AN ANALYSIS OF PURITANISTIC ELEMENTS IN
NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE’S
THE SCARLET LETTER
A PAPER
WRITTEN
BY
STEFANUS NATANAEL SEMBIRING
NIM : 102202032
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH SUMATERA
FACULTY OF CULTURE STUDIES
DIPLOMA III ENGLISH STUDY PROGRAM
MEDAN
Approved by
Supervisor,
NIP. 19630216198903 1 003
Drs. Parlindungan Purba, M.Hum
Submitted to Faculty of Culture Studies, University of North Sumatera
In partial fulfillment of the requirements for Diploma – III in English study
program.
Approved by
Head of Diploma III English Study Program
NIP. 19521126198112 1 001
Dr. Matius C. A. Sembiring, M.A.
Accepted by the Board of Examiners in partial fulfillment of the requirements for
the D-III Examination of the
Diploma III English Study Program, Faculty of
Culture Studies, University of North Sumatera.
The Examination is held on April 2014
Faculty of Culture Studies, University of North Sumatera
Dean,
NIP. 19511013197603 1 001
Dr. Syahron Lubis, M.A.
Board of Examiners
Signature
1.
Dr. Matius C.A. Sembiring, M.A. (Head of ESP)
________
2.
Drs. Parlindungan Purba, M. Hum (Supervisor)
________
AUTHORS DECLARATION
I, STEFANUS NATANAEL SEMBIRING, declare that I am the sole author of
this paper. Except the reference is made in the text of this paper, this paper
contains no material published elsewhere or extracted in whole or in part from a
paper by which I have qualified for or awarded another degree.
No other person’s work has been used without due acknowledgement in the main
text of this paper. This paper has not been submitted for the award of another
degree in any tertiary education.
Signed
: ………….
COPYRIGHT DECLARATION
Name
: STEFANUS NATANAEL SEMBIRING
Title of Paper
:
An Analysis Of Puritanistic Elements In Nathaniel
Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter
Qualification
: D-III/ Ahli Madya
Study Program
: English
I am willing that my paper should be available for reproduction at the discretion
of the Librarian of the Diploma III English Department Faculty of Letters USU on
the understanding that users are made aware of their obligation under law of the
Republic of Indonesia.
Signed
: ………
Date
:
2014
ABSTRACT
ABSTRAK
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
For words.
First of all, I would like to thank and praise to the God for blessing and giving me
health, strength and ease to accomplish this paper as one of the requirements to
get Diploma III certificate from English Department Faculty of Letters, University
of North Sumatera.
Then, I would like to express a deep gratitude, love and appreciation to:
•
My beloved parents,
Drs. Aswan Sembiring, M.Si and Mantharia
Bukit
. Thank you for all your motivations, advices, prays, and loves for
me. I present this paper for you.
•
Dr. Matius C. A. Sembiring, M.A.
as the Head of English Diploma
Study Program, who gives me a lot of advice and knowledge.
•
Drs. Parlindungan Purba, M. Hum.
as my supervisor. Thank you for the
valuable time in giving the correction and constructive critics in
completing this paper.
•
Dr. Syahron Lubis, M.A.
as the Dean of Faculty of Letters, University of
North Sumatera.
•
All
lectures in English Diploma Study Program for giving me advices and
knowledge.
•
My lovely sibling,
Deci Kinita Sembiring,
thank you for your motivation
•
My Entire friends in
Solidas (Student Of English Diploma Association).
Thank you for the nice friendship during us together.
•
My best friend:
Andre, Horas, Basten, Habib, and Wahyu.
Thank you
for the nice friendship during our study. I will never forget your kindness
to me and I will be missing the days we spent together.
Finally, I do realize that this paper is still far from being perfect. Therefore, I
welcome any constructive critics and suggestions towards this paper. I hope this
paper will be a worthwhile for the readers.
Medan,
April 2014
The writer,
TABLE OF CONTENTS
AUTHOR’S DECLARATION ………..i
COPYRIGHT DECLARATION ……….ii
ABSTRACT ………..iii
ABSTRAK ………....………...iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ………...v
TABLE OF CONTENTS ……….……..vii
1.
INTRODUCTION ………..1
1.1
The Background of the Study ……….…1
1.2
The Problem of the Study ………....3
1.3
The Scope of the Study ………....3
1.4
The Purpose of the Study ………....3
1.5
The Significance ………...4
1.6
The Methodology ………..4
2.
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE ………...6
2.1
Novel ………...6
2.2
Puritanism ………...8
3.
A BRIEF VIEW OF PURITANISM ………..13
3.1
Belief and Practice ………...…...13
3.2
Puritanism in England ………..….17
3.3
Puritanism in America ………...20
4.
AN ANALYSIS OF NEGATIVE SIDE OF PURITANISM ………...24
4.1
Hypocrisy As The Negative Side of Puritanism ………...24
4.2
Arrogance As The Negative Side of Puritanism ………...31
5.
CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION ………...40
5.1
Conclusion ………...40
5.2
Suggestion ………...41
REFERENCES ………....42
APPENDICES ……….43
ABSTRACT
ABSTRAK
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1
The Background of the study
Literature is a kind of media through writing in expressing idea or ideas
imaginatively.
Literary writer such as novelist, poet, or dramatist is an individual and
social being who wants to express his or her understanding towards lives by his or
her works. By doing so, the literary writer is a mediator to his or her reader
through the text or language he or she writes in their work. That is why rene
Welleck (1976 : 1) states that literature is a reflection of life or the mirror of life
that needs understanding wholly.
Nathaniel hawthorne’s
The Scarlet Letter
is a novel that tells about man’s
life experience during the time of Puritanism teaching was dominat. Puritanism is
a religious belief that represents absolute rule to praise Lord as the creator of the
universe. The teaching sounds so perfect that beyond the man’s ability to follow.
For instance, a man must be free from sin whatever he has done in his life. A
woman is not allowed to wear lipstick because it is supposed a kind of affection
from the satan. In short, man must live heavenly on the earth living.
points that is hypocricy and arrogance. Each of the terms sounds the negative
effect of puritanistic teaaching that disturbs the novelist’s social response. That is
why this novel is received as a social novel which implies social matter that
happens in the society.
The theme of the novel has been the reason why the focus of analysis is
addressed to negative effect of puritanistic teaching. As the name suggests that
man should be pure in his life conduct, the novel presents the contrast in social
real life. The story goes that a woman named Ester has a scandal with a preacher
named Arthur. The scandal has made ester pregnant and the preacher just keeps
silent on what has happened. Ester must come through the punisment by wearing
a leeter A for Adultery on her neck. It informs publicly that Ester has committed
an adultery that needs knowing by anyone.
