This document summarizes the role of society in Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel The Scarlet Letter and the 2000 Indian film Kya Kehna. It discusses how both works depict the struggles of their main female protagonists, Hester Prynne and Priya, as they deal with pre-marital pregnancy in the rigid, conservative societies of 17th century Puritan Boston and modern-day India respectively. Both women face ostracization, shame, and hardship, but ultimately find acceptance and the courage to challenge social norms.

1. Name :- Mansi Upadhyay
Roll no :- 18
Semester :- 3
Year :- 2019-20
Paper no :- 10 ( The American Literature)
Topic :- The Roll of Society in The Scarlet
Letter and Movie Kya Kehna.
E-Mail :- mansiupadhyay06@gmail.com
mansiupadhyay06@gmail.com
Submitted to :- Department of English Maharaja
Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University

2. About the Author
▰ Nathaniel Hawthorne Born 4
July 1804 and Death 19 May
1864 was an American
Novelist, dark romantic, and
short story writer.
▰ The Scarlet Letter was
published in 1850, followed by
a succession of other novels.
▰ His fiction works are
considered part of the
Romantic Movement and, more
specifically, dark Romanticism.
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3. Puritan Society in “Scarlet Letter”
▰ Nathaniel Hawthrones novel, “The Scarlet
Letter”, focuses on the puritans society.
▰ The Scarlet Letter can be read as
Hawthrown’s attitude towards puritans of
Briton.
▰ Puritan society was purely based on religion
and good remains at the center of their
everyday life.
▰ In novel character like Dimesdale, Mr. Wilson
is constantly trying to find that element within
their soul.
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4. Continue…
▰ Dimesdeal constantly give sermons
and about the god.
▰ Wilson who is eldest clergyman of
boston.
▰ Who following Hester’s refusal to
name of Pearle’s father, he deliver a
long sermon on the sin of adultery
to crowed that has gathered to
witness Hester’s trial.
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5. Continue…
▰ In first chapter we see Hester standing on the scaffold and
facing huge crowd.
▰ She faced public shame and further punishments were decided
by states man and religious people.
▰ Hester given punishment to wear letter “A” on her dress.
▰ Society is constructed to keep individual to gather many
individual make a society.
▰ Hester, Pearl, Dimesdeal are suffers in this puritan world
because of the rigidity of the society.
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6. Continue…
▰ Hester and Dimesdeal suffers because puritans have made
rule that religious man could not marry.
▰ Hester’s marriage with Chillingworth was not less than a
disasternin her life.
▰ In both cases to keep order in the society individuals were
sacrificed.
▰ In puritan society only who were male and members of the
church could vote.
▰ In addition ministers guided the elected officials of the
colony; consequently there was close tie between church
and state.
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7. Continue…
▰ In puritan society women and man cannot open up on
their ideas but here is paradox that Dimesdeal openly
acknowledge Hester and his unifying love for her.
▰ Hester does not opposed all puritan morals and strong
believer of god.
▰ Hester present individual thought and free will.
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8. About the Movie
▰ Kya Kehna on 19 May 2000 Indian
Hindi drama film directed by Kundan
shah.
▰ Kya Kehna dealt with the Taboo
issue of pre-marital pregnancy and
the views of society.
▰ Priya’s Parents, brothers and best
friend, Ajay love and support her.
▰ Ajay is secretly in love with Priya.
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9. Feminism
▰ The movie Kya Kehna as similar
condition face by protagonist
character. Priya's condition
relevant to Hester's life.
▰ “Kya Kehna” Film dealt with the
issue of Priya during pre-marital
pregnancy and the views of
society.
▰ How she faced struggle as a
woman in to society it’s clearly
describe here.
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10. Socialism in “Kya Kehna” Movie
▰ Priya became pregnant his father tried to convince
Priya for abortion. But Priya doesn’t for abortion.
▰ Priya wanted to give birth to her child. Even she
refused by her family and parents because she broken
tradition of Indian family.
▰ Then her parents ready to except to Priya with her
pregnancy. Then Priya decided to study further.
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11. Continue...
▰ She faced so many problem. Priya go to collage her best
friend played a drama based on the story of Priya. But Priya
got courage from her parents and gave a speech.
▰ Priya faced too much hardles after becoming pregnant.
▰ She face each and every situation Alon. At the end people
accept to Priya and her children. So, she wants to marry with
Ajay. So, it's happy ending because, she accepted by society.
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12. Conclusion...
▰ Here in the novel Puritan society doing well in laws and
social order but it had its own lacks like it failed to keep each
and every individual happy, even in matter of law every
body/ sinners didn’t punished.
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