The article explores the themes of guilt in Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter.
Keywords: Scarlet letter, guilt, shame.
В статье исследуется тема вины в произведении Натаниэля Готорна «Алая буква».
Ключевые слова: Алая буква, вина, стыд.
«The Scarlet Letter» is a work of historical fiction written by Nathaniel Hawthorne and published in 1850. It is a profound psychological and moral exploration set against the backdrop of 17th-century Puritan New England. The book examines various themes, more precisely, those of sin, redemption, the intricate interplay between individual identity and societal norms and most importantly, guilt. The latter seems to be a cornerstone of the novel, with the author employing different ways to portray the profundity and dichotomy of the feeling through its complex characters. It is safe to say that Hawthorne as an author is as intent on drawing on the concept of sin itself, but rather feelings that come with having commited it and how they possibly, if ever, shift person’s sense of self and their outlook and influence their core beliefs.
Before proceeding with the novel analysis, it is necessary to provide an adequate definition of the concept of guilt. In APA dictionary of psychology guilt is defined as «a self-conscious emotion characterized by a painful appraisal of having done (or thought) something that is wrong and often by a readiness to take action designed to undo or mitigate this wrong». We are immediately provided with a remark seeking to distinguish the sentiment from the feeling of shame: «it is distinct from shame, in which there is the additional strong fear of one’s deeds being publicly exposed to judgment or ridicule».
Hawthorne's novel is set in a Puritan society characterized by its rigid moral codes and austere values. The Puritans, known for their strict religious beliefs, prioritized community conformity over individual expression, often leading to harsh penalties for moral transgressions. Their view of seeing life can be summarized as a drama of salvation. This cultural backdrop is essential to understanding the novel's themes. The strictures of Puritan society, represented by the town's leaders and the institutions of law and religion, form an environment that is highly conducive to harboring feelings of shame and guilt for the slightest misconduct.
The novel begins with the readers being presented to Hester Prynne, a young woman who has given birth to an illegitimate child, Pearl, in a Puritan settlement. As punishment for her adultery, Hester is publicly shamed and forced to wear a scarlet letter «A» on her chest, symbolizing her sin. Hester's estranged husband, Roger Chillingworth who had been presumed lost at sea, arrives in town and vows to discover the identity of Pearl's father, who is later revealed to be the minister of Hester's church Arthur Dimmesdale. Dimmesdale, consumed by guilt and hypocrisy, struggles with his secret while maintaining his position of respect in the community [2].
As the story unfolds, Hester becomes a symbol of resilience and strength, forging a new identity for herself apart from the societal judgment she endures. In contrast, Dimmesdale's internal conflict leads to his decline, ultimately resulting in his public confession during a climactic sermon. Chillingworth's obsession with revenge contributes to his moral degradation, revealing the destructive nature of vengeance and approximating his eventual demise. His hatred has consumed him, eventually, although the fact that he leaves his fortune to Pearl can in some form redeem his sin, that is presented to be the greatest out of all character.
It is paramount to identify how the feeling of guilt manifests itself in different characters. The protagonist, Hester Prynne, is thought to be heavily subjected to the sentiment in the face of relentless public shame. She shows outward repentance, Indeed, she experiences the feeling as a result of Puritan societal norms, instilled in her upbringing. However, there are subtle ways in which it is demonstrated that she, in fact, feels that her action was not legitimately sinful and fully deserving of public humiliation, like her undoing the scarlet letter afterwards and throwing it to a distance [2]. Her true repentance comes near the end of the novel with her taking responsibility for her doing and voluntarily resuming her letter A [4].
Arthur Dimmesdale is largely contrasted with Hester’s persona. Having committed the sin and obliged to pay for it with a guilty conscience, he commits one another when he calls on Hester to reveal the name of the father of the child. He refuses to accept his share of responsibility and bear the burden of punishment with Hester. Instead, punishes himself for his sin by fasting and whipping himself until his late confession which does not prevent his demise, caused by acute sense of all-cosnuming guilt. He opts for the strategy of avoidance and denial for the sake of preserving his view of self in a good light, which drains him psychologically and physically. Dimmesdale's plight illustrates how guilt, when unacknowledged and unconfessed, can lead to a corrosive sense of self-loathing and despair [5].
There is a sharp contrast in the way that these two characters go about their guilt. While Hester openly bears the burden of her sin, but stays imperturbable on the inside almost until the very end, Dimmesdale's hidden guilt manifests ragingly in all possible forms physical and psychological torment, though he fails to muster up the courage to acknowledge the sentiment overtly until it is too late for him. The novel questions whether redemption is even possible through acknowledgment and personal growth or if it is ultimately out of reach.
Nathaniel Hawthorne's «The Scarlet Letter» stands as a significant literary work that grapples with fundamental questions of morality, identity, and societal conformity. Through its intricate characters and layered narrative, Hawthorne provokes readers to consider the complexities of human nature and the struggle for personal redemption in a world where guiltiness is a way of life. The novel's relevance transcends its historical context, resonating with contemporary readers facing similar dilemmas of identity, acceptance, and the enduring power of societal critique. Thus, «The Scarlet Letter» remains a timeless exploration of the human condition and the moral challenges inherent in life.
References:
- Crews, Frederick. The Sins of the Fathers: Hawthorne's Psychological Themes. London: Oxford University Press, 1966.
- Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Scarlet Letter . A Norton Critical Edition, edited by Sculley Bradley et al. New York: W. W. Norton and Co., 1962.
- Kilborne, Benjamin. Shame conflicts and Tragedy in The Scarlet Letter. Journal of the American Psychoanalytic. February 2005.
- Sachin Vaman Londhe. Sin, Guilt, and Regeneration in The Scarlet Letter. Review of research. Vol.1, 2012.
- Sundström, N. Open guilt and secret shame: the difference between guilt and shame as depicted in The Scarlet Letter. Extended essay. 2004.
- Stocking, David M. «An Embroidery on Dimmesdale’s Scarlet Letter». College English, vol. 13, no. 6, 1952, pp. 336–37.