1.2
The Problem of the Study
The novel
The Scarlet Letter
is a social novel that pictures specifically
social problem under the influence of Puritanism. Puritanism is a kind of religious
dogman under Chrisyianity that teaches a man must be pure in his life which is
free from sinful deed. Since the teaching is beyond man’s limited power, the
impact of the teaching is so contrast with the reality. Therefore the problem is
addressed to :
1.
How is hypocricy so dominat in the character’s living ?
2.
How is arrogance happened behind the hypocrite manner on the
character’s living?
1.3
The Scope of the Study
The scope of the study in this paper is limited to the characters, Hester
Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale, who become the victims of puritanistic negative
effects. The former is the weak victime, and the latter is the strong one. Hester is
one of female congregation under the preaching of Arthur whi is the preacher of
the church.
1.4
The Purpose of the Study
1.5
The Significance
Theoritically, the significance of this study is to enrich literary insights
through analysing the novel. It is done for scientific understanding of how literary
work is analysed for better understanding of what novel is and its theme. Next,
practical significance of this study is to understand the novel
Scarlet Letter
as well
as its writer of how the novelist pictures the effects of puritanistic dogma. In
addition, this study can be applied by other students as reference for further study
related to this novel or other works.
1.6
The Methodology
•
Method
•
Source of data
The source of data is devided into two categories : primary and secondary
source data. The primary source data is the novel
The Scarlet Letter.
The
secondary source data is books that related to the study especially literary books.
Besides, the internet is also applied in order to get more information about the
novel and the data.
•
Data
The data of this paper research is the text of the novel in the form of
quotations. The novel has been read several times and then the text of the novel is
selected by identifying quotations which are connected to the analysis.
•
Data Analysis
2. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
2.1
Novel
Shaw (1972:189) says, “Novel is a lenghty ficitious prose narrative
portraying character and presenting an organized series of events and settings. “A
work of fiction with fewer than 30.000 to 40.000 words is usually considered as a
short story, novellete, or tale but the novel has no actual maximum length. Novels
typically have more characters than a short story and a more complicated plot that
might take place in various settings, sometimes over a period of months or years.
Novels do not present a documentary picture of life. Alongside the fact
that novels look at people in society, the other major characteristic of the genre is
that novels tell a story. In fact, novels tend to tell the same few storied repeatedly.
A novel is an extended work of prose fiction, longer than a short story or a
medium-length fiction. Called a novelette or novella. Novel is a work of someone
who is the outpouring of ideas and feeling. To devote ideas and feelings, the
author is authored by considering the elements of novel such as plot, character,
theme, setting, point of view, and style are used to development of novel. Through
of these, the readers can understand and analyze the novel. They have a linked and
always effect the character. Therefore, we must understand the elements of the
novel.
the cause and effect so it is a part of unity. Rounded, and completely to achieve a
goal. In literature, plot refers to the arrangements of events to achieve an intended
effect. A plot is a series of carefully devised and interrelated action that progresses
through a struggle of opposing forces to a climax and a denouement. Plot is linked
to character development. There is an important difference plot and story. Story is
a simple sequence of events in time, event plot is the way these events are
rendered and organized so as to achieve their particular effects.
The second element of the novel is character. Character is person used by
to author to carry the action, ideas, language and emotion of the story. Character
was a formal sketch or descriptive analysis of a particular virtue or vice as
represented in a person, what is now more often called a character sketch. The
author can describe the character from physical appearance and attitude. Through
the character, the author tells the story to the readers. The readers need to observe
the action, to listen what the character say and how they say it, to understand how
they relate to other character and how other character respond them.
The third element of novel is theme. Shaw (1972:273) says that theme is
the central and dominating idea in a literary work. In the novel, the theme is the
central idea that develop in the plot. Almost all the major ideas that exist in life
can be a theme such as : ambition, loyalty, jealousy, frustation, hypocricy,
fortitude, and other. Theme has to do with that the readers read as the story’s
point, message, function or implied view of live and conduct.
reader directly by the narrator. Setting is a description of the time, place, and
atmosphere that occurs in the novel.
The fifth element of novel is point of view. Point of view refers to the
position and stance of the voice, or speaker, that author adopt for their works.
Point of view is a specified position or method of considered on and appraisal. It
suppose a living narrator or person who tells.
The sixth element of novel is style. Stanton (2007:1800) says the style
from the Latin word
stillus
, means the way author assemble words to tell the
story, develop the argument, dramatize the play, or compose the poem.
2.2
Puritanism
In this thesis the writer applies library research to explore her analysis and
she has an opinion that it is very important to have good related reading materials.
Since the story in this novel deals much with puritan society of seventeenth
century in America, the writer feels necessary to, firstly, define what puritan is, as
can be seen below :
“Puritan is (16
thand 17
thcc, in England) member
of a division of the Protestant Church which
wanted simpler forms of church ceremony. 2.
Person who is strict in morals and religion, who
believes that all people should work hard
always”.
(Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of
Current English. 1974 : 679)
And to give a light for better understanding and better appreciation of the novel.
The writer thinks that it is advisable to quote information, about who the puritans
are, what they did and the reason why they emigrated to the colony where the
setting of the novel is scened, as follows :
“The founders of Massachusetts wanted freedom
to practice their religious beliefs. Leaving
England at a time when Charles I seemed
completely in control, they believed that their only
chance for freedom lay in moving elsewhere. In
their view, the Church of England was a true
church. Leaving England was simply their means
of avoiding a conflict between their loyality
puritanism and their loyality to the king. Another
reason for leaving England was their belief that
God was about to punish the nation for refusing to
obey his commands to reform”.
It is understood that puritanism originally concern people with high status like
kings, member of parliament, congregational parties, etc, as can be seen in above
quotation. They play big roles in “The Scarlet Letter” and they make the novel go
ground. Puritans believe very much in a doctrine of predestination, that is, God
only elect certain people like priest, minister, etc to possess Hisgrace. This
doctrine then causes them to practice ackward rules that they always treat or
punish those do wrong or commit deed sinful especially those of low status
unfairly and cruely like what happens to Hester Prynne, the hero of the novel.
As the little suggests, this thesis touches a lot about puritanistic values and
teachings. Hester Prynne has to burden the disgrace due to her adultery of which
the society regards it as a severe and unpardonable sin. Her fellow sinner, Rev.
