strength.
strength.
pointing out he beauty and "perfect elegance". He never once pointed out a flaw of…
Symbolism was a literary movement during the nineteenth century that influenced many poets. Symbolism is anything that stands for or represents something else. "The Scarlet Letter", by Nathaniel Hawthorne is filled with symbolism which he uses to unify the novel and add a deeper level of meaning to the story. In the novel, the three most important symbolisms were the forest, the scaffold, and the scarlet letter "A" on Hester's bosom. But the symbolism of the scarlet letter "A" outweighs every other symbolism.…
Hester can atone for her sin of adultery, but every day that she keeps the secret of her lover, and the true identity of Rodger Chillingworth a secret she is committing a sin. If Hester would have “Take heeds how thou deniest to him---who, perchance, hath not the courage to grasp it for himself---the bitter, but wholesome, cup that is now presented to thy lips!”(Dimmesdale 47) things would have been infinitely better for everyone. Everyone Hester Prynne loves, she does in a hypocritical way. She loves Pearl enough to sacrifice to feed and clothe her, but she does not love Pearl enough to give her a father. Hester loves Dimmesdale, but she does not love him enough to expose his sin publicly, and she conceals her knowledge of Chillingworth. Either you love something whole-heartedly, or you don’t. Hawthorne might have portrayed Hester in a more favorable light then the other characters, but still she should have to wear a scarlet H in addition to her…
In the Scarlet Letter, it is remarkable how Hawthorne shows Hester Prynne's strength of character. Although Hawthorne does not give us much information about Hester's life prior to the novel, he does show her great character which is revealed through the number of trials and obstacles she faced, her public humiliation and isolated Puritan life. Hester seems to have changed the greatest in character and attitude, from a haughty and proud demeanor to having a warm and tender heart. Throughout the novel, Hester changes three different times, from being a shamed woman to a capable and able woman and then to a healer. Her honesty, strong willed spirit and compassion may have been in her character all along, but the scarlet letter really brought it to the attention or others.…
(An analysis of the letter ‘a’ and all the symbolisms behind it from Nathaniel Hawthorne’s, The Scarlet Letter.)…
Dimmesdale experiences a world of hurt inflicted by Chillingworth, and Hester is aware of it and doesn’t try to stop it. Consequently, the reader is unsure if there is still a connection between Hester and Dimmesdale. On the other hand, the two are linked by “... the iron link of mutual crime, which neither he nor she could break. Like all other ties, it brought along with it its obligations” (Hawthorne, 145). Dimmesdale helped Hester in numerous ways, yet she watches him face seven years of emotional and physical torture and pain and failed to return the favor. Dimmesdale was miserable after each sermon because his true thoughts and feelings could not be shared and expressed to the public. Hester differed in how she was serene through her isolation. Hester’s lack of action demonstrates how her personality became…
There is not much to cover about Dimmesdale's week, however, there is much to elaborate on about his weak character. In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter Arthur Dimmesdale is a weak individual. Dimmesdale expresses how he is selfish, co-dependent, and a coward. Throughout the course of the novel Dimmesdale shows his struggles or emotions, furthermore, portraying Dimmesdale as a weak individual.…
Vengeance, truth, and loyalty are the base of the novel The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. There are several scenes that are essential in the novel because they develop the plot that leads up to the climax and resolution of the narration. Starting with The Interview in Chapter Four, where the sinner Hester Prynne confirms that the stranger, Roger Chillingworth that she had seen in the crowd before was actually her former husband and that he is in Boston for a macabre reason. The next significant scene is the first real encounter between Hester and Arthur Dimmesdale in the forest in The Pastor and His Parishioner in Chapter 17, where the two characters confront each other and make a decision to escape to Europe together to start a new life and leave everything behind. Furthermore, the final and most influential scene is The Revelation of the Scarlet Letter on Chapter 23,…
