Denigrative Language In The Scarlet Letter

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Hawthorne’s Critical Assessment Nathaniel Hawthorne takes a critically offensive view against early Puritanism. In this passage from The Scarlet Letter, the narrator describes the area surrounding the prison as well as the harsh and severe society, particularly the women of the town, that gathers and await the punishment of a criminal. Utilizing selective detail and denigrative language, the narrator noticeably exemplifies his scornful and condemning tone. He further interfuses his own negative attitude toward the Puritans while describing their appearance, persona, and demeanor. To successfully present his opinion and comments into the novel, the narrator uses carefully planned diction to sway the readers’ judgment of the Puritans. For
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