The novel The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne recounts the tale of Hester Prynne, who faces punishment for committing adultery. Consequently, she is mandated to don a scarlet A on her chest. Both Hester and her daughter Pearl are marginalized from society due to their connection with her transgression. The townsfolk subject her to severe criticism and humiliation. It should be emphasized that Hester’s lover shares responsibility for the sin but chooses silence until his guilt forces him to confess shortly before his demise.
Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible, draws inspiration from the Salem Witch Trials in Boston, Massachusetts. The play depicts a group of girls, led by Abigail Williams, who are accused of witchcraft and use various methods to redirect suspicion away from themselves. Tragically, their deceit results in the unjust deaths of numerous innocent people. Abigail’s primary motive for creating false stories is her aim to get rid of John Proctor’s spouse. During their time together, Abigail and John had an illicit affair and she now desires to possess him exclusively.
Although these two works of literature evidently have many differences, they share similarities in conflict, time period, and, most importantly, the characters’ identities and certain personality traits. Hester Prynne is depicted as a quiet, shy, and reserved young woman who keeps her personal thoughts and feelings to herself. Despite recognizing her sin and accepting the scarlet A as part of her new way of life, Hester is still fearful of the criticisms from the town. Additionally, even after being released from prison and living on the outskirts of Boston, Hester is known for performing good deeds.
Hester attempts to conceal her feelings of isolation by participating in charitable endeavors, but she is met with insults from those she tries to assist and criticism from the impoverished individuals for whom she creates garments. In addition, Hester harbors apprehension towards society and believes it is preferable to avoid it altogether. The judgments and torment inflicted upon her by society contribute to her disdain for it. As a result, she determines that distancing herself from societal expectations of women and prioritizing her own well-being are more advantageous than conforming. “Indeed, behold the woman adorned with the scarlet letter, alongside the embodiment of the scarlet letter itself!”
Both Hester and Abigail faced challenges within their respective communities. Hester carried the burden of the scarlet letter, while Abigail’s disruptive behavior caused ruin in her town. Abigail resented society’s restrictions on her desires, particularly regarding dancing, and accused others to feel empowered and gain attention. The adults’ belief in her lies fueled her vanity. I believe that Abigail’s promiscuity ultimately led to her troubles as she became obsessed with pursuing John Proctor.
Abigail broke away from the usual behavior expected of a Puritan young woman by being outspoken and not submissive. She passionately defended her lies. The time period in which both literary works are set is crucial for comprehending society’s strong reaction to both conflicts. The Puritan community firmly believed in strictly following the Holy Scripture, and any actions that did not contribute to purifying the church were punished. Hester Prynne, a woman renowned for adhering unwaveringly to Puritan codes, exemplified this belief.
The town is deeply shocked and distressed by Hester’s actions, to the extent that they believed she had “brought shame upon [them] all, and ought to die” (Hawthorne). Despite feeling ashamed of her sin, Hester continues to attend church regularly, enduring the townspeople’s humiliations. Similar to most other Puritans, Hester holds a belief in and fear of the Devil, also known as the Black Man. In contrast, Abigail Williams worships the Devil through practicing witchcraft and performing spells in the forest with the other girls. “You drank blood, Abby! You didn’t tell him that!” (Miller).
Abigail, on the other hand, attended church but quickly left, blaming Tituba for her behavior. According to Miller, Abigail believed that Tituba sent spirits on her and made her laugh during prayers. These two women had contrasting morals and beliefs that shaped their lifestyles. Abigail showed little concern for others and only looked out for herself, not distinguishing between right and wrong decisions. When asked if she was conjuring spirits, she denied it and shifted the blame to Tituba and Ruth.
In contrast, Hester remained devoted to Puritan beliefs and the Holy Scripture despite the embarrassment caused by her town’s people. Both women faced accusations of adultery in court – Hester for being unfaithful to her husband Roger Chillingworth, and Abigail for having an affair with a married man. The guilt of their sins weighed heavily on these men until they could no longer bear it. John Proctor confessed in court to save his wife, stating “A man may think God sleeps, but God sees everything.I know it now.”
At different times, both Hester and Abigail were treated as outcasts by their communities leading them to contemplate escape as a fresh start in their lives. Despite being quiet by nature, Hester possessed a remarkably strong personality similar to Abigail.She went to great lengths to preserve and defend her loved ones.According to Miller’s play, Abigail alleged that Hester used a charm with the intent of harming John Proctor’s wife and Goody Proctor. This is in contrast to Abigail, who endangered innocent people by attempting murder.
Hester resists societal norms in order to retain custody of her daughter, Pearl. One key distinction between these two literary works lies in the personalities, religious beliefs, and moral values of their respective main characters. Hester embodies meekness and remorse, feeling deep shame and regret for her transgression. Conversely, Abigail is characterized by arrogance and selfishness, displaying a disregard for the harm she inflicts upon others. Both narratives revolve around the theme of adultery, resulting in varying forms of social alienation. Hester is compelled to publicly bear a scarlet A on her chest, subjecting her to ridicule and criticism within the community.
Both The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne and The Crucible by Arthur Miller have similarities in their characters, Hester Prynne and Abigail Williams. The townspeople isolate Abigail after she falsely accuses people of being “witches.” The bibliography lists Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, published in 2003 by Fine Creative Media, Inc., and Miller’s The Crucible, published in 1995 by the Penguin Group.
