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Brooks, Rebecca Beatrice. “History of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.” History of Massachusetts, 5 Jan. 2015, historyofmassachusetts.org/history-of-the-massachusetts-bay-colony/.

Brooks, Rebecca Beatrice. “The Life of Nathaniel Hawthorne.” History of Massachusetts, 15 Sept. 2011, historyofmassachusetts.org/nathaniel-hawthorne/.

“Puritan Life.” U.S. History, Independence Hall Association, www.ushistory.org/us/3d.asp.

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Life in Puritan Colonies of the 17th Century

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Life in Puritan Colonies of the 17th Century

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Although the large amount of social rules restricted what members of a Puritan colony could and could not do, the Puritan societies were largely successful. New colonies had higher life expectancies than the parts of England that they came from and the concept of grandparents began to form because people were living long enough to see their children have kids. Literacy rates were high in Puritan colonies; the importance of the bible forced people to be able to read it, making even women literate. Children were also educated through schools because a portion of the colony's taxes were put aside for schools that could teach the children to read, as well as the contents of the Bible. Specifically, the Massachusetts Bay Colony was largely successful because of its large trade industry involving fish, lumber, and farm products.

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Society in Puritan Colonies of the 17th Century

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Society in Puritan Colonies of the 17th Century

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Religion dictated life in Puritan settlements, especially that of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The government was founded on religious ideals and laws that followed the Old Testament of the Bible. Punishments for breaking the law or committing a sin, which were normally considered one in the same, were extremely harsh and included whipping as well as public humiliation. They were extremely intolerant of other religions and even persecuted people like the Quakers solely based on their religion. The society was very patriarchal as well; women had no say in political affairs and were taught to be quiet and bear children. Therefore, leadership in the communities was based on those who were very religiously devoted and only those who were male.

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Symbolism: The Rosebush Outside the Prison Doors

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Symbolism: The Rosebush Outside the Prison Doors

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Although not frequently mentioned, the rosebush in front of the prison doors symbolizes perseverance. The prison is a punishment for acts against the law. Hester Prynne is punished for her sin by wearing the scarlet letter and bearing a child from an adulterous relationship. However, she perseveres and continues to grow. She becomes a successful seamstress and is often commissioned by the people of their Puritan town. She is very much like the rosebush. She flourishes even through her harsh punishment. When Pearl claims that she was plucked from the rosebush outside of the prison doors, she is partially correct because it is her mother's perseverance that shapes and raises Pearl. The rosebush serves as a reminder that something beautiful can be born from hardship.

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Pearl, as mentioned previously, is a manifestation of Hester Prynne's and Arthur Dimmesdale's sin. She serves as a constant reminder to her mother of the sin she committed. Hester dresses her in red, which further emphasizes Pearl's purpose of the human representation of the scarlet letter that her mother must wear upon her breast. She constantly traces over her mother's scarlet letter, which keeps Hester constantly thinking about the sin that will follow her for the rest of her life. However, while Pearl is a representation of sin, she is also her mother's greatest blessing. She is the closest thing her mother has to a family and keeps Hester from being completely alone. No matter how many people shame and ignore Hester, she will always have her little Pearl.

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Love and Compassion directly contrasts with the theme of Sin also found in The Scarlet Letter, but it still exists and plays an important role in the story. From Hester Prynne's conversations with Roger Chillingworth, her husband, it quickly becomes apparent that their marriage was not one made out of love. Chillingworth values her as a wife and vows to find the man who is Pearl's father, but still does not wish to share that he is Hester's husband nor provide any support to Hester. Hester's affair was born out of a need for what her husband could not give her. Arthur Dimmesdale provided her with the love and affection she wished for, and continues to support her and Pearl. Although Pearl is a manifestation of Dimmesdale's and Hester's sin, it is the closest Hester receives to a family. She values and loves Pearl, and still retains feelings for Dimmesdale. Dimmesdale exhibits fatherly affection towards Pearl, such as kissing her upon the forehead. Although this family is doomed from the start, it is one filled with love and compassion. Roger Chillingworth realizes this, which further fuels his need for revenge against Arthur Dimmesdale.

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Because of a Puritan community's isolation, they turned to God as their primary source of guidance. Due to this reliance on God and the Holy Bible, those who sinned were looked down upon and harshly punished. In The Scarlet Letter, Hester Prynne must always carry two representations of her sin. These are her scarlet letter upon her breast and her child, Pearl. Pearl is her greatest gift, but also her greatest torture. As if the scarlet letter sewn to every one of her clothing pieces isn't enough, Pearl serves to remind Hester of her sin because she is the physical result of her sin (adultery). However, Hester does not suffer greatly from her sin. She faces public shame, but mentally, she is held together because she has confessed her sin to God. The person that truly suffers is Arthur Dimmesdale. He refuses to confess his sin and as a result, tortures himself, both physically and mentally. He brands himself with an "A" to remind himself of his sin of sleeping with Hester. Mentally, the guilt overcomes his soul and diminishes his physical health. Although both characters suffer from committing sinful acts together, Hester voices her sin and lives with social shame but without a guilty conscience. Dimmesdale stays quiet and is still revered in the Puritan town, but suffers on all levels as punishment for his silence.

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Nathaniel Hawthorne: Ancestors and Family Curse

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Nathaniel Hawthorne: Ancestors and Family Curse

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Nathaniel Hawthorne is related to a Judge that served during the Salem Witch Trials, John Hathorne. He is also related to people accused during the Salem With Trials, such as Sarah Wilson. Nathaniel Hawthorne's relatives inspired many of his Puritan characters used in his books, especially their ruthless personalities. However, his relation to Judge Hathorne had the strongest effect on him. Because of his great-great grandfather's notoriously ruthless persecutions, a rumored family curse followed his family, causing them to slowly lose the family fortune, as well as all of their land. This curse was supposedly placed by all the people who suffered due to Judge Hathorne's hand. Nathaniel Hawthorne changed his last name early into his career as an author, most likely to distance himself from his great-great grandfather, also distancing himself from the alleged family curse.

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Nathaniel Hawthorne was born in Salem, Massachusetts on July 4th, 1804. Hawthorne spent his early years in Salem, but also spent a good amount of time in Raymond, Maine. He attended college for four years at Bowdoin in Maine, yet he still returned to Salem. Although Nathaniel Hawthorne moved away many times in his life, he seemed to always be drawn back to Salem, Massachusetts. He drew much inspiration from his home town when he wrote The Scarlet Letter, especially citing the overwhelming Puritan background of the town. Hawthorne met his wife Sophia Peabody in 1837 and married her five years later. The couple lived in Concord for a large amount of their married life, but due to financial problems, they eventually moved back to Salem . Hawthorne died on May 19th, 1864 and is buried in Concord.