Book Analysis Project

1. Book Analysis Project Based on the classic “The Scarlet Letter” By: Nathaniel Hawthorne Sarah Foster Pd. AB

2. Nathaniel Hawthorne • Nathaniel Hawthorne was born on July 4th 1804 in Salem, Massachusetts. He was a famous American novelist and short story writer. In 1821 he starts college at Bowdoin College. When he graduated college in 1825, he stayed isolated from his family and friends and moved back to Salem where he would take his meals alone and spend most of his time writing. Soon he wrote his first book Fanshawein 1828. he published this book anonymously and the public ignored it. Hawthorne starts working in a Custom House in 1839, but ten years later he loses his job. After losing his job Hawthorne quotes "I detest this town so much that I hate to go out into the streets, or to have people see me.“ • When Hawthorne’s mother dies, he dives into a deep depression but still continues to write his upcoming novel The Scarlet Letter. The Scarlet Letter came out in March of 1850. Since the book had very scandalous themes like adultery and betrayal, This novel became an instant bestseller. • During the remainder of his life he wrote many more novels such as Seven Gables and a White Whale, and The Blithedale Romance.He also was on the US Consul in Liverpool in 1853 and loses his position in 1857. • Hawthorne dies May 19, 1864, and is later reunited with his wife and daughter in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery after their deaths. Nathaniel Hawthorne may be gone, but just as his books will never be forgotten. /

3. Roger Chillingworth was the husband of Hester Prynne. Their marriage was not a good example of a loving relationship. Chillingworth didn’t truly love Prynne, but only wanted companionship, for he was scared of being lonely. Their marriage consisted of Roger ignoring her, and neither really loving each other. When Hester went to America, Chillingworth stayed behind. After 2 years had passed it was believed that Roger was lost at sea. He had actually been captured by Indians, where he learned useful information of the medical field. • Chilllingworth comes to America where his wife Hester had made home, only to find out that she has been impregnated by another man. When Roger confronts her on who the father is, Hester denies him response. Angry and seeking revenge Chillingsworth responds “…Let him live! Let him hide himself in outward honour, if he may! Not the less he shall be mine!” He has reason to suspect Arthur Dimmesdale, a reverend who has recently became very ill and sickly, to be the father. Roger then poses as Dimmesdales doctor so that it looks like he is out to help him. In actuality, he is only there to torture him immensely to force his confirmation out of him. Dimmesdale eventually confesses and Chillngworth has nothing else to live for, considering the only thing he had to live for was revenge. Hester and Dimmesdale’s daughter Pearl, inherits all of Chillingworth’s money after his demise. Roger Chillingworth

4. Hester Prynne has many conflicts with various characters throughout the novel. One of these include the people in power, such as Governor Bellingham and the ministers. • The people in power want to take Pearl away from Hester because they feel that she is an unfit mother. The Governor says on pg. 101 “The point hath been weightily discussed, whether we, that are of authority and influence, do well discharge our consciences by trusting an immortal soul, such as there is in yonder child, to the guidance of one who hath stumbled and fallen, amid the pitfalls of this world.” stating how Hester should not be trusted to raise Pearl. • The source of this conflict overall is Pearl. First and foremost, the conflict is the unholy way in which Pearl was created. This conflict is taken further by the Governor, in that Hester is looked down on by society and viewed as an unfit person to be raising a child. Hester Prynne- Conflict Analysis

5. This conflict occurs because of the way in which Pearl was created. If she would have been born in a married relationship, Hester would not have been faced with the problem of losing her child. They lived in a time when knowing God and religion was paramount. Religion is the main reason they sought the freedom of the New World. Further complicating the issue was Pearl’s response to the old minister when, on pg. 101, he asked of her, “Canst thou tell me, my child, who made thee?” so condescendingly. Instead of answering the question right away Pearl runs away and fools around. When she finally decides to answer she says “she had not been made at all, but had been plucked by her mother off the bush of wild roses that grew by the prison door.” on pg. 102. On the same page the governor cried, “This is awful!” Hester Prynne- Conflict Analysis

