I have recently undergone a major reading phase (perhaps my biggest one to date), since I have more free time these days. I find reading books to be great way to stay busy and keep my mind engaged. In the past month now I have made several trips to Half Priced Books and completed 5 books all pertaining to the Colonial Age. I'm still very fascinated with this historical topic, that has reinvigorated my hobby for reading. While movies, TV series, Assassin's Creed video games, and even Wikipedia have always been my go-to source for understanding a historical era, there can be no better immersion than a historical novel (either fiction or non-fiction).
The past couple weeks now, since we took our traditional summer cabin trip (this time to Davis, WV), I've bought a score of books. I began with Ted Morgan's Wilderness At Dawn, which gives a very detailed historical account of the settlement of North America. I then read Nathaniel Philbrick's historical book, Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War, which also brought incredible insight to the Pilgrim's journey, their settlement in Plymouth, the first Thanksgiving, and their involvement during King Philip's War. Just last week I finished another historical account by Stacey Schiff The Witches, that gave a very detailed description of the Salem Witch Trials.
While these historical essays and biographies are great source of non-fiction detail, it's nice to sometimes mix that up with some good fiction novels. So this past weekend I loaded up on several more books, still inspired to stay in the setting of the Colonial Age. I bought The Scarlett Letter, The Crucible, The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, and a contemporary fiction called Maine (for some lighter reading). Using the Norton Anthology of American Literature I now have a solid understanding of the essentials of colonial literature. This book is loaded with great biographies and excerpts from American classics. I even read the entire account of Mary Rowlandson's abduction by Native Americans during King Philip's War.
I just finished the classic novel, The Scarlett Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne today which brings me to this here book review. I believe this to be the third time I have read the book, however it was by far the most engaged I have been. I am quite sure we read this in high school and as always the cliff notes to get pass my literature assignments. Then just last summer I went thru another big reading phase, and would listen to audio books while at work. Once again I listened to this classic, yet once again I hardly got into it. Sure I gathered the general theme of the woman who was branded as an adulteress by the very judgmental town. Yet little did I understand the characters, the themes, and the complexities of this novel until now. And I can so quite forthright that it this is truly a masterpiece of poetic and captivating storytelling.
The Synopsis
Set in 1642 in the Massachusetts Bay Colony a young woman named Hester Prynne is forced by the local authorities to be publicly humiliated in the town square. With her young infant in hand she must stand at the center of the marketplace for several hours for all to see the new embroidery on her chest. It is the scarlet letter "A" which brands her as an adulteress a very grave sin in the age of Puritans. However the question remains where is the husband and where is the father of this un-Godly child? Hawthorne does a genius job in this novel, by keeping the reader engaged with vague and open-ended questions. That are all later resolved by the end of the book.
It is not until the later chapters that we discover that the husband is an odd physician named Roger Chillingworth, who has been working abroad in England. When he discovers the situation unfolding in the Massachusetts town, he meets with Hester and the two come to an agreement never to confess their marriage since they both are guilty of marital transgressions. Nonetheless Roger begins a ruthless campaign to discover the father of the child, whom Hester has partook in this unlawful act. From early in the book all indications lead to the minister Arthur Dimmesdale, who is clearly overcome with guilt.
The story unfolds over 7 years in the colony as Hester lives in a secluded cottage and raises her young child she names, Pearl. Hester makes a living off her needlework, and lives a very humble yet shamed life. Unlike her mother however, the young Pearl is a very vivacious child, wild with energy, and often looked-on upon as a little elvish devil by the townspeople. Nonetheless their love for one another keeps the mother-and-daughter afloat for 7 years in the face of constant judgement and harassment until at last the culprit of the scarlet letter is revealed.
