Scarlet letter critique
From 1850s
[edit] First Published Critique
-Hundreds of our readers must already be conversant with this book; and as we were compelled by its attractiveness, to read every word between the covers, it is probable that our praise or blame is H little behind the times, and therefore of small account. But without going far into details, we must pass a vote of thanks for gratification received at rhe hands of Mr Hawthorne. "The Scarlet Letter" is, in essence, almost identical with the previous works of its author. It is a wild, poetical and symbolic story of remorse--of remorse and repentance in rags, of remorse and half repentance in high places. The scene is laid in Boston, some twenty years subsequent to its foundation. "The Scarlet Letter" is the "Letter A," worn on the bosom of a discovered adulteress, according to the old Puritan enactment or legend. There is no incident to the tale-it opens with the exposure of Hester prynne, and its argument relates to her sufferings and those of him who had sinned with her, to the life of the little Pearl, the child of the guilty ones, and to the revenge of the old and injured Chillingworth. The adulteress is known to the world, but her seducer is hidden from all but the husband. The merits of the book lie in its vigorous conception of scenes, its vivid master-strokes of character, and its thickly-scattered gems. It has very little dialogue. The whole is a prose poem, and must bc regarded as such, and judged by poetical standards only. In this view, Hester Prynne, Dimmesdale and Chillingworth, and the wild, beautiful and unfathomable little Pearl are as true as they are original-they are poetical embodiments of the highest, strongest, most tenacious and most inconsistent principles of our nature. As prose creations, they are unnatural-as poetic fancies, they are fixed as the pole to the truth which is in man. We think there are few if any passages in literature, which are better, in their way, than the two scenes at the pillory, the walk in the forest, the revelation, and all the chapters through which Pearl dances; to say nothing of those wherein the physician goads on the minister to madness and death. Moreover, the catastrophe is grandly wrought out. It was a fine idea to make the solitary and long repentant woman finally willing to break the bonds of society for the life's sake of her crushed idol, while the passion-ridden priest, an involuntary compound of seeming and reality, manfully overcomes, in his dying hour, the fascinating temptation by which he was entranced. Mr Hawthorne writes as a man as well as a poet, and while building his romance upon the usages of society, and thereby occupying artificial ground, his pen is above all cant and creed, and his characters are of the real stuff, either God-born or devil-born, and not the offspring of man's ceremonials. We think Mr Hawthorne has largely increased his reputation by the "Scarlet Letter." Though of the same family, it is worth a score of "Twice Told Tales," and it will be read by thousands, to whom the preceding tid-bits of quaint, mystic and eccentric literature are but caviare.
[edit] Personal Summary of Critique Findings
According to the first review to hit the press, The Scarlet Letter was to “be judged by poetical standards only.” This seems to be a proper assessment of the novel. While one said that Hawthorne used a ridiculous level of symbolic effect, another said “Hawthorne’s own moral confusion forbade him this book is reviewed as a piece of art instead of just a interesting story the lenses of the reader will see it much clearer. There was been a great range of things said about The Scarlet Letter, from being “arguably the most important piece of fiction written in America” to comments of Him being a “literary pimp” who insinuated his “moral poison into the maidens in America.” It is easy to see how a nineteenth century evangelical could take offense to the content of this writing, but it is interesting how it was praise by some for its modesty. In contrast with French literature, which by some was explained as “far too immoral in its depiction of similar issues”, The scarlet letter was seen as tasteful in its addressing controversial issues. When the book is not seen in a poetic context it is misunderstood. This leads to deeper criticism than it is due with comments of it being about a nauseous puritan pastor and Hester being a “frail creature.” While such critiques were minimal, there were still in print. Not all critics who did view it from a poetic lens, however, gave it positive reviews either. Its ambiguity and over use of symbolism was found to be annoying and tasteless. While one said that Hawthorne used a ridiculous level of symbolic effect, another said “Hawthorne’s own moral confusion forbade him to bring these thematic conflicts into focus.” However, most sources who criticized his literary effects didn’t necessarily dislike his entire work, and many had praise which preceeded its criticism. The Scarlet Letter has been given, over all, more praise than criticism in actuality. As recent as 1988 it has been claimed to be one of “only two novels (American) to have indubitable classic status.” It has also been said to be, “Finest piece of writing yet put forth in the country” with much other praise. When viewed in the right context The Scarlet Letter has been praised as a masterpiece and it one hundred and fifty year legacy has proved its value. Whether one specifically enjoys his use of certain literary devices, it is undeniably a great piece of art.
[edit] Sources
"The Whole is a Prose Poem": An Early Review of The Scarlet Letter Benjamin Lease American Literature, Vol. 44, No. 1. (Mar., 1972), pp. 128-130. [Boston Post, March 21, 1850] The Scarlet Letter, a Romance. By Nathaniel Hawthorne. Boston: Ticknor, Reed & Fields.
rest of sources in process...
