Joshua Lee Lee 1

Ms. Moss

English 10 Pre-AP H

30 October 2017

Hester’s Inner Turmoil

In The Scarlet Letter, chapter 5, “Hester at Her Needle”, by Nathaniel Hawthorne,

Hawthorne describes Hester's inner turmoil-which has a negative impact- by using rhetorical

devices. Hawthorne's usage of powerful figurative language, diction and tone, and syntax

achieves his purpose of explaining her inner turmoil while regarding her sinful nature.

One of the rhetorical device Hawthorne uses to describe Hester's inner turmoil is

figurative language. Hawthorne says, “Although she hid the secret from herself, and grew pale

whenever it struggled out of her heart, like serpent from its hole” (Hawthorne 46). Hester is

being compared to a serpent through metaphor when she hides from the truth and grows pale

whenever it escapes her heart, just like how a serpent comes out from its hole. Another example

of figurative language is imagery. “The chain that bound her here was of iron links, and galling

to her in most soul, but could never be broken”(Hawthorne 46). When Hawthorne explains the

physical property of the chain, it clearly shows what the chains could do. The chain is made of

iron links and could never be broken by Hester. The use of figurative language throughout the

passage helps the reader understand the internal conflicts of Hester.

The second rhetorical device Hawthorne uses to describe Hester's inner turmoil is diction

and tone. By using words such as “serpent,” ”dark,” and “pale” Hawthorne creates gray/murky

tone that is apparent throughout the passage. He creates a tone that is morbid to describe the
darkness and loneliness she is going through. The gloomy atmosphere that is set gives the reader

a taste of the feeling of Hester’s inner turmoil, which supports Hester's dark and lonely life

compared to a “normal” person that doesn't have conflicts with their inner turmoil. Hawthorne

also uses the diction such as “guilt,” “torture,” and “shame,” which gives off a dreading tone.

Hester has to go through daily guilt, torture, and shame because of the Scarlet Letter embedded

on her beast which creates a dreading tone. This tone ties into her inner turmoil and her situation

in life.

Lastly, Hawthorne uses syntax to describe Hester's inner turmoil. Hawthorne uses syntax

such as juxtaposition to convey Hester's inner turmoil. Hawthorne uses “the tempter of souls

had[have] thrust[ed] this idea upon Hester's contemplation, and laughed at the passionate and

desperate joy with which she seized, and then strove to cast it from her”(Hawthorne 46).

Desperate joy is a juxtaposition that places two elements (desperate and joy) side by side to

present a comparison/contrast of the idea the tempter of soul put on Hester. Hawthorne also uses

syntax called parenthetical to add in a comparison of Hester's and the serpent. Hawthorne adds in

“--doubtless it was so, although she hid the secret from herself, and grew pale whenever it

struggled out of her heart, like a serpent from its hole--”(Hawthorne 46). This was added to

reference that like a serpent, Hester hides herself. Without this parenthetical, it would be unclear

of the extent at which Hester hides herself. Using both juxtaposition and parenthetical, helps

convey Hester's inner turmoil.

Hawthorne use of figurative language, tone and diction, and syntax helps better

understand Hester’s inner turmoil. Without the use of these rhetorical devices, it would be
difficult to understand the conflicts Hester is going through regarding her inner turmoil. The

author’s purpose of this is to support Hester's conflicts in life.