From this novel, readers learn that hiding one’s guilt is not a method to avoid consequence, but only
From this novel, readers learn that hiding one’s guilt is not a method to avoid consequence, but only
Throughout the mid-1800’s, the time period that Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote The Scarlet Letter, the Puritan society in the New England colony abided by strict codes of conduct, many of them strongly influenced by perceptions of gender roles. Here, men were perceived as authoritative figures, while women were highly condemned due to constant accusations of crimes such as witchcraft and adultery. Set in Boston during the late seventeenth century, Hawthorne’s romantic novel depicts the story of Hester Prynne, a convicted adulterer; her husband Arthur Dimmesdale, a well respected religious figure in society; and Pearl, a child born from Hester and Dimmesdale’s adultery who gradually develops throughout the novel. Through the implementation of a foil…
Shame is not an effective tool because it harms people mentally. Things such as “Fat Shaming” are not effective, and tend to do the opposite of what the “shame-er” is trying to attempt. In most cases, it actually causes the individual to gain even more weight from insecurities. Also, an example in Scarlet Letter would be Dimmesdale. The more shame that was put Hester, the more he dug himself in to a hole.…
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, tells the tale of a Puritan community in Massachusetts, rocked by scandal. Hester Prynne is convicted of adultery after the birth of her daughter and the disappearance of her husband three years prior. Her fellow sinner, the reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, is never discovered after Hester lies to protect him. Dimmesdale is shown under constant duress throughout the story as the guilt of what he committed builds inside of him. The pressure and stress created by Dimmesdale’s knowledge of what he did begins to unravel him until his death.…
Tiffany Lum Mrs. Leffel American Literature 12 January 2017 The Inward Battle of Sin and the Importance of Humility Everyone has struggled with sin, whether others believe it or not; but the question is, how does one overcome the consequences of sin and shame and achieve forgiveness? In The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, this story revolves around a young woman named Hester, who has committed adultery, and is punished for it publicly. Because of her crime, she is forced to wear a scarlet letter A, which stands for adulterer, on her bosom.…
In all societies today, it is easy to view revenge and greed as a cause for great wrongdoings. As a matter of fact, most actions taken by people are due to one ’s want for a certain situation to occur. Many actions of the people in todays world are driven by revenge and lust, in the same way that Roger Chillingworth’s sins were driven in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel. Because of his demanding and vengeful ways, Roger Chillingworth is one of the greatest sinners in The Scarlet Letter.…
The Scarlet Letter tells the story of the talented, young minister Reverend Dimmesdale, who attempts to keep his sinful act of adultery with Hester Prynne a secret because he fears facing judgment. However, as time goes on, his remorse takes a toll on him mentally and physically. Arthur Dimmesdale’s intelligence and aptitude for preaching is…
The Scarlet Letter The Scarlet Letter is a book written by Nathaniel Hawthorne. The book is about a young woman named Hester Prynne, who has recently moved from England to America. The plan was for her to go on ahead while her husband stayed for a little while and got their affairs in order. After not hearing from or of him for a long time she assumed that he had either stayed in England or perished at sea and decided to move on with her life.…
Nathaniel Hawthorne’s masterpiece, The Scarlet Letter, focuses its attention around many predominant themes, which generate innumerable interpretations. Motifs such as adultery, revenge, and forgiveness are prevalent within the novel based on Puritan locale. The characters of Hester Prynne, Roger Chillingworth, and Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, each exhibit behaviors, which have been placed upon them by the burdens in their everyday lives. The Scarlett Letter focuses on the puritanical judgment of what is deemed a sinful act and how this same act affects the three aforementioned characters who share this secret in an entirely different way. Hester Prynne impresses the reader by proving that she is unmoved by the public’s judgment, and this ability…
A in The Scarlet Letter defines the novel; I in my life defines me. Insecurity is the reason for my self-doubt and why I hold myself to fail or be unloved. This places me at an disadvantage in every aspect of my life and does not allow me to be successful. It’s hard for me to graciously accept or give a compliment, for I am nervous in all social situations.…
Confessing to one’s wrongs displays true honest character and reveals one’s bravery rather than their flaws. In The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, a young woman named, Hester Prynne lives in Boston, Massachusetts during the seventh century, in a Puritan society. Hester’s husband, who goes by the name Roger Chillingworth, sends her to America while he deals with some business in Europe. He happens to be caught and held captive by Native Americans which delays his arrival to America.…
Struggling alone with guilt and fear is never a just punishment for a wrong. In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, the character of Arthur Dimmesdale battles his own self-deprecating thoughts resulting from his affair with the main character, Hester Prynne. Even though he is not the main character, Dimmesdale’s epic demise as the town’s most respected minister affects all of the other characters. Dimmesdale’s lack of control over his free will and his pride in his religious beliefs lead to his downfall, and eventually, his death.…
The Scarlet Letter was one of the first American novels to have a central female character and showed the power of women, which was published millennia before the modern feminist movement. The Scarlet Letter is a novel written by Nathaniel Hawthorne in 1850. The concepts of love, devotion, sin, regret, patriarchy, and punishment are woven throughout his classic novel. Marilyn Mueller Wilton’s article, written in 1992, contends that Hester is, in fact, a rebellious hero, and subjugates Dimmesdale to the role of meek “heroine” of the story, thus defining a role reversal as one of the novel’s central themes. Hester is the hero in The Scarlet Letter and assumes the role of the typical male.…
“‘The judgment of God is on me,’ answered the conscience-stricken priest. ‘It is too mighty for me to struggle with!’. ‘Heaven would show mercy,’ rejoined Hester, ‘hadst thou but the strength to take advantage of it.’”. In the Scarlet Letter, Dimmesdale cannot handle the guilt of his sin and when Hester offers advice to help him deal with his sin like she did, he cannot accept it. Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale allows his guilt to consume him because he is unable to deal with it, as he physically deteriorates his mind is weakening, it plays tricks on him causing hallucinations and torturous visions.…
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne is the story of Hester Prynne overcoming her sin, shame, and isolation from Puritan society. The novel is prefaced by “the Custom House” which introduces the narrator and tells of how he came to find the scarlet letter. Hester’s story begins with her leaving the Boston jail where she was imprisoned for adultery. She is forced to stand on a scaffold in the middle of town while holding her child Pearl so everyone can see her ignominy. While on the scaffold, Hester is begged by the young Reverend Dimmesdale to tell the town who the child’s father is so he can share her punishment but Hester refuses.…
With the inner struggle of guilt, a person can either be redeemed or destroyed. In The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne Hester Prynne is ridiculed publicly by the Puritan community for adultery. Mr. Dimmesdale, the man Hester cheats with is a young minister in the town, and hides his sin from the community. Together the two have a daughter named Pearl, that Hester raises. Pearl is a constant reminder of their sin, in which Hester holds onto public guilt, and Dimmesdale onto private guilt.…