Miss Daigle, Room 227 American Studies 2010-2011 The Scarlet
Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Slide 2
Purpose Students are to use this PowerPoint presentation as a
supplemental source, in addition to their note taking, to cover the
main ideas and analytical theories of Nathaniel Hawthornes The
Scarlet Letter. This PowerPoint presentation is designed to
summarize the text and identify stylistic techniques, including
figurative language.
Slide 3
Chapter 1 The Prison Door The founders of a new colony,
whatever Utopia of human virtue and happiness they might originally
project, have invariably recognized it among their earliest
practical necessities to allot a portion of the virgin soil as a
cemetery, and another portion as the site of a prison (49) Utopia
is a reference to John Winthrops concepts of the ideal nation.
Hawthorne uses the word whatever to indicate the flightiness of the
original thoughts because he believes their concepts of virtue and
happiness were distorted How to Read Literature Like a Professor
tells you to pay attention to #s this quote has a set of three to
pay attention to: VIRGIN soil, CEMETERY, PRISON indicates three
crucial factors to the story foreshadowing
Slide 4
Chapter 1 The Prison Door Cnt. the wooden jail was already
marked with weather-stains and other indications of age (49).
Imagery references the idea of a used, worn, traditional and stable
structure yet somehow ineffective to the greater powers of the
earth (weather) (50) ponderous iron-work = diction, Hawthorne
brings the reader into the wonderment of this setting (50) imagery
of old jail in a New World = juxtaposition Like all that pertains
to crime, it seemed never to have known a youthful era commentary
on generational gaps & laws being antiquated
Slide 5
Chapter 1 The Prison Door Cnt. Wild rose-bush, covered, in this
month of June, with its delicate gemsNature could pity and be kind
to [inmates coming or going into the prison] (50) Symbolism &
sets the tone Idea of a cycle Role of nature as the ultimate
decider (Transcendentalism) Anne Hutchinson reference = bold move,
praises her progressive thought and her actions (standing up for
what she believes in)
Slide 6
Chapter 2 The Market-Place Amongst any other population, or at
a later period in the history of New England, the grim rigidity
that petrified the bearded physiognomies of these good people would
have augured some awful business in hand (51) nature judge power of
the natural (transcendentalist thought) Diction is incredible
petrified the bearded physiognomies grave, old faces of judgment on
the other hand, a penalty, which, in our days, would infer a degree
of mocking infamy and ridicule, might then be invested with almost
as stern a dignity as the punishment of death itself (52) Something
we might laugh at today would be looked at as serious as death
Slide 7
Chapter 2 The Market-Place Early feminism women, several of
whom were in the crowd, appeared to take a peculiar interest in
whatever penal infliction might be expected to ensue (52) Directly
connected to this situation b/c it dictates their place in society
man-like Elizabeth Power in control typically go to men a man in
the crowd asks is there no virtue in women, save what springs from
a wholesome fear of the gallows? - what are women made of??(54)
Morality a character of less force and solidity (52) morally
weaker.
Slide 8
Chapter 2 The Market Place Cnt. Generational gap coarser fibre
in those wives and maidens of old English birth and breeding than
in their fair descendants[every mother] transmitted to her child a
fainter bloom, a more delicate and briefer beauty What is beauty?
Implying each generation of woman physically weaker, but morally
stronger?? Goodwives, said a hard-featured dame of fifty paragraph
demonstrates the older generation of gossips in demand of harsh
punishment for the young hussy (53) a young wife speaks out softly,
says guilt is internalized and not dictated by earthly punishments
(53-54)
Slide 9
Chapter 2 The Market-Place Cnt. Metaphors of the Child because
its existence, heretofore, had brought it acquainted only with the
gray twilight of a dungeon, or other darksome apartment of the
prison only knew darkness until brought into the light enlighten
what will the world have in store for the bastard child? #s! Hester
Prynne holds a child who is only 3 months old think holy trinity,
this idea will come again when we learn who the father is Puritan
commentary dismal severity of the Puritanic code of law (54) Hester
Prynne comes forward with natural dignity and force of characteras
if by her own free will (54) strength (&sin?) comes from her
free will is Hawthorne saying shes not predestined?
Slide 10
Chapter 2 The Market-Place Cnt. For adultery The problem with
the scarlet a its too fancy according to older generation
On-lookers noticed her beautiful features and the letter on her
chest seemed to enhance her alluring nature Halo made of misfortune
and ignominy sweet irony! ignominy
Slide 11
Chapter 2 The Market-Place Cnt. Page 58 comparison to the
Virgin Mary sinless motherhood infant at her bosom artists tried to
create this scene Infant redeems the world??
Slide 12
Religious Comparison
Slide 13
Chapter 3 The Recognition Important Characters: Hester Prynne,
the sinner (adulterer), is a wife to an Englishman (Roger
Chillingworth). She had an affair with an unnamed man and had a
baby girl. She is now being publically punished for her sin and
condemned to a life wearing the letter A over her heart. Roger
Chillingworth comes to light in this chapter. He had been captured
by Native Americans and just arrived. He conceals his identity and
finds out Hesters backstory at the market place. Intrapersonal
Inner serenity & air of calmness
Slide 14
Chapter 3 The Recognition Cnt. Characters Continued Reverend
Dimmesdale, a young minister, known for his religious fervor wants
Hester to reveal her fellow adulterers name. He says that she
should not pity the man, but he is not forceful in his request.
Governor Bellingham will judge Hester and dictate her destiny (!!)
Reverend Wilson, another judge of Hester Pearl Hesters
daughter
Slide 15
Chapter 3 The Recognition Cnt. This chapter is about making an
example of Hester Prynnes acts. The goal of the judges is to
publically humiliate her, but Hester stands strong and wise. Public
sermon focuses on the horrific effects of sin, and Reverend Wilson
frequently refers to the A on Hesters chest. The A is no longer
beautiful in this chapter, but seems to resonate with hellish
colors
Slide 16
Chapter 3 The Recognition Cnt. Both Bellingham and Wilson are
self-appointed individuals who use symbols, social status, and fear
to promote their importance. Books, religious texts and items
Sermon that puts Hester down and raises them up Note interesting
points: When Reverend Dimmesdale speaks of Hesters silence:
Wondrous strength and generosity of a womans heart! She will not
speak! (71) what oddity do you notice?