Scarlet Letter

Introduction

     The passage where Hawthorne is describing Hester’s character and attitude towards life, reflect a man who is torn between his admiration for Hester and his fears as a man of the clergy. Although he admires Hester’s strength, he still battles with the fact that societal norms are still haunting him because of the fact that people expect a lot from him considering that he is a man of the collar. The passage concludes with Hawthorne convincing himself that he has only sinned once and implies that he needs pardon as it was Hester that tempted him. This essay looks into the rhetorical analysis of the passage and how the author uses literary texts to describe the Hawthorne’s fears.

Rhetorical analysis

In the first paragraph of the passage, Hawthorne describes Hester on the pedestal, Arthur looks at Hester’s face with hope and joy and at the same, with fear of what is in between them. Hawthorne gives his readers a clear sense of Hester’s shame. The author’s clear use of syntax emphasizes the position of Hester as a woman together with how her actions defeat the expectations of a typically morally conscious societ. Hawthorne communicates with depth about Hester’s nature and how despite her moral stand, he still feels so attracted. 

Hawthorne, in the same paragraph reveals that he is a minister and seems to be to torn between his feeling and the expectation of the society as a member of the clergy. Here, the author uses an analogy to show how he compares Hester’s behavior to that of the speculation of the society. She exhibits outlawed actions and wanders ‘’without rule or guidance in a moral wilderness’’. At the same time, Hawthorne feels like what is equates freedom as she does not pay attention to what other perceive her to be. She is I her world where is free is to do as she pleases because she does not believe in the ‘’estranged point of view of human institution’’ (Hawthorne, 1900). 

Hawthorne compares Hester’s freedom to that of ‘’wild Indian in the woods’’. His repetition of the comparison to the Indians is a way of emphasizing how free Hester is in her world. Unlike himself, he has to conform to ‘’whatever the priests and legislators’’ had establishe. Hester is so overcome with values, however odd that ‘’the clerical band, the judicial robe, the pillory, gallows, the fireside, or the church’’, could not match her.

The use of connotative language in the second paragraph exposes the minister who feels that his attraction towards Hester is unorthodox. Take, for example, when Hawthorne mentions that the Scarlet later was her ‘’passport into regions that other women feared to tread.’’ This ‘’passport’’ that Hawthorne implies is Hester’s platform to be herself just like any other woman but is afraid of what the society might say (Hawthorne, 1900). This phrase sheds light on the fact that many women would like to find their freedom but the only thing holding them back is the view of the society. 

he also uses pathos as the passage concludes by trying to convince himself that his sin was not of ‘’principle but that of passion’’  The author is trying to compel the readers to relate to his position because human beings feel the need to conform even when their heart desires are different. Hawthorne tries to lessen the weight of actions by citing that he had never gone through any experiences before that led him to his transgression. Therefore, he implies that this once that he has fallen can be forgiven.

Conclusion

The passage begins by effectively persuading the readers about Hester’s actions that were unacceptable in the society in the first paragraph. The author manages to shift this perception by using a parallel structure that enabled the readers to see the other side of Hester’s action. As such, as opposed to being a rebellious person, she is a fighter for her freedom. On the other hand, the minister appears to be a coward. He admires Hester but so fixated in what the society expects. The end of the passage has a pathos appeal; one cannot help by sympathizing with Hawthorne’s position.

References

Hawthorne, N. (1900). The scarlet letter (Vol. 6). Houghton, Mifflin.