Essay Scarlet Letter Rhetorical Analysis
In this selection, Hawthorne uses irony to convey his point. Dimmesdale, the holiest minister in the eyes of the crowd, has a constant burden in his heart that tortures him. When he confesses his sin to the townspeople, ironically, instead of seeing his evil nature, they mistake it for a humble degradation. This shows the downfall of human beings: their tendency of being misled and incapability of seeing the truth. Even in the most “holiest” human beings, a deep sin is present.
This passage personifies cowardice as the “sister and closely linked companion” of remorse, showing how being remorseful can result in being afraid as well. Hawthorne personifies cowardice in order to give a more vivid image on Dimmesdale’s conflicts within his mind. Also, the selection compares the minister’s suffering as an “inextricable knot.” This explains how one’s guilt results in an everlasting cycle of pain.
The selection contains vivid imagery and similes. It clearly describes how Hester and Pearl give the minister warmth, but more importantly, separate him from his dark hallucinations of being shamed in front of the entire city. By grasping onto their hands, the minister is reminded of life and has temporary relief from his self-torturing guilt. The passage uses a simile to illustrate this idea more clearly, “pouring like a …show more content…
torrent into his heart.” The three are connected because they are a part of one sin, Hester and Dimmesdale’s adultery. In this matter, the minister is no longer alone in his misery, allowing him to be warmed by Hester and Pearl. Also, Hawthorne describes this by using a metaphor, comparing the connection between them to an “electric chain,” emphasizing how their relationship can at times be hurtful, similar to an electric shock.
The letter “A” in the sky represents Dimmesdale’s sin and shame. In spite of the marvelous spectacle of the meteor, the minister only sees the letter “A,” similar to how the minister’s unbearable pain and suffering over the past years have prevented him from experiencing joys in life. His remorse and sin bury the joys in the minister’s life, similar to how the faded lines in the air cover up the fantastic meteor in the minister’s eyes.
This passage supports the Puritan theme that religion is valued over morality. Although Hester has been morally good to the townspeople, the religious leaders of the society still do not acknowledge her for her earthly acts. Instead, the taint of sin on her spiritual self outweighs the goodness that she shows to others.
Hester’s scarlet letter limits her, as she cannot go into public without being shamed. She cannot experience the everyday joys of life because the scarlet letter serves as a reminder of her sin. In spite of this, this passage compares the scarlet letter to a “passport.” Hawthorne uses this metaphor to describe how the scarlet letter allowed Hester to contemplate over the morality of humans and other aspects of life throughout the years she has wandered while wearing the scarlet letter on her bosom. Hawthorne describes this as the “moral wilderness.” Since she has committed a sinful act, she has a separate, isolated point of view on society.
Here, Dimmesdale compares Hester to a “better angel.” This metaphor emphasizes how Hester introduces Dimmesdale to a heavenly, rejuvenated life in the forest. in which he fails to seek on his own. However, Hester is portrayed as a sinner to the public, and Dimmesdale is seen as the holiest human being. This passage is ironic because the sinner, Hester, is the one who saves the holier one, Dimmesdale.
Hawthorne emphasizes the importance and symbolism of the scarlet letter and its effect on Hester.
For Hester, the scarlet letter represents a hindrance to her freedom, reminding her of her heavy sin. Hawthorne uses a metaphor in this passage, comparing the effect of the scarlet letter as a “withering spell.” This shows how one sinful act can prevent Hester from experiencing joys in life, similar to how putting on the scarlet letter hides Hester’s hair, and therefore, her femininity. The phrase “an evil deed invests itself with the character of doom,” describes how an evil act leads to one’s downfall. This supports the theme that one cannot escape one’s own
sin.
This passage personifies cowardice as the “sister and closely linked companion” of remorse, showing how being remorseful can result in being afraid as well. Hawthorne personifies cowardice in order to give a more vivid image on Dimmesdale’s conflicts within his mind. Also, the selection compares the minister’s suffering as an “inextricable knot.” This explains how one’s guilt results in an everlasting cycle of pain.
The selection contains vivid imagery and similes. It clearly describes how Hester and Pearl give the minister warmth, but more importantly, separate him from his dark hallucinations of being shamed in front of the entire city. By grasping onto their hands, the minister is reminded of life and has temporary relief from his self-torturing guilt. The passage uses a simile to illustrate this idea more clearly, “pouring like a …show more content…
torrent into his heart.” The three are connected because they are a part of one sin, Hester and Dimmesdale’s adultery. In this matter, the minister is no longer alone in his misery, allowing him to be warmed by Hester and Pearl. Also, Hawthorne describes this by using a metaphor, comparing the connection between them to an “electric chain,” emphasizing how their relationship can at times be hurtful, similar to an electric shock.
The letter “A” in the sky represents Dimmesdale’s sin and shame. In spite of the marvelous spectacle of the meteor, the minister only sees the letter “A,” similar to how the minister’s unbearable pain and suffering over the past years have prevented him from experiencing joys in life. His remorse and sin bury the joys in the minister’s life, similar to how the faded lines in the air cover up the fantastic meteor in the minister’s eyes.
This passage supports the Puritan theme that religion is valued over morality. Although Hester has been morally good to the townspeople, the religious leaders of the society still do not acknowledge her for her earthly acts. Instead, the taint of sin on her spiritual self outweighs the goodness that she shows to others.
Hester’s scarlet letter limits her, as she cannot go into public without being shamed. She cannot experience the everyday joys of life because the scarlet letter serves as a reminder of her sin. In spite of this, this passage compares the scarlet letter to a “passport.” Hawthorne uses this metaphor to describe how the scarlet letter allowed Hester to contemplate over the morality of humans and other aspects of life throughout the years she has wandered while wearing the scarlet letter on her bosom. Hawthorne describes this as the “moral wilderness.” Since she has committed a sinful act, she has a separate, isolated point of view on society.
Here, Dimmesdale compares Hester to a “better angel.” This metaphor emphasizes how Hester introduces Dimmesdale to a heavenly, rejuvenated life in the forest. in which he fails to seek on his own. However, Hester is portrayed as a sinner to the public, and Dimmesdale is seen as the holiest human being. This passage is ironic because the sinner, Hester, is the one who saves the holier one, Dimmesdale.
Hawthorne emphasizes the importance and symbolism of the scarlet letter and its effect on Hester.
For Hester, the scarlet letter represents a hindrance to her freedom, reminding her of her heavy sin. Hawthorne uses a metaphor in this passage, comparing the effect of the scarlet letter as a “withering spell.” This shows how one sinful act can prevent Hester from experiencing joys in life, similar to how putting on the scarlet letter hides Hester’s hair, and therefore, her femininity. The phrase “an evil deed invests itself with the character of doom,” describes how an evil act leads to one’s downfall. This supports the theme that one cannot escape one’s own
sin.