Analysis of Nathaniel Hawthorne : Scarlet Letter

Mutiara Pratama Putri

1500026038

Kelas D

Analysis of Nathaniel Hawthorne : Scarlet Letter

1.       Theme

-          Sin

In this story, the example of the sin is about sexual acts outside of marriage, like adultery. Even, it has been shown in the first chapter.

-          Society life

This story shows some society life, like some conflicts that usually happen in society. The example is there is a punisment for people who are doing sin. In this story is there’s punishment for person who is doing adultery, she must wear a cloth that there’s a Scarlet Letter A in front of her cloth.

2.       Character

a.       Hester Prynne

A woman that is left by her husband for 2 years in Boston. Without any word from her husband, she then is involved in an adultery case. She is a protagonist character. She doesn’t do mistake and run, but she admit it and regret for what have happened and try to correct for what has done by becoming a better person than before, take the lesson from what has happened. It is shown almost in all chapters.

““But the letter teaches me lessons each day,” Hester added.”

-Chapter 5, page 31

b.      Arthur Dimmesdale

He is a pastor who is involved in the adultery case with Hester Prynne. He is a protagonist character. He doesn’t just hide behind but he realizes what his fault is, and regret it. He regrets that he have done inappropriate thing as a person who is trusted and loved by people in the town. After that, he confesses his fault to people in the town. The climax is shown in chapter 9.

c.       Roger Chillingworth

He is the man who leave Hester for 2 years, Hester’s husband. He is a antagonist character. He leave Hester for a long time. Then, when he come back, he don’t want Hester to say anything about him to people in town. After that he also become evil by doing bad things to Arthur who doesn’t know that Roger is his enemy. He looks like don’t want Hester and Arthur to be together. It is revealed in chapter 8.

d.      Pearl

A beautiful girl who is the child of Hester & Arthur. She has a wise thinking for a child in her ages. She is a little bit naughty, too.

3.       Setting

“It was a summer morning in the year 1642. In the small town of Boston ...”

–Chapter 1, page 4

Time : Summer, morning, 1642. Place : Boston

4.       Plot

Forward plot (Alur maju)

Exposition -> Complication -> Climax/Turning point -> Resolution

Exposition part is shown in the opening of story. It tells the reader what the story about is, where and when it is.

“It was a summer morning in the year 1642. In the small town of Boston, an angry crowd was gathering in front of a wooden bulinding...” –chapter 1, page 4

5.       Tone / Atmosphere

The author tells the story with a strained atmosphere.

6.       Symbol

The scarlet letter A as the symbol of Adultery.

7.       Point of view

Third Person Omnicient (Mr/Mrs know it all)