"Sphere"

[altinfo35]

The word "sphere" has come up again and again throughout the novel thus far. Why do you think that Hawthorne emphasizes this word? What importance does it have?

[dacui38]

Hawthorne writes about the sphere and says, "It had the effect of a spell, taking her out of the ordinary relations with humanity and enclosing her in a sphere by herself" (Hawthorne 49). Personally, I believe the sphere is a symbol of the consensus. Hester is by all means an outsider to the consensus and the Puritan way of life. The description of appearance as well as her appearance separates her from the..."ugly" Puritans. Furthermore, Hester Prynne lives in a small cottage on the outskirts of town, which is similar to John Proctor. Both characters are geographically outside the consensus. The Scarlet Letter A is described as making a personal sphere for Hester, separating her form the community and setting her apart from the people in a negative way, an act of ostracism and isolation.

[saseitz38]

I agree that the sphere is a symbol of the consensus. In addition to portraying Hester in a “sphere by herself” as David mentioned, Hawthorne characterizes the matrons in Chapter 2 with “round and ruddy cheeks” as well as with “a boldness and rotundity of speech” (48). Thus, he uses these “round” descriptions to establish two spheres- one that encloses the Puritan consensus and one that isolates Hester who is outside of the consensus.

[mahein38]

I feel that the sphere, a clear symbol of the consensus, serves to separate Hester from the consensus in both a negative and also a positive way. While the sphere that Hester is in ostracizes her and removes her from the consensus as well as the Puritan community, it is clear from Hawthorne's tone throughout the novel that it is not a positive to be associated with, "the grim rigidity that petrified the bearded physiognomies of these good people"(47). While Hester is within her own sphere, the separation that this sphere creates can be looked to as a positive. Hester is not associated with these rigid and cruel people but instead, "her beauty shone out and made a halo of the misfortune and ignominy in which she was enveloped"(51). This halo, another sphere, anoints Hester as a holy symbol of truth, and the righteous outsider to the oppressive Puritan consensus.