Annotated Bilbliography

Annotated Bibliography

Bell, Millicent.  “The Obliquity of Signs: The Scarlet Letter.”  Critical Essays on

 Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter.  Ed. David B. Kesterson.  Boston: G.K. Hall &

 Co., 1988.  157-169.  Print.

            In this essay the author discusses the “signs” present in The Scarlet Letter.  Several such signs are individually examined in such a way as to show the obliquity, or indirectness of the signs Hawthorne uses in the book.  The author defines several recurring key words such as type, emblem, token and hieroglyph and provides explanations and examples of how they are used and their particular significance to the story.  The author also discusses pairs and the “opposition of outer and inner.”  There is also a brief discussion of the roles of secrets to each of the characters.   In particular I am interested in the opening of this essay which clearly states the many and varying themes of The Scarlet Letter as well as this author’s interpretation of the individual secrets of each of these characters which I hope to use to support my thesis.

Brownell, William Cary.  “Concealment in The Scarlet Letter.”  Critical Essays on

 Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter.  Ed. David B. Kesterson.  Boston: G.K. Hall &

 Co., 1988.  58-62.  Print.

            The author in this essay discusses the originality of Hawthorne’s work.  He claims that it is so original because it leaves out the minute details.  It only alludes to and effectively eludes what could be considered by some the subject of the novel, which is illicit love and sin.  He states that it is not about adultery or the sin of it and postulates that the sin could have been anything and the effect would have been the same.  Brownell states rather, that the book is about concealment.  This idea of concealment falls directly in line with my analysis of the book and though he talks about the concealment of sin mostly, there is support in some of his ideas for what my paper will hopefully develop.

Male, Roy R.  “The Tongue of Flame:The Scarlet Letter.”   Critical Essays on

            Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter.  Ed. David B. Kesterson.  Boston: G.K. Hall &    Co., 1988.  93-110.  Print.

            In this essay the author begins by discussing the different interpretations that are most common about The Scarlet Letter.  He talks about the “widespread disagreement among critics” and how that can be seen as a tribute to the genius of the book.  He then begins his interpretation by discussing the importance of Pearl, especially in relation to the other major characters, he outlines the structure of the story then follows with what he believes is the main theme of the book.  He discusses in detail the Tongue of Flame and how it is “the guiding metaphor” of the book.  He also discusses the transformation of the characters in the book through the Light and the Word and the seeking of truth.  Throughout the essay           there are several discussions of guilt and being true to oneself and the consequences of not doing so, these are the ideas that I believe will be most helpful in my essay.