THE EFFECTS OF THE PUNISHMENT ON THE PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL LIFE OF HESTER PRYNE AS THE MAIN FEMALE CHARACTER IN THE SCARLET LETTER BY NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE

Abstract

Literature is a presentation of life through the medium of language. The work of literature is actually the idea of the author that is basically derived from his own experiences or other. Literature can be divided into two groups; the literature of knowledge and the literature of power. The literature of knowledge is informative literature that deals with facts, explanation, history, data, which give the readers knowledge and information to make them more intellectual. Literature of power comes to teach the students about life and give them pleasure. So, that they are not bored in learning the language. Literary subjects are taught in the courses of introduction to literature, prose, poetry, and drama. Novel is one of the forms of literature of power that is interesting to be studied. It can increase the students’ motivation in the reading skill and sharpen their knowledge about the language as well. Novel does not only present the experiences and inner minds of fictitious characters but also represent the general aspects of human’s life. So, it is expected that the students so not only understand the content of the work but also take the examples of what is god or bad through the story. This research discusses about psychological and social effects of the “A” Scarlet Latter punishment o the main female character, Hester Pryne in The Scarlet Letter, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne. The research design used was qualitative inductive method. The type of data is artistic data in the form of utterances and actions of the main female character of The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. The data were analyzed by employing the Jakobson’s theory of Language Macro Functions. The results of this study showed that the “A” Scarlet Letter has been isolated Hester from every one else in the community because the letter viii symbolized sin. She became an Introvert woman since she wears the “A” Scarlet Letter. However, wearing The “A” scarlet letter had made her a strong and brave woman in the colony. Hester had come to accept the puritan religion and punishment of adultery. Hester also rises from the punishment that is set upon her. She has made herself into a symbol of charitable ideas. Wearing the “A” scarlet letter also makes her into a dull and lifeless woman whose characteristic color is gray and whose vitality and feminity are suppressed.