirts of the village, apart from everyone else. Even her daughter Pearl seems to be isolated by her Mother’s sin. For example, Pearl has become so accustomed to seeing the A on her mother, that when it is not upon Hester, Pearl demands the sin to be replaced. To pearl, the sin defines her mother. Hester can no longer be a person in this society, without her sin defining her.
    Yet sins were cast out for everything. The Scarlet Letter gives a preface to the life and times of a displaced member of Puritan society; Hester. Notable “sins” in the Puritan society were punished, but what Hawthorne foreshadows in the relationship between Hester and Dimmesdale is just an insight to how far the Puritan society goes with defining sin. Soon accusations were being treated as fact, rumors were undeniable, and the townspeople of Salem turned on each other in such a tyrannical setting. With a society bound so tightly, freedom came with a price. It was as easy to disguise your sin or wrong doing by blaming it on another person. Eventually, seemingly harmless complaints became the go to excuse for these oppressed people. A neighbor with more land may be ratted out by another neighbor for being a witch. Once punished, that underprivileged neighbor becomes a better member of society. Punishment escalated quickly, from wearing a letter that represented your sin, to death by accusation.





http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/salem.htm
http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/salem/salem.htm

http://www.nd.edu/~rbarger/www7/puritans.html

The Scarlet Letter

I love this book! Actually, I do not. I had to read both this book and The Crucible in high school and at least in The Crucible, the people were full blown crazy. I didn't however read the Custom house. Though I have been advised not to read this, because it is very difficult to get through and understand. Difficulties with the book are limited for me, since I have read it before. I just don't like the book very much. The ending is really great, and Hawthorne's character development is done well, especially with Pearl. I never understood why Hester's husband who was so distant from her in the past, and seemed to be a terrible husband, all the sudden becomes involved in her life again when he hears a rumour that she may have had an affair. OOH what a caring man. And then he goes undercover. It's a bit psychotic to me and i never understood this deep revenge he had. Hawthorne never really got into his character too much to give him a good background and make the story more powerful when we realize who Roger Chillingworth is. There's a lot of give and take in this novel and although I do like the ending in a way, it's terribly depressing and a bit disappointing to the rest of the story, but I like how Hawthorne wrote it, that is. His use of foreshadowing and other literary elements does define his work very well. I don't have many difficulties with this text, other than it can be painfully boring to read.