Introduction
It is significant to mention that nature against society is a recurring motif in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel The Scarlet Letter, which examines the relations between individuals and the rigid mores of Puritan New England. The novel portrays the struggle between the protagonists’ innate wishes and the strict societal norms, emphasizing how fighting these competing forces can have devastating results.
One of the most famous models of the topic of nature versus society in The Scarlet Letter is the romance between Hester Prynne and Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale (Hawthorne 45). Their prohibitive desire for each other conflicts with the prescribed cultural rules of the society that people abide by. This means that the community adheres to a strict code of ethics in the relations between men and women.
Meanwhile, the characters are trying to progress in suppressing their thoughts, but natural attractions are powerful. Hester and Dimmesdale are involved in each other’s desires, and their natural behavior conflicts with the rules of public and religious establishments. Hence, it is essential to establish the tension between nature and society in the novel The Scarlet Letter.
The Pressure of Society
The contrast between nature and society is evident in several key passages in the novel. One of the earliest examples is when Hester is required to confront the entire town, facing the shame of her committed relationship with Dimmesdale. Hawthorne describes how the natural world reflects Hester’s inner turmoil as the sky darkens.
The wind picks up as she stands on the scaffold: “Her only escape from the dullness of the moment was to look up at the sky and marvel at the lightness of the clouds and the blue depths beyond, and imagine how free she would be if she could only fly away and leave it all behind” (Hawthorne 32). This fragment emphasizes how Hester’s connection to nature offers her a momentary respite from the community’s restrictions. The sky and the clouds imagine a world outside of the Puritan village where she can experience a degree of freedom and be liberated from the strict disapproval of her community.
However, the novel demonstrates that nature can be as brutal and unforgiving as human society. This is most obvious in the character of Pearl, Hester and Dimmesdale’s daughter, who is frequently characterized as “capricious and unruly” (Hawthorne 73). Pearl is a symbol of the natural world, and her rebellious nature starkly opposes the stringent guidelines of Puritan society. However, she also represents a reflection of the fact that the natural world is just as relentless as the human world.
The Impact of Nature
In one of the key scenes, Pearl refuses to come to her mother’s house when she is called, instead choosing to spend the day on the beach. When Hester finally succeeds in catching her, “Pearl saw the look on Hester’s face, then letting out a terrible scream, Pearl cried bitterly” (Hawthorne 78). This moment illustrates that the natural world can be as brutal and unrelenting as a society. Pearl’s refusal to return to her mother signifies a rejection of the human world and its rules, but also emphasizes the challenges of living outside those rules. Ultimately, nature and society have their own constraints, and the novel’s protagonists must manage these competing pressures to find peace and well-being.
Dangers of Nature and Society
Another critical moment in the novel that emphasizes the tension between nature and society is when Hester and Dimmesdale finally encounter their feelings for each other. In a quiet moment in the woods, the two succumb to their desires and embrace passionately. Hawthorne depicts the natural world as a kind of refuge for people, a place where they can escape from the constraints of society and be true to their wild desires; for example, “the branches tossed heavily over their heads; while one solemn old tree moaned sadly to another as if telling the sad story of the couple who sat beneath it” (Hawthorne 218).
This passage indicates that nature proposes to Hester and Dimmesdale a sense of liberty and freedom from the strict demands of society. Thus, the forest provides them a place to be faithful to themselves without fear of condemnation or retribution. Nevertheless, this natural reserve indicates danger and foreboding. The wood moans remind us that elements can bring harm and distress even in nature. Therefore, Hester and Dimmesdale feel oppressed and persecuted in the natural world and insocial life.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the theme of nature versus society in The Scarlet Letter reflects the conflict between individual desires and the demands of a larger community. Characters such as Hester and Dimmesdale are attracted to each other by their natural passions, but these preferences conflict with the harsh rules of Puritan society.
The natural world is a type of refuge for the characters, as Hester and Dimmesdale search for emancipation from these constraints, but it can also be rigorous and inexorable. Finally, based on the characters’ behavior, it can be inferred that finding a balance between these competing forces is crucial to attaining a sense of peace and well-being. Hence, there is a strong connection between nature and society in The Scarlet Letter.
Work Cited
Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Scarlet Letter. Signet Classic, 1988.