Scarlet Letter :: essays research papers

Throughout The sanguine Letter, Hawthorne uses genius to symbolize both the nix and peremptory character traits which set the predilection of the novel. By doing this, Hawthorne steps out of the traditional Romantic ideals, putting The Scarlet Letter into anher genre. I will call it post- Romanticism. Traditional Romantic books only portray the lordly side of human nature. They show the positive effects of individualism, the soul and freedom as only being positive. By comparing the imagery of nate in relationship to the characters, we see the positive and negative, which is not a traditional Romantic theme. Hawthorne uses many different negative variations of plant imagery to illustrate his ideas. First of all, living plant life, delineation the torturing of Dimmesdale by Chillingworth, remains evident throughout the novel. For example, when Chillingwoh went to the woodwind to gather herbs he dug up roots and plucked absent twigs from the forest trees(1511) which symbolize s how Chillingworth was plucking the life out of Dimmesdale limb by limb. Also, Hawthorne describes grass as pure and without weedso kill the grass however, when poor Mr. Dimmesdale was opinion of his grave, he questioned with himself whether the grass would ever grow on it, because an accursed social function must there be buried(1495). Dimmesdale feels himself dammed. It can not be aued that Chillingworth is doing anything positive. From the beginning, when he first sees Hester, he had only selfish and luxurious reasons for helping Dimmesdale. It Irks me, nevertheless, that the partner of her iniquity should not, at least, snd on the scaffold by her side, But he will be cognise - he will be known - he will be known(1455). When Dimmesdale dies Chillingworth has no one to torment with his evil schemes. All his potence and energy- all his vital and intellectual force- emed at once to desert him insomuch that he positively withered up, shriveled away, and almost vanished from mor tal sight, alike(p) a uprooted weed that lies wilting in the sun(1552). During Chillingworth and Dimmesdales disguised discussion about the powers of nature calling so earnestly for the confession of sin,and discussing that these dense weeds have sprung up out of a buried center, to mark manifest an unspoken crime(19) illustrates the idea of weeds filling the heart with sin and guilt. Moreover, the black flower of civilized society(1448) refers to the Puritans harsh mental attitude towards sinners as they view Hesters punishment.