Book Review: When She Woke by Hillary Jordan

Writing a modern adaptation of a beloved classic novel sounds like a very daunting undertaking. Over the years, I’ve read my fair share of modernized classics. While some of them failed to impress me, I still support the concept as a way to make the original’s themes accessible in new and inventive ways. Originally published in 2011, When She Woke by Hillary Jordan largely accomplishes this with her science fiction update on The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. While I didn’t think that everything about Jordan’s novel works, I did find it to be a fascinating, and at times, a frighteningly plausible reality in its exploration of extreme conservatism. While I think Jordan managed to give Hawthorne’s themes a contemporary spin, I found this work had even stronger echoes of Orwell’s dystopian nightmare world of 1984. At its heart, this is the personal journey of a weak and vulnerable girl who transforms into a strong and fierce woman.

When She Woke (2011) by Hillary Jordan, Photo Credit: Natalie Getter

Jordan’s recreation of The Scarlet Letter imagines a United States that has overturned Roe v. Wade (remember this was written over a decade ago). Christian fundamentalism has blurred the lines of church and state to the point that the Presidential cabinet includes the position of Secretary of Faith. Vigilante groups seek out and eliminate those that rise up against the new regime, while the government turns a blind eye. Our protagonist Hannah Payne awakens in a holding cell following her conviction of murder, having had an illegal abortion. Criminals are no longer placing an economic strain by way of incarceration; instead offenders are put through a process known as “melachroming.” They are injected with a virus that changes the color of their skin to signify their crime to society. Yellows are for misdemeanors, blues for child molestations, greens for crimes like arson or robbery, and reds for murderers. Chromes are released back into society where they are immediately shunned and subjected to bullying, assault, rape, and even death.

“When she woke, she was red. Not flushed, not sunburned, but the solid, declarative red of a stop sign.”

The novel begins with Hannah waking up in a holding cell after her chroming process, where she feels terrified. Her mother refuses to acknowledge her, while her father and sister attempt to offer what support they can. While Hannah chose to have this abortion, she continues to desperately love the man who impregnated her, Arthur Dale, a powerful Christian leader who has just been elected as the next Secretary of Faith to the White House. Hannah loved Arthur so much; she refuses to name him in order to protect his identity. Through flashbacks, we learn of their relationship as well as Arthur Dale’s status as an icon of hope for millions, as well as a happily married family man. Utterly alone, marked for her crime for all to see, Hannah must struggle to find the will to carry on, to protect the ones she loves, and to fight for her basic right to live and be free.

When She Woke is only the second novel from Hillary Jordan, and it’s one that deserves great praise. The formidable task of expanding on Nathaniel Hawthorne’s masterpiece sounds like a potential disaster, but Jordan manages to not only use The Scarlet Letter as inspiration, but also use Hawthorne to create her own contemporary, politically charged social commentary. While there are some extreme deviations from the original’s structure, such as Dale being the married one and Pearl never coming into existence, When She Woke channels the spirit of the classic that made Hester Prynne such a deep psychological character. After an attempt at being “reformed” in a Christian home for women, Hannah ventures out into the unforgiving world as a social pariah. Hannah’s scarlet “A” cannot be removed, as her body has been sentenced to remain chromed. Of all the themes and plots in this book, it is Hannah’s path to self-discovery that resonated the most with me. She is passionate and headstrong in her youth, but the book isn’t afraid to explore her failings. Throughout the novel, she continues to pine for Arthur Dale, believing him to be her true love. Her character arc is so compelling because we get to see her strength grow as an independent woman. As Hannah matures, her love for herself increases and her love for Dale diminishes. She rises from being a broken woman into someone with the courage to follow her convictions in a broken world.

