Tone and diction in The Scarlet Letter are formal, moralistic, and richly symbolic, creating a solemn, ironic, and psychologically penetrating atmosphere. Nathaniel Hawthorne’s word choices and narrative voice deliberately distance the reader while simultaneously drawing us into the inner lives of Hester Prynne, Arthur Dimmesdale, and Roger Chillingworth.
Background: Hawthorne’s Narrative Voice
Hawthorne wrote The Scarlet Letter in 1850, set in 1640s Puritan Boston. His narrator is a custom-house surveyor who discovers the scarlet letter and an old manuscript, framing the story as a historical account. This framing device allows Hawthorne to adopt a detached, scholarly tone that often shifts into moral commentary. The diction is deliberately archaic for his time—using words like “thither,” “whence,” and “peradventure”—to evoke the 17th century. Yet the narrator’s irony is distinctly modern, questioning Puritan hypocrisy while respecting the community’s moral seriousness.
How Tone and Diction Work Together
Tone is the author’s attitude toward the subject; diction is the specific word choice that creates that tone. In The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne uses a high, formal register with Latinate words (e.g., “ignominy,” “transgression,” “contumely”) to elevate the story to the level of allegory. He also employs biblical cadences and parallel structures, which lend a sermon-like weight. The result is a tone that is simultaneously judgmental and compassionate—he condemns the sin but sympathizes with the sinner. For example, when describing Hester on the scaffold, he calls her “the image of divine maternity,” a phrase that blends reverence with sorrow.
Key Diction Patterns and Their Effects
- Religious and legal terms: Words like “penance,” “absolution,” “tribunal,” and “magistrate” reinforce the Puritan worldview and the theme of judgment.
- Light and dark imagery: “Sunshine,” “shadow,” “gloom,” and “radiance” carry moral weight; light often eludes Hester, while Dimmesdale is perpetually in darkness.
- Nature vs. civilization: The forest is described with words like “wild,” “free,” and “natural,” contrasting with the “iron” and “rigid” town.
- Body and soul: Terms like “breast,” “heart,” and “spirit” blur the physical and spiritual, especially around the scarlet letter itself.
These patterns create a texture where every object—the rosebush, the meteor, the letter—becomes a symbol, and the diction pushes the reader to interpret rather than simply observe.
Common Problems in Reading the Tone
Modern readers often find the tone overly formal or preachy. The narrator’s frequent interjections—such as “Ah, but let her cover the mark as she will, the pang of it will be always in her heart”—can feel heavy-handed. Another issue is the narrator’s ambiguity: he sometimes seems to defend Hester, other times to judge her. This inconsistency is intentional, reflecting Hawthorne’s own conflicted views on sin and redemption. To read the tone accurately, pay attention to when the narrator uses irony—for instance, calling the Puritan elders “sages” while showing their blindness—and when he is sincere, as in the final scene’s quiet acceptance.
Comparisons: Hawthorne’s Style vs. Other Writers
Compared to his contemporaries, Hawthorne’s diction is more symbolic and less sentimental than, say, Charles Dickens’s, and more restrained than Edgar Allan Poe’s Gothic excess. His tone is closer to that of a moral essayist like Ralph Waldo Emerson, but with a darker, more ironic edge. Unlike the plain style of Mark Twain, Hawthorne’s prose is ornate and measured. This formality can be off-putting, but it serves his purpose: to make the reader feel the weight of history and morality.
Template for Analyzing Tone and Diction
Blank Template for a Passage Analysis
| Passage (quote) | Key words/phrases | Tone words (e.g., solemn, ironic) | Effect on reader |
|---|---|---|---|
| _________________________ | _________________________ | _________________________ | _________________________ |
| _________________________ | _________________________ | _________________________ | _________________________ |
Sample (fictional): “The sun shone down on the market-place, but Hester stood in the shadow.” — Key words: “sun,” “shadow” — Tone: contrasting, melancholic — Effect: emphasizes her isolation.
Practical Tips for Writing About Tone and Diction
- Quote specific words and explain their connotations, not just their definitions.
- Note shifts in tone—where does the narrator become ironic, sympathetic, or cold?
- Consider the narrator’s frame: he is a 19th-century man looking back, so his tone includes nostalgia and critique.
- Connect diction to theme: every abstract noun (e.g., “sin,” “grace”) is chosen to support the novel’s moral argument.
- Avoid overstating Hawthorne’s “puritanism”—he is often subverting it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the tone of The Scarlet Letter ironic?
Yes, frequently. The narrator often says one thing while implying another. For example, he calls the Puritan community “a people amongst whom religion and law were almost identical,” which sounds neutral but actually criticizes their fusion of civil and moral authority. The irony is subtle, so read slowly to catch it.
Why does Hawthorne use such difficult words?
His diction is deliberately elevated to match the historical setting and to create a solemn, allegorical atmosphere. He also believed that a lofty style was appropriate for serious moral themes. The difficulty is part of the effect—it forces the reader to slow down and reflect.
How does diction reveal character?
Hester’s dialogue is often plain and direct, reflecting her honesty and strength. Dimmesdale uses more elaborate, self-flagellating language, showing his guilt and intellectualism. Chillingworth’s words are cold, precise, and often medical, revealing his analytical and vengeful nature.
What is the difference between tone and mood in this novel?
Tone is the narrator’s attitude (e.g., moralistic, ironic), while mood is the feeling the reader gets (e.g., gloomy, tense). The formal tone creates a mood of solemnity and dread. For instance, the scaffold scenes are tonally judgmental, which makes the mood oppressive.
Does the tone change over the course of the novel?
Yes. Early chapters are more detached and descriptive, but as the story progresses, the narrator becomes more emotionally involved, especially with Hester. The final chapter, “Conclusion,” adopts a resigned, almost elegiac tone, suggesting that the narrator has come to accept the characters’ fates.
Understanding tone and diction in The Scarlet Letter requires patience, but it reveals the novel’s depth. Hawthorne’s careful word choices are not mere decoration—they are the very fabric of his moral and psychological exploration. By analyzing them, you uncover the novel’s true complexity.