Dimmesdale, a man of dignity and honor, who is supposedly “stainless”, tempted
and has to live in hypocrisy as he has to hide his sin. Here the novelist,
Hawthorne, who was born in the Massachusetts colony, into a family descend
from influential seventeenth century New England Puritan, examines Puritanistic
rules and values :
The Scarlet Letter, which is the best as well as the
best known of his novels, is beautifully written and
beautifully constructed, mounting from one
dramatic scene to another until it reaches its
Seven Gables, which followed The Scarlet Letter,
also scrutinizes Puritanism but in a quieter
fashion.
(The highlight of American Literature, 1969 : 77)
Hawthorne also expresses his disagreement with ecclesiastical-corrupted-system.
He shows us that one of the characters in the novel, Rev. Dimmesdale is really not
“purified”. This is in accordance with the reality found in puritan society of the
time in which men of high position are actually dirty :
In 1584 it drew up a petition for ecclesiastical
reform which . . . in 1604 and 1610 reiterated
its request for a purification of religion and the
abolition of the Court of High Commision.
(Enciclopaedia of the Social Science, vol 9: 3)
their cruel treatment like what they do to Hester Prynne is a proof of corrupted
values of puritan society.
3. A BRIEF VIEW OF PURITANISM
3.1
Belief and Practice
Puritanism was a refore movement within English Protestanism that
emerged in the 16
thcentury. The movement proposed to purify the church of
England and to invigorate the daily practice of religion. For their program of
reform, the puritans were indebted to John Calvin and the example of the
Calvinist tradition. Another source of puritanism was the Bible, considered to sole
authority in matters of faith. Puritans believed that roman Catholics has perverted
Christianity from the doctrine and worship, and they wanted the Christian church
restored to its original condition, as described in scripture.
The movement remained frustrated until the reign of Charles I
(1625-1649), when a political crisis led to civil war and puritans took control of the
English government. Meanwhile, Puritan emigrants had colonized New England
founding Plymouth in 1620 and Massachusetts in 1626-1630. The period of the
English Revolution of 1640-1660 also known as the “Puritan Revolution” marked
the height of puritan influence. Decline quickly followed as the movement split
into several sects and denominations. An enduring legacy was evangelicalism, and
the many waves of revivalism and reform that have swept America since the 16
thcentury all stem from the Puritan movement.
everyday life, has often appeared within the church. Englishmen in the 16
thcentury called such persons “Puritans” a name derived from the Latin word for
pure, and intended as a criticism of the reformers for being too extreme in their
demands. Puritans would not accept the status quo. Because they were disrupters,
they were constantly criticized in England and America.
Originally Puritanism was a phase of the Protestant Reformation, and the
Puritans wanted England to be reformed as John Calvin (1509-1564) had
reformed Geneva. Most of their religious doctrines were also taken over from
Calvinism, including their belief in all-powerful God. In the 16
thcentury no
Protestant doubted the authority of scripture, the reality of heaven and hell, or the
sinfulness of man. Every living person was guilty of sin because of Adam’s
disobedience in the garden if Eden. Like other Christians of their time, the
Puritans also thought the doctrine of a risen Christ who saved mankind from
eternal punishment.
Some of the Puritans were millenarians, which means that they thought of
history as coming to the end with the return of Christ, the last judgement, and the
establishment of the kingdom of God. The millenarians please for reform were
based on the expectation that these events would occur fairly soon.
tainted by sin, they reasoned, that his works could never please God saving grace
came as a gift, not as a reward for anything that man had done.
A person knew that he was elected to salvation if he went process of
religious conversion. For the puritan, the conversion experience was the centre of
religious life. Conversion was the extraordinary moment when salving grace
entered the heard releasing in from bondage to sin. Those who had this experience
took on a new identity. The become “visible saints”, a person who showed by
their behavior that their whole way of living was based on serving God.
Countless puritans offered descriptions of the conversion process, but none
with more insight than John Bunyan in The Pilgrim’s Progress (1678). The hero
of Bunyan’s allegory sets out from City of Destruction for Mount Zion, bearing
on his back a great burden the emblem of his sins. On the way he falls into a
swamp (despair). He turn aside from the straight and narrow path (religions truth).
Arriving at the Cross, he feels the burden tumble off, and his heart leaps for a joy.
But troubles lie ahead. He will doubt his faithfulness to Christ, and he must face
the temptations of Vanity fair.
such journals suggest that the Puritan could lead a melancholy life. But the
sombre side of Puritanism can be overstressed. Puritans did not wear black
clothes, as popular image implies. They liked their spirits, were far less prudish
than the victorians, and in many ways behaved like other middle-class
Englishmen of the period.
As reformers, Puritan proposed to change the basis of current membership.
They regarded the church as a special place because it was here that the saints
gathered to create a new kind of community. People were to enter the church
voluntarily, but only after promosing to “walk in the ways” of Christ. Each
congregation was empowered to dismiss any member who fell from grace. Every
adult male in the church had the right to vote on such matters as choosing a
minister, admitting new members, and deciding cases of church discipline. The
community of the saints was set a part from the world both in being pure and in
practicing a certain degree of democracy.
What held this community together was a conception of history. Puritans
believed that God by His providence determined the course of human events.
They assumed that providence would favor people who entered into a covenant
with God to obey His commandments. Reading themselves as covenant people,
Puritans often compared their relationship with God to that of the children of
Israel as a chosen people. They too had a special role to play in history, to prepare
the church fo Christ’s return to earth.
regard themselves as being an “elect nation” and Americans absorbed the idea of
mission. It is not clear that Puritanism led straight to democracy. Yet puritan
church government taught people to practice responsible citizenship, and it
obliged rules to serve a higher law than self-interest. On the whole, the movement
helped to weaken traditional elites and ideologies. As an expression of the middle
class in England, Puritanism also encouraged capitalism and individualism.
3.2
Puritanism in England
Puritanism arose during the reign of Elizabeth I. The religious situation
was in flux when Elizabeth took the throne on 1558. The church of England had
changed from Catholic to Protestant under Henry VIII, her father. But with Mary
Tudor, Catholicism was restored. During Mary’s reign (1553-1558) Protestants
were completed to conform or go into exile. No one believed in religious
toleration. The religion of the head of the state was official religion of the nation.
To disagree was commit an act of treason.
abolition of the bishops, stricter enforcement of church discipline, elimination of
most ceremonies and rituals, and higher standards for the clergy.
Puritans had no intentions of establishing their own church. Theirs was a
movement of reform within the church of England but with the queen preventing
reform, some Puritans choose another road. Claiming their salvation was
threatened because the church of England was not a true church, they set up
purified congregrations of their own. The most important of these Separatists,
Robert Browne, withdrew from the church in 1579. A handful of others followed
Browne’s example. Separatism had little impact on the Church of England, but it
revealed that Puritans suffered from intense frustation.
