The Scarlet Letter Theme Of Guilt
Scarlet letter Nathaniel Hawthorne lived in the 1800s, he was an anti-transcendentalist, this means he believed people are bad at heart and society keeps us from being wild animals. The Scarlet Letter takes place in a Puritan town. Hawthorne wrote about a puritan town because his great uncle lived in a Puritan town during the Salem witch trials, he was obsessed with that. The Scarlet Letter is about two adults living with their sin, which is adultery. In this novel, Nathaniel Hawthorne uses the symbolism of Pearl, Dimmesdale, and Sunshine to contribute to the overall theme of guilt. To begin, Hawthorne uses the symbol of Pearl to contribute to the overall theme of guilt. Pearl is the daughter of Hester and Dimmesdale. She
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Pearl says, Mother… the sunshine does not love you” (Hawthorne 180). This quote shows that the sun will not shine on Hester because she is guilty of sin. The sun will shine on Pearl because Pearl is not guilty of sin and is pure. Later in the story, Hawthorne explains “ All at once,as with a sudden smile on heaven, forth burst the sunshine…” (Hawthorne 199). Right before the sunshine shines on Hester she takes off the Scarlet Letter and throws it. Also she takes her hair out of the bonnet and has her hair lay straight down on her shoulders. Then suddenly the sun will shine on her. The scarlet letter is the symbol of her sin. So when Hester throws the Scarlet Letter away, it is such as she is throwing away her guilt. Since she is now guilt free the sun will shine on …show more content…
Hawthorne shows the theme of guilt through Pearl, Dimmesdale, and Sunshine. Pearl is a constant reminder to Dimmesdale and Hester that they committed adultery. Pearl is the child of their sin. Dimmesdale’s life is dimming. Dimmesdale cannot live with the fact that he committed sin. The guilt inside of him is killing him. He even tortures himself in hope to purify himself. Sunshine will not shine on someone who is guilty of sin. The sun knows Hester is guilty of adultery so it does not shine on her. When Hester takes off the the Scarlet Letter and is guilt free, the sun shines on her. Pearl, Dimmesdale, and sunshine all lead to the theme of
Pearl says, Mother… the sunshine does not love you” (Hawthorne 180). This quote shows that the sun will not shine on Hester because she is guilty of sin. The sun will shine on Pearl because Pearl is not guilty of sin and is pure. Later in the story, Hawthorne explains “ All at once,as with a sudden smile on heaven, forth burst the sunshine…” (Hawthorne 199). Right before the sunshine shines on Hester she takes off the Scarlet Letter and throws it. Also she takes her hair out of the bonnet and has her hair lay straight down on her shoulders. Then suddenly the sun will shine on her. The scarlet letter is the symbol of her sin. So when Hester throws the Scarlet Letter away, it is such as she is throwing away her guilt. Since she is now guilt free the sun will shine on …show more content…
Hawthorne shows the theme of guilt through Pearl, Dimmesdale, and Sunshine. Pearl is a constant reminder to Dimmesdale and Hester that they committed adultery. Pearl is the child of their sin. Dimmesdale’s life is dimming. Dimmesdale cannot live with the fact that he committed sin. The guilt inside of him is killing him. He even tortures himself in hope to purify himself. Sunshine will not shine on someone who is guilty of sin. The sun knows Hester is guilty of adultery so it does not shine on her. When Hester takes off the the Scarlet Letter and is guilt free, the sun shines on her. Pearl, Dimmesdale, and sunshine all lead to the theme of