However, this work isn’t without its share of problems for me. The Scarlet Letter is compelling in its equal exploration into the character of Dimmesdale and his psychological torture at the hands of Roger Chillingworth. Jordan’s reinvention doesn’t offer these insights into the character, so he comes across as unsympathetic. While her crime was having an abortion, Hannah’s daughter “Pearl” does appear in the novel, in a rather disturbing scene. I loved how the world of this novel was revealed in subtle ways, such as radio broadcasts and background scenes. However, the second half of the novel, when Hannah becomes a member of a rebel group, feels slightly weaker than the first half, as it becomes more of an action thriller.

From a dystopian standpoint, Jordan’s future America is frightening in its plausibility, for those who would fight for reproductive freedom and the rights of a woman to her own body are considered heretics and terrorists. With its biting political and social commentary, When She Woke is a thrilling critique on extreme conservatism, religion, and sexuality.

“One by one, she conjured all the boxes she’d been put into: The good girl box and the good Christian box…the mistress box…the bad daughter and fallen woman boxes…She saw with a painful blaze of clarity that every one of these boxes had been of her own making, either by consent or lack of resistance. She had no right to bitterness; she had put herself in them. And she would get herself out, she vowed. And once she was out, she’d never willingly climb into another box again.”

Have you read this book? I’d love to know your thoughts! Let me know with a comment below.

 

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Originally published in 1850, The Scarlet Letter is a novel of historical fiction that tells a tale of crime and punishment in Puritan Boston during the years of 1642 to 1649. I have a rather vague memory of this book as required reading in high school, so I thought it was high time to re-examine it as a slightly more educated adult. My first feeling on rereading this novel after all these years was confusion, as Hawthorne identifies this work as a romance, despite the relationship between the two leads ending well before the first page. For Hawthorne, romance was more about finding truth in the human heart. Our heroine, Hester Prynne, has committed the cardinal sin of adultery and produced an illegitimate child, who she has named Pearl. The story begins with Hester on the town pillory and taking on a permanent symbol of her tryst, as she has to wear a red embroidered “A” on her chest. Hester has taken a vow to never disclose the identify of her child’s father. However, this is not the only secret the alienated Hester must keep. Her disgraced husband has recently arrived from Europe and takes up residence as the town’s physician under the name Roger Chillingworth. He convinces Hester to not reveal his true identity.

Meanwhile, the settlement’s most revered citizen, the minister Arthur Dimmesdale, begins to decline in health and requires the help of the new physician. The narrative follows the next seven years, during which Dimmesdale continues to decline under Chillingworth’s watchful eye, the branded Hester remains alienated from the community that has banished her from its sympathies, and her child Pearl grows up into a wild and lawless imp. Two more scenes of significance occur at the town pillory-one in the middle of the book and one at the end–providing structure to the overall narrative that is devoid of any action. The true strength of Hawthorne’s novel lies in the development of its four main characters.

The Scarlet Letter (1850) by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Photo Credit: Natalie Getter

While I have a few of Hawthorne’s books in my library, he’s a writer I know very little about. My research uncovered that Hawthorne’s works generally fall into the category of romanticism, or more specifically, dark romanticism, cautionary tales in which the concepts of guilt, sin, and evil are the most inherent qualities of human nature. Hawthorne always included a touch of mysticism in his writings, an ancestor to contemporary magical realism, if you will. In his Preface to The Scarlet Letter, he conveys this tone of romance as a concept bordering between the edges of reality and the fantastic:

“Moonlight, in a familiar room, falling so white upon the carpet, and showing all its figures so distinctly—making every object so minutely visible, yet so unlike a morning or noontide visibility—is a medium the most suitable for a romance-writer to get acquainted with his illusive guests.”