Elizabeth I was succeeded in 1603 by James I, whose son, Charles I
became king in 1625. The Stuart kings disliked Puritanism as intensely as
Elizabeth, and refused to satisfy requests for reform. Both kings claimed more
privileges and powers for their office than Parliament was willing to concede. The
conflict between Charles and Parliament exploded into civil war in 1642. Puritans
gave strong support to Parliament, which, after its victory over the crown, ordered
many of the Puritans reform into practice.
Congregationalists. The preferred a system of government gave that independence
to each congregation and restricted church membership to visible saints.
Congregationalists had an importantly in Oliver Cromwell. A leading
general in the civil war, he assumed control of the government after the execution
of Charles I in 1649. Cromwell allowed a degree of religious toleration, however,
and during his rule, Puritanism broke into sects as some Puritans became
Presbyterians or Congregationalists and other turned baptists or quakers. Never
again would the movement achieve unity in England see also civil war, English.
The restoration of Charles II to the throne in 1660 ended the role of
Puritans in government. A period of persecution followed, with most Puritans
having to practice their religion in secret. As toleration slowly became state
policy, these groups, known collectively as Nonconformists, reemerged.
Nonconformists supported the Glorious Revolution of 1688 when last of Stuarts,
the Catholic James II, lost the throne to a Protestant, William of Orange. The new
king granted Nonconformists the right to have their own churches. There after,
Puritanism existed mainly outside the church of England in separate
denominations.
took up social causes such as temperance and anti slavery. Nonconformists and
Evangelicals became mainstays of moral and social reform in 19
thcentury Britain.
3.3
Puritanism in America
Puritanism was entirely English in its origins, yet the movement achieved
it greatest influence in America. Here the Puritans were able to carry their
program without interference and with less disagreement among themselves. The
17
thcentury colonies in New England represent the fullest development of the
movement.
The first puritans arrive in America were Separatists. A new group of
Separatists fled England in 1607-1609, among them the Reverend John Robinson
and members of his congregation. They found refugee in Leiden, Holland, from
where a portion of the group known as Pilgrims, emigrated to America, landing at
Plymouth in December 1620. The colony was never large, yet its founding is
commemorated more than of any other colony in American history. One reason in
the moving history of the venture written in 17
thcentury by William Brandford,
governor of Plymouth Colony. His history of Plymouth plantation is a literary
masterpiece of the American experience.
The founders of Massachusetts wanted freedom to practice their religious
beliefs. Leaving England at a time when Charles I seemed completely in control,
they believed that their only chance for freedom lay in moving elsewhere. In their
view, the Church of England was a true church. Leaving England was simply their
means of avoiding a conflict between their loyalty to the king and their loyalty to
Puritanism
Another reason for leaving England was their belief that God was about to
punish the nation for refusing to obey his commands to reform. It seems
particularly true of the colonists that they felt the final day of judgement was near.
They would take refugee in New England, they reasoned and waited for Christ to
return and restore His kingdom. John Winthrop, first governor of Massachusetts
Bay Colony, who believed that the colonists were to act as an advance guard is
setting up the kingdom, told them in 1630 that their mission was to build a “city
upon a hill”.
Free to build as they wished, the founders of Massachusetts began by
enacting the basic program of the reform movement. Eliminating bishops,
ceremonies, and much else. But they also took more radical steps, limiting church
membership to visible saints, and choosing democratic Congregationalism as the
fomr of church government. There was an argument about these matters before
the ministers, led by John Cotton, drew up the Cambridge Platform (1648), a
summary of Congregational theory and practice.
believed that church and state should cooperate in serving God. To ensure this
happening, the founders of Massachusetts restricted the right to vote for officers
of the colony to church members. John Winthrop feared that unless the saints held
political power, wrong kind of person would get elected to office and divert the
colonists from their mission.
Protest againts the policies of Winthrop and Cotton came from several
groups. Some colonists complained that Congregationalism was too democratic in
permitting every church member to participate in decision. Others declared that
the basis of church membership was too narrow: they wanted it open to anyone of
goor behavior. Anne Hutchinson called for more radical change. The antinomian
controversy (1836-1838), involving the issue of obedience to moral or religious
law versus inner grace as the basis for judging who were saints, pitted Hutchinson
and her followers againts Governor Winthrop and the majority of the clergyman.
She lost, and was banished. Roger Williams argued againts identifying
Massachusetts with Israel and giving the government any authority over the
church. In 1635, William was forced to leave Massachusetts for Rhode Island.
Halfway Covenant, as this declaration was called, allowed children to be baptized
whose parents were not really visible saints. Membership was widened, but on the
basis of lower standards.
The leading minister of the second generation of New England Puritans
was Increase Mather. Together with his son, Cotton, he tried to prevent decline by
holding up the example of the founders. Cotton Mather wrote more than 400
books and pamphlets, among them Magnalia Christi Americana (1702), a lengthy
history of New England that extolled the first generation of settlers.
A new champion of puritan belief and practice, Jonathan Edwards, led the
first revival movement in America, which is known as the Great Awakening, in
the 1740’s. But some ministers considered the revival a sham and abandoned the
historic puritan emphasis upon the convertion experience. The doctrines of
election and original sin were gradually put aside, and through a slow process of
evolution Unitarianism emerged out of Congregationalism. The process was
completed in 1825.
4. AN ANALYSIS OF NEGATIVE SIDE OF PURITANISM
4.1
Hypocrisy As The Negative Side of Puritanism
Another figure who plays important role in this drama of hypocrisy is
Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale. Among puritan society he is known as a minister,
clergyman as well as a reputable scholar. His close study in Biblical text and his
profession as a clergyman make him a very respected and prestigious man amidst
his society.
. . . a young clergyman who had come from
one of the great English universities, bringing all
the learning of the age into our wild forest land.
His eloquence and religious fervor had already
given the earnest of high eminence in his
profession.
(Nathaniel Hawthorne, 1959, p. 72)
However, public opinion which regards him as having divine characters put him
into a dillema because himself, beyond their knowledge, is involved in adultery
case of Hester Prynne.
Rev. Dimmesdale’s life is always confronted with the dilemma and this
poor clergyman is invisibly sorrounded with complicated situation. First
complication which strikes his heart and soul is shown when he is invited by his
elderly Rev. John Wilson to handle Hester’s case and to persuade her to name her
sinner pertner, as can be seen in following quotation :
. . . here Mr. Wilson laid his hand on the
shoulder of pale young man beside him “I have
sought, I say, to persuade this godly youth that he
should deal with you.