Hawthorne’s imposition of self-torment and interior suffering unveil the guilt and sorrow that result from an attempted secrecy of hidden truths. Distressed by his agony, he “typified the constant introspection wherewith he tortured, but he could not purify, himself” (Hawthorne 132). Although declaring Hester’s prowess, the punishment seeks to further uncover Dimmesdale’s own concealed attributes. When compared to the external inflictions upon Hester, which declared her prowess, his self-discipline only results in the further corruption of his character. His sin becomes more apparent when the scourging, fasts, and extended vigils begin deteriorating his physical condition. The soul-searching cannot purify him because they only further reveal his wrongdoing to the public. He cannot“wear one face to himself, and another to the multitude, without finally getting bewildered as to which may be the true” (Hawthorne 194). Since Dimmesdale serves as a minister for his community, his congregation praises his sermons and desire to preach against sin. Although outwardly a noble, religious leader, he conceals “the face” of his internal suffering from the cruelty of sin. Depicting the minister’s own hypocrisy, Hawthorne challenges whether both sides of his character can remain true. As much as Dimmesdale strives to hide his veracious interior, no longer can he present himself as the respectable, Puritan man in the community. In reality, he only exemplifies a sinner who weakened under…
In this passage, that narrator considers Hester and women in general as items to men, only…
against her. This fact took a hard toll on Hester. Hawthorne’s description of Hester’s isolation is…
Somebody once told me bad decisions make good stories. There are many things we can learn from making good or bad choices.The Scarlet Letter is a brilliant novel that masterfully shows how choices lead to consequences and learning opportunities. One example of a choice that leads to consequences is Pearl Prynne, this making her the most important character. Pearl represents the letter, reminds others of her sins, and is the peacemaker in the…
Conflict is first observed through Hester’s ongoing difficulties with her fellow townspeople. Hester receives ridicule from on looking townspeople, as a gossiping woman states, ‘ “At the very least, they should have put the brand of a hot iron on Hester Prynne’s forehead” ’ (Hawthorne 45). This statement reveals that the women believe Hester’s punishment is too simple and she should suffer more severe consequences. The women do not see the moral action behind Hester’s sin, which initiates the conflict between the townspeople and Hester. The conflict continues when Governor Bellingham confronts Hester about being an unfit parent as he states, ‘ “Were it not, thinkest thou, for thy little one’s temporal and eternal welfare, that she be taken out of thy charge, and clad soberly . . .” ’ (98). The Governor’s main concern is about what will benefit himself. This quality is observed in his unjust treatment of Hester. He takes advantage of her seamstress skills, yet is judgmental about her parenting. This creates conflict for Hester as the Governor is unfair to her. The issues that arise between Hester and the townspeople are simply the beginning of Hester’s struggle with conflict.…
It’s easy to think she does because she became an adulteress and faced a novel’s worth of guilt and shame for him. She never seems to resent him for making her face ignominy by herself. In fact, she is deeply concerned for his health and even offers to run away with him: “Thou shalt not go alone!”(136). Though all these actions seem like proof of love, I think Hester does these things for other reasons.…
The Puritan society was known for it’s strict morals and religious piety. But despite these supposedly virtuous qualities, in the Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, we are shown how twisted this model of society is. The people torment Hester, but refuse to see that their beloved minister carries the same sin in his heart; in fact, they revere him all the more for it. In his chapters, “Hester at Her Needle,” and “The Interior of a Heart,” Hawthorne creates an ironic contrast between Hester’s public torment and Dimmesdale’s inner agony. While there are many parallels between the two chapters, the contrasts in the character’s ways of dealing with their crime reveal how sinfulness leads to a development of oneself, as well as development of a sense of empathy for others. Paradoxically, these traits are shown to be incompatible with living the true Puritan lifestyle. This is why what goes on outside Hester and Dimmesdale is so vital to their inner narrative, Hester’s public torment eventually sets her free, while Dimmesdale’s public reverence slowly kills him.…