Literature
Puritan Hypocrisy Through Hawthorne’s Eyes: A Critical Analysis
Puritan Hypocrisy Through Hawthorne’s Eyes: A Critical Analysis
In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, the reader is presented with a penetrating critique of the rigid moralism and hypocrisy inherent in Puritan society. This novel, set in the 17th-century colonial Massachusetts Bay Colony, highlights the contradictions between public morality and private sin through various characters, most notably Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, Hester Prynne, and Roger Chillingworth. Let's delve into these examples of Puritan hypocrisy to better understand Hawthorne’s critique.Dimmesdale’s Secret Sin
Reverend Dimmesdale is an esteemed figure in the community, yet he privately faces the overwhelming guilt of having an affair with Hester Prynne. The minister’s struggle with his secret sin is a powerful illustration of the hypocritical nature of his public sermons. Throughout the narrative, Dimmesdale’s sermons and teachings about sin and morality stand as stark examples of the gap between his teachings and his personal failings. His inability to confess his sins, despite the immense pressure from the puritanical community, represents a glaring contradiction in the Protestant ethos of the time.Key quote:
“Ay, and can there be joy where there is no truth? Can there be truth where there is no courage?” - Dimmesdale in The Scarlet Letter
Hester Prynne’s Punishment
Hester’s punishment is perhaps the most visible manifestation of Puritan hypocrisy. Imprisoned and publicly humiliated, Hester is forced to wear the scarlet letter “A” for adultery, serving as a continuous reminder of her perceived sin. However, it is a two-party crime; Dimmesdale was privy to the affair and shared the guilt of the act. Hence, the question arises, why is Hester the sole bearer of the scarlet “A”, leaving Dimmesdale unscathed?Key quote:
“Sin has a grave, but a gracious face; and says unto you, be pure as I, and yet harmless as I am!” - Dimmesdale in his internal conflict
Chillingworth’s Vengeance
Roger Chillingworth, Hester’s husband, assumes the identity of a caring physician to help Dimmesdale, while secretly engaging in a relentless quest for revenge against Hester. This duality—caring yet vengeful—highlights the darker side of Puritan morality. Chillingworth’s actions reflect the Puritan’s tendency to project their own desires and flaws onto others, concealing their true motives.Key quote:
“His passion, seizing him like the grasp of Death, forever took him back to his wife; though in his manner of approach, she rather felt him like a fiend than a husband or a friend.” - Chillingworth’s emotional turmoil
The Community’s Moral Superiority
The Puritan community prides itself on its inflexible moral code and piety. However, their actions against Hester reveal a deep-seated lack of compassion and understanding. Townspeople gossip and judge without acknowledging their own failings, embodying a false sense of moral superiority. Hawthorne uses Hester’s story to expose the community’s judgmental nature and highlight the double standards that permeate Puritan society.Key quote:
“Sin is ever woman’s sphere, where sin may sport in unreproved sin!” - The townspeople’s judgmental stance
The Role of Women
The novel also explores the gender biases within Puritan society. Hester is punished for her actions, while men like Dimmesdale and Chillingworth escape significant scrutiny. This gender bias underscores the hypocrisy in the Puritan view of morality, where women are often scapegoated for sins that men also commit. Hawthorne’s narrative serves as a critique of the patriarchal structures that shape and repress women.Key quote:
“I have girded up my strength for a long and bitter conflict, and I will not falter in it now, nor admit the hope of a quicker triumph, such as has been promised me from outside these prison walls.” - Hester’s fortress-like resolve
Conclusion
Through the characters of Hester Prynne, Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, and Roger Chillingworth, Nathaniel Hawthorne provides a powerful critique of Puritan hypocrisy. The contradictions between public morality and private sin, the gender biases within the community, and the fake moral superiority of the Puritans are all exposed. Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter remains a timeless testament to the importance of moral purity, compassion, and understanding.Key quotes:
“Why should she wear the mark of shame, and whisper ‘shame!’” - Dimmesdale's internal conflict
“And yet the strict sanctity of Reverend Dimmesdale—a virtuous old man—scarcely could be darker and higher than the phantom that died upon his bosom that first night, still bearing the young woman’s link of shame.” - Hawthorne's analysis of Dimmesdale’s hypocrisy