. . .
“Good Master Dimmesdale,” said he, “the
responsibility of this woman’s soul lies greatly
with you. It behooves you, therefore, to exhort her
to repentance and to confession as a proof and
consequency thereof.”
(Nathaniel Hawthorne, 1959, p. 71-72)
secret inside him and let the fear take control of himself, which one of the
indications is reflected on his pale face.
Contrary to his intellectual life and his dignity in Puritan society, Rev.
Dimmesdale shows himself a coward, unresponsible scholar. He does not have the
courage to be responsible for his sinful deed. His cowardice defeats the
enthusiasm; He always encourages to his congregation whenever he gives sermon
in his saintly church; His fear of the responsibility goes on preventing him for
making confession of his sin and makes him a perfect hyprocite. The fear than
becomes an illness and is reflected on his countenance :
Not with standing his high native gifts and scholar
like attainments, there was an air about this young
minister-an apprehensive, a starled, a
half-frightened look . . .
(Nathaniel Hawthorne, 1959, p. 72)
worries him most about making the confession is the prospect of his society’s life.
Their love and compassion have been heavily dedicated to him.
Time and perseverance Rev. Dimmesdale spends for years in Biblical
study also compells him to retain his holliness and since public opinion on him is
tendentiously high, he chooses to keep secret unrevealed. He has a vision that
public life is more important than his private life. So he keep the hypocrisy alive
within himself by neglecting his moral feeling that he should share Hester’s
shame. However, Rev. Dimmesdale is fully aware about his being hyprocite as
can be seen in the following quotation :
I charge thee to speak out the name of thy
fellow-sinner and fellow-sufferer! Be not silent from any
mistaken pity and tenderness of him; for, believe
me, Hester, though he were to step down from a
high place, and stand there beside thee on thy
pedestal of shame, yet better were it so, than to
hide a guilty heart through life. What can thy
silence do for him, except it tempt him—
yea, compel him, as it were-to add hypocrisy to
sin.
Rev. Dimmesdale realises his hypocrisy but he does not have the galantry to
confess. From above quotation we can also see that he asks Hester to confess first
while himself, although he say he is ready to lose his reputation, he is afraid
giving the first confession. The veneration he obtains from the public has caused
fights inside is very deep soul and it severely tortures him. He wishes he could
speak out from his pulpit at full height of his voice and tell the people who
himself is. He longs to tell the public that the pastor they revere and trust is not
more than just a pollution and a liar. Many time he tries to utter those words of
confession from the pulpit and promises to himself that he will not step down
before he can do it but he never makes it after all.
The conflicts inside Rev. Dimmesdale’s soul then transform themselves
into an invisible insecurity and cristalized an illness. His illness could physically
be seen from his frequent gesture of putting his hand upon his breast. The gesture
which he always makes whenever he appears before the public could be
interpreted as his suffering from torments of the guilt or as his effort to hide his
sinful deed. Obviously, his feeling of guilt tails him wherever he goes and
whatever he does and the poor clergyman who, basically possesses an over
softness, becomes very weak figure as he personally admits it :
“And I-how am I to live longer, breathing the
same dale, shrinking within himself, and pressing
that had grown involuntary with him. “Think for
me, Hester! Thou art strong. Resolve for me!”
. . .
“Be thou strong for me!” answered he, “Advise
me what to do.”
(Nathaniel Hawthorne, 1959, p. 187)
His weakness in facing the reality and the consequence of his sinful deed which,
at the beginning, is shown from his reluctance to interfere in Hester’s adultery
case, than becomes extensive after the arrival of Roger Chillingworth whose real
identity is revealed by Hester to him. And as we can also see from above
quotation, Rev. Dimmesdale can only rely on Hester. Fearing Roger
Chillingworth’s further torments and terrorizing vengeance, Rev. Dimmesdale and
Hester plan a runaway to Bristol by sea.
One of the hidden positive impact found in Rev. Dimmesdal is that he
actually hates hypocrisy and loves the truth. That is why he hates himself for
being unable to fight againts fright and hyprocisy. His feeling of love and care do
not fade from his heart, either. He shows that he loves Pearl and Hester and sides
them when he and his fellow magistrates have a dispute over Pearl’s education.
He kisses Pearl when they take a walk in the forest and when he is about to release
his last breath on the scaffold.
“it cannot be!” answered the minister, listening
as if he were called upon the realize a dream. “I
am powerless to go! Wretched and sinful as I am,
I have had no other thought than to drag on my
earthly existence in the sphere where providence
hath placed me. Lost as my own soul is, I would
still do what I may for other human souls! I dare
not quit my post, though an unfaithful sentinel,
whose sure reward is death and dishonor, when
his dreary watch shall come to an end!”
(Nathaniel Hawthorne, 1959, p. 168)
4.2
Arrogance As The Negative Side of Puritanism
As a woman brought up by a puritan family, Hester actually possesses
substantial faith and strong moral values implanted by her parents. Her happy
childhood in Old England, a city in Europe, was surrounded by religious people
living in houses pf gray stone and huge cathedrals in their environment as
symbols of their godly lives. However, as ordinary human being at an early stage,
she cannot resist the temptation when, for about two years she has to live alone as
a emigrant in New England without the control of her legal husband and she
commits an adultery. The adultery then become a black episode in the history of
Puritan society in the colony and to herself, it is a shame that she must burden int
her life time.
In spite of all the torments and disgraces acquired form her sinful deed,
Hester carries on. She does not lose the positive values of the teachings trained by
her parents. She still retains some through accounts, first, significant impact of the
Puritanistic teachings found in herself, is the courage to take the consequence of
her sinful deed.
Hester is not all afraid of the punishing and hostile eyes of the public
when, for the first time she is proclaimed an adulteress with the revelation of The
Scarlet Letter upon her bossom. She is so determined to take the punishment as
can be seen in the following quotation :
Stretching forth the official staff in his left hand,
thus drew forward; until, on the threshold of the
prison door, she repelled him, by an action
marked with natural dignity and force character,
and stepped into the open air, as if by her own
free will.
(Nathaniel Hawthorne, 1959, p. 60)
From above quotation, we can also see that Hester is very prepared to face the
punishment. She also wants to show that she still has the dignity and does not
want to be treated low although she is a sinner woman.
Despite the severe punishment enforced by the society, Hester develops
her strong personality. She thinks what she has done is nothing wrong againts
God.
