Comparative Analysis Of Hawthorne's "The Scarlet Letter" and James's "The Portrait Of A Lady"

Abstract

This article has been prepared with the intention of making both a comparative and contrastive study of the two novels – The Scarlet Letter  and  The Portrait of a Lady. How much chance do the two ladies in the novels – Hester and Isabel – have for their own freedom from the clutches of the orthodox society and the orthodox system of marring? Both of them have no chance for freedom. As women, they have to suffer. Isabel tries for this freedom but her efforts make her commit more mistakes; she errs and suffers. Hester tries to remove her gown with the scarlet letter 'A' and her scarf – a cover over her hair – as a protest against the slavery to orthodox society. But her daughter dislikes it and she is forced to wear them again. Choice or no choice, they cannot free themselves from the exploitation of men. But that does not mean that the two novelists support the situations of their heroines. They are in support of a change in their lives. The change is brought about by the death of their loved ones. Hester returns to New England and Isabel to Rome. Both of them live their different lives in their own styles. But their end is the same – to get to freedom. The change of places because of certain deaths takes them to the desired freedom. They commit errors and do the penance – a panacea for both of them.