The Scarlet Letter

"But in the lapse of the toilsome, thoughtful, and self-devoted years that made up Hester's life, the scarlet letter ceased to be a stigma which attracted the world's scorn and bitterness, and became a type of something looked upon with awe, yet with reverence, too" (273). In the novel The Scarlet Letter the main character, Hester Prynne, is judged simply upon the scarlet "A" worn on her chest as a punishment for committing adultery. The author really focuses the point of this piece of literature on the element of identity, as it being an essential first-impressionist in people's minds, therefore obscuring them from ever truly finding out the deeper story behind the victim. In this classic novel, The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne incorporates this vital theme through means of symbolism, characterization, and use of irony.

Symbolism was the author's most intense form of portraying identity in general. The entire novel revolves around some piece of information, location, idea, or quote which supports this theme in a beautiful and original way. One of the biggest forms of symbolisms was Hester Prynne's infamous scarlet letter. This was the letter "A" which was worn upon her bosom to show all the townspeople that she had, in fact, committed adultery. It was to be worn by her in order for her to be shamed, but by the narrator's tone and diction, he made it appear more as if it were a symbol of empowerment. It is evidently clear, especially, when said:

The scarlet letter was her passport into regions where other women dared not tread. Shame, Despair, Solitude! These had been her teacher, - stern and wise ones, - and they had made her strong, but taught her much amiss (209).

Here, the author depicts both sides of the spectrum to this scarlet letter. On one hand, it is a representation of humiliation; an object that she should most instinctively hate. However, the author also shows that it taught here to be strong and pioneer roads for other women. This is where the significance of the "A" changes from being a dishonorable "adulteress," to a very competent "able." In such a sense, it demonstrates how such a simple object can bring into perspective what others think about you, and what you can have them think of you. Other demonstrations of aspect are the characters' names, day and night, the introductory rosebush next to the prison door, Dimmesdale's illness and eventual death, and many more. These ideas of symbolism thus lead us into the topic of characterization.

The technique in which Hawthorne unravels and describes his characters' personalities exceptionally reveals their identities. Old Roger Chillingworth is a prime example of such a concept. From the very beginning of the book, he was presented oh so mysteriously. Slowly he was then brought into the light and revealed as Hester's husband. When he arrived in Boston after being captured by Indians, therefore bringing him back to the Americas late, he witnesses his wife Hester being displayed on a scaffold for all to behold. He then seeks out revenge, not for Hester (for she has apparently suffered enough), but for the father of the illegitimate infant child. He is as horrifying on the outside as he is on the inside, because he has crooked shoulders and has a mirroring appalling personality. Since he was such a knowledgeable man, but used his intelligence for evil. Therefore, he came up with a plan to disguise himself as a doctor, find Hester's lover, and torture him. When he evidently found out the man was Rev. Dimmesdale, he "leeched" himself onto the poor, ill young man. It is this way that he is associated with this creature; he feeds off of the pain of others in order to live. This is why when Dimmesdale ultimately died, Chillingworth died not long after. However, before such event occurred, Chillingworth even admitted that he had changed, when he said to his wife Hester,

"Dost thou remember me, Hester, as I was nine years agone? ...All my life had been made up of earnest, studious, thoughtful, quiet years, bestowed faithfully for the increase of mine own knowledge, and faithfully, too, though this latter object was but casual to the other, - faithfully for the advance