Metaphors as the Construction of Ideology and Power Relations in The Scarlet Letter

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the role of metaphors in constructing ideology and power relations in The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne using the Critical Discourse Analysis framework proposed by Norman Fairclough. This research employs a qualitative descriptive method with textual data derived from metaphorical expressions in the novel. The analysis is conducted through three dimensions: text, discursive practice, and social practice. The findings reveal that metaphors function not only as stylistic devices but also as ideological instruments that represent moral values, social stigma, and mechanisms of control within Puritan society. Metaphors such as scarlet letter, moral wilderness, and dungeon of his own heart construct meanings related to sin, isolation, and internal conflict, while simultaneously reflecting oppressive power relations. Furthermore, the study shows that metaphors also serve as a medium of resistance, where symbols of punishment are transformed into sources of identity and empowerment. Thus, this study demonstrates that metaphors play a significant role in constructing, maintaining, and negotiating ideology and power relations in literary texts.