She believes that God is the Supreme being who predestines everyone’s
destiny. Thus, to her, the punishment comes from God not from the society and it
is just something that becomes a part of her life. So she lives her life as if nothing
has happened. She doesn’t feel humble or ask the society around her to be
symphatized with her, either. She proves to be a tough woman who is not easily
shivered by curse of the public every time they stare at The Scarlet Letter on her
bosom or by the mockery of Puritan children whenever she and her daughter goes
out to take a walk.
She does not object to be kicked off the society and live in exile as an outcast. She
brings up her baby all by herself and earns a living with no one’s help nor
assistance. She could have asked Rev. Dimmesdale, her lover, to be responsible
and burden the disgrace together she does not do so. She looks onward herself and
realises that it is herself that is unable to resist the temptation and she tells herself
that what has happened is impossible to be altered. She would rather forget the
past and start all over again to build her future, especially for her daughter, than to
be drowned in gloom and misery. Hester is also very conscious that she cannot
depend on anybody because she has no relarive in the colony. But she is very
good at needlework. So with this talent, Hester earns a living and leads her
mournful life day by day.
Lonely as was Hester’s situation, and without a
friend on earth who dared to show himself, she,
however, incurred even no risk of want. She
possessed an art that sufficed, even in a land that
afforded comparatively. Little scope for its
exercise, to supply food for her thriving infant and
herself.
Above quotation shows us how Hester is so duty-bound for her daughter and she
indicates that anybody must be responsible for he or she has done no matter how
hard the situation is.
It is also noted that Hester pays special attention to the education of her
daughter. She is very sure that even a condemned and dirty women like her still
can give proper education to her daughter as a part of her responsibility. Hester
shows this by insisting on having her daughter, Pearl, educated by herself rather
than let the authority takes care of Pearl, as can be seen in the following quotation
:
“I can teach my little Pearl what I have learned
from this!” answered Hester Prynne, laying her
finger on the red token.
. . . .
“Nevertheless,” said the mother calmly, though
growing more pale, “this badge that taught me-it
daily teaches me-it is teaching me at this
moment-lessons where of my child may be the wiser and
better, albeit they can profit nothing to my self”
(Nathaniel Hawthorne, 1959, p. 110)
to the society that women are also able to do what men can do and she proclaims
that both men and women have the same right to do what they want.
Apart from puritanistic teaching that one should be educated to avoid
illiteracy and to be able to read Bible, Hester wants to educate her daughter in the
right way so that her daughter will not do the same mistake and inherit the
disgrace commited by her mother. To Hester, the teaching of moral values is more
important that secular indoctrination which always blinds the society around her
who frequently punish the sinners with the laws, the constitute awkardly. Hester
has seen that the punishment carried out by the society are nothing but
enforcements the power of the magistrates or authority which always torment and
causes mental breakdown to the culprits instead of correcting their conduct or
attitude.
in facing her life and take it as a sacrifice that she must offer. She understands
why people behave in such ways to againts herself and she restrains herself from
responding too much or too far to want people do to her because she is afraid that
her utterance or acts would turn into a curse instead. This can be seen in the
following quotation :
She was petient-a martyr, indeed but she forbore
to pray for her enemies lest, in spite of her
forgiving aspirations, the words of the blessing
should stubbornly twist themselves into a curse.
(Nathaniel Hawthorne, 1959, p. 88)
So, there goes Hester tranquil life in her decayed cottage. She does not care too
much what people say or do to her. She has gathered all patience as a shield to
protect her from public despise and condemnation.
Hester’s being an outcast, living away from the society then amazingly
turns to be a blessing in disguise. She becomes a humble and charitable woman.
Her charity is noteable from following quotation :
Hester bestowed all her superfluous means in
charity, on wretches less miserable than herself,
and who not unfrequently insulted the hand than
fed them.
Hester could have applied her time on doing her needlework for money but she
makes clothes for the poor. She does so because she wants to pay for her sin. She
is ready to sacrifice everything including her worldly happiness and no matter
how much it takes. Until then people change the image of the Scarlet Letter from
originally a symbol of adultery into a more reputable one, “Able”. This is all
because of the feminim ability which she has. Even, then people forgive Hester
for her weakness and mistakes when commiting adultery and immediately they
welcome her as a part of the society:
The change of public image about Hester can be seen in the following
quotation :
Such helpfulness was found in her so much power
to do and power to symphatize-that many people
refused to interpret the scarlet “A” by its original
signification. They said that it meant “Able”; so
strong was Hester Prynne, with a woman’s
strenght.
. . . .
“it is out Hester-the town owns Hester-who is so
kind to the poor, so helpful to the sick, so
comforting to the afflicted!”
Cruel treatment of the society and the authority does not influence Hester’s
character. She goes on proving herself to be a forgiving and compassionate
woman. She fully understands that Rev. Dimmesdale has a share in the shame she
burden from the Scarlet Letter which everlastingly sticked upon her bosom but as
she can feel ho Rev. Dimmesdale has to fight againts the torment and suffering,
she declines from taking any revenge on anybody and shows her compassion
instead. She knows that there is only one way out to save her lover, Rev.
Dimmesdale, from the torment which gradually kills him. Her compassion then
defeats her and she breaks her promise to her ex husband, Roger Chillingworth,
by revealing his identity to her lover, Rev. Dimmesdale. Following quotation
shows how much Hester concerns about Rev. Dimmesdale and how sorry she
feels for him :
She had witnessed the intense misery beneath
which the minister, struggled, or, to speak more
accurately, had ceased to struggly. She saw that
he stood on the verge of lunacy, . . .
(Nathaniel Hawthorne, 1959, p. 160)
her spiritual guide, Rev. Dimmesdale. Her sinful deed which then brings shame to
her whole life is really againts the laws of puritan society although later she
consciously admits her betrayal as can be seen in the following quotation :
“I have greatly wronged thee,” murmused Hester.
. . .
“Wherefor does thou desire it.” Inguired Hester,
shrinking, she hardly knew why, form this secret
bond.
“Why not announce thyself openly, and cast me
off at once”.
(Nathaniel Hawthorne, 1959, p. 64)
5.
CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION
5.1
Conclusion
Hypocricy is a kind of dishonest manner which is similar to lying concept.
It is a coward attitude that stands behind the truth of what is done wrongly.
Hypocrite manner is an escape from what should be by pretending to do
something right. It can be seen from what Arthur Dimmedale has done. He
preaches that man must be free from sin to his congregation from the pulpit,
anyhow, he is not tightly doing what he has said. He fails to understand what life
is by directing Hester Prynne as his victim.
