On Hawthorne's Self-contradiction and Self-redemption

A case study of The Scarlet Letter

Abstract

Nathaniel Hawthorne, an acclaimed figure in American literature, skillfully shapes the principal characters of The Scarlet Letter-Hester, Dimmesdale, and Chillingworth-drawing from historical contexts and his personal experiences. The complex tensions these characters represent somewhat mirror Hawthorne's own inner conflicts. Hawthorne infused his writings with his ideological struggles, actively seeking ways to reconcile these internal conflicts and achieve personal redemption. As a Romantic writer, his narratives deeply resonate with an understanding and empathy for human nature. Hawthorne believed in the intrinsic kindness and goodness of individuals, who, despite errors or societal judgment, could seek self-redemption through various ways. This belief forms the crux of Hawthorne's concept of redemption. This paper aims to collate and analyze existing research on Hawthorne, integrating it with details of his personal life and the historical backdrop of his era, to thoroughly examine the prominent themes of conflict and redemption in his works, and to explore how these themes manifest in his literary output.