Analysis of The Scarlet Letter from the Perspective of Ecology

Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter is “the culmination of his reading, study, and experimentation with themes about the subjects Puritans, sin, guilt, human conflict between emotions intellect” (Van Kirk, 2000, p. 7). Since its publication, novel remains popular generation after has been studied in myriad ways. Following environmentalist scholars Jeger Slotnick, this paper studies masterpiece through lens ecology, suggesting that study should be focused on transaction people their settings, which includes both natural social environment, rather than looking exclusively at individuals or environment as sources human’s health problems. From such an ecological perspective, analysis story focuses space not merely individuals. understanding place only land’s features but also cultures human, social, economic arrangements essential. This analyzes reasons for trauma four protagonists ways destinies shaped by different relations to environment. Finally, illustrates role nature love play promoting mental overall growth main characters novel. In conclusion, recognizes harmony humans external internal, man-made, key enhancing people’s happiness level, physically psychologically.