Introduction
A common topic in literature is the examination of individual identity in the face of social expectations; two examples of this are Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Scarlet Letter” and Junot Díaz’s “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao.” Oscar de Leon and Hester Prynne both experience intense emotions of estrangement from society as a result of defying expectations. Under these conditions, a thorough analysis of the cause of their personal isolation is conceivable. In order to comprehend the enduring loneliness in both situations, it is critical to comprehend how Oskar and Esther deal with and overcome their different types of alienation, taking into account the influence of societal standards, individual autonomy, and personal fortitude.
Alienation in Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter and Díaz’s The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
Social Norms
Oscar de Leon and Hester Prynne are both entangled in a web of social conventions that impose strict expectations. Hester’s scarlet letter, which represents her infidelity, turns into a tangible representation of society’s disapproval. As she mentions, “It was so artistically done, and with so much fertility and gorgeous luxuriance of fancy, that it had all the effect of a last and fitting decoration to the apparel which she wore, and which was of a splendor in accordance with the taste of the age, but greatly beyond what was allowed…” (Hawthorne 22).
Similarly, Oscar, burdened by a familial curse, must live up to the expectations that come with his Dominican background. The question for him was, “The curse was to be Dominican, was to be fake. It seemed like the best a man of our time could get was to find work in a bodega…” (Diaz 5). Social conventions operate as repressive forces in both situations, influencing how they feel excluded.
Resilience
Both individuals become estranged as a result of decisions they make that defy social norms. While Oscar searches for love in a world that rejects him, Esther decides to keep her father’s identity a secret. They are more isolated as a result of their decisions, which paint them as rebels against the status quo. Oscar and Esther both exhibit fortitude in the face of criticism. As he laments, “But he had promised himself he would not be like his mother and her generation. Drown and die, he told himself, but do not settle…” (Diaz 17). Oscar’s tenacity is shown in his unrelenting search for love, but Esther’s strength is in her capacity to withstand criticism. Nonetheless, the issue of accountability in their seclusion is intricate as it encompasses both personal preference and the repressive characteristics of societal conventions.
Social Criticism
Analyzed works have symbolic themes that highlight the importance of social criticism. The scarlet letter becomes a symbol of Esther’s bravery in the face of adversity, as well as identifying her as an adulterer, “in which they might vivify and embody their images of woman’s frailty” (Hawthorne 43). Similarly, the Oscar curse represents historical discrimination in addition to being a family inheritance. He represents it through the comparison of “the counter-fuku that would dog him all his life. I’m a mongoose and a man” (Diaz 29). In each instance, the stories’ symbology emphasizes how societal standards stigmatize people and deepen their isolation.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the interaction of societal conventions, free will, and personal fortitude shapes the estrangement experiences that Hester Prynne and Oscar de Leon go through. Despite being identified by the emblems of their transgressions, both characters show courage and tenacity in overcoming their loneliness. Their alienation is exacerbated by societal expectations, although resilience and personal choice are also important factors. It is evident that the characters and the restrictive societal conventions that keep them back are equally responsible for their isolation.
Works Cited
Díaz, Junot. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. Penguin, 2008.
Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Scarlet Letter. Infomotions, Incorporated, 1850.