Reader Reaction to Chapters 1-4:

Within the first four chapters of Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, the reader is introduced to an obscure plot, an ancient setting, and a series of characters all with obvious flaws and personalities. Hawthorne elaborately describes the scenes in the novel as if trying to flaunt his writing prowess, while stating and overstating ideas that he deems important. The plot, at least this far, is neither relatable nor unpredictable. There are, however, a few symbols and thematic elements shown that I can consider slightly interesting. 

The author spends an inordinate amount of time describing his main character, Hester Prynne, who has committed adultery, birthed a child, and served her sentence in jail for her crime. She is the subject of the townspeople's anger and scorn, and demanded to stand on a scaffold for all to see. Hester also has covert connections with Roger Chillingworth, a man who is Hester's husband in disguise, and determined to hunt down the man whom Hester committed adultery with. Hester, being the stunningly beautiful yet prideful woman that she is, refuses to tell anyone the name of the father of her child. 

If you simply skim the first four chapters in mild disinterest, it is likely that the subtle foreshadowing will elude you. Hawthorne, despite his tedious writing style, does manage to plant characters exactly where they should be, and draw parallels to the seven deadly sins of human nature. The "battle" between good and evil can be seen with Hester Prynne and Chillingworth. Hester, with her radiant beauty and young child, can be viewed in a soft and sympathetic light. The author states that if one were to look at her out of the context of her crime, she resembles the Virgin Mary, or Divine Maternity. Roger Chillingworth on the other hand, embodies evil. When the reader first encounters his character, Chillingworth is described with a physical deformity and standing next to a Native American. Especially during that 17th century time period, the symbolism in this scene can be interpreted as dangerous and menacing in some way. Not only is Chillingworth strange in appearance, "small in stature, with a furrowed visage," (Hawthorne 56), but he is also standing next to a "savage." 

As if this weren't obvious enough, the first emotion described when he lays his eyes upon the image of Hester on the scaffold, clutching her baby, is that of revulsion. "A writing horror twisted itself across his features, like a snake gliding swiftly over them, and making one little pause, with all its wreathed intervolutions in open sight" (Hawthorne 57). I assumed that a man looking upon the supposed Virgin Mary with a look of horror could be villainous. If that wasn't enough foreshadowing against Chillingworth's character, then Hawthorne decided to add vengeance to the mix. Chillingworth vows to seek revenge on father of Hester's child after Hester refuses to divulge his name. He states, "Thou and thine, Hester Prynne, belong to me. My home is where thou art, and where he is. But betray me not!" (Hawthorne 71). A man who threatens a young, beautiful mother such as Hester surely must play a role at some point in the book, opposing her in some way. 

Hawthorne, in my opinion, also weaves in a few of the seven deadly sins into The Scarlet Letter, highlighting the groups of characters who will represent some aspect of immorality. The first few characters are a group of Puritan women, dressed in drab clothing and described as robust and mean-spirited. They immediately begin insulting Hester and making remarks about the "heinous" crime that she has committed. One of them says, "This woman has brought shame upon us all, and ought to die. Is there not law for it? Truly, there is, both in the Scripture and the statute-book" (Hawthorne 49). The way the author describes the women makes them seem intimidating (both in size and manner), and utterly hateful. The Puritans depicted in this novel could symbolize wrath; in one way or another, they hope that Hester Prynne will repent and pay for her sins.

Chillingworth, as I've written before, seems to hold a serious grudge with the man Hester has committed adultery with. As he declared, Hester belongs to him alone and any person who had any sort of intimate connection with her would pay the price. This isn't wrath so much as it is envy, as Chillingworth wants to have the relationship (however brief) that the unnamed man had with Hester. His character embodies jealousy. Hester, therefore, could be pride. The moment she walks out of the prison door, her baby in her arms, she keeps her head high and even smiles at the audience of Puritans before her. She does not display her emotions while walking to the scaffold, and seems to survey the spectators coolly. In addition, her refusal to admit the name of her child's father shows her self-respect and dignity. In this way, Hawthorne makes several connections with his characters and a few of the seven deadly sins. 

In relation to popular culture, the seven deadly sins can be seen in Spongebob Squarepants. It seems to be a trend, be it in literature or television, to make references to the Bible or human flaws. Each main character in Spongebob seems to personify a sin; Spongebob is lust, Patrick is sloth, Plankton is envy, and Mr. Krabs is greed, to name a few. Spongebob is lustful because of his "excessive love for others," as he works extremely hard to please his friends and his boss. Patrick symbolizes laziness and refusal to progress - he has no character development through any episode or season. Plankton is clearly envy, since he covets the Krabby Patty secret formula and is jealous of Mr. Krabs' wealth and the popularity of The Krusty Krab. Last, Mr. Krabs himself represents his greed because of his obsession with money and longing for more of it. I could relate the characters in this television show the those in The Scarlet Letter, as each has his or her own desire to achieve something, no matter how wrong this desire may be.