Begun in nineteenth century Europe Aestheticism
emphasized sensory values over moral or social. It represents the same tendencies that symbolism
did such as darker side of human nature. According to David Hume, aesthetic judgment emphasizes
sensitivity to pains as well as to pleasure which escape the rest of
mankind.
With respect to Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet
Letter, Hawthorne examines the sensually repressive code of Puritanism, a code creates
the impossibility of spiritual perfection and denies the nature of beauty. The Reverend
Dimmesdale represents this denial of spiritual perfection as, having to hide his sin with Hester
and repress his passionate nature, it becomes impossible--even tortuous--for him to arrive at
spirtual perfection. Likewise, the priest of The Thorn Birds, Ralph de
Bricassart, is unable to reach any such perfection as he is hampered by his passion for Maggie
and his desire for the high offices of the Church and
wealth.
Parallels certainly exist between the characters of Hester
Prynne of The Scarlet Letter and Maggie of The Thorn Birds.
For, they are both victims of oppression in a world of religious morality, and they
make sacrifices in the name of love (an aethetic quality).
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