american renaissance
In my paper I would like to respond to Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Scarlet Letter" and to Frederick Douglass' "Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave".Even though these two novel weren't written in the same century both have a very important common thread: Their protagonists are both outcasts in their surrounding society, isolated and despised as well as both are having a huge challenge in life, attaining their potential and goals by the use of their sheer strong will and belief. Hawthorne is interested in showing the consequences of human behavior and the consequences of the human choice, whereas Douglass wants to open the 19th century's society's eyes by/with his biography in order to change the current circumstances and push forward the fight against the brute slavery in North America. Hester Prynne, Hawthorne's main character, lives in the 17th century Puritan Massachusetts Bay Colony where religion is the foundation for law and society. As a sinner who gives birth to an illegitimate child she has to wear the public token of her sin the letter 'A' - right on her chest.Being the subject of the society's humiliation she is condemned for her sin, living in
Realizing that he was only his master's 'piece of property' and not an equally valuable human being like the 'white man', being treated as a human working machine,on the same level as the animals on the plantation (*animal character*), and worth nothing more, whose only purpose is to work, work and work, more and more supported his ambition to escape the injustice of slavery and be his own master, to finally be free. In the appendix Douglass affirms his Christian faith and points out that he only means to criticize the master's 'moral hypocrisy' and notthe Christian faith itself. Hester's obstacle is to take the Puritan society's humiliation and isolation on herself,encouraged by her strong will to stay close to her daughter Pearl's father, and not to reveal the mystery of her co-sinners name. Based on his own experiences as a slave, being punished and having watched beloved people being threatened, beaten and whipped by his cruel masters and overseers, like for example Mr. This transformation can be seen extremely well in Sophia Auld who first treats Douglass like a human being, discourages his servility and educates him until she finally begins to treat him like property. Although Hester's all alone with her daughter she doesn't shirk to oppose her punishment or put up resistance to her punishment, she never even tries to escape the miserable situation in which she is caught or even thinks about revealing Pearl's fathers name in order to reduce her harm. This definitely has to be seen as the turning point, the climax, in Douglass' life. In order to justify their ownership of other human beings, slave owners constantly have to deny the humanity of their slaves. He didn't escape only for his own personal interest. ation and with the contempt of the Puritan society. Besides using brute physical force, the masters literally brainwashed their slaves, their 'property', controlled their self-knowledge and therefore didn't give them a chance to develop any self-confidence or self-respect. He sees the Christian faith of the abolitionists as much truer thanthe professed piety of slave owners. Confirmed and guided by her true love, no matter what penalty or price she has to live with. In my eyes this is also an attitude Hester Prynne and Frederick Douglass share: They both live for their task in life, follow their strong will and belief, their big challenge thatmight be their life's purpose. Also his big heart for his fellow sufferers, uncountable slaves all over the country,must be regarded and therefore I really admire him.
Common topics in this essay:
Frederick Douglass,
Hugh Auld's,
Edward Covey,
Bay Colony,
Frederick Douglass',
American Slave,
Hypocrites Throughout,
Sophia Auld,
Beatrice Georgiana,
Prynne Hawthorne,
slave owners,
hester prynne,
frederick douglass,
christian faith,
human slave owners,
american slave,
19th century's,
'religious' slave,
cruel masters,
fight slavery,
consequences human,
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Acceptance Essays
