This is proven when Hester remarks to herself, "Oh Father in heaven - if thou art still my father - what is this being which I have brought into the world" (Hawthorne 89).Thirdly, Pearl represents the sins of both Hester and Dimmesdale. Proven when, Hester realizes what Pearl represents when she does not hold Pearl up in front of the "A”; she carries the child around because it is a direct reflection of her sin. Hester is, "wisely judging that one token of her shame would but poorly serve to hide another" (Hawthorne 48). Pearl in many ways is the scarlet letter. First, the scarlet letter amuses Pearl, and also controls her behavior.
Conclusion 8-9 Bibliography 10 Ehrenerklärung 1. Introduction The Scarlet Letter is a novel written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, and was published in 1850. The subtitle A Romance purposely places the novel apart from everyday life. Set in Boston, in the 17th century, the author tells a story about sin, guilt and love in a Puritan community. Hawthorne uses the imaginative and symbolic form of the romance to veil the impression of the serious themes in his novel.
The Crucible and The Scarlet Letter share many themes that are still present in today’s society, such as the use of public humiliation as a punishment. Because of their sins, both John Proctor and Hester Prynne were alienated and punished by their peers and town leaders. The public humiliation that they faced helped shape the characters in the eyes of the reader and affected the way that they behaved and acted. The most obvious theme contained in both texts is sin. In The Scarlet Letter, the sin that has been committed is adultery where Hester Prynne and Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale conceive an illegitimate child, a daughter named Pearl.
Because she lived in such a God driven and puritan town, the judicial system of the settlement had decided for her to acknowledge her sin by embroidering a vibrant scarlet letter “A” onto her dress to symbolize adultery. She was often ostracized from the rest of the town since she was forced to wear the crimson “A” everywhere she went. As well as the letter to remind her of the wrong she had done, the affair had left her with a fatherless daughter named Pearl. Later in the novel we discover the father is the Reverend of the town, the admirable Arthur Dimmesdale. Through pain, remorse and agony the novel reveals that it is better to tell a harmless lie then to confess a hurtful truth.
Hypocrisy, the Ungodly Sin Above all others The question of sin is a reoccurring theme in “The Scarlet letter”, where various sins, from Hestor’s adultery, to Dimmesdale’s cowardice, or Chillingworth’s revenge are put on display to be judged by the Puritan society, and also by the reader. In his novel, Hawthorne uses these smaller sins to display a deeper sin; the sin of Puritan hypocrisy. From the beginning of the book Hawthorne ridicules the Puritan society. As one of the first buildings in their new town, the Puritans build a prison. For a culture that is based strictly on the bible that teaches forgiveness, strangely the Puritans are quick to punish, and Hestor also becomes a victim of this.
This may foreshadow the hatred the town will have against her. | I like how you brought up the belief in puritan times. I also like how you explained what this may foreshadow in Hester’s future. | “At the very least, they should have put the brand of a hot iron on Hester Prynne’s forehead. Madam Hester would have winced at that, I warrant me.” | The townspeople in Hester’s day are so appalled by her act they are going to the extreme that instead of wearing an A on her breast she should be branded on her forehead.
Proctor tried to protect his wife from this and Hester tried to protect Dimsdale’s name; unfortunately they were both punished for it. John and Hester still have their differences. One difference was how they were punished for their sin. Proctor was condemned to death for his sin and Hester was put on a public scaffold for her sin. Also Hester’s name was known thru the town to have committed adultery.
Expository Essay In The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, the magistrates of the Boston colony penalize Hester Prynne by forcing her to wear a letter A on her breast, intending to isolate her from society and call attention to her sin. I feel that the letter did exactly what they anticipated. First of all, the letter did isolate her. It made Hester an outcast in almost every aspect and life for her was difficult. Second, she was looked down upon, and known to everyone as a sinner and nothing more.
Nathaniel Hawthorne uses the colors red, black, and others to represent Hester’s emotions and the emotions of those around her. The most frequently employed color symbol by Hawthorne is Red. It represents many different unique things in the novel. Hester’s sin is judged by sin, not by actions. The red letter “A” that Hester was forced to wear on her chest for committing adultery was a major symbol.
They said things such as, “This woman has brought shame upon us all, and ought to die” (36) and “At the very least, they should have put the brand of a hot iron on Hester Prynne’s forehead” (36). This shows that society hated Hester Prynne and wanted to shun her out even before she spoke aloud. The scarlet letter itself shunned Hester out of society as well. The scarlet letter “…had the effect of a spell, taking her out of the ordinary relations with humanity, and inclosing her in a sphere by herself” (37). The scarlet letter took Hester out of society and kept her by herself, and after stepping out of the prison door, Hester would be forever known