First of all, the forest motif contributes to the development of Hester Prynne by establishing a sense of solitude to show the painful effects of the scarlet letter. For example, Hester’s confinement now comes to an end; however, Hester decides to stay in the city that holds her terrible sin and shame. Hawthorne explains this by saying, “a new birth…had created the forest-land…into Hester Prynne’s wild and dreary, but life long home”(Hawthorne 80). This quote reflects how the sin compels her to live in this lonely place for the rest of her life. Hawthorne demonstrates how Hester can still call this dark place her home by stating, “Hester having also the passes of the dark, inscrutable forest open to her…with a people whose customs and life were alien from the law that had condemned her”(Hawthorne 80). This explains the consequences of Hester breaking the Puritan law that shuns her from the rest of society. Also, Hester’s home in the forest gives her a sense of alienation from the rest of society when the description of her home states, “It stood on the shore, looking across a basin of the sea at the forest-covered hills, towards the west”(Hawthorne 81). Due to Hester’s sin, the alienation Hester feels from the community puts her into the darkness of the forest in order to make her realize the humiliating consequences of her rebellion against strict Puritan law. However, living in the darkness of the forest punishes Hester by not allowing her to live freely with Arthur so that the whole world can see their love for each other. Hawthorne expresses Hester and Arthur’s fear of exposure by stating, “ they entered sufficiently deep into the wood to secure themselves from the observation of any casual passenger along the forest track”(Hawthorne 190). Hester wishes to break the chains that bind her to solitude so that she can live in happiness with Arthur. However, Hester slowly uses the strength and courage the scarlet letter gives her, but destiny calls for Hester to always remain in the darkness of the forest, which forces her to regret her sin. The reader understands the determination of Hester when the Hawthorne states, “Hester Prynne made a step or two towards the track that led through the forest, but still remained under the deep shadow of the trees”(Hawthorne 192). This quote shows Hester wanting to burst from the dimness of the forest in order to live in contention with Pearl and Arthur by her side. Hawthorne displays another aspect to the forest by making it a object such as an opponent by stating, “The great black forest – stern as it showed itself to those who brought the guilt and troubles of the world into its bosom”(Hawthorne 209). Like an opponent, the forest stares Hester in the eyes to analyze her weaknesses in attempts to punish her for her wrongdoings. Thus, the forest separates Hester from the community in order to make Hester suffer for the sin that keeps her in the darkness.
In addition to the forest motif, the sphere motif develops Hester Prynne by depicting her isolation from the rest of the community in order to show the shame the scarlet letter brings to her. For example, the Puritan law forces Hester to wear the shameful scarlet letter on her bosom that “had the effect of a spell, taking her out of the ordinary relations with humanity, and enclosing her in a sphere by herself”(Hawthorne 54). This quote reflects how the scarlet letter suddenly separates Hester from the rest of society in order to pierce the guilt into the heart of Hester Prynne. Hester vanishes from the center of society of society by moving into a isolated cottage in hopes of obviating the sin of creating the elf-child, Pearl. Hawthorne speaks of the house in saying, “Its comparative remoteness put it out of the sphere of that social activity which already marked the habits of the emigrants”(Hawthorne 81). By stating this, he places Hester in a whole world outside that of her banal life so that she can develop the strength the scarlet letter attempts to destroy. Even small children of the Puritan society exhibit a sense of fear towards the lady who walks around with the scarlet letter. This effect of the children’s fear shows that can see Hester’s isolation from the rest of society around her. The description of the youth states “Children too young to comprehend wherefore this woman should be shut out from the sphere of human charities” which allows the reader to visualize the perspective of society in order to see the isolation of Hester by the scarlet letter. While Hester loses her tenderness that makes her a woman, Hawthorne writes, “not actually, but within the sphere of theory…Hester imbibed this spirit. She assumed a freedom of speculation”(Hawthorne 168). This statement shows Hester’s perspective on her life, and her isolation from society allows her to have thoughts concerning life. These thoughts cause her to go through changes by analyzing her shame due to the regulations of society. Another example of Hawthorne depicting Hester’s strength against isolation occurs when he says “Every gesture, every word…implied that she was banished, and as much alone as if she inhabited another sphere”(Hawthorne 85). This banishment from society helps to develop the courage of Hester Prynne in battling all the forces causing her to live in shame. However, the bond between society, Arthur, and loneliness, Hester, comes together when Hawthorne states, “They now felt themselves, at least, inhabitants of the same sphere”(Hawthorne 194). He says this to show the unity between Arthur and Hester as they come together in hopes of battling all the other obstacles of shame together.
In conclusion, Hawthorne forms the character of Hester Prynne through the use of motifs such as forest and sphere to depict the sin and ignominy that brings her pain due to the scarlet letter on her chest. By using motifs to develop Hester Prynne, Hawthorne finds a common object to relate the reader to the character. Throughout the novel, Hester changes from events that occur in her community. The Scarlet Letter exemplifies a novel with the characters having a foundation to develop on. During Nathaniel Hawthorne’s time as a writer, he created many wonderful works of art that still receive praise from modern critics. His works continue to be read by modern people with a various perspectives on different subjects.
Works Cited
Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Scarlet Letter. New York: Barnes & Noble, 1993.
