Chapter 17 Rhetorical Analysis
Hawthorne uses many different rhetorical strategies to convey his meaning of true happiness and a criticism of Puritan beliefs. The forest is considered to be a bad thing in Puritan ideology, however by having Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale find their long lost happiness and peace after 7 long years Hawthorne uses irony to criticize the Puritan belief system. This scene is ironic because Dimondale is a reverend that makes plans with a sinner to leave the Puritan community and he does it in a place that is off limits to the Puritan society. Hawthorne also uses a lot of figurative language to describe the scene in great detail. He uses personifications, metaphors, and hyperboles to help explain the importance of the scene. One very striking use of hyperbole that Hawthorne uses in the chapter is when he describes Dimmesdale as “clutching at his heart, as if he would have torn it out of his bosom”. This hyperbole shows the enormous emotional importance of the scene because it allows the reader to see how much the conversation and the revealing of Chillingworth’s character effects Dimmesdale. Hawthorne’s contrasting imagery is imagery also has a very strong effect on the reader. He starts off the chapter in the dark forest with no sun, but when Hester begins to talk to Dimmesdale and rips the scarlet letter off her chest the sun suddenly shines through. It quickly goes back to darkness when Hester is forced to put the scarlet letter back on by her daughter Pearl. Hawthorne is showing that the Puritan belief system and Puritan judgment can change someone who is normally a beautiful caring person into a hardened and cold person. This chapter serves to show the happiness that one can find when the Puritan ideals are cast aside and the enormous emotional strains that Puritan leaders put on the members of their society.
Hawthorne uses many different rhetorical strategies to convey his meaning of true happiness and a criticism of Puritan beliefs. The forest is considered to be a bad thing in Puritan ideology, however by having Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale find their long lost happiness and peace after 7 long years Hawthorne uses irony to criticize the Puritan belief system. This scene is ironic because Dimondale is a reverend that makes plans with a sinner to leave the Puritan community and he does it in a place that is off limits to the Puritan society. Hawthorne also uses a lot of figurative language to describe the scene in great detail. He uses personifications, metaphors, and hyperboles to help explain the importance of the scene. One very striking use of hyperbole that Hawthorne uses in the chapter is when he describes Dimmesdale as “clutching at his heart, as if he would have torn it out of his bosom”. This hyperbole shows the enormous emotional importance of the scene because it allows the reader to see how much the conversation and the revealing of Chillingworth’s character effects Dimmesdale. Hawthorne’s contrasting imagery is imagery also has a very strong effect on the reader. He starts off the chapter in the dark forest with no sun, but when Hester begins to talk to Dimmesdale and rips the scarlet letter off her chest the sun suddenly shines through. It quickly goes back to darkness when Hester is forced to put the scarlet letter back on by her daughter Pearl. Hawthorne is showing that the Puritan belief system and Puritan judgment can change someone who is normally a beautiful caring person into a hardened and cold person. This chapter serves to show the happiness that one can find when the Puritan ideals are cast aside and the enormous emotional strains that Puritan leaders put on the members of their society.
Chapter 7 Rhetorical Analysis
Nathaniel Hawthorne uses irony to convey the major flaws of Puritan ideals. He also uses strong imagery to show the changes that are taking place in Hester’s personality and character. In Puritan communities all are supposed to be equal and worship God. However, Governor Bellingham lives in an exquisite palace with many decorations that remind Hester of old English aristocrats. This conflicts with the idea of equality and creates in ironic effect that takes away from the power of Governor Bellingham by appealing to the readers’ ethics. Also, on the way to the mansion Hester and Pearl are insulted and have mud thrown at them. Even though this is done by children Hawthorne uses it to show the hypocrisy of Puritans in general. Instead of being nice and forgiving because it is God’s job to judge the Puritans becomes the strictest and fiercely judging community. Hawthorne wants to show how the Puritans are wrong and why they are wrong. Hawthorne also uses this chapter to show Hester’s changing image of herself because of the harshness of the Puritans. Before she committed her sin Hester was seen as a beautiful young woman and most importantly she saw herself as a beautiful young woman. However when Hester sees her reflection in a suit of armor the narrator notes, “Hester looked, by way of humoring the child; and she saw that, owing to the peculiar effect of this convex mirror, the scarlet letter was represented in exaggerated and gigantic proportions, so as to be greatly the most prominent feature of her appearance. In truth, she seemed absolutely hidden behind it.” The Puritans have changed Hester into someone who sees what everyone says about her. She has lost her self-confidence and has now become the product of a poorly functioning society. Hawthorne is quick to play to the readers’ emotion because he knows that it will help reinforce the fact that Hester has been the victim of the Puritan society in which she lives. Hawthorne reinforces these ideas by using strong imagery and diction throughout the novel and he achieves his purpose of exposing the flaws of the Puritan ideology and establishing that they were not living in a “city upon a hill” as John Winthrop had hoped.
Nathaniel Hawthorne uses irony to convey the major flaws of Puritan ideals. He also uses strong imagery to show the changes that are taking place in Hester’s personality and character. In Puritan communities all are supposed to be equal and worship God. However, Governor Bellingham lives in an exquisite palace with many decorations that remind Hester of old English aristocrats. This conflicts with the idea of equality and creates in ironic effect that takes away from the power of Governor Bellingham by appealing to the readers’ ethics. Also, on the way to the mansion Hester and Pearl are insulted and have mud thrown at them. Even though this is done by children Hawthorne uses it to show the hypocrisy of Puritans in general. Instead of being nice and forgiving because it is God’s job to judge the Puritans becomes the strictest and fiercely judging community. Hawthorne wants to show how the Puritans are wrong and why they are wrong. Hawthorne also uses this chapter to show Hester’s changing image of herself because of the harshness of the Puritans. Before she committed her sin Hester was seen as a beautiful young woman and most importantly she saw herself as a beautiful young woman. However when Hester sees her reflection in a suit of armor the narrator notes, “Hester looked, by way of humoring the child; and she saw that, owing to the peculiar effect of this convex mirror, the scarlet letter was represented in exaggerated and gigantic proportions, so as to be greatly the most prominent feature of her appearance. In truth, she seemed absolutely hidden behind it.” The Puritans have changed Hester into someone who sees what everyone says about her. She has lost her self-confidence and has now become the product of a poorly functioning society. Hawthorne is quick to play to the readers’ emotion because he knows that it will help reinforce the fact that Hester has been the victim of the Puritan society in which she lives. Hawthorne reinforces these ideas by using strong imagery and diction throughout the novel and he achieves his purpose of exposing the flaws of the Puritan ideology and establishing that they were not living in a “city upon a hill” as John Winthrop had hoped.