Essay Sample on The Scarlet Letter: An Effective Punishment?

People are punished for their crimes in diverse methods, such as public shaming, imprisonment, fines, and more. However, they are not always effective, as exhibited by Nathaniel Hawthorne in The Scarlet Letter. The scarlet letter is given to Hester as a punishment, and its effects are conveyed throughout the novel. The author, Nathaniel Hawthorne, uses the various depictions of the scarlet letter to demonstrate the ineffectiveness of punishment through characterization of the characters, because their behaviors and thoughts remained unchanged after they were given the scarlet letter as a punishment.

Hester was given the scarlet letter as a punishment, however, her behavior contradicts the expectations of the Puritan society. As Hester exits the prison, she wears the scarlet letter, which is stitched on her dress with perfection and elegance. “It had the effect of a spell, taking her out of the ordinary relations with humanity and enclosing her in a sphere by herself” (Hawthorne 7). Hester is characterized as a young, beautiful, and ladylike woman, which instills resentment in the other women of the Puritan society. The scarlet letter that is stitched with fine gold thread also creates envy in these women, which makes them belittle Hester. Hester’s looks and rebellious character “enclose her in a sphere by herself”, meaning that she is separated from the other women through these characteristics. Her beauty and the jealousy of the women also leads to the negative connotations of the scarlet letter on her bosom. By describing Hester as a beautiful woman wearing luxurious clothing and the elegantly sewn scarlet letter on her bosom, Hawthorne is able to demonstrate that the punishment of wearing the scarlet letter has no effect on Hester’s rebellious actions, and she is able to contrast from the other women.

The scarlet letter that appears in the sky above Hester, Pearl and Dimmesdale is given a different positive meaning by society, even though the sinners have not been affected by the punishment. Dimmesdale had been living in guilt for many years, which led him to stand on the scaffold next to Pearl and Hester. “‘But did your reverence hear of the old potent that was seen last night? - a great red letter in the sky - the letter A - which we interpret to stand for Angel’” (Hawthorne 110). Throughout the novel, Dimmesdale is characterized as a holy and spiritual man by society. When he is seen standing on the scaffold, underneath the scarlet letter in the sky, society interpreted the letter as having a good meaning, since they did not believe that the holiest man in the town could have sinned. The townspeople also used the scarlet letter as a sign of Governor Winthrop’s death, alluding to the idea that Dimmesdale was a holy man and could not have been punished with the scarlet letter. However, as Hester, Pearl, and Dimmesdale stood on the scaffold, their beliefs about their sin did not change, proving that chastisement is not always successful.

Over the years, an alternate meaning is prescribed to the scarlet letter, but Hester’s thoughts and feelings towards her sin still remain unaffected. She begins to work around town, and the meaning of the scarlet letter shifts from adulterer to able. “All of the light and graceful foliage of her character had been withered up by this red-hot brand, and had long ago fallen away, leaving a bare and harsh outline…” (Hawthorne 115). Hawthorne uses juxtaposition to contrast Hester’s current character with her character at the beginning of the novel, further demonstrating that the scarlet letter has not served its purpose. After a few years have passed, Hester’s character has changed from “light and graceful” to “bare and harsh”, while the scarlet letter remained on her bosom. The shame of wearing the scarlet letter has only worsened Hester’s complexion and character, but her rebellious thoughts have remained. In addition, the townspeople have altered their negative opinions on Hester’s scarlet letter, demonstrating the idea that punishments are not effective and are often forsaken after a long time.

Through characterization and the several meanings given to the scarlet letter throughout the novel, Hawthorne is able to affirm that punishments are not effective. The scarlet letter was introduced to the reader as a symbol for Hester’s adultery, then it was altered by the townspeople to demonstrate Hester’s contributions to society, and lastly, became used as a positive symbol. The characterization of Hester and Dimmesdale’s beliefs remained constant throughout the novel, exhibiting the ineffectiveness of punishment. Rather than serving its purpose of disciplining the subjects, punishment shames and degrades them instead.