Keywords
Justice, Morality, Poetic, Puritans, Fate, Nature, Protagonist, evil.
Abstract
This paper explores the concept of poetic justice as manifested in Thomas Hardy’s The Return of the Native and Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter. Poetic justice, a term that encompasses aesthetic pleasure in the balance of justice and judgment, serves as a narrative mechanism through which both authors address principal themes of fate, morality, and human suffering. Hardy's depiction of Egdon Heath as an active participant in his narrative reveals the indifference of nature and societal norms towards individual aspirations. Eustacia Vye’s tragic descent, underpinned by her intrinsic desires and social alienation, exemplifies Hardy’s critical lens on the complexities of justice and the limitations of human agency. On the other hand, Hawthorne’s narrative offers a condemnation of Puritanical justice through Hester Prynne’s experiences, wherein personal sin and Puritan incrimination join, leading to profound moral issues. Both authors present the themes of retribution and redemption against the harsh realities of their characters’ existences, ultimately reflecting on the inadequacies of both natural and human-imposed orders. The paper presents a historical overview about the term ‘Poetic Justice’ in literature and two main sections one for each novel and finally, the conclusion summing up the finding of the paper.
