An Essay on The Scarlet Letter

In The Scarlet Letter, Nate Hawthorne introduces the cloying strictures imposed upon society, specifically upon women. The book depicts the revolting sexism occurring during the mid-1600s. The main character, Hester Prynne, is a young woman, condemned and alienated by society. She travels to the New World before her husband and arrives at the colony of Massachusetts. Hester, however, has sexual intercourse with another person during this period. Afterward, she gives birth to a daughter, and both become the dregs of society. Her daughter, Pearl, is scorned by the other children and feels constant judgment. Hester, meanwhile, is punished by the town by wearing the letter “A” on her breast. Afterward, Hester’s husband arrives at the colony and, after discovering the situation, devotes his life to finding who committed the sin with Hester. This leads him to follow Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale continually, and he finally discovers he’s Hester’s paramour. While this book may, unfortunately, make readers re-experience the horrors of their high-school English class, while being read, it offers invaluable insight into early America, and a reflection of how far society has come – and still must go.

While the book focuses on society’s ignorance, an underlying, yet central theme, is the absence of the celebration of childhood. The innocence of childhood is invaluable, yet brief. However, because Pearl – Hester’s daughter – was the “product” of her mother’s “mistake”, she grows up isolated and alone.  Rather than making friends, she accompanies her mother throughout the first seven years of her life. She’s unable to socialize with children of similar age and, instead, amuses herself with her imagination. “Pearl felt the sentiment [from the children], and requited it with the bitterest hatred that can be supposed to rankle in a childish bosom” (Hawthorne 159). Innocence is rare and precious but extremely brief over the long period of life. Children are generally regarded as the epitome of innocence, and they perceive the world through an untarnished viewpoint. However, because the hate towards Hester and her “mistake” is so potent, Pearl already feels these sentiments and realizes a sliver as to the meaning behind them. Her natural reaction is to react defensively, leading to her trying to muster hate towards the other children - and the parents who inspired the sentiments. This reaction is the most commiserating part, as children aren’t supposed to be exposed to these situations. While suffering through these situations, Pearl is unable to properly experience proper guidance as Hester, also, struggles with motherhood.

Hester sees her child as a punishment from God, rather than a gift. Instead of celebrating the birth of Pearl, she anticipates a problem, resulting from her sin. Pearl is fascinated by Hester’s letter and constantly does things pertaining to it. Considering the meaning behind the letter, Hester sees this as a punishment and torture and withstands Pearl’s actions because she believes it’s her penance. “One day…[Pearl’s] eyes had been caught by…the letter; and, putting up her little hand, she grasped at it smiling…but with a decided gleam…” (162, 163). Hester, meanwhile, “whether from pride or resignation, or a feeling that her penance might be wrought out by this unutterable pain… sat erect, pale as death, looking sadly into Pearl’s wild eyes” (164). These early memories, rather than being precious remembrances, are, for Hester, her payment for committing a sin. Pearl, as a young child, doesn’t understand the meaning behind the letter and amuses herself with, what she thinks, is a natural item that women wear. Hester is unable to breach the gap of knowledge between her and Pearl as it means to further introduce her to situations that extend beyond her knowledge. Thus, they’re both trapped in an endless loop that constantly leaves one oblivious and the other in pain.

Hester and Pearl are both victims of the provincial-minded town. Hester sees Pearl as a punishment and a way to repent. Meanwhile, Pearl is isolated by the town because she’s her mother’s “mistake”, thus, taking away her brief childhood and exposing her to the world’s cruelties prematurely. Society’s prejudice leads to misguided attempts to correct Hester’s and Pearl’s behavior and situation, harming Pearl’s childhood and Hester’s parenthood. Hawthorne can appeal to all readers by showing examples of perseverance in a judgmental world.