8 reader directly by the narrator. Setting is a description of the time, place, and
atmosphere that occurs in the novel. The fifth element of novel is point of view. Point of view refers to the
position and stance of the voice, or speaker, that author adopt for their works. Point of view is a specified position or method of considered on and appraisal. It
suppose a living narrator or person who tells. The sixth element of novel is style. Stanton 2007:1800 says the style
from the Latin word stillus, means the way author assemble words to tell the story, develop the argument, dramatize the play, or compose the poem.
2.2 Puritanism
In this thesis the writer applies library research to explore her analysis and she has an opinion that it is very important to have good related reading materials.
Since the story in this novel deals much with puritan society of seventeenth century in America, the writer feels necessary to, firstly, define what puritan is, as
can be seen below :
“Puritan is 16
th
and 17
th
cc, in England member of a division of the Protestant Church which
wanted simpler forms of church ceremony. 2. Person who is strict in morals and religion, who
looks upon fun and pleasure as sinful, and who
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9 believes that all people should work hard
always”. Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of
Current English. 1974 : 679
And to give a light for better understanding and better appreciation of the novel. The writer thinks that it is advisable to quote information, about who the puritans
are, what they did and the reason why they emigrated to the colony where the setting of the novel is scened, as follows :
“The founders of Massachusetts wanted freedom to practice their religious beliefs. Leaving
England at a time when Charles I seemed completely in control, they believed that their only
chance for freedom lay in moving elsewhere. In their view, the Church of England was a true
church. Leaving England was simply their means of avoiding a conflict between their loyality
puritanism and their loyality to the king. Another reason for leaving England was their belief that
God was about to punish the nation for refusing to obey his commands to reform”.
The Founding of New England, 1921 : 84
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10 It is understood that puritanism originally concern people with high status like
kings, member of parliament, congregational parties, etc, as can be seen in above quotation. They play big roles in “The Scarlet Letter” and they make the novel go
ground. Puritans believe very much in a doctrine of predestination, that is, God only elect certain people like priest, minister, etc to possess Hisgrace. This
doctrine then causes them to practice ackward rules that they always treat or punish those do wrong or commit deed sinful especially those of low status
unfairly and cruely like what happens to Hester Prynne, the hero of the novel. As the little suggests, this thesis touches a lot about puritanistic values and
teachings. Hester Prynne has to burden the disgrace due to her adultery of which the society regards it as a severe and unpardonable sin. Her fellow sinner, Rev.
Dimmesdale, a man of dignity and honor, who is supposedly “stainless”, tempted and has to live in hypocrisy as he has to hide his sin. Here the novelist,
Hawthorne, who was born in the Massachusetts colony, into a family descend from influential seventeenth century New England Puritan, examines Puritanistic
rules and values :
The Scarlet Letter, which is the best as well as the best known of his novels, is beautifully written and
beautifully constructed, mounting from one dramatic scene to another until it reaches its
climax on the scaffold . . . . . The House of the
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11 Seven Gables, which followed The Scarlet Letter,
also scrutinizes Puritanism but in a quieter fashion.
The highlight of American Literature, 1969 : 77
Hawthorne also expresses his disagreement with ecclesiastical-corrupted-system. He shows us that one of the characters in the novel, Rev. Dimmesdale is really not
“purified”. This is in accordance with the reality found in puritan society of the time in which men of high position are actually dirty :
In 1584 it drew up a petition for ecclesiastical reform which . . . . . in 1604 and 1610 reiterated
its request for a purification of religion and the abolition of the Court of High Commision.
Enciclopaedia of the Social Science, vol 9: 3
Puritanistic movements of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries in England and the United State attempted to arrive at a purified version of Reformation teaching
because people have found a lot of the doctrines are not suitable anymore and the practices in society are againts holy guidance. In the novel, Hawthorne tries to
pass a criticism on the existing system of church government. He protests that the system hinders Rev. Dimmesdale to confess and causes him to be a hypocrite and
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12 their cruel treatment like what they do to Hester Prynne is a proof of corrupted
values of puritan society. From the facts and quotations above it can be known that the novel, The
Scarlet Letter, which tells the story of puritan society is the novelist’s criticism on the rules and values of puritanism. Rev. Dimmesdale is characterised to perform
the hypocrisy which always practised by the puritans. And the reality that puritan society have ackward rules, in the novel is shown by their cruel and unfriendly
treatment to Hester Prynne.
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13
3. A BRIEF VIEW OF PURITANISM
