1

Settings in The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Sehrish Rehman

Introduction:
The Scarlet Letter was published in 1850 and is considered as Nathaniel Hawthorne's most famous novel and the first quintessentially American novel in style, theme, and language. Set in seventeenth-century Puritan Massachusetts, the novel centers around the travails of Hester Prynne, who gives birth to a daughter Pearl after an adulterous affair. Hawthorne's novel is concerned with the effects of the affair rather than the affair itself. Hester's public shaming is used as a tool to explore the rigid and inhuman Puritan society of New England. The novels plot took place at Massachusetts in Boston in the early 17th century.

Background:
The novel has its background in the rigid, conform, unflattering puritan society of late 17th century in Massachusetts. Puritanism was a moment that started in 16th century. Puritans were the people who grew discontent in the Church of England and worked toward its reforms. They contended that the Church of England had become a product of political struggles and man made doctrines. After a great political struggle they came to a conclusion that the Church of England is beyond reforms and escaping the persecution from the Church leadership and the king they came to the New England or America. The puritans believed that the Bible is Gods true law, and that it provides a plan for living which must be strictly followed in the daily life, not a slightest shift from that law was possible. There was little freedom of choice, expression, speech, or opinion. They believe that ALL was in God's hands and there was nothing or very little a man could do to alter the divine plan. Any attempt towards freedom in private, civic or religious matters was considered by them as a betrayal of the whole society. They believed that only God drew men's souls to salvation. It was in vain to believe that there was anything individuals could

do by pious works or reason to purify them selves. Society already contained very strict laws and conventions but the early years of the puritan settlement in America were hard, full of struggles as well as quarrels, and these years left their bad marks on puritan temper as well. Hence the psychology of the puritan settlers of New England was basically the psychology of a besieged people and this account for the stubbornness and the harshness of their religious and civic codes. Puritan society imposed the strictest regulations upon its members and the violators were punished most severely in order to set an example for others. Society dictated the individuals not only in religious and civic affairs but also in their private lives, and it was intolerant to any dissident like Ann Hutchinson. Organization was covered on two grounds--religious and political. Religious leaders were considered as most pious people of the society and the religious leaders also were responsible for the political organization in the community. Open opposition to the political leaders or the religious leaders was tantamount to opposing God Himself. This is the society which Hawthorne chooses as a background or even as a antagonist for his novel.

Physical Settings
Hawthorne, in this novel, has used many objects and ideas as symbols to stand for one object on a surface level and a deeper and profound thought on another level. He makes a similar use of settings as well. We found many settings in the novel which imply a very different meaning from their appearance. Some of which are as follow

The Prison door

The prison, presented in the opening chapter of the novel, is a symbol of isolation and alienation, foreshadowing the life that Hester will lead even after she leaves its confines. While

Hester lives in the prison of alienation, Dimmesdale lives in the prison of his unconfessed guilt, and Chillingworth is imprisoned by his vengeance. A special emphasis is found, in the beginning chapters of the novel, about the prison door. The writer introduces the prison door as "rustic" and an "ugly edifice." This door is, infect, the symbol seems to represent all that is strict and unrelenting in Puritan society, especially the rigid and unchangeable puritan law. Its made of oak and carry iron spikes as well, The door of which was heavily timbered with oak and studded with iron spikes. It means that it was strong, heavy and unbreakable similar to conventional and orthodox puritan society. If any one dares to go against the laws and conventions of the society he/she faces a punished of death or being made a living sermon for others. The prison door is described as having never known "a youthful era," i.e., innocence. Hawthorne says The rust on the ponderous iron work of its oaken door looked more antique than anything else in the New World. This represents the conventionality and history of the puritan law and conventions. The conventions of the society were as strict and stern as ever they never under go any change in their harshness and rigidness. Everything else in the city changed but not the rigid laws and conventions.

Rose bush
The rosebush represents kindness and forgiveness to the prisoners who must face either a prison sentence or a death sentence. If the prison door represents all what is strict and unbending in the puritan society, the rosebush seems to represent the concept of "grace" or forgiveness. In Christian thought, grace is "unmerited mercy," that is, forgiveness of sins even though forgiveness is undeserved. Since the prison is a place of darkness and sin, the beauty of a wild rose bush growing in such an unexpected place is a symbol of grace. We encounter this prison

door and this rosebush in the very first pages of The Scarlet Letter, and both objects seem to tell us that, even in a place of such cold and rigid law, there is hope and there is love. Later in the book, in chapter 8, Pearl states that she was plucked from the rosebush and was born. This symbolizes that Pearl is the key to not only Hester's salvation, but to Dimmesdale and indirectly to Chillingworth. Pearl was born into a world of sin and for her to be saved; everyone must find their salvation through her. It represents a light in the darkness of Hester's sin.

