True Identity In Nathaniel Hawthorne's 'The Scarlet Letter'

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Marc Gary MS Clarke AP English April 3, 2012 THE SCARLET LETTER The scarlet letter was published by Nathaniel Hawthorne in 1850. The story took place in a puritan village of Boston, Massachusetts. The main character Hester has committed adultery and is punished for it. Adultery is a major sin in their society, which sin is also the theme of the book. She becomes the outcast in the town after having to wear the letter “A” on her chest as her punishment. With that she didn’t allow such a symbol to change the person she is and didn’t allow that to determine her identity in society. Dealing with the punishment of sins can reveal your true identity and reveal how strong of a person you truly…show more content…
After much suspicion, Chillingworth realizes that Dimmesdale is in fact the father of Pearl. He noticed the letter “A” on his chest, identical to Hester’s. Every chance he has, he torments him. Dimmesdale comes to the conclusion that he will reveal the truth as being Pearl’s father. He goes to the scaffold one day and visualizes the town standing before him. His scarlet letter is then revealed in the book as a symbol of him committing sin also. Hester and Pearl arrives and he ask of them to stand next to him at the moment and the next day in front the…show more content…
After the speech he heads towards the scaffold which everyone was confused. He calls for Hester and Pearl to come up next to him. He then reveals that he also has sinned and that he should have done it years ago. He then reveals his scarlet letter on his chest which he drops down and dies on the scaffold. A year later, Chillingworth dies. Hester and Pearl leaves the town secretly. Eventually Hester returned alone wearing her scarlet letter to be allowed in the town. She receives letters from Pearl and is said to be married to a European. The major critical article “Critical Analysis of the Scarlet Letter Analyzing Strength and Passion” analyzed Hester after being punished of her sin. The author talks about Hester’s strength and compassion. It states that Hester in the puritan eye’s, has committed the worse crime possible at the time. She was looked down on as a criminal in town although she maintained a job as a seamstress and was a good mother. Living with that every day isn’t an easy task but she remained strong and did what she had to

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