Struggle between Good and Evil in The Scarlet Letter and Macbeth Essay

Struggle between Good and Evil in The Scarlet Letter and MacbethIt is said that all departure in literature is, in its simplest form, a strugglebetween secure and evil. Indeed, the fundamental conflict of human nature is that ofdarkness and light and as a mirror to life, the conflicts in literature is not differentfrom those in human nature. The struggle of good and evil is shown in NathanielHawthornes The Scarlet Letter, which portrays the spiritual encounter between and evilman and a sinned minister, as well as the ministers internal turmoil. WilliamShakespeares Macbeth, similarly describes a mans moral decay and the vengeance ofthe wronged good people. Both authors use various literary elements and techniquessuch as symbolism, metaphor, theme, and characterization to illustrate the strugglebetween good and evil in their works. The Scarlet Letter, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, is a story of damnationand redemption. Roger Chillingsworth, finding out his wifes adultery with Arth urDimmesdale upon his returning from Indian captivity vows to take revenge on theminister. In the process, however, he transforms himself into the minion of devil onearth. Through the mouth of Pearl (the fruit if the illegitimate union), the authormetaphorically calls Chillingsworth the Black Man. Comparing Chillingsworth tothe Devil, Pearl warns Dimmesdale the Black man wants thy soul. Indeed,Chillingsworth sets out to poison his rival both physically and mentally.Dimmesdale, on the other hand, is waging a war inside himself. His good naturecraves to confess his secret affair with Hester Prynne, yet his darker side cowardiceperhaps- stubbornly refuses. In ... ...ts stem from thiseternal struggle. Nathaniel Hawthorne writes The Scarlet Letter to incredulity sin, andShakespeares Macbeth gives an alarming example of moral decay. The moods of bothmasterpieces are gloomy, dissecting and examining the powerful darkness of humanpsyche. In the end, however, goodness endures and shines through the dark clouds,offering desire and testimonies for the complexity and ambivalence of humankind.Works Cited and ConsultedBrooks, Cleanth. Blame in Macbeth. London Reynal & Hitchcock, 1987.Chase, Richard (1996). The Lessons of the Scarlet Letter. Readings on Nathaniel Hawthorne (pp. 145-152). San Diego Greenhaven. Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Scarlet Letter. New York St. Martins, 1991. Shakespeare, William. Tragedy of Macbeth . Ed. Barbara Mowat and Paul Warstine. New York Washington Press, 1992.