Scarlet Letter Theme Essay
In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s book, “The Scarlet Letter,” a very prominent theme is the idea of how something a little bit out of the ordinary can become quite exaggerated. In the beginning of the book, the main character, Hester Prynne, is made to wear a scarlet letter to pay for her sin of adultery. This letter and even Hester herself is exaggerated in the eyes of society throughout the book. “It was whispered, by those who peered after her, that the scarlet letter threw a lurid gleam along the dark passage-way of the interior” (Hawthorne 135). The scarlet letter is only a cloth letter with some fancy embroidery, it didn’t actually glow or throw out light, but the townspeople had already begun to make the letter into an almost supernatural object
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in their minds.
The greatest theme of Toni Morrison's book, “Beloved,” is the power of the past. In the book, various characters seem to be very caught up in the past. Sethe’s past actually brings her dead baby back to life in the form she would be if she had still been alive. “Anything dead coming back to life hurts” (Morrison 20). In this quote Sethe is remembering her experience with Amy, a young white girl who helped her deliver her baby. The quote is a memory of the past but actually foreshadows Beloved’s coming back to life.
In “The Color Purple,” by Alice Walker, a major theme is the damage that can be caused by the illusion of dominance due to race or gender. In the book, various characters are harmed repeatedly because of their race or gender. One example is Mr.’s poor treatment of Celie throughout most of the book. “Harpo ast his daddy why he beat me. Mr. say cause she my wife. Plus she stubborn. All women good for- he don’t finish. He just stuck his chin over the paper like he do” (Walker 22). This quote is just one instance of Mr. beating Celie for no real reason other than the fact that she is his wife. Later in the book it is revealed that this is part of the reason he beats her, the other part is that Celie is not Shug Avery, whom Mr. has always loved. He also takes his anger about not getting the girl out on Celie because he knows he can; he knows Celie won’t fight back.
One of the most important themes in F.
Scott Fitzgerald’s book, “The Great Gatsby,” is the division between the wealthy and the poor. There are a lot of references to this theme in the book, such as the wealthy’s reckless driving, or their overall lack of care. One example of the overall lack of care from the wealthy is Tom’s reaction when he hears that there was a crash versus the reaction of the less wealthy people gathered around. “‘Wreck!’ said Tom. ‘That’s good. Wilson’ll have a little business at last.’ He slowed down, but still without any intention of stopping until, as we came nearer, the hushed intent faces of the people at the garage door made him automatically put on the brakes. ‘We’ll take a look,’ he said doubtfully, ‘just a look.’ I became aware now of a hollow, wailing sound which issued incessantly from the garage, a sound which as we got out of the coupé and walked toward the door resolved itself into the words ‘Oh, my God!’ uttered over and over in a gasping moan. ‘There’s some bad trouble here,’ said Tom excitedly” (Fitzgerald 147-148). The people already gathered around are all either sombre, or shocked, yet when Tom arrives, he’s excited and comments that Wilson will get more business. He never really cares that somebody died and can’t come back until he discovers that it was his lover that was
killed.
in their minds.
The greatest theme of Toni Morrison's book, “Beloved,” is the power of the past. In the book, various characters seem to be very caught up in the past. Sethe’s past actually brings her dead baby back to life in the form she would be if she had still been alive. “Anything dead coming back to life hurts” (Morrison 20). In this quote Sethe is remembering her experience with Amy, a young white girl who helped her deliver her baby. The quote is a memory of the past but actually foreshadows Beloved’s coming back to life.
In “The Color Purple,” by Alice Walker, a major theme is the damage that can be caused by the illusion of dominance due to race or gender. In the book, various characters are harmed repeatedly because of their race or gender. One example is Mr.’s poor treatment of Celie throughout most of the book. “Harpo ast his daddy why he beat me. Mr. say cause she my wife. Plus she stubborn. All women good for- he don’t finish. He just stuck his chin over the paper like he do” (Walker 22). This quote is just one instance of Mr. beating Celie for no real reason other than the fact that she is his wife. Later in the book it is revealed that this is part of the reason he beats her, the other part is that Celie is not Shug Avery, whom Mr. has always loved. He also takes his anger about not getting the girl out on Celie because he knows he can; he knows Celie won’t fight back.
One of the most important themes in F.
Scott Fitzgerald’s book, “The Great Gatsby,” is the division between the wealthy and the poor. There are a lot of references to this theme in the book, such as the wealthy’s reckless driving, or their overall lack of care. One example of the overall lack of care from the wealthy is Tom’s reaction when he hears that there was a crash versus the reaction of the less wealthy people gathered around. “‘Wreck!’ said Tom. ‘That’s good. Wilson’ll have a little business at last.’ He slowed down, but still without any intention of stopping until, as we came nearer, the hushed intent faces of the people at the garage door made him automatically put on the brakes. ‘We’ll take a look,’ he said doubtfully, ‘just a look.’ I became aware now of a hollow, wailing sound which issued incessantly from the garage, a sound which as we got out of the coupé and walked toward the door resolved itself into the words ‘Oh, my God!’ uttered over and over in a gasping moan. ‘There’s some bad trouble here,’ said Tom excitedly” (Fitzgerald 147-148). The people already gathered around are all either sombre, or shocked, yet when Tom arrives, he’s excited and comments that Wilson will get more business. He never really cares that somebody died and can’t come back until he discovers that it was his lover that was
killed.