In the first article of my American Literature research The Scarlet letter was placed as a prime example of notable literature written in the 1850's. The Scarlet Letter fit in with the literature of this time period because it referenced many Puritan beliefs, people, and values and in all told the story of a sinned Puritan woman's life. Nathaniel Hawthorne portrays Hester Prynne, the one whom was believed to have committed adultery against her husband, was a victim of the embarrassment and cruelty a women faced during this time if they were convicted of adultery or other sinful acts, in the eyes of the Puritans.
The Scarlet Letter also displays to readers a taste of American life. Although this exact story may not be true, this same story happened to many women in the early times, many whom were accused of being witches. Women in Puritan society were very restricted on what they could do and if suspected as a witch they would often be punished or sometimes even killed. The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, is a key piece of literature to contribute to the evolution of American Literature and it tells the stories of our past.
No comments:
Post a Comment