Beauty Within The Scarlet Letter

1. Beauty Within The Scarlet Letter By Kate, Lauren, Lakshmi, Nicolette, and Ryan

2. Topic Undoubtedly, Hawthorne’s works are dark; The Scarlet Letter is a tale of “human frailty and sorrow” (Hawthorne 2). It is apparent that Hawthorne deems human nature as possessing a great capacity for evil. However, in one of his notebooks, Hawthorne writes “These are the depths of the heart, or of human nature, bright and peaceful; the gloom and terror may lie deep; but deeper still is this eternal beauty” (The Scarlet Letter: Connections 255). Examine The Scarlet Letter as a novel that evinces deep human beauty beneath a surface of darkness.

3. Thesis Though surrounded by evil and corruption, Hester, Dimmesdale, and even Chillingworth demonstrate traits of deep human strength and beauty in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter.

4. Hester “It was the art… of needlework. She bore on her breast, in the curiously embroidered letter, a specimen of her delicate and imaginative skill, of which the dames of a court might gladly have availed themselves” (95). • Hester creates a name for herself in her town. • She makes the most of her situation by creating a job of embroidery • Thus demonstrating her good spirit amidst the evil around her • The A itself also represents inner beauty, as it shines out even though its purpose was evil

5. Hester “And never had Hester Prynne appeared more lady-like, in the antique interpretation of the term, than as she issued from the prison. Those who had before known her, and had expected to behold her dimmed and obscured by a disastrous cloud, were astonished, and even startled, to perceive how her beauty shone out, and made a halo of the misfortune and ignominy in which she was enveloped” (62). • Her inner beauty is showing through even during the worst of times (as she is leaving the prison) • Shows her sense of self-confidence and trust in her own identity as she will not let others define who she is • Parallels with the beauty of the rose in the rose bush as it is surrounded by thorns • “sweet moral blossom” (56).

6. Hester “She took off the formal cap...and down it fell upon her shoulders,dark and rich, with at once a shadow and a light...imparting the charm of softness to her features” (243). • Hester removes her cap bringing her true beauty out • Freedom of Nature to reveal herself • Nature’s pure beauty compares to Hester’s beauty • Hester and Dimmesdale’s love for each other brings the brightness in their eyes

7. Dimmesdale “The sun. . . shone down upon the clergyman, and gave a distinctness to his figure” ( 239 XXIII). Humility • Humiliation, or the revealing of truth, leads to God’s gift of spiritual endurance. Light vs. Dark • The light that envelopes Dimmesdale separates him from society.

8. Chillingworth “...he [Chillingworth] bequeathed a very considerable amount of property, both here and in England, to little Pearl, the daughter of Hester Prynne” (312). • Cold exterior • has a heart for Pearl • leaves all his fortune for Pearl who is not his own daughter • evincing that he still cares for his wife and her daughter