Christopher Bigsby's "Hester". A Homage to Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Scarlet Letter"?

Dossier / Travail , 2014 , 17 Pages , Note: 2

Philologie Anglaise - Littérature

This paper will center on the question if Christopher Bigsby’s novel "Hester" pays homage to Hawthorne’s "The Scarlet Letter" or not. It will also examine if the here mentioned text can be seen as a recycled literature, a spin off or a rewrite.

"The Scarlett Letter" is a text which has always enjoyed a considerable amount of attention and significance in literary circles and by an extensive range of authors. It has been rewritten a large number of times and several authors have attempted to expand or offer their own version of the tale presented by Hawthorne.

"The Scarlett Letter" enjoys such a position in literature that several authors have attempted to explore and contribute to it in their own, creative and special way. Christopher Bigsby’s "Hester" also falls under the category of the works which have utilized Hawthorne’s text to offer other versions, extensions or explanations. The just mentioned novel by Christopher Bigsby serves as a background explanation of the lives and actions of the characters in "The Scarlett Letter", especially Hester Prynne. This all happens in reflection prior to the events and points in time depicted in Hawthorne’s novel.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. Christopher Bigsby and the birth of Hester

3. Short literary examination of the novel Hester

4. The connection between Hester and The Scarlet Letter
4.1. A rewrite or a retelling
4.2. The character arcs
4.3. The psychology and the dimensions of Hester’s characters
4.3.1. Arthur Dimmesdale
4.3.2. Roger Chillingworth
4.3.3. Hester Prynne

5. Comparison of the content in Hester and The Scarlet Letter

6. Christopher Bigsby’s motive for Hester

7. The “homage-character” of Hester

8. Conclusion

9. Works Cited

• Université: University of Würzburg (Angelistik)
• Cours: "Spin-Off, Mash-Up and Rewrite: Literary Recycling"
• Note: 2
• Auteur: Stefanie Holzmann (Auteur)
• Année de publication: 2014
• Pages: 17
• N° de catalogue: V382695
• ISBN (ebook): 9783668581517
• ISBN (Livre): 9783668581524
• Langue: allemand
• mots-clé: Spin-Off, Hester, Mash-Up, Rewrite, Recycling, Nathaniel, Hawthorne, Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter, Christopher Bigsby