Self-Sufficiency And Independence As A Strategy Of Survival And Co-Existence: A Study Of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter
Metadatos
Afficher la notice complèteAuteur
Enas Kamal, Mohamed ZayedEditorial
Universidad de Granada
Materia
Existential Individual Sufficiency Independence Freedom Inward Outward
Date
2023-03-29Referencia bibliográfica
Enas Kamal Mohamed Zayed (2023). Self-Sufficiency And Independence As A Strategy Of Survival And Co-Existence: A Study Of Nathaniel[DOI: 10.47750/jett.2023.14.02.025][DOI: 10.47750/jett.2023.14.02.025] Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter.Journal for Educators, Teachers and Trainers,Vol. 14(2). 257-264.
Patrocinador
The author extends her appreciation to Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia for funding this research work through the project number (PSAU 2022/02/21747)Résumé
In the present study, Nathaniel Hawthorne The Scarlet Letter is examined from an existential
standpoint. In his portrayal of Hester Prynne, Hawthorne sketches her character in a way that
exhibits existential insights as a woman who has to overcome her situation under very complicated
circumstances. She is presented as a woman with a firm belief in her abilities and potentials to make
free decisions that entail responsibility. The main objective of the study is to provide an in-depth
textual analysis of the novel in question to explore the conflict between the society and the individual.
To make the exploration a purposeful one, Stare’s Existentialism is employed to provide a detailed
analysis of the major characters in the text in question. The paper seeks to pinpoint how Hester
Prynne, the protagonist, in this novel, is able to achieve self-reliance and self-sufficiency thanks to her
individual ability to chart the paths of her life and achieve fulfillment through making responsible
free choices. She chooses not to disclose the identity of her partner despite being judged by him, she
gracefully chooses to comply with the verdict by the jury to wear the letter “A” as a badge of shame
on her chest the rest of her life, she chooses to remain in the same community despite whatever
sufferings she has to endure and, eventually, she chooses to mingle with the community after being
shunned in an attempt to change her status and she succeeds in changing it. All these decisions are
existentially free; they also demonstrate a great sense of commitment and responsibility to their
consequences. As an existential individual, Hester, despite a lot of sufferings, is able to change her
badge of ignominy to one of honor and acceptance. In a word, Hester Prynne is presented as an
existential figure who is able to turn her predicament to a blessing.