Scaffold:
The scaffold is a symbol of penitence and God's platform on the Day of Judgment. It is also a symbol of shame and infamy as Hawthorne says The very ideal of ignominy was embodied and made manifest in this contrivance of wood and iron. This symbol appears thrice in the play and provides a framework for the entire novel. First scaffold scene appears in the opening of the novel. In the first scaffold scene, Hester and Pearl stand alone, publicly humiliated, while Dimmesdale watches from the side, standing with the other leaders of the community. Second scaffold scene appears in the middle of the novel when Dimmesdale is standing, with hester and pearl, on the scaffold ready to confess but is stopped by Chillingworth. This time, though, the scene occurs at night, nearly seven years after the novel's action begins. Rather than highlighting Hester's suffering, this scene focuses on Dimmesdale's guilt and remorse, which have led him to the edge of insanity. On the third scene, All major characters are gathered, Hester, pearl and Dimmesdale are standing on the scaffold. Dimmesdale is dying and he makes his confession before dying ant the confession finally gives him a sense of peace.

The Forest and the Wilderness:

Forest and wilderness are important symbols in the play. The forest and wilderness are seen as the home or dwelling place of evil by the townspeople. They see the forest as dark, or evil, as the place where the witches go at night to have meetings, and a home of the devil. Its the unknown, untamed and the uncorrupt. Such a wilderness is compared to the moral wilderness in which Hester has been lost for years: "She had wandered, without rule or guidance, in a moral wilderness; as vast, as intricate and shadowy, as the untamed forest" (18.2). Then, Ironically, Hester founds her true self and her inner peace in this place considered to be as an evil place by the others. The forest contrasts sharply with the town, or "civilization," the former representing a place where passion and emotion reign, and the latter, a place where law and religion prevail. The woods seem to affect people in interesting ways. After a few hours in the woods with Hester, Dimmesdale becomes incredibly mischievous and unrestrained. He reveals his guilt and remorse to Hester and relived himself to some extant. Hester tore off his scarlet letter and untie her hearsunder the effect of her passions grown wild in the forest. Pearl has all of her airy charms at a peak as she entered in the forest. She has a special connection with the forest and its wilderness. As the narrator says Sombre as it was, it put on the kindest of its moods to welcome her As a kind hearted human it provide moments fuel of joy for Pearl The mother forest and these wild things which it nourished, all recognized a kindred wilderness in the human child..

When Hester calls Pearl over to her in order that she might embrace her father, Dimmesdale, Pearl hesitates at the edge of the brook, and it forms a kind of division between her world and that of her mothers. Pearl did not cross this divide until her mother fastens the scarlet

letter once more to her chest. Its as though the scarlet letter binds Pearl to her mother in a way that little else in the world does.

Sun and its shining:

Among other very important symbols from the settings are the sun and its shining. Sun is the symbol of hope and joy. When Hester Prynne is standing on the scaffold in the opening scene the sun shines on her not as a symbol of hope but only reveling her shame and ignominy but later sun never shines on her though it shines on pearl. As in chapter 16 Pearl inquire from her mother that why the sunshine does not shine on her, Mother the sunshine does not love you. It run away and hides itself, because it is afraid of some thing on your bosom, Infect, the scarlet letter is a token of shame and ignominy for Hester as long as it was on her bosom she would never be able to entertain any hope or pleasure. But when Hester tore if off her bosom, in the forest with Dimmesdale the sun started to shine on her as brightly as ever because then she was full of hope and pleasure. Whereas the sun always shine on little Pearl because she was innocent, and sinless.

Conclusion
Thus we can say that no aspect of this novel is irrelevant. Each of the symbols, characters, and themes is presented with consistent, delicately chosen details, creating a beautiful and complex novel. Seemingly trivial settings of the novel present the deep themes of the novel more explicit and profound.

References: http://en.allexperts.com/q/U-S-History-672/History-17th-Century-Puritan.htm Puritanism: Influence on American Society Infoplease.com

http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/society/A0860592.html#ixzz36Kt73Fap www.shmoop.com/scarlet-letter/symbolism-imagery.html www.pinkmonkey.com/booknotes/.../pmScarletLetter49.asp www.shmoop.com/scarlet-letter/setting.html