The Scarlet Letter

The Scarlet Letter is a story about a young woman named Hester Prynne who goes through experiences in the seventeenth century, contradictory to everything she stands for. There are various characters in the story who experience different things, most to get a point across to the reader. What are these things? How does Hawthorne’s depiction of these characters help the reader understand his message about conforming to society? Hawthorne’s depiction of these characters convey the message by demonstrating the appreciation of natural things on character and observation in the other.

Hawthorne uses the confidence in Hester to demonstrate the reward of failing to conform to society. In the story, Hester Prynne finds herself in many circumstances where she is brought into the purest form of nature. “Doth the universe lie within the compass of yonder town, which only a little while ago was a leaf-strewn desert, as lonely as this around us.” (Hawthorne,) This quote is a direct link to independence. It shows that Hester sees the beauty of things that are natural, untouched or changes by the many constrict society offers. It proves that she has the personality trait and element to discern the things that have been tampered with, and the things that have not. Thus, it is demonstrated that things touched by society are less beautiful and real than things that aren't. “See with what natural skills she has made with those simple flowers adorn her! Had she gathered pearls, and diamonds and rubies, they could not have become her better.” (Hawthorne,) This quote gives an excellent demonstration of why exactly choosing not to conform to society is the best thing to do. What this quote shows is that Hester’s daughter in her natural state was more real, unfiltered and alluring than that of a little girl being influenced by rules and ways of being. In the puritan society, there is so much to be told to do as a woman. Hester is bold, and does the things she thinks and truly knows that matters.

The author Hawthorne uses realization and observation to show the downfall of conforming to society. In the story, conforming to society is the subliminal yet forefront way of existing in the world. Often times an escape changes the minds entangled. “I seem to have flung myself---sick, sin-stained, and sorrow-blackened--down upon these forest leaves and to have risen up all made anew.” (Hawthorne,) This quote shows that by taking a journey into the wilderness, Dimmesdale has a feeling of complete growth within himself. Being in society has made him a certain way, a negative way that has affected his character. Going to a place that once again, has been untouched, unfiddled with by nature, changed him for the better. Conforming to society put him in a position where he did not know what real life was again. “My finger, pointed at this man, would have hurled him from his pulpit into a dungeon, -thence, peradventure, to the gallows!” (Hawthorne 14) This particular quote proves that the Minister (also known as Dimmesdale) has fallen into the establishment of the Persian society. By simply saying that just at one point of his finger, the person would be condemned to something they probably wouldn't want to. This proves a use of abuse in power, which is a form of conforming to society.

To conclude, in The Scarlet Letter, the author uses the submerment into nature and observation of two characters to show the conforming of character to society. With prime examples and connections to the largerm meaning, it can be very clear that Hawthorne successfully uses characters in the most efficient way to convey his idea.