Hester is the target of big lies of the puritanistic teaching which are not
consequently performed in the real life. Hypocricy has destroyed her life because
of her weakness to sustain her marriage life. The adultery is asymbol of betrayal
towards the hypocricy of man’s behavior under the puritanistic dogmas.
Arrogance relates to authority that victimizes the weak. It is a sort of pride
that shows one’s authorized power on the other. Arthur Dimmedale’s arrogance is
to let Hester comes throuh the temptation without any defense from him as a
preacher. He enjoys his authority because of his power towards the weak. The
sense of arrogance has the negative tendency on overturning what is righ to be
wrong and vice versa. It is a social sickness that tends to break the rule only
because of having authrity and power.
They are supposed to be natural because they are not afraid anymor to God’s
power. What they fear is the people around them. Thus, hypocricy and arrogance
attitudes are the negative sides of puritanistic teachings because people are nnot
able to be pure or free from sinful deeds absolutely.
5.2.1
Suggestion
Literary work is a kind of social communication that needs reading
seriously. It summarizes the man’s life experience that needs to be shared here
and after. It is a product of the
past
that needs understanding
now
so we can
anticipate the
future
.
The Scarlet Letter
is a humanistic novel that concerns with
man’s life and problem. So, it is full with insights to deal with.
REFERENCES
Bode, Carl. 1969.
The Highlights Of American Literature
. Washington: Usis.
Dryden, Edger A. 1977.
Nathaniel Hawthorne.
United Kingdom: Cornel
University Press Ltd.
Fleming, Andrew I. M. 1921.
The Founding of New England.
England:
Gower
Hawthorne, Nathaniel. 1959.
The Scarlet Letter.
Boston, Massachusetts: The
New American Library.
Leary, Lewis. 1971.
Criticism Some Mayor American Writers.
U.S.A: Holt.
Rinehart and Winston Inc.
Martin, Jay. 1967.
A Critical Study of Nathaniel Hawthorne and His “The
Scarlet Letter”
. New York: The Macmillan Company.
Seligman, Edwin R. A. 1935.
Encyclopedia of the Social Science vol. 9.
New
York: The Macmillan Company.
Shaw, Harry. 1972.
Concise dictionary of literary terms
. New York:
McGraw-Hill.
Stanton, Robert. 2007.
Teori Fiksi
. Yogyakarta: Pustaka Pelajar Offset.
APPENDICES
Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Biography
Nathaniel Hawthorne was born at Salem in Massachusetts on July 4, 1804.
He was a direct descendant of William Hawthorne, notorious for his persecution
of the Quakers, and of his son John, a prominent figure in the late seventeenth
century witch hunts. When Nathaniel was four years old his father, a sea captain,
died of yellow fewer while in Dutch Guiana. Then he lived with his mother
family, manning family in Maine. He was a very serious man. When he was
fourteen years old, Hawthorne sometimes went to Salem for studying and working
as a keeper book here and sometimes he was thinking of becoming an author.
edited but also wrote and complied whole of every publication. Hawthorne tried to
publish his Twice Told Tales which regarded as an unvaluable work by the
English writer in 1837. He is done all the things above because of his lack of
money. With the help of his friend, Horatio Bridge, it was success to be published
together with his another literary works. He is more creative in writing and at the
same year, Franklin Pierce proposed him as his torigrapher for South Seas
Expedition, but it was fail. In 1839 – 1840, he earned forliving in Boston Custom
House, and then tried communal living for several months in 1841 at Brook Farm.
Neither the Customs House nor Brook Farm had enable to lead him to the real
world. He was a very disappointed.
He married to Sophia Amelia Peabody on July 9, 1842 in Salem. After the
married they moved to old Manse in Concord which they rented from Emerson
and where they remained until 1845. From this marriage they had their children,
Julian Rose and Una. Hawthorne lived happily, although economically they had
been decrased because of his passiveness in writing. Hawthorne removed his
family to Salem in 1845, tried to become post master, and instead was appointed
surveyor of the Custom House in Salem, where he remained until 1849. Before
losing his job in Salem, he wrote Mosses An Old Manse in 1846 together with
some other stories. The Scarlet Letter, 1850, was gis first succesful novel. The
novel which written by Hawthorne brought him much money and got increased in
reputation. He then bought a house, known as wayside, in Concord.
uninterested in politics but he felt than he should help the man who had most
aided him. So he wrote The Life of Franklin Pierce in 1852. And when Franklin
won as a president, he became United States consult at Liverpool. During the
whole of life he stay in England from 1853 until 1856, and 1858 until 1859 he
lived in Italy where he felt most at home among the American and British resident
and travellers. When after another year in England, he came back to Concord in
1860.
SUMMARY OF THE NOVEL
This story is excavated from Hawthorne’s finding during his
three-year-experience working for The Salem Custom House, Massachusetts. One day when
he is not occupied with work, he happens to dig down old documents and finds a
bundle of papers of Mr. Surveyor Jonathan Pue which contains personal
documents. What attracts him most is a piece of red cloth with golden thread
knitting on its four edges and a letter “A” from which then this story flows down.
One morning in summer in 1640’s in a place called Cornhill, the people of
Boston flock together. They are from all walks of life. There is a cluster of
bearded men wearing fadecolored clothes and grey hats on their heads. These men
associate with women, some wearing hoods and others bare headed. They
assemble in front of a wooden edifice, the door of which is heavily timbered with
oak and sudden with iron spikes. Exactly they are standing in a grass plot before
the jail, in Prison Lane, waiting for something horrible.
heterodox religionist, is to be scourged out of the town, or an idle and vagrant
indian, whom the white man’s liquor has made riotous about the streets, is to be
driven with stripes into the forest. It might be, too, that a witch, like old Mistress
Hibbins the bitter-tempered widow, is to die upon the gallows. Whatever the case
is, the spectators seems to have some cold attitude. One thing should be noted at
time, both mild and severe acts of public crime are alike made venerable and
awful.
Some women who are amidst the throng obviously pay special attention to
the punishment which is about to take place. They have equal freedom as men
amidst the society and to mingle in the front most to witness the punishment.
They speak in high tone that would startle us and at times utter bold speech.
The a man among the crowd asks the women to shut up as the door of the
prison is open now. A beadle appears like black shadow. A sword is by his side
and his stuff of office is in his hand. His countenance is tight and hard. As hard as
the laws of puritan. With his right hand he pushes Hester’s shoulder who is now
walking in front of him.
Some women of the crowd feel jealous of Hester’s talent of needlework.
