Characterization In The Scarlet Letter Essay

The Scarlet Letter, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, takes place in the late 17th century. The main characters in this novel are Hester Prynne, Roger Chillingworth, Arthur Dimmesdale, and Pearl. Some of the characters in this story are very complicated as others are quite simple. The absence of any of these characters would make this story incomplete. The Scarlet Letter has a variety of different characters that all have their own unique personalities. All of the characters Hawthorne uses depend and are connected to each other in a special way.

The Scarlet Letter is centered around Hester Prynne. She is a beautiful, young woman who breaks the moral and social codes of her society by committing adultery. Because she refuses to reveal her lovers identity, her punishment is to wear a scarlet A on her chest. However, throughout the story, Hester matures as a woman. By the end of The Scarlet Letter, she becomes a woman to be looked up to. The townspeoples view on the meaning of the scarlet A on Hesters chest had changed from adultery to able because she is able to care for herself, others and her daughter Pearl. Hester is a very realistic character as she goes through and experiences the same difficulties that people go through in their lives.

Roger Chillingworth is the antagonist and the most evolved character in The Scarlet Letter. Chillingworth represents evil in Hawthornes novel. He changes from a man in disguise trying to figure out the man who did both him and his wife (Hester) wrong, into a twisted, deformed man. He tells Hester that he plans to become a man who devotes himself earnestly and unreservedly to the solution of a mystery(70). However, as time progresses, Chillingworths goal of revenge on the man who slept with his wife becomes an obsession. It becomes so immense that it is his only reason for living. He is more interested in getting revenge rather then in achieving justice. As the story goes on, not only does Chillingworths personality change, but his physical appearance also becomes more and more deformed. Once Chillingworths victim (Dimmesdale) dies, he has nothing else to live for and dies within a year. Chillingworth is a character that has motivation, but uses this motivation completely the wrong way. He ends up not only ruining his own life, but also the life of many other innocent people. Although Hester has committed a sin, in reality, it is Roger Chillingworth who has committed the greatest sin of all.

In The Scarlet Letter, Arthur Dimmesdale is a very dynamic character. He is the reverend in his society, a powerful speaker, and a compassionate leader. Dimmesdale is the man with whom Hester has committed her sin and he knows that he is guilty, however; he cannot get himself to confess his horrid sin. This guilt continues to build up within him as time goes on and he becomes very sick. He deals with all this guilt by tormenting himself both physically and mentally. He eventually develops a heart condition as a result. When Chillingworth, who was pretending to take care of him, discovers an A branded on his chest he begins to torment Dimmesdale even more. By the end of the story, Dimmesdale decides to confess his sin in front of the community and does it on the scaffold with Hester and Pearl by his side. However, because Dimmesdale is so sick, he does shortly after his confession. By confessing his sin Dimmesdale frees himself from his own inner torture and reaches moral redemption.

Pearl, the daughter if Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale, is one of the most elaborate characters in The Scarlet Letter. Throughout the story she develops as a dynamic character and an extremely important symbol. The people in their Puritan society saw Pearl as a weird, strange little girl, born from a sinful act because she was the daughter of Hester. She is very perceptive and always aware of the things going on around her. At times, she acts way older then her age, which is 7, and can sometimes be perceived as a fully developed character. Although Pearl is a very important character in The Scarlet Letter, she functions primarily as a symbol. She can be considered a living scarlet A to Hester, and always reminds her of her sin. Pearl not only represents sin in this story, but her existence gives her mother a reason to live. When Hester is tempted to give up, Pearl is always there to bolster her spirits and cheer her up. Hawthorne uses Pearl as a symbol in The Scarlet Letter way too much, but he does it to keep things running smoothly. Its not until she completes her task, (to get Dimmesdale to confess his sin) she can return to being a normal child.

Pearl kissed his lips. A spell was broken. The great scene of grief, in which the wild infant bore a party, had developed all her sympathies; and as her tears fell upon her father's cheek, they were the pledge that she would grow up amid human joy and sorrow, nor forever do battle with the world, but be a woman in it. Towards her mother, too, Pearl's errand as a messenger of anguish was all fulfilled.(229)

Pearl is a very unrealistic character in The Scarlet Letter, but she plays a huge role and gives the story a symbolic meaning.

Hawthornes use of characterization in The Scarlet Letter is very intriguing. He uses character development to show how characters can change. Well-developed characters, as he uses, result in a powerful story. All of the characters in The Scarlet Letter play a huge and are all a necessity to the story. Hawthorne uses the support of other characters to achieve goals throughout the story. All of the characters have different interactions with each other and this is what makes the story so interesting. Hawthornes brilliant use of characterization in The Scarlet Letter is what makes this novel so powerful and inspiring.