Nathaniel Hawthorne's The scarlet letter : the art of naming and the structuring of meaning : an honors thesis (HONRS 499)

Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter (1852) is a meticulously constructed novel that utilizes many thematic and literary devices to deepen its meaning and enrich its text. One method, which Hawthorne employs to enhance his novel, is onomastics. Onomastics is the study of the origin and forms of names. The novel also forms a framework that derives from formation and use of words that relate to its thematic structuring. By using characters' names that contain meanings beyond their literal significance, Hawthorne enriches the characters' personalities and actions, as well as the novel's complex artistry.