The Scarlet LetterThe Scarlet Letter

The Romantic PeriodThe Romantic Period

1830-18651830-1865

SL published in 1850, 1SL published in 1850, 1stst symbolic novel symbolic novel (American) (American)

20 years of planning – most unified20 years of planning – most unified Other writers of the time – Emerson, Thoreau, Other writers of the time – Emerson, Thoreau,

Melville, PoeMelville, Poe

Scarlet LetterScarlet Letter

Set in remote past (Puritan Era) 200 yrs. Set in remote past (Puritan Era) 200 yrs. Before Hawthorne and deals with inner Before Hawthorne and deals with inner psychology of individual characterspsychology of individual characters

i.e. a romance about the pasti.e. a romance about the past

RomancesRomances

= truths of the human heart (not just romantic = truths of the human heart (not just romantic love)love)

= SL not necessarily a historical novel about = SL not necessarily a historical novel about PuritansPuritans

= some facts and imagination (about human = some facts and imagination (about human nature)nature)

= exaggerates relationship between humans and = exaggerates relationship between humans and naturenature

Scarlet LetterScarlet Letter

Uses vocab and style familiar to 1850, but Uses vocab and style familiar to 1850, but speech of 1600 Puritansspeech of 1600 Puritans

Setting – early 17Setting – early 17thth C. , approx. 1642, Boston, C. , approx. 1642, Boston, MA, a Puritan villageMA, a Puritan village

Story begins in “Story begins in “medias resmedias res”” Heavily symbolic – inner meanings through Heavily symbolic – inner meanings through

outward appearanceoutward appearance

ThemesThemes

AlienationAlienation Religious hypocrisyReligious hypocrisy Breaking society’s rulesBreaking society’s rules Creating one’s own worldCreating one’s own world Hate turns into loveHate turns into love Illusion vs. realityIllusion vs. reality Sin of flesh vs. sin of will/intellectSin of flesh vs. sin of will/intellect

Read on diff. levelsRead on diff. levels

Psychological (indiv.) – internal effects of sinPsychological (indiv.) – internal effects of sin Sociological (society)Sociological (society) Historical (period and culture)Historical (period and culture) Moral - many themesMoral - many themes