The Scarlet Letter is a romance novel. The Scarlet Letter has interest in the psychology of emotions, the criticism of the norm, and the individual as the center of literature proving that it is a romance novel.
The Scarlet Letter shows interest in the psychology of emotions. There are a couple of instances where the interest in the psychology of emotions is shown. One character to focus on is Minister Dimmesdale. The psychology of emotions is shown most evidently in this character. As you progress in the story, you notice Dimmesdale's character slowly change. His health was steadily weakening. "About this period, however, the health of Mr. Dimmesdale had evidently begun to fail." (Hawthorne 107) It may seem ordinary for a person's health to weaken as time passes by, but that isn't the case.
"His form grew emaciated; his voice, though still rich and sweet, had a certain melancholy prophecy of decay in it; he was often observed, on any slight alarm or other sudden accident, to put his hand over his heart, with first a flush and then a paleness, indicative of pain." (Hawthorne 107) The clenching of his heart shows that he is in pain, and not in the physical sense, but in the emotional and mental sense. Because he was hiding his sin, the guilt and shame began to eat at him and take away his strength and health. This all affected the way he thought and viewed society and things.
The Scarlet Letter also shows the criticism of the norm. This novel criticizes the norm by exaggerating something that does not happen on a normal basis. They take one small thing that is different and blow it up to another level. When in reality, it really should not be that big of a deal. "At the very least, they should have put the brand of a hot iron on Hester Prynne's forehead. Madam Hester would have winced at that, I warrant me. But she-the naughty baggage-little will she care what they put upon the bodice of her gown!
Why, look you, she may cover it with a brooch, or suchlike heathenish adornment, and so walk the streets as brave as ever!" (Hawthorne 45) The women of the town gossiped much about Hester Prynne's sin and exaggerated so much about it. They caused drama just because they believed her punishment should have been worse. It is not like Hester killed somebody, but still everyone acted as though she committed the worst crime possible. This shows that the norm for this town was so strict. The people were so ludicrously set on their rules and laws. So that one little thing that stood out was exaggerated and put up for show.
The Scarlet Letter also portrays the individual as the center of literature. Wherever in the book you read or turn to, you will notice it is always keeping in focus at one person and from their view or what is going on with them. In most parts of the novel, Hester Prynne is the center of attraction. She is the center of everything going on. The whole story itself revolves around her. "...all the townspeople assembled and leveling their stern regards at Hester Prynne-yes, at herself-who stood on the scaffold of the pillory, an infant on her arm, and the letter "A" in scarlet, fantastically embroidered with gold thread, upon her bosom!" (Hawthorne 52) Everyone looked towards her and talked about her. Everything that went on and occurred involved or revolved around her. Hester Prynne, the individual of this book, is the center of everything.
The psychology of emotions, the criticism of the norm, and the individual as the center of literature shown in The Scarlet Letter affirms that it is indeed a romance novel. Although The Scarlet Letter may not include all the elements of romanticism, it does contain some. And those elements show that The Scarlet Letter is a romance novel because these elements are evident throughout the entire book.
