DIFFERENT INTERPRETATIONS IN DIFFERENT TIMES :
THESCARLET LETTER BY
NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE:
The Scarlet Letter, written and published in1850, was Hawthorn's first and undoubtedly the best novel. The novel being unique in its theme and thought it was definitely ahead of its times.Based on its criticism, the interpretations on the novel can be divided into three segments.
i. The Nineteenth
Century Response:
ii. The Modern Response:
iii. The Contemporary Response.
The Nineteenth Century Response:
The novel being full of moral and religious concerns, questions the morality that had been imposed on the citizens, especially the women. The novel has also been critised for its excessive use of symbolism and supernatural elements. Though, the general consensus is that the mid seventeenth New England
society has been authentically and credibly reflected.
The Modern Response:
The novel received its due partially in the twentieth century.For it was then seen as a romantic novel (which Hawthorne probably intended the novel to be)which spoke of a relationship. Though the Scarlet Letter was a symbol of sin among the Puritans, in the Modern era it assumed the a more noble status like that of a nun or a compassionate woman. Critics like Leavis looked upon the novel as a prophecy heralding the coming of more tolerant times.
The Contemporary Response:
The novel is definitely contemporarly for the simple reason that the psychological aspect of women has been explored, hitherto unknown.Moreover, the novel also exposes the psyche of a man who suffers pangs of guilt for his actions. This very fact shows that the man too considers himself to be equally guitly of a crime, which the woman is being punished for.
Thus, The Scarlet Letter is as relevant in the 21st century as it was in the 19th century society.Little wonder then, that the novel is considered way ahead of its times.