Historicism and its Definition
“The Scarlet Letter” by Nathaniel Hawthorne is an excellent piece of literature enabling us to examine the way historicism can be applied to understand the value of moral lessons which can be derived from a certain opus of any particular literature period. Along with historicism, this excellent literature piece presents a valuable ground for the analysis of symbolic addresses applied in it especially in connection to the historical background of this opus. The symbolism in connection with historicism may be applied to reveal the most appealing ideas and address the most complicated issues of human life, and this concept may be well explored within “The Scarlet Letter”.
This romantic work discusses a row of important problems existing within the community of people it relates. Speaking about historicism as a successful critical approach for studying literary works of this kind, it should be mentioned that it relates to the main points of this novel in an excellent way helping to understand a row of important details which the author applied to reveal the moral dilemma of the main heroine of his book. Generally, such important themes as legalism, guilt, immorality, and sin related in the novel may be discussed through the prism of historicism, and even the very title of the novel featuring the word “scarlet” or extremely red highlights the ideas of sinful practices described in the novel along with the need to repent which were so timely for the society during the historic period when the author wrote his novel.
Addressing a row of important lessons which can be derived from “The Scarlet Letter”, it can be very beneficial to do so in terms of their connection to the historical background of this important literary work. Historicism can be evaluated as an efficient approach helping to find out the value of this novel and to go deep into the ideas put by the author into it. According to Critical Approaches (par. 7),
The Way Historicism Helps to Identify the Value of Moral Lessons Presented by the Author in the Novel
Historicism may approach a text from numerous perspectives, but all perspectives tend to reflect a concern with the period in which a text is produced and/or read. No “history” can be truly objective or comprehensive because history is constantly written and rewritten; however, studying the historical context of work, particularly in contrast with that in which it is read, can illuminate our biases and hopefully enable us to understand the text (and the culture, context, ourselves) better.
It appears, thus, that the novel presents a row of deep ideas that can be efficiently analyzed using historicism helping to see all the riches of thought and morality which are incorporated into this inimitable piece of literature. Evaluating the text from the point of view of historicism, the first thing to be mentioned is the period when the text was written. The novel was created in 1850, the period when moral values underwent serious changes in western society, thus, establishing a ground for discussions in this area, and Hawthorne can be acclaimed for his findings in this area which were praised not only by his contemporaries but by the next generations of critics and readers (Baugh 207). Discussing this novel from the historical point of view helps to see the depth of the moral issues addressed in it especially with regards to the time when it was written and the common way of thinking spread in those days.
“The Scarlet Letter” helps to understand such important moral lessons as the necessity to forgive those who repent and to offer them a second chance. In this vein, the experience of the main heroine and the response to her actions from the other characters described in the novel appears to be very emblematic (Dobie 142). Speaking about the symbolism of this novel in connection to historicism, scarlet color is to be addressed. Scarlet is a well-known allusion to sin and guilt which is commonly applied since the days when Hebrew Scriptures were written. There this color was applied with regards to the sinful nature of the whole human race, and as this literature piece is the address the themes of living in the Puritan society which was famous for its piety and devotion to the Holy Scriptures it is no wonder that the author resorts to the use of this symbol ((Dobie 241). In addition, the symbol of scarlet “A” meaning “adulterer” was connected to the image of the adulterer “Babylon the Great” from the Bible who was wearing the clothing of this scarlet color and was a fountain of all sorts of sinful adulterous practices.
The Connection Between Historicism and Symbolism Incorporated into the Novel
With regards to the issues that Hawthorne raises through the historical symbolism of this novel, it should be said that they are a lot. According to Shalt ( par.7).,
Hester Prynne, Arthur Dimmesdale, and Roger Chillingworth experience the effects of sin and guilt in different forms and are forced to handle their dilemmas. Hester has been shown to deal with her sin of adultery most effectively and has used it to her advantage while Dimmesdale has handled his sin least effectively. Since Hester is no longer a real part of society, she doesn’t have to constantly conform to Puritan lifestyles. Hester feels free to express her opinions in her house in the forest and does so by doing things such as letting her hair down or letting Pearl adventure outside.
Such serious issues were often addressed during the end of the nineteenth century as the society affected by the ideas of progress including industrialization and capitalization decided to revaluate the standards of morality. The main of these issues are related to moral values, sinful practices, being religious, seeking God’s forgiveness, finding a way to cope with a feeling of guilt and pain, etc. Through the symbolism of allusion to scarlet color, the author can get one’s audience involved in a serious meditation on the themes of morality and sin along with public opinion about these crucial issues. Discussing the facts which this work reveals about the community it speaks about, it should be stated that Hawthorne as the author of this important work acts as a psychologist and the expert of human hearts with profound knowledge concerning the ruining effects of the feeling of guilt and the desire to revenge. The author seems to invoke the society not to be that strict to people who repent as their feeling of guilt is their biggest “torture stake” which they must face from day today. Hawthorne describes the severest feeling of bitterness the main heroine has in the following words: “be it sin or no,” said Hester Prynne bitterly, “I hate the man!” (Hawthorne 234). This feeling is enough for a punishment; so, Hawthorne appeals to the society with a petition to show mercy for such people as Hester Prynne.
Concluding on all the information related above, it should be stated that “The Scarlet Letter” by Nathaniel Hawthorne can be evaluated as a meaningful piece of literature addressing a row of important social issues including sinful practices, subtraction, feeling of guilt, and repentance. Hawthorne applies the symbol of scarlet “A” meaning “adulterer” which the heroine was wearing as a sign of her sinful past addressing biblical ideas which were common for the Puritan society described in this literary work. Through such symbolism, the author can get one’s audience involved in a serious meditation on the themes of morality and sin along with public opinion about these crucial issues. It appears, thus, that the novel presents a row of deep ideas that can be efficiently analyzed using historicism helping to see all the riches of thought and morality which are incorporated into this inimitable piece of literature. Evaluating, this novel from the historical point of view shows the depth of the moral issues discussed in it especially with regards to the period and a common way of thinking spread in those days. “The Scarlet Letter” helps to understand such important moral lessons as the necessity to forgive those who repent and to offer them a second chance. In this vein, the experience of the main heroine and the response to her actions from the other characters described in the novel appears to be very emblematic.
Works Cited
Baugh, Albert. The Literary History of England, United States: Literary Licensing, LLC, 2011. Print.
Critical Approaches. n. d. Web.
Dobie, Ann. Theory into Practice, United States: Wadsworth Publishing, 2001. Print.
Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Scarlet Letter, New York: Bantam Classics, 1981. Print.
Shalt, Jack. 2008. Analysis of Sin and Guilt in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Scarlet Letter”. 2008. Web.