To them, by showing her ability, Hester is intentionally trying to laugh in the face
of their magistrates. Now the procession goes on. The beadle carries on driving
Hester to the place set for her punishment. There, on the scaffold at the market
place, Hester will undergo the punishment. Under the daylight to reveal the scarlet
letter to the public.
The punishment for Hester is that she has to stand on the scaffold for a few
hours. But she does not have to face the most terrible punishment of that time,
rope around the neck and black cloth sack which usually used by those face life
sentence. The scaffold is as high as man’s shoulder and since Hester has already
known the kind of her punishment, she ascends and now everybody can see her.
The presence of the governor and his staff, the judges and the generals seems to
prevent the spectators from saying bad words or scorning Hester. They all
seriously, though look gloomy, pay attention to the procession. The sinner, Hester,
tries as best as she can to stand like a lady againts thousand of eyes which are
fixed to the scarlet letter upon her bosom. She seems to be well-prepared to face
this punishment eventhough her heart sometimes wants to shout and to throw
himself off the scaffold or, of she could, she wish she were insane.
marked place of the puritan settlement. All towns people assemble with their stern
look upon Hester who stand on the scaffold, a baby on her arm, and the letter “A”
in scarlet, fantastically embroidered with gold thread, upon her bosom. Hester
almost can not believe her eyes. She hold the baby closely to her breast so fiercely
that it sends out a cry. Then she turns her eyes down to the letter, touches it with
her finger to ensure herself that they baby and the disgrace are real. Yes, this is the
reality she faces now and all her other imagination have gone.
Concious of being the object of public observation for sometimes, Hester
then feel herself relieved and turn her sight to a direction where she catches a sight
of figure of a white man, standing apart from the crowd. He is accompanied by an
Indian. He is small with furrowed face which reflect out standing intelligence.
Although this man tries to conceal under his garment, Hester can notice clearly
that one of this man’s shoulder rise higher that the other. Yes, Hester now
understands that this man is her husband who left her several years ago. And has
paid attention to Hester since the first time he arrived at the market place. First
with only a little care but later his sharp eyesight penetrates Hester’s heart.
Although there is a kind of horror on his face, he can control himself and whes
Hester’s eyes fasten on his own and he realises that Hester recognises him, he
slowly and calmly raises his finger and put in on his lips, make a gesture as if to
tell Hester to keep quiet.
the heaten folk. From the native he finds out that the woman standing on the
scaffold is Hester Prynne. She has to stand on the scaffold because of a scandal
she commits in Masters Dimmesdale’s church. She is a wife of an English scholar
who has long lived in Amsterdam who plans to move to this Massachusetts
colony while her husband himself has to do something important in Europe.
Hesters has been a resident of Boston for two years but she still heard nothing of
her husband.
The man now understands that the baby in Hester’s arms is the result of an
adultery. Now he is disappointed and angry with the father of the baby, who has
caused and tempted Hester to commit the sin but who is not responsible. He tells
himself that he must find who this man is.
Back on the scaffold, witnessed by Governor and sergeants who sit on the
balcony, the elderly Reverend John Wilson calls out Hester’s name. with him is
younger Reverend Mr. Dimmesdale who has been appointed consultant to assist
Hester and to persuade her to confess. But Hester does not want to tell anybody
the name of the father of the baby although Reverend Dimmesdale keeps on
pushing.
When returned the prison, Hester’s condition is very weak and she is
shocked that continuous guard is needed to prevent Hester from hurting herself or
the poor baby.
market place when she underwent her punishment. Her husband who is in prison
with her now, has come to the colony under the name of Roger Chillingworth.
The doctor gives her a remedy while they are having conversation face to
face. But Hester still refuses to tell him about her lover who has given her the
baby. At the end of their meeting, they reach an agreement, Hester will not tell
anybody about her lover and she is not to reveal the secret of Roger Chillingworth
who actually is her husband.
Hester’s term of confinement in prison is now over. She is now out in the
world again, under the sunshine to face her daily life with her baby. The Scarlet
Letter upon her garment, as the symbol of the sin she has commited, will always
burden her life and accompany her forever, till her death. But Hester is ready and
so determined to face whatever may come her way. Thus, she does not run away
from that town. She decides to take a shelter in a thatched cottage a bit far from
other habitation. The cottage belongs to an earlier settler but was abandoned
because the surround it is not fertile anymore. The cottage is located on the
outskirts of the town, within the verge of the peninsula.
Pearl, is the name given by Hester to her baby. But the name is not the
expression of aspect of calm, white or strong feeling which, indeed are not
possesed by the baby. Hester names her Pearl because it is so valuable to her. It is
the only thing she has and she bought her by sacrificing all she has. Although she
herself is a descendant and was brought up in Puritan family, Hester does her own
way bringing her baby up. She does not want to risk an error or repeat the mistake
to her baby either.
Wherever Hester goes, she takes Pearl along. Sometimes she feels happy
or sad or even confused to learn Pearl’s attitude and characters. Hester also always
asks herself if Pearl is her real child, if Pearl really exist. Sometimes, jokingly
Hester asks Pearl about who has sent her from heaven. But always Hester worries
about the gossip in the society who always wonders about Pearl’s father. And
judging from Pearl’s weird characters they claim that Pearl is daughter of
darkness who was sent down to earth through the sin of her mother.
Pearl is indeed an extraordinary child. She is weird and her behaviours and
attitudes always seem strange. She make these people of authority surprised and
annoyed. She wildy refuses the touch and approach of Reverend John Wilson who
tries to investigate and to learn about her character and if she gets proper religious
teaching from her mother. But astonishingly Pearl welcomes the tender touch of
Reverend Dimmesdale. She seems to know that Reverend Dimmesdale is her
father. After long and bitter argument the meeting ends up with authority’s
allowance to Hester to carry on rearing her child, Pearl. Reverend Dimmesdale
who can see the mysery in Hester’s eyes and who can feel the sacrifaction and the
pain in her heart, altough his condition is getting weaker due to deteriorated
health, has done his best to defend Hester. He has succesfully convinced those
present in the meeting that Hester is the right person to take care of Pearl.
Reverend Dimmesdale’s decayed condition which can be seen from his
paler face and his trembling voice every time he gives sermon on the Sabbath, has
made the people and his congregation worry. They suggest him to try the ability
of doctor Chillingworth. But Reverend Dimmesdale always refuses them. He
would rather sacrifice himself and take what God destines to him because of his
sin and mistake than to let Chillingworth proves his ability to himself.
Indian captivity and has proved himself to be of high intellectual and intell
