THE AMERICAN JEREMIAD: A CRITIQUE OF NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE’S THE SCARLET LETTER

Abstract

This study examines Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter through the lens of American Jeremiad theory to explore how the novel critiques the concept of Americanness. Rooted in Puritan ideology, the American Jeremiad traditionally combines lamentation over moral decline with a call for social renewal and the restoration of founding ideals. Employing a qualitative research methodology, this study utilizes American Jeremiad as its theoretical framework, textual analysis as its method, and close reading as its primary analytical technique. Through a detailed examination of the novel’s characters, themes, symbols, and narrative structure, the study investigates Hawthorne’s representation of Puritan society and its influence on the formation of American identity. The findings reveal that Hawthorne exposes the contradictions embedded within early American ideals, particularly those concerning morality, justice, individual freedom, and communal conformity. The novel critiques the hypocrisy of a society that claims moral superiority while practicing exclusion, public shaming, and rigid social control. Furthermore, Hawthorne employs the jeremiadic mode not merely to condemn societal shortcomings but also to suggest the possibility of moral reflection and reform. By portraying the tensions between individual conscience and collective authority, The Scarlet Letter challenges idealized notions of America as a divinely chosen and morally exceptional nation. The study concludes that Hawthorne uses the American Jeremiad to offer a profound critique of Americanness, revealing the gap between America’s professed ideals and its social realities while encouraging a re-evaluation of national identity and moral values.