Despite referring to his most famous novel as “a romance,” Hawthorne instead takes the approach of developing a very psychologically and morally deep story surrounding these characters. The narrative borders on the magical, with references to witches, the devil, and demonic possession. Despite these elements, Hawthorne takes a very analytical style to the proceedings, and as a result, creates one of the strongest heroines of American literature. Hester Prynne is someone who manages to hold strongly to her values despite the constant reminder that she has been ostracized by her community. Her development as a character is best represented by the letter “A” she is forced to wear, as over time and circumstance, the letter changes meaning. Interestingly, the word “adultery” is never stated, thus as readers, we determine our own meaning. Over the course of the novel’s duration of seven years, the letter “A” takes on new significance by the Puritan community. For example, when it is seen over the sky upon the death of Governor John Winthrop, the letter “A” takes on the meaning of angel. As Hester demonstrates her true character to the community, the letter symbolizes the word able. Hester’s punishment for her transgression of having a child out of wedlock while not giving the name of Pearl’s father is to wear the letter “A” on her bosom for the rest of her life. Hawthorne’s refusal to actually identify the words “adultery” or “adulteress” mean that the reader, much like the Puritan community, must draw their own conclusions regarding Hester Prynne. She is the perfect example of someone who stays morally strong and rises above the hypocrisy and persecution of her time.

What is our final judgment on Arthur Dimmesdale, Pearl’s father and the man keeping that fact a secret? Should he be condemned or loved? As the community’s religious leader, it cannot be argued that he served as a force of good. Despite his many attempts to confess the truth, he kept silent by his fear of public exposure. We later learn that it was Hester herself who persuaded him to keep quiet, but can we forgive him? While Hester’s punishment is an outward one worn on her bodice, Dimmesdale suffers internally as he begins to fall into ill health. The guilt overwhelms him to the point where he carves an “A” into the skin over his heart in the exact place where Hester wears hers. The only outward indication of his injury is the constant placement of his hand over his heart. Was his illness the result of sinning against the laws of God, or rather, allowing his love Hester to bear all of the public shame? I believe that it’s both reasons. I found myself at times sympathizing with him, while many moments I just completely hated him. His story does come to a complete ending, but I’m still left undecided on whether or not we can consider him a just man.

“She had wandered, without rule or guidance, into a moral wilderness… Her intellect and heart had their home, as it were, in desert places, where she roamed as freely as the wild Indian in his woods… The scarlet letter was her passport into regions where other women dared not tread. Shame, Despair, Solitude! These had been her teachers—stern and wild ones—and they had made her strong, but taught her much amiss.”

The character of Roger Chillingworth is far less ambiguous, right down to the very name he takes for himself. However, one cannot help but feel a touch of sympathy toward this man whose wife cheated on him and bore a child by someone else. Chillingworth prides himself as a scholar, one whose life purpose becomes all about revenge on the man who sexually usurped him. Having a wealth of knowledge on herbal medicine and alchemy, the physician uses that knowledge in his care of Arthur Dimmesdale, taking savage glee in his worsening health.

I was impressed with the insight Hawthorne shows concerning the treatment of women in Puritan New England throughout the novel. Considering that he wrote this during the mid 19th century, a time when women had few rights even then, he does well in conveying the injustices Hester endures. Hawthorne also demonstrates a progressive view on children in his characterization of Pearl, another character that should not be overlooked. Our final principal character is another symbol of the affair between Hester and Dimmesdale. Unlike the “A” forever fixed on her mother’s body and soul, young Pearl is a living and changing reminder of the community’s punishment. Elements of fantasy and superstition appear in the novel most often around the child, as she is often described in terms of being a wicked magical creature. The reality is that she is merely a strong-willed and precocious child, who shares Hester’s strength of character. She’s often naughty, seemingly insensitive to her mother’s ongoing anguish. She’s quite a complex little character and Hawthorne should be commended for shaping her into an important character within the overall story.

Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864)

Despite a rather dry introduction, I consider The Scarlet Letter to be quite a brilliant treasure. The themes of the novel clearly translate for contemporary readers, as represented by my copy’s design by fashion illustrator Ruben Toledo. Readers are treated to a view of society that formed the basis for American life. It’s a society born out of fundamentalism, as aspects continue to be a part of American life today. It’s a challenging read, but also a rewarding one. The highest praise I can give Hawthorne is in his creation of one of the strongest women ever to be found in literature with Hester Prynne. Sadly, touches of this society continue to infringe on the world today. Hawthorne perhaps teaches us a valuable lesson, in that hypocrisy is timeless.