The minister Arthur Dimmesdale begins to show clear signs of weakness which later brings on the medical counsel of the wicked, Roger Chillingworth. It's almost as if Chillingworth know's of Dimmesdale's secret since his arrival to the town, and chooses to torture the suffering minister thru medical trials. Hester eventually attempts to intercede on the minister's behalf by requesting that her former husband desist from the torture and then quite unexpectedly planning to leave town with the minister. However succumbing to his illness, the minister decides to face his demons, and confesses his guilt to all in the town square before he dies. He is at peace with his confession and embraces his daughter and Hester. Meanwhile Chillingworth is left with the guilt of driving a man to madness and dies a year later. He however leaves a great fortune to the young Pearl who later moves to England. Hester however returns to town, continuing to wear the scarlet letter she becomes like a saint to all.
The Characters
Hester Prynne- The protagonist of the story is probably the dullest of all four main characters, however in the end it is her resolve that makes her the most heroic. She is guilty of the crime of adultery, however is wrongfully abandoned by her husband and forced to take on the punishment solely while her partner-in-crime hides in plain sight. Her skill in needlework and her child Pearl are no doubt her saving grace from turning to witchcraft or some sort of madness.
All throughout the story she demonstrates great resilience and fortitude faced with various unruly characters (such as her daughter, the physician, the minister, and the local witch Ann Hibbins) Hester eventually gives in to her accusation and plans to run away with the minister she once loved until he himself dies. Her return to the town at the end of the novel, is the ultimate sign of her resilient strength in the face of such wicked judgement. It's quite interesting that Hawthorne reverts her status at the end from one of frowned-upon to one that is revered with legendary status.
Pearl- She is the unruly product of the scarlet letter and has a personality to match. She is full of energy, mischief, and is very clever girl. However as difficult as she may be she loves her mother as much as her mother loves her. Despite the accusations as a devil child, she is never in the wrong, and completely on point to challenge the minister to kiss her in public rather than in privacy. Her conclusion is somewhat vague, however with the inheritance from Chillingworth, it could be assumed that she lives out the rest of her days in England. Whether those be happy, sad, or wild days one can only imagine from the 7 years she lived with her mother in the Massachusetts colony.
Arthur Dimmesdale- The minister in my opinion is the most interesting character in the novel. From the beginning when Hester is accused in the town square for all to witness, the minister is introduced as a man with great internal conflict. It seems like anybody who has read many stories (or watched many movies) could predict that he would be the guilty adulterer. However in Hawthorne's defense a cheating minister must have been twice as controversial as a cheating woman which makes his novel so ahead of it's time.
Dimmesdale later comes to the defense of Hester when the authorities deliberate to take her child away. This is another very obvious clue that he is the the father of the child, yet this also brings on the wrath of the curious physician, Chillingworth. It is during Chillingworth's psychological inquest that Dimmesdale really begins to unravel. Here is a man haunted by the demons of the scarlet letter in which Hester must take on the toll of both their sins, while he hides behind his supposed righteous sermons. The minister is a complete coward and hypocrite, however in the end he is able to face his demons before he succumbs to his madness. The finale in the town square is perhaps his saving grace, where he accuses the town of their wicked judgement, especially Chillingworth, and embraces his daughter Pearl before he dies.
Roger Chillingworth- He is definitely the antagonist of the story, however by no means your typical bad guy with also a bit of saving grace (yet another brilliant product from Hawthorne). He begins with good intentions keen to discover the culprit of Hester's scarlet letter, however he also has a shameful past as the un-abiding husband of Hester. The two agree to keep their marriage a secret in the midst of this public scandal. However Chillingworth becomes obsessed with finding Hester's partner, and uses his title of physician to grown in rank.
Chillingworth is a very sharp, well-educated person skilled in medicine yet also in reading people. Upon his arrival to the town he is quickly able to develop a new personal passion to uncover the mystery. And while his intentions may be somewhat warranted as the husband of Hester, his methods are very cruel as he pushes the minister to madness. In the end, during the great revelation, the minister Dimmesdale accuses Chillingworth for his wicked sin, which eventually eats away at Chillingworth causing him to die a year later. Perhaps his final saving grace is by giving Pearl his inheritance. So ultimately here is a very cruel character who did not commit any heinous crime but still is a wicked person.
