Dramatization of Isolation in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s `the Scarlet Letter’ Essay

Nathaniel Hawthorne in The ruddy Letter emphasizes the head of closing off byout the whole novel. Using a variety of literary techniques and descriptions of emotions and nature, Hawthorne is able to fully fork over the inner feelings of hurt suffered by the central characters as a result of severe loneliness and seclusion. The torturous of isolation, argon experienced by the key figures, Hester Prynne, Arthur Dimmesdale, and Roger Chillingworth, each payable to different situations and to various degrees. These characters undergo a journey, which separates them from society. Such a journey allows them to explore their needs and desires in an existential quest that ultimately allows them to jazz themselves as individuals. This journey follows a pattern of subside, renunciation, and redemption.The Scarlet Letter is primarily concerned with the thoughts and feelings of Hester Prynne. Hester, being an unwanted of society, experiences the almost evident and apparent frame of re ference of isolation. As a symbol of sin, Hester is viewed by the strict niminy-piminy town as an outsider, a presence of evil, and, ultimately, one who is detested by God. The towns vinegarish condemnation of Hester is revealed through a local wo worldhoods comment, at the very(prenominal) least, they should have regulate the brand of hot iron on Hester Prynnes forehead (Hawthorne, 36). Although this dire attitude towards Hester does eventually improve, callable to her many benevolent works for the poor, she never truly does escape the feelings of lonesomeness and segregation present in her life. This fact is further stressed by Hawthornes exclusion of all conversationand dialogues, a exercise of context and rebound, in chapter five to demonstrate that Hester has absolutely no communication with the world beyond her free-and-easy trips to town to receive and deliver embroidery orders, described as dark and inscrutable. The forest, in contrast, provides Hester with a clan destine habitat in which she may seek truth and escape the glares of humanity, though all the while dejected and alone.Isolated from the constraints imposed by living in much(prenominal) a stern culture through the publics disdain and her own rejection of the local beliefs, Hawthornes protagonist experiences liberation from the shackles of the communitys austere approach to life. Hester Prynne contemplates new ideas, which would never have occurred to her were she not removed from the general populace by her fall. Hawthorne describes this emancipation writing,Alone, and hopeless of retrieving her position, even had she not scorned to consider it desirable, she cast away the fragments of a unconnected chain. The worlds law was no law for her mind. In her lonesome cottage, by the shore, thoughts visited her, such as dared to enter no other dwelling in New England. (Hawthorne, 151)This passage describes the effect of isolation on Hester. The fragments of a broken chain she casts o ff symbolize the confinement of New Englands squared-toe ideology. The line the worlds law was no law for her mind illustrates her abandonment of this faiths doctrines, which allows her experience thoughts that dare to enter no other dwelling in New England. The loneliness of Hesters expulsion from society provides her with a freedom of intellect that cannot be found in culture governed by rigid belief system. However, it proves difficult to accept thoughts that challenge the convictions to which the scarlet letters bearer has been outcome so long. The effect of Hesters years spent separated from the influence of publics beliefs and laws are clearFor years past she looked from this estranged point of view at human institutions, and whatever priests or legislators have established criticizing all with hardly more reverence than the Indian would feel forthe clerical band, the juridic robe, the pillory , the gallows , the fireside, or the church. The tendency of her fate and fortu nes had been to set her free. The scarlet letter was her passport into regions where other woman dared not tread. (Hawthorne, 183).She now freely condemns practices of the pillars of New England communities, challenging the church while renouncing the reverends decree of Gods will and magistrates laws. Hester freely chastises the entities which create structure and constraint in society. Like the native tribes, who hold no ties to Christian faith or laws, she does all this without remorse or doubt regarding her souls future.A more private and hidden feeling of isolation and alienation is conveyed throughArthur Dimmesdale. Unlike Hester, who has been thrown into a life of dejection by society, Dimmesdale inflicts this desolation upon himself. Dimmesdale, unable and unwilling to publicly reveal his sin, continues to be obsessed by his own guilt, and consequently feels inner isolation towards humankind. Nonetheless, the entire town embraces Dimmesdale as a messenger of God and a mira cle of holiness who should be greatly admired and respected. Paradoxically, Dimmesdale views himself as an evil fiend and penalize himself with daily abuse and starvation. In the end, when Dimmesdale finally does release his guilt and shame, he succumbs to sickness and dies, feeling for the very first time, accepted happiness and peace.As the impious revenge-seeking villain of the novel, Roger Chillingworth undergoes the most concealed and obscure form of isolation. Not alone is he physically separated from his companion, Hester, and the townspeople, who suspect evil intervention, but is also mentally detached from himself. To exhibit this transformation, Hawthorne expresses the character of Roger Chillingworth primarily through private contemplation Chillingworth exposes his true self only through his thoughts. With exception to Hester, Chillingworth speaks to no other person about his plans or motives. Following his vow to issue Hesters secret lover,Chillingworth slowly begins to lose his true identity to the devil. Such pure wickedness causes Chillingworth to eventually withdraw from his prior life and isolate himself to live in a world, which through his eyes, only contains sharpness and hate.Although Hester, Dimmesdale, and Chillingworth all experience isolation, each endures a different aspect and to various extents. Hester is alienated from her fellow man and is completely cut off from a life of customariness and normality. On the other hand, Dimmesdale, essentially the towns public figure, feels alone in the fact that he is the sole person, besides Hester, to really understand the true man within himself. This agonizing wound is so strong that it eventually takes his life. However, Chillingworth is the character that goes through the most harsh and excruciating form of torture. To surrender to evil and watch oneself gradually wither away due to ones own choice is one of the most unbearable pains known to man.The distortion of isolation that Heste r and Dimmesdale go through, which directly extends to Chillingworths distress, is caused by the firm belief, by the town, that they are responsible for the extinguishing of all existing sin on earthy, though they themselves sin. In addition, Hawthorne explains that society, in judging people check to what they themselves believe to be proper and ethical is, appallingly to claim to be flawless and equal to the superiority of God himself. All these key figures, Hester Prynne, Arthur Dimmesdale, and Roger Chillingworth, undergo a spiritual journey in which a fall isolates them from society. This separation provides a new perspective on the group they were once a part of that causes the locomote to renounce the beliefs and practices of their contemporaries. As they distance themselves from the world, these characters cast off the shackles created by the influence of others peoples thoughts and ideologies. Release from these constraints allows them to look critically at the society t hey have left behind and form their own opinions of where life should lead, rather than accepting the roles that others have placed upon them.Works CitedHawthorne, Nathaniel. The Scarlet Letter. New York, NY midget Books, 1986.Print. Isolation in the Scarlet Letter StudyMode.com. Web.06 Aug 2013. . Isolation Through Symbolism in Nathaniel Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter. 123HelpMe.com. Web. 04 Aug 2013SparkNotes Editors. SparkNote on The Scarlet Letter. SparkNotes.com. SparkNotes LLC. 2003. Web. 1 Aug. 2013.