THE SCARLET LETTER BY NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE

CHAPTER III: THE RECOGNISITION

The Scarlet Letter: A

Indian: reference to Native Americans. It is a characteristic of American literature to refer to

Native Americans to see the connection between the colonisers and them.

The Scarlet Letter describes life in America at the 17 th c. Thus, it shows how the first
settlers arrived to America and their life there.

Contrast between the Indian and the Puritan man.

White man/Husband: intelligent -> Puritan men had to be educated (Obviously he is not a
Native American, but a settler European). He can be easily recognised because of a deformity
of his figure. His physical deformity is associated to his evilness – he is not a good person.

When Hester Prynne recognises the white man, she wants to protect her child -> She is
a mother above all. Hester is afraid of the man, so he represents danger (snake).

When the husband realises that Hester has recognised him, he orders her to keep
silent. (Superior figure to her). This is because Hester was left there on her own and it was not
a proper act at that time. Thus, he would be consider guilty for letting her on her own for a
long time because it is the reason why she committed adultery.

Everybody knew that she was married because she told that to the rest of the town.
She was always saying that he was coming, but he never did. Then, she cheated him and he
arrived when she was to be judged.

Sin committed by Hester Prynne: a baby out of wedlock, an adulterous.

The townsman knows everything about Hester because it was a huge scandal. He knew
that she was from England, who was married but her husband never appeared and that she
has had a baby out of wedlock.

Hester Prynne refuses to say who is the other sinner (the father of the baby). She is a
rebel that do not obey the commands of superior men. She is a really strong person who is
determined to protect her child and the father of the child. Therefore, she is not an evil figure,
but a protective one.