My Review
I love the classics, always have! That goes for music, movies, and literature. However with classic literature I often find the vocabulary and the general context to be very difficult to comprehend. Compared to present day novels such as the Harry Potter series which were a breeze read, classics are often a a bit more challenging to read. I believe this is due to the fact that the material is aged, yet also because the vocabulary is far superior and more poetic. I've read several great novels such as War and Peace, Les Miserables, A Tale of Two Cities and and have often found myself having to read parts again and again. However with good patience and concentration these classic novels can indeed be enjoyed. And that was certainly the case with my recent reading of this masterful novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne.
Just like there are movies that need to be watched several times to fully understand what is happening, I believe that is what has happened for me here with The Scarlet Letter. In knowing the general story, the setting, and perhaps my added interest with the Colonial Age I was more engaged than ever. Honestly the story is quite brief, however the writing is very detailed and poetic which adds to the context. Hawthorne builds suspense in every chapter by describing the setting and thoughts of each character which such vivid detail. And when the characters speak it is like phrases from a Shakespeare play, "Oh Hath Wronged me, thy Grace".
Understanding poetry and the context of Old English has always been difficult for me, however I am sure it something that can be acquired with practice no different than learning a new language. And for the most part this book is quite comprehendable, just requires more attention than a modern day contemporary novel. However aside from the poetry, the story itself is equally as enticing. This is a classic example of a character story, by which the plot revolves around very complex characters. Hawthorne's four main characters of Hester, Pearl, Dimmesdale, and Chillingworth all act as the necessary legs of a table. Each character has a vested interest in the other, and thus makes for a very stimulating plot.
I think what's most incredible about Hawthorne's work here is how ahead of it's time it must have been. Consider the novel was published in 1850 during a time when religious conservatism still reigned supreme over all (perhaps not as extreme as the 1650s of the Puritans) but still far more-so than today. The topic of an affair was very controversial, even more so an affair in which a religious minister partook in. Furthermore Hawthorne's novel has major themes of psychological conflict with elements of witchcraft and Gothic horror. This darker theme appeared to be the new trend of the time when considering other famous authors of the age such as Edgar Allen Poe and Washington Irving's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.
This classic book was exactly what I was looking for to get a proper understanding of life during the Colonial Age. Hawthorne's book vividly demonstrates an early colonial settlement in Massachusetts run by Puritan extremists. The way of life must have been very daunting in those days which I believe resulted in cases of witchcraft, hypocrisy, and scandal as demonstrated in this novel. This book is a classic historical fiction and to this day considered one of earliest masterpieces of American literature. As a history and literature nerd myself, I can honestly say it is one of the best written books I have ever read.
While these historical essays and biographies are great source of non-fiction detail, it's nice to sometimes mix that up with some good fiction novels. So this past weekend I loaded up on several more books, still inspired to stay in the setting of the Colonial Age. I bought The Scarlett Letter, The Crucible, The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, and a contemporary fiction called Maine (for some lighter reading). Using the Norton Anthology of American Literature I now have a solid understanding of the essentials of colonial literature. This book is loaded with great biographies and excerpts from American classics. I even read the entire account of Mary Rowlandson's abduction by Native Americans during King Philip's War.
I just finished the classic novel, The Scarlett Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne today which brings me to this here book review. I believe this to be the third time I have read the book, however it was by far the most engaged I have been. I am quite sure we read this in high school and as always the cliff notes to get pass my literature assignments. Then just last summer I went thru another big reading phase, and would listen to audio books while at work. Once again I listened to this classic, yet once again I hardly got into it. Sure I gathered the general theme of the woman who was branded as an adulteress by the very judgmental town. Yet little did I understand the characters, the themes, and the complexities of this novel until now. And I can so quite forthright that it this is truly a masterpiece of poetic and captivating storytelling.
