THE SCARLET LETTER Nathaniel Hawthorne uses setting, plot, and the characters to develop the theme of Sin, Isolation, and Reunion in his novel, The Scarlet Letter. In this novel Hawthorne uses the scaffold along with other place to in the setting to develop this theme. He develops the plot by making one character torment or act as the conscience of another to develop the climax and the resolution. The characters help develop this theme by tormenting other the characters and never letting them forget about the sin they committed which then drives them further into isolation. Hawthorne uses a mixture of setting, plot and characters develop this wonderfully written book. Hawthorne uses the setting to develop the theme of sin, isolation and reunion.
One the main places in the setting that he uses this process is the scaffold. The scaffold is used in the novel for a place to show sin in the beginning of the story when Hester is displayed on it. Also during this scene it was used to isolate her from the rest of the community. Then later in the story it is used again when Arthur stands up on the platform of the scaffold giving false penance, which drives him further into isolation. Then at the end of the story it is used again to reunite Arthur with himself, the community and God before dies. It is also used in this scene to reunite Pearl with herself making her normal.
He also used the cottage where Hester lived has a place of isolation for her. The cottage was just out side the sphere of the community. It was also on a sterile piece of land where nothing would grow. The forest was also a major setting that instigated sin. It was the place where the Blackman lived and if you signed his book you would wear its sign on your chest. Not only was it a place of sin but it was also a place of isolation.
The Essay on Place, setting, and landscape in Jane Eyre
There are many symbolic and psychological functions of place, setting, and landscape in Jane Eyre. Charlotte Bronte uses descriptions throughout the novel to exaggerate the effect of an event. Bronte also uses setting (less frequently however) to foreshadow a situation, or the nature of a situation. From the commencement of the story, the reader is introduced to the climate. A cold, winter day, ...
Isolation in the forest occurred when Hester met Arthur in forest to hopefully achieve some reunion but instead drove them selves further into isolation. The use of the settings greatly structured how the theme of sin, isolation and reunion came about. The plot was used to develop the theme of sin, isolation, and reunion. There are five basic parts to the plot: conflict, rising action, climax, falling action and resolution.
This is called the plot line. The conflict of the story begins on the scaffold with Hester when she won’t reveal the identity of her lover. The reason she on the scaffold is to identify her for committing the sin of adultery. This causes her to be further isolated from everyone and also breeds the conflict between Roger, Hester, and Arthur because if she would have revealed that Arthur was her lover then Roger wouldn’t have any thing to hold over Hester’s head. All of this then leads to the rising action. The rising action occurs with the further isolation of Hester and Arthur and the questioning of Arthur by Roger.
He does this because he assumes that it is not physical but mental and moral. This all leads to the conflict. The conflict happens on the scaffold when Arthur breaks down and screams out for repentance and is nearly got caught Mr. Wilson and Gov. Bellingham. Then again in the forest when Hester confronts Roger telling him that she is going to reveal his secret to Arthur.
Again later in the forest she confronts Arthur telling him the secret that Roger is actually her husband. After the conflict, the falling action occurs which will then lead to the resolution. The Falling action occurs when they make plans to leave the settlement and during the night when he is writing his speech for the following day. The resolution occurs when Arthur takes Pearl and her mother to the scaffold where he tells the crowd that he is the father of Pearl and Hester’s lover. It also occurs when Arthur gave Pearl a kiss of love, which makes her whole. The characters largely influenced the theme of sin, isolation, and reunion.
The Essay on Arthur Dimmesdale Hester Chillingworth Sin
CHARACTERS ROGER CHILLINGWORTH - In chapters ten through twelve, Roger Chillingworth's devilish ways and soul match his hideous and horrible physique. He projects his evil nature and is at his peak of revenge towards the reverend Arthur Dimmesdale. He satisfies his sinful yearnings to diminish Dimmesdale physically and emotionally by drowning him in his own sin. ARTHUR DIMMESDALE - It is obvious ...
This theme is what made up the character’s personality. Hester’s sin was adultery and not telling Arthur who Roger really was. Her isolation came in many forms. Her first isolation came on the scaffold. Then through out the book she was isolated from her lover and her true self. Pearl also contributed to her isolation by never letting her forget the letter for one moment.
Her reunion came after she returned to Boston and took up wearing the scarlet letter. This was important because this time it had a special meaning to her and was not a punishment. The sin of Arthur was adultery and his silence for not coming out and admitting he was Hester’s lover. He then became isolated from his lover, himself and the community. One of the deepest isolations came from the hands Roger.
Arthur’s reunion came at the end of the novel when he got up on the scaffold and told the entire community that he was Hester’s lover. By using a combination of setting, plot and characters, he made the theme of sin, isolation and reunion jump from the page and into the reader’s mind. This made the reader think of how they would have acted and reacted if they were the one being tormented by a close friend or being isolated from the one you love. Each character in this book went through the cycle of sin, isolation and reunion. Each one of them sinned in one way or another. They all were isolated from each other, themselves, and the community.
They all achieved reunion but to do this they must be true to themselves and to those around them.