6. The effect that losing Pearl would have on Hester is that it would truly drive her mad. She tells everyone on pg. 103 that she is “ready to defend them to death.” Hester then insists to the governor that Pearl “… is my happiness- she is my torture.” This statement shows that Hester would die if she lost Pearl. It also shows a conflict that has two parts. The first part is the conflict that Hester immediately faces, which is having her child taken from her. The second part is the conflict of Hester’s love for Pearl, which is complicated by the fact that the child also represents Hester’s greatest sin, for she further states on pg.103, “…she is the scarlet letter…” • The resolution of this problem comes when the Governor sees that Pearl will be a constant reminder of Hester’s shame, and she alone will be the ultimate punishment. Hester also insinuates that without Pearl, she would sign her name “…in the Black Man’s book… with my own blood” on pg. 107, or that she would take her own life. • Hester also implores Dimmesdale to come to her aid, which he does. Dimmesdale defends Hester and Pearl which makes the others back away from them. He comes to their rescue because Hester begs on pg. 103, and says to Dimmesdale “…thou knowest what is in my heart, and what are a mother’s rights…” • After this Hester gets to keep Pearl as her saving grace and as punishment, and the conflict of Hester losing Pearl is resolved. Hester Prynne- Conflict Analysis

7. There are times when we as people do things that are deemed unforgivable by society. There are times when it feels as if there is no hope. Hester Prynne felt as if there was no hope after getting pregnant by a man who wasn’t her husband. Sometimes people chose a road in life that will have negative consequences to that person, and all of the people around them. No matter which road you chose, there will always be someone at the end of that road to forgive you, and show you compassion. • Throughout the novel you can see Hester get forgiven for her sins slowly. In Chapter 2 there's a quote from a young wife on page 49 that states “…let her cover the mark as she will, the pang of it will be always in her heart.” As many people look down on Hester, and want her to server her punishment by wearing the letter A, this young wife sees what others cant, which is that Hester will be eternally shameful for her sins. It is because of the shame and guilt that Hester feels everyday that she deserves and will eventually be forgiven. After years of shame Hester is still looked down upon, but people now deep down of her debt to their society. On page 147 it is said about Hester “"Do you see that woman with the embroidered badge?" they would say to strangers. "It is our Hester, —the town's own Hester, —who is so kind to the poor, so helpful to the sick, so comfortable to the afflicted!"  • Through everything Hester stayed strong, knowing that one day her, her daughter, and even Dimmesdale would be forgiven. Though her sins were a terrible crime at that time, people still could not help to see the true compassion and caring qualities that Hester presents. No one can find any way to call a beautiful child like Pearl unholy because of the way they were supposed to look down on Hester. No matter what sin you commit, or which road you take, you will always have someone who will be willing to forgive you, and there will always be light at the end of the tunnel Theme-Forgiveness

8. In my opinion, I did enjoy reading The Scarlet Letter. I do not think I would have read it on my own, but I’m glad I was able to. I liked this book because it taught a lot of important life lessons and showed a good example of forgiveness during hard times. I learned that things aren’t always as bad as they seem, and that if you stay strong, and be patient, you can be forgiven. • A character I can relate to is Hester Prynne, because I think that we have all done something that we have regretted. I know what it feels like to hide something from someone and feel extremely guilty, like Hester when hiding who the father was. I obviously did not feel this amount of guilt to Hester’s extent, but I can still relate to what she is going through, and I think that several other people my age can relate to her as well. • I would recommend this book to my cousin Amanda. I think that she would enjoy this book because she is going through an extremely hard time recently. Although this book isn’t really an “up lifter” it still can show her that even though she thinks everything is so terrible in her life now, if she compares what happens to Hester in the novel, she’ll see that everything isn’t all that bad. I also think it would take her mind off of everything going on in her life for a few days, while she reads this book. Personal Reflection