The Synopsis
Set in 1642 in the Massachusetts Bay Colony a young woman named Hester Prynne is forced by the local authorities to be publicly humiliated in the town square. With her young infant in hand she must stand at the center of the marketplace for several hours for all to see the new embroidery on her chest. It is the scarlet letter "A" which brands her as an adulteress a very grave sin in the age of Puritans. However the question remains where is the husband and where is the father of this un-Godly child? Hawthorne does a genius job in this novel, by keeping the reader engaged with vague and open-ended questions. That are all later resolved by the end of the book.It is not until the later chapters that we discover that the husband is an odd physician named Roger Chillingworth, who has been working abroad in England. When he discovers the situation unfolding in the Massachusetts town, he meets with Hester and the two come to an agreement never to confess their marriage since they both are guilty of marital transgressions. Nonetheless Roger begins a ruthless campaign to discover the father of the child, whom Hester has partook in this unlawful act. From early in the book all indications lead to the minister Arthur Dimmesdale, who is clearly overcome with guilt.
The story unfolds over 7 years in the colony as Hester lives in a secluded cottage and raises her young child she names, Pearl. Hester makes a living off her needlework, and lives a very humble yet shamed life. Unlike her mother however, the young Pearl is a very vivacious child, wild with energy, and often looked-on upon as a little elvish devil by the townspeople. Nonetheless their love for one another keeps the mother-and-daughter afloat for 7 years in the face of constant judgement and harassment until at last the culprit of the scarlet letter is revealed.
The Characters
Hester Prynne- The protagonist of the story is probably the dullest of all four main characters, however in the end it is her resolve that makes her the most heroic. She is guilty of the crime of adultery, however is wrongfully abandoned by her husband and forced to take on the punishment solely while her partner-in-crime hides in plain sight. Her skill in needlework and her child Pearl are no doubt her saving grace from turning to witchcraft or some sort of madness.All throughout the story she demonstrates great resilience and fortitude faced with various unruly characters (such as her daughter, the physician, the minister, and the local witch Ann Hibbins) Hester eventually gives in to her accusation and plans to run away with the minister she once loved until he himself dies. Her return to the town at the end of the novel, is the ultimate sign of her resilient strength in the face of such wicked judgement. It's quite interesting that Hawthorne reverts her status at the end from one of frowned-upon to one that is revered with legendary status.
Pearl- She is the unruly product of the scarlet letter and has a personality to match. She is full of energy, mischief, and is very clever girl. However as difficult as she may be she loves her mother as much as her mother loves her. Despite the accusations as a devil child, she is never in the wrong, and completely on point to challenge the minister to kiss her in public rather than in privacy. Her conclusion is somewhat vague, however with the inheritance from Chillingworth, it could be assumed that she lives out the rest of her days in England. Whether those be happy, sad, or wild days one can only imagine from the 7 years she lived with her mother in the Massachusetts colony.
Arthur Dimmesdale- The minister in my opinion is the most interesting character in the novel. From the beginning when Hester is accused in the town square for all to witness, the minister is introduced as a man with great internal conflict. It seems like anybody who has read many stories (or watched many movies) could predict that he would be the guilty adulterer. However in Hawthorne's defense a cheating minister must have been twice as controversial as a cheating woman which makes his novel so ahead of it's time.Dimmesdale later comes to the defense of Hester when the authorities deliberate to take her child away. This is another very obvious clue that he is the the father of the child, yet this also brings on the wrath of the curious physician, Chillingworth. It is during Chillingworth's psychological inquest that Dimmesdale really begins to unravel. Here is a man haunted by the demons of the scarlet letter in which Hester must take on the toll of both their sins, while he hides behind his supposed righteous sermons. The minister is a complete coward and hypocrite, however in the end he is able to face his demons before he succumbs to his madness. The finale in the town square is perhaps his saving grace, where he accuses the town of their wicked judgement, especially Chillingworth, and embraces his daughter Pearl before he dies.
