The Scarlet Letter: Form and narrative structure

The Scarlet Letter is the first symbolic novel in American literature. The genre it belongs to is a
romance, or border fiction, because it is always on the thin line between reality and fantasy. For
example, the appearance of the Black man or the meteor or the significance of the (dark) forest, which
we see as fantasy, and, on the other hand, characters in the novel who accept these things as reality.
The novel does not focus on social hierarchy or society as a whole, but rather on the relationship
between and influence of the society on the lives of individuals and the conflicts between the two
(which is especially evident in the character of Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale - little of their
background and history is given, or merely in hints, and it is the abovementioned conflict that is the
focus of their stories).
The plot is often episodic and there are empty spaces in it - there is a seven-year gap between
the first scaffold scene and the events which are next described. The structure is elaborate, detailed and
balanced.
It has 24 chapters exactly divided into two parts, plus prologue and epilogue. It does NOT start
in medias res. Plot is removed in time in comparison to the prologue, because Hawthorne wanted to
offer contemporary perspective on Puritan heritage.
"The Prison Door" serves as another prologue. Prison being a symbol of civilization. All major
advancement on the plot happens on the scaffold where always all four major characters are present.