The veil that was supposed to make Mr. Hooper an idea turns him into a symbol of evil causing him to further treasure sin. Because of his own arrogance, the veil corrupts him and projects him as a source of evil. While unsure of what specific lesson Hawthorne was trying to teach in writing his parable, many ideas can be gained from this story. The most important that sticks out is that one is enlightened to the fact that we all are guilty of sins and should be able to admit to them. We are taught that one consequence of guilt, hypocrisy and arrogance is displacement from
The town, in order to justify it's sin, acted like they actually held standards by harshly attacking Hester's sin. In doing so, they tricked themselves into not even having a guilty consciences. The town also praised their preacher, Dimmsdale, who ironically
Britt’s audience is fat people. I don’t really think she cares if thin people read her essay, she is writing to amuse fat people and maybe make them feel a little better about themselves. A few rhetoric strategies she used were pathos, humor, repetition, compare and contrasting, and cause and effect. Britt uses cause and effect in her essay to explain why thin people are the way they are. One example of this is when she writes, “Thin people turn surly, mean and hard at a young age because they never learn the value of a hot fudge sundae for easing tension.
He uses Chillingworth actions as an irony act, as an example, that even the evilest person can still reach redemption and forgiveness; as long as they accept their sin and the consequences. Chillingworth develops from a kind scholar into an obsessed fiend; he is less of a character and more of a symbol doing the devil’s bidding. In this last chapter the reader discovers that Chillingworth “positively withered up, shriveled away.” Obsession, vengeance, and hatred consumed him, but, despite all this, he leaves his fortune to pearl, which is somewhat ironic, because of all the evil he has done; perhaps this act can, to some level, redeem the person whose
Moreover, leaving the reader to take note, visualize, and understand what is right from wrong. Upon reading the tale, the pardoner opens up with letting the audience know he himself is guilty of greed. Not knowing if he is confessing this because of drunkenness or not he is aware and possesses virtue for he understand the value of repentance. “And thus I preach against the very vice I make my living out of avarice,” (pg.168, 5-6) says the pardoner. Contradicting himself, by saying one thing and doing the complete opposite.
It represents him as almost inhuman as he has more serpent-like qualities. What is also interesting about this, is that he admits to the fact he is ‘a ful vicious man’ yet ‘A moral tale yet [he] you telle kan’. There are alternative responses to his confession, on one hand it shows the awareness of his wickedness and yet in spite of his character can achieve goodness but on the other hand it could be showing pride in the fact he is as sinful as he states. He is shown to be proud of his contradictions which in turn create irony because he is a man that is proud of his deception. This pride is carried throughout the tale due to him being confident enough to preach false vows and sermons to the people of the towns he visits.
There is a love that Hester has for Dimmsdale in which she keeps his secret to herself. Dimmsdale’s secret that could not only ruin him but put him into a life full of infamy. She has great strength in which she states “I will not speak!”, and takes on his punishment, shame, and suffering onto herself. Hester portrays strength and love because she could have easily confessed her lovers name and have him share her shame and misfortune of the sin committed. It takes real love to take the punishment upon her.
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.
When he talks about the original sin, he says that he used it as an excuse to sin, and that he would take great delight in it. This shows that he was not mentally strong enough at this point in his life to be able to take responsibility for his actions; instead he just blames God for them. He explains this by saying that the original sin of Eve makes people into the sinners that they are and how they naturally come by it. Later in his life, Augustine resorts to some
And so, Hester, I drew thee into my heart, into its innermost chamber, and sought to warm thee by the warmth in which thy presence made there!” (69). Chillingworth’s compassion and desire for love and good, over the cruel and evil atmosphere he later develops, reveals that he was not always wandering down the road of revenge, but was a man of virtue. His spiraling fall into malice and morally self destructive actions only occur after he sets himself down the road to find the other person who wronged him, the man who shares his wife’s sin, and take vengeance upon him. Roger continues his personal decline by betraying his human nature and turning to a more demonic nature. “The physician advanced directly in front of his patient, laid his hand upon his bosom, and thrust aside the vestment that, hitherto, had always covered it even from the professional eye.