Apologia

There are many classic novels that have survived the test of time, a lot of them have survived for different reasons, but most of them have one thing in common. They usually all have a great theme or message, and whether it be that it was a good message to get out during that time or one that lives on throughout the years that is usually one reason why they continue to be read. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne is one of the classics with both a great message and theme. For the time that it was written adultery was a bigger deal than it is today, and this was one if the first books to go in depth into the topic of adultery and going into the lives of people who had to live with adultery in a Puritan community. As if the act of committing adultery was not enough, the person Hester Prynne conceives her child with is a reverend; on top of all of that there is also many parts in the book where deception plays a large role where Roger Chillingworth tries to manipulate reverend Dimmesdale into admitting his sin. All of the things that happen in this novel combine to create a classic that could be read at any point in time and still be related to and enjoyed by the readers. The Scarlet Letter is a classic novel because of the timeless and universal theme, the message it gives, and the nature and timing of the novel itself.

One of the reasons that this novel became so popular in the first place was because of the issues it discussed and the timing it was brought out. The novel came out in 1850 and this was the earliest story about victims of Puritan obsession and spiritual intolerance (Nathaniel Hawthorne, Liukkonen). In the day and age that this novel was written women's rights were a main part of concern along with religious views and this novel speaks out for both of them (A Frame for Understanding the 1850's). Women's rights are still even sometimes a problem brought up nowadays but Hester Prynne, the main character of this novel, is seen as a pioneer feminist and her bravery and strength to go through what she did all alone would have, and still would be, very empowering to many women. In a time where unwanted pregnancies occur fairly regularly this book would reach out to many women both of our time and of the time that it was written, that its ok and that things will be alright. She went through many hardships throughout the novel and had to deal with a whole community that was ashamed and looked down upon her but she turned out to actually be a respected woman of her community and things did get better for her. Today there are also conflicts involving religion and beliefs and what is right and wrong, and the fact that this is a main part of the pain that Hester has to endure also can reach out to the readers. Many people have been through, or heard of, conflicts with religion and this novel shows one of them in a very bold way. Hester is shunned by her whole community, and even so she gets through it, she becomes strong and learns to deal with what happened and this again gives the readers a glimpse of hope.

For a tale with so many lies and disappointments for the characters giving Hester a chance and seeing her get through everything she has to deal with makes the reader feel good about what is happening and if the reader has ever been in that type of situation they really get a good feeling about themselves as well. One of the reasons as to why the readers can relate so well to this novel is because of one of the themes of it. A theme of this novel is suffering, every main character in the book suffers, and they all suffer for different reasons. Each form of suffering we see in the book is completely universal. Hester Prynne suffers because she is looked down upon by her community and she loves a man that nobody can know about. Usually everyone at some point in their lives feels like an outsider for some reason, and we all have secrets that we just wish we could tell to someone but feel as though there is nobody we can talk to. Hester's kind of suffering is one that a lot of people can relate to because it is so broad. Roger Chillingworth suffers in a different way, he had been cheated on by his wife, and he does take responsibility for that being partially his fault, but he yearns to know who it was and will do anything to figure it out. Arthur Dimmesdale suffers alone, he loves a woman, and wants to be with her, but has to suffer by himself with the guilt he bears from not coming forward and suffering through the pain and sorrow that his lover had to. Finally, Pearl, who is completely innocent has to live a childhood in isolation and is consumed by conflicting emotions. Suffering is a universal experience and everyone can relate to what the characters are feeling and going through.

Along with great themes the novel produces a strong message. People can see the progression of Hester throughout the novel, and all the other characters along with her. In the beginning Hester is completely ashamed by what she did and would be afraid to even go about the town, she wouldn't talk to anyone and was even afraid of her own child. By the end of the novel she becomes stronger, more outgoing, and learns to deal with what she did, she then reaches out to people to help them in their tough situations so that they never have to endure what she did. The whole thing made her stronger than she ever was and gave her a complete understanding of what she was able to do. We also saw Arthur progress; at the beginning he was terrified of anyone knowing and lived in guilt and shame, by the end he sets himself free by telling the truth, and though he passes away he ends up overcoming his fears and becoming a stronger man to be able to tell everyone that it was him that was the father of little Pearl. The message that this gets out is that suffering can actually make you strong, and bring out the best in you and it can bring out moral integrity.

There are so many reasons as to why this book will survive the test of time and it will continue to please people, touch people, and relate to people for years to come. The fact that this story is realistic and has a good story line are just minor factors as to why it has been so successful and the deeper things are what really will keep it going. All of the characters have to overcome their suffering, they all become stronger and better people, and all of them get through an extremely tough situation that still occurs today. The problems evident in this book may not occur with such a degree that they do in the book but they do still happen and just like the book, the problems and feelings that are brought out when something like this happens have survived the test of time as well. This is a story that people of any time can relate to and may have to even endure themselves, so this is something that anyone can go to and look back on. Hester becomes a strong, independent woman by the end of all of this and a lot of women that are idolized today have the same kind of persona. It can almost be looked at as the people in the novel had a lot of the same issues as the people of today, we share the suffering, the deceptions, manipulations, but we also share the feeling of hope. The feelings brought out by this novel, along with its theme and message make The Scarlet Letter a classic.