Roger Chillingworth- He is definitely the antagonist of the story, however by no means your typical bad guy with also a bit of saving grace (yet another brilliant product from Hawthorne). He begins with good intentions keen to discover the culprit of Hester's scarlet letter, however he also has a shameful past as the un-abiding husband of Hester. The two agree to keep their marriage a secret in the midst of this public scandal. However Chillingworth becomes obsessed with finding Hester's partner, and uses his title of physician to grown in rank.
Chillingworth is a very sharp, well-educated person skilled in medicine yet also in reading people. Upon his arrival to the town he is quickly able to develop a new personal passion to uncover the mystery. And while his intentions may be somewhat warranted as the husband of Hester, his methods are very cruel as he pushes the minister to madness. In the end, during the great revelation, the minister Dimmesdale accuses Chillingworth for his wicked sin, which eventually eats away at Chillingworth causing him to die a year later. Perhaps his final saving grace is by giving Pearl his inheritance. So ultimately here is a very cruel character who did not commit any heinous crime but still is a wicked person.
My Review
I love the classics, always have! That goes for music, movies, and literature. However with classic literature I often find the vocabulary and the general context to be very difficult to comprehend. Compared to present day novels such as the Harry Potter series which were a breeze read, classics are often a a bit more challenging to read. I believe this is due to the fact that the material is aged, yet also because the vocabulary is far superior and more poetic. I've read several great novels such as War and Peace, Les Miserables, A Tale of Two Cities and and have often found myself having to read parts again and again. However with good patience and concentration these classic novels can indeed be enjoyed. And that was certainly the case with my recent reading of this masterful novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne.
Just like there are movies that need to be watched several times to fully understand what is happening, I believe that is what has happened for me here with The Scarlet Letter. In knowing the general story, the setting, and perhaps my added interest with the Colonial Age I was more engaged than ever. Honestly the story is quite brief, however the writing is very detailed and poetic which adds to the context. Hawthorne builds suspense in every chapter by describing the setting and thoughts of each character which such vivid detail. And when the characters speak it is like phrases from a Shakespeare play, "Oh Hath Wronged me, thy Grace".Understanding poetry and the context of Old English has always been difficult for me, however I am sure it something that can be acquired with practice no different than learning a new language. And for the most part this book is quite comprehendable, just requires more attention than a modern day contemporary novel. However aside from the poetry, the story itself is equally as enticing. This is a classic example of a character story, by which the plot revolves around very complex characters. Hawthorne's four main characters of Hester, Pearl, Dimmesdale, and Chillingworth all act as the necessary legs of a table. Each character has a vested interest in the other, and thus makes for a very stimulating plot.
I think what's most incredible about Hawthorne's work here is how ahead of it's time it must have been. Consider the novel was published in 1850 during a time when religious conservatism still reigned supreme over all (perhaps not as extreme as the 1650s of the Puritans) but still far more-so than today. The topic of an affair was very controversial, even more so an affair in which a religious minister partook in. Furthermore Hawthorne's novel has major themes of psychological conflict with elements of witchcraft and Gothic horror. This darker theme appeared to be the new trend of the time when considering other famous authors of the age such as Edgar Allen Poe and Washington Irving's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.
This classic book was exactly what I was looking for to get a proper understanding of life during the Colonial Age. Hawthorne's book vividly demonstrates an early colonial settlement in Massachusetts run by Puritan extremists. The way of life must have been very daunting in those days which I believe resulted in cases of witchcraft, hypocrisy, and scandal as demonstrated in this novel. This book is a classic historical fiction and to this day considered one of earliest masterpieces of American literature. As a history and literature nerd myself, I can honestly say it is one of the best written books I have ever read.
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