“She had not known the weight until she felt the freedom.”

Have you read this book? I’d love to know your thoughts! Let me know with a comment below.

Strange Love

Last week, I shared some of my favorite modern love stories. For this week, I thought I would go in a completely different direction. Let’s face it, love makes us do dumb things. I mean really dumb head-shaking things. But did you know that some of the most insane acts in the name of love have occurred in books?

So allow me to share some of the most insane ways to declare those three little words. Perhaps flowers and chocolates aren’t getting the job done. In that case, try some of these less conventional methods. Hey, they all won the girl in the end!

Insult her mercilessly-Pride and Prejudice

Although he is one of the biggest heart throbs in classic literature, Darcy’s first impression on Elizabeth did not go so well. Here’s what she overhears him say to his best friend Mr. Bingley:

“She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me; I am in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men. You had better return to your partner and enjoy her smiles, for you are wasting your time with me.”

Damn Darcy! You came to play! Back then, that would be the equivalent of telling a girl “hey you’re ugly get out of my face.” Guess there’s something to be said about taking the asshole approach.

“Just give me a reason!”

Perfect that creepy stare-Twilight

If the “I don’t care for you” card isn’t working, you can always try the opposite approach. Edward Cullen was comfortable enough with himself to basically stalk and stare his way into Bella’s affections. I’ve watched most of these movies. Seriously, those damn films would be 15 minutes each if they cut out all the staring scenes.

Edward Cullen laughs at your futile restraining orders!

Hide your first wife in the attic-Jane Eyre

Edward Rochester was madly in love with Jane, but he had one little problem. He neglected to let her know that he was already married, and that his first wife was quite insane. Rochester decided to take the simple approach-just lock the first wife up in the attic and hope wife number two never finds out. His elegant solution would not be successful. Things work out in the end, and Rochester does have some karma bite him on the butt. For another interesting take on Edward Rochester and his first wife, read Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys.

“One more word, and I’m locking you up there too!”

….or just go insane-Wuthering Heights

Has there truly been a more insane character than Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights? I actually feel for this one as he had a pretty rough go of it. Plus despite his madness, you have to admire the man’s passion. He definitely had style.

I think the couple of Heathcliff and Catherine is intriguing because of their mutual obsession with each other. They really are male and female versions of each other. When Heathcliff loses Catherine, he really goes off the rails, punishing everyone in his path.

“Edward Cullen has nothing on my ability to stare down.”

Fuel a blood feud then off yourself-Romeo and Juliet

Young love. This is one of the few Shakespeare plays that I could actually quote verbatim back in the day (thanks to the Leonardo DiCaprio film). It’s too bad things couldn’t have been resolved. Maybe if they had therapists back then, the families could have resolved their differences. I guess it wouldn’t be a classic though had everything worked out in the end.

Make her the town pariah-The Scarlet Letter

After getting Hester Prynne knocked up, Arthur Dimmesdale finds he doesn’t have the courage to take a stand and admit his actions. The unconfessed guilt comes to haunt him in some major ways. Hester Prynne is definitely one of the strongest women I’ve encountered in literature. If you weren’t forced to read it in high school, you should do so now.

Take her captive-The Phantom of the Opera

This one should work no matter how hideous you look. Just lock her up, profess your love, and tell her that if she doesn’t marry you, you’re going to blow everyone up. The best part is that while you are doing it, you get to wear a cool mask!

Well I hope this post brought a few smiles if nothing else. I will be reviewing the love story Every Day this weekend. Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!

Have you read any of these books? What other insane romances would you include on this list. I’d love to know your thoughts!