Rewarded for leaving society

The essay I intend on writing with discuss the idea that Hawthorne values those who break free of society more so than those trapped within it. By giving the characters that break free happier lives than those who don’t, Hawthorne shows this preference. The characters I see as conforming to society are Chillingworth and Dimmesdale.

Chillingworth conforms to the idea of society by seeking wrath, an ideal that only exists within civilization. Many examples exist in the book of Chillingworth planning his revenge, such as, “I shall seek this man, as I have sought truth in books…I shall see him tremble,” on page 69. Hawthorne describes the change in the physician through Hester’s eyes on page 148 when she observes that “the former aspect of an intellectual and studious man, calm and quiet… had altogether vanished and been succeeded by an eager, searching, almost fierce yet carefully guarded,” suggesting that wanting revenge has taken a toll on the old man. By the very end of the book Hawthorne has brought the old man to death, stating that “All his strength and energy….seemed at once to desert him; insomuch that he positively withered up, shriveled away, and almost vanished from mortal sight,” during his last year of his life. Because of Chillingworth’s want for revenge, a societal ideal, Hawthorne kills him by the end of the book, after making him an extremely unhappy person.

A similar thing happens to Dimmesdale, as the man refuses to discard society and its opinions for the entire book. He never bares a letter as to stay accepted by his fellow villagers, but it takes a great personal toll on his health and soul. His health quickly deteriorates descriptions of this plentiful in the book such as on page 107 where Hawthorne reveals that “with every successive Sabbath, his cheek was paler and thinner, and his voice more tremulous than before.” This is all because Dimmesdale will not admit to his peers that he committed a crime that would cause them to loose much respect for him, and end his life as a preacher. In the end though, the grief caused by bearing the lie kills Dimmesdale slowly from the inside out, once again showing that Hawthorne does not like those who are not willing to leave society behind.

Although Hester and Pearl don’t have much of a choice to leave society, their choice to remain in nature away from the poison of other’s opinions helps them in the end. Hester’s letter first marks her with shame, but because she stays strong the “A” eventually marks her with strength, and receives respect from the people of Boston. “They said that it (the letter) meant Able; so strong was Hester Prynne, with a woman’s strength.” (141) Hester does not end up with a wonderful ending, but because she stays away from society, she ends up with respect from the town, and even gives advice to many women who are also facing challenges like the one she did. Pearl’s luck to grow outside of society makes Hawthorne value her very much, and give her a wonderful life in the end. She has very wild outbreaks many times that would never be accepted in proper society, but because she doesn’t care and is willing to do her own thing, no matter the opinions of the others, she ends with a wonderful life. By the end of the book, “Pearl was not only alive, but married, and happy,” proving that the character who was furthest from the grip of civilization ended with the happiest story, Hawthorne loving her for her individuality.