Romanticism in the Scarlet Letter Essay - 852 Words

Romanticism is categorized as â€Å"a preference for simplicity and naturalness, a love of plain feelings and truth to common place reality, especially as found in natural scenes†. Nathaniel Hawthorne was an anti-transcendentalist and believed in the dark side of man, hence his dark romantic novel The Scarlet Letter. This allegorical novel depends heavily on symbol and character. The novel is chock full of symbolic dimension of images, characters, and descriptions. The Scarlet Letter defines the American Romanticist movement while using symbolic characters and places that give the book seemingly two different stories. The first story denotes the story going on in the book, including the characters. The other story has symbols that speak on†¦show more content†¦In nearly everything she does, as a young child, she finds immense pleasure. However, the forest is also a safe place. the unhappy culprit sustained herself as best a woman might, under the heavy weight of a tho usand unrelenting eyes all fastened upon her, and concentrated on her bosom. Her existence came from what Puritanism deems â€Å"evil†. Hester demonstrates human naturalness by obeying her instinctual urges and having a relationship with Reverend Dimmesdale. The Scarlet Letter, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, reflects the ideals of American Romanticism by the use of the concept of Dark Romanticism, the evident appreciation of nature and innocent children, and the rejection of the standard rules of society and the influence of England, instead, answering to a higher moral code. Nathaniel Hawthorne, a well-know Dark Romantic, employs the issues prevalent in Dark Romanticism in his novel The Scarlet Letter. These include the concepts of: guilt and sin, good and evil, and madness in the human psyche. Guilt and sin are heavily addressed in the novel, focusing on Hester’s outward versus Dimmesdale’s hidden guilt, and the sins committed by the adulterous couple and the revenge-driven Roger Chillingworth. The idea of what good and evil are is questioned in the novel. For example, the reader is led to question if Hester was right in not revealing Dimmesdale, and in turn if both Dimmesdale and Chillingworth wereShow MoreRelatedRomanticism in The Scarlet Letter1596 Words   |  7 Pagesonly dead fish swim with the stream. -Malcolm Muggeridge. This famous quote justifies that to be an individual, one must break from society and think for himself, and only when he has done this, is he truly alive. Nathaniel Hawthornes novel The Scarlet Letter is about a courageous woman, Hester Prynne, and her struggle to split from society in order to live the loving life she has always wanted. By the use of symbolism, Hawthorne is effectively able to portray the forest, which promotes individualityRead MoreRomanticism And Nathaniel Hawthorne s The Scarlet Letter1461 Words   |  6 PagesRomanticism and Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter Literary Romanticism was a literary movement that started in Europe toward the late 1700’s and reached America in the early 19th century just in time for its peak years. Originally sparked by the Industrial Revolution, it was a response to the political and social conditions of the time as well as a challenge to the new type of scientific exploration and rationalization of everyday life. Writing that was grand and inspired great feeling andRead MoreRomanticism And Transcendentalism In Nathaniel Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter956 Words   |  4 Pages The Scarlet Letter - Research Paper Nathaniel Hawthorne is 19th-century author whose works were primarily classified as romanticism and transcendentalism. His works held many controversial elements for his time including the extensive use of feminist principles. Many of Hawthornes novels depict a different viewpoint on the defiance towards misogyny and patriarchal ways. The Scarlet Letter furthermore enhances these elements. Hawthorne’s novel, The Scarlet Letter, portrays the many elements of feminismRead More Use of Romanticism in Development of Characters in The Scarlet Letter2106 Words   |  9 PagesUse of Romanticism in Development of Characters in The Scarlet Letter      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In Hawthornes revered novel The Scarlet Letter, the use of Romanticism plays an important role in the development of his characters. He effectively demonstrates individualism in Hester to further our understanding of the difficulties of living in the stern, joyless world of Puritan New England.   It is all gloom and doom.   If the sun ever shines, one could hardly notice.   The entire place seems to be shroudedRead MorePuritanism, Romanticism And Transcendentalism In The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne983 Words   |  4 Pages Although Puritanism, Romanticism and Transcendentalism do not coexist peacefully, these almost worldview kind of people groups are deeply embedded into three fictional characters from the book, The Scarlet Letter written by Nathaniel Hawthorne. This enthralling and rich classic which takes place in Boston Massachusetts during the time of Puritanism gives the reader not only a taste of the Puritans and their staunch attitude, but also of a less common way of thinking andRead More Romanticism in Scarlet Letter, Ministers Black Veil, and Young Goodman Brown2077 Words   |  9 PagesAmerican Romanticism in The Scarlet Letter, The Ministers Black Veil, and Young Goodman Brown      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Nathaniel Hawthorne took elements of the European romanticism and reshaped them into a new literary form that is called American Romanticism. The American Romanticists created a form that, at first glance, seems ancient and traditional; they borrowed from classical romance, adapted pastoral themes and incorporated Gothic elements (Reuben 22). Some of the definable elements of romanticism combinedRead MoreAnalysis Of The Scarlet Letter 1434 Words   |  6 Pagesvon Mises said â€Å"Romanticism is man s revolt against reason, as well as against the condition under which nature has compelled him to live.† Mises s quote means that people use romanticism to see different things in the world that reason cannot do. Many early settlers were anxious to create their own identity and by doing so, they changed their rational thinking. Because of this, many writers produced instructional texts and more stories, novels and poetry. American Romanticism was a new wa y ofRead MoreNathaniel Hawthorne s The Scarlet Letter869 Words   |  4 Pagesbesides politics. Romanticism values intuition over reason, believes imagination could discover truths the rational mind could not, and contemplates nature’s beauty as a path to spiritual and moral development. Dark romanticism is a subgenre that has a dark view of human life. The most famous Dark Romantic writer, Nathaniel Hawthorne, emphasizes human proneness to sin and self-destruction, uses symbols that are considered dark, and believes that evil can overtake good. In The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel HawthorneRead MoreRomanticism Is Essential to the American Culture954 Words   |  4 PagesRomanticism is essential to the American culture. It was sought out to be the central movement of the American Renaissance, being most mediated through transcendentalism and it continues to influence on American thought and writing. â€Å"Romanticism has very little to do with things popularly thought of as ro mantic, although love may occasionally be the subject of Romantic art. Rather, it is an international artistic and philosophical movement that redefined the fundamental ways in which people inRead MoreNathaniel Hawthorne s The Scarlet Letter1187 Words   |  5 PagesPuritanism in Red Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter shows the early view of Puritanism by concentrating on sin, guilt, and its effects on society. Nathaniel Hawthorne conveyed a dark and romantic style of writing in â€Å"The Scarlet Letter†, impacting the society by focusing on the concepts of romanticism. The Scarlet Letter is considered a classic book and is still read today. Nathaniel Hathorne was born in Salem, Massachusetts on July 4, 1804. He was the son of Nathaniel and Elizabeth Clark