I firmly believe that the human heart possesses the inherent potential for both immoral behavior and virtuous deeds.
The literary work titled "The Scarlet Letter" was written by Nathaniel Hawthorne and was first published in the year 1850. The genres of the novel are historical fiction, romance, and allegory. The story takes place during the 17th century within the place of Puritan New England. It centers on Hester Prynne, a youthful female protagonist who undergoes public humiliation and is marked with a scarlet letter "A" (representing adultery) because of her affair.
The primary protagonists in the literary work were Hester Prynne, a female individual who was found guilty of engaging in an affair, therefore compelled to wear the scarlet letter as a visual representation of her dishonor. Arthur Dimmesdale, a respected minister within the local society, emerged as Hester's clandestine lover, a revelation that unfolded in end chapters of the novel. Pearl, the daughter of Hester, serves as a symbol of her mother's sin, happiness, and suffering. Roger Chillingworth, the estranged spouse of Hester, learns of Dimmesdale's role in Hester's affair and becomes enraged, seeking revenge.
I could say that the film/book perfectly depict the stiff and merciless societal structure that was prevalent in 17th-century New England. The people loved to preach out, following religion teachings and moral rules. But on the other hand, this display of religious devotion conceals the underlying hypocrisy evident in their treatment of Hester Prynne, whereby she was compelled to bear the scarlet letter as a means of public humiliation.
I believe that this piece serves as an important example of allegory in literature. Hester’s transgression of adultery is symbolically shown with the scarlet letter "A" at her chest. Initially, the situation was deemed disgraceful as there was an instance where she was compelled to remain on top of a raised platform for hours (I personally felt really bad while watching this), while people look at her. Also, she was required to walk around while wearing the emblematic letter A affixed to her chest. However, as the story unfolds, the symbol A undergoes a transformation, the letter then represented the Hester’s ability to endure and confront her sins, thereby embodying her resilience and fortitude. I also like how Hester defied the norms of what is expected of a woman through her stubbornness and determination.
One of my favorite events in the film and book is that, the other characters also seek redemption and attempt to atone for their sins. Even though Dimmesdale tried to hide his mistake, his guilt breaks him, and he admits to adultery in public before dying in Hester's arms. They finally learn that trying to make things right and facing their guilt leads to growth and healing, showing that people can change.
Without
a doubt, I believe that The Scarlet Letter is a canonical work of literature as
it persists in engaging readers, stimulating contemplation, and catalyzing
societal transformation. Despite being written many centuries ago, the novel
has a remarkable level of progressiveness for its time period, since it tackles
enduring issues that continue to hold significant relevance in contemporary
society.
References
Full
Movie
C. C. C. (2022, December 14). The Scarlet Letter (1934) Drama, History, Romance | Full Length Movie. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4WoHogJi-o
Articles:
McDonald, R. (2023, August 11). The Scarlet Letter | Summary, Analysis, Characters, & Facts. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Scarlet-Letter-novel-by-Hawthorne
The
Scarlet Letter: Full Book Summary | SparkNotes. (n.d.).
SparkNotes. https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/scarlet/summary/
No comments:
Post a Comment