Behold! Behold! A dreadful witness if it!” (209). The crowd does not know what to make of his words‚ and they refuse to believe what he is implying. That is‚ until he “tore away the ministerial band from before his breast” (209)‚ revealing a scarlet letter of his own. After this‚ there is no denying Dimmesdale’s confession and the people are left in disbelief as they watch him slump down and whisper in his last breath that he deserved to die in
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Nathaniel Hawthorne chose such a controversial topic as adultery for The Scarlet Letter‚ his nineteenth century novel of "seventeenth century sexual repression and hypocrisy"‚ demonstrates a delicate yet changing climate with regard to infidelity. Historically‚ carrying on an adulterous affair back in such an era of Puritanism and traditional values was not taken lightly; in fact‚ by today’s standards‚ such horrific treatment for what is now considered an everyday occurrence was harsher than murders
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Name: Date: School: Facilitator: 5.01 The Scarlet Letter Vocabulary Directions: Write the definitions for the following words found in the first eight chapters of The Scarlet Letter. (24 points) Vocabulary Word Chapter Section Definition 1. leech 1-8 Person who exports profit or sponges on others 2. sable 1-8 a marten with a short tail and dark brown fur‚ native to Japan and Siberia and valued
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Scarlet Letter relates to the theme of individual versus society in various ways throughout the novel because of the main character’s (Hester) hardship with her secrets that were kept. Not only Hester but Dimmesdale and Chillingworth were keeping secrets from each other and the whole town. Hester has to control her desire to tell the truth and practices the art of deception to hide these secrets from others. Throughout the history of mankind‚ the use of deception to promote oneself to a higher
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In the story‚ The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne‚ sacrifice runs through almost every character. One specific person who portrays this kind of trait towards the end of the book is DImmesdale. He sacrifices the sin he created with Hester and his placement with everyone else when he finally exposes the “A” for all to see. Dimmesdale is fond of Hester‚ but he could never share the sin he committed. No one can find out. People who are selfish never realize the impact they make on other’s lives
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In the novel The Scarlet Letter it was necessary to keep Hester Prynne’s adulteress lover Arthur Dimmesdale a secret because of their young daughter Pearl. Hester Prynne was married at the time Pearl was conceived‚ making the townspeople furious with her adultery. As her husband comes to town under an alias named physician Roger Chillingworth‚ he examines the Panic-stricken baby and bashes Hester for being deceitful. Moving to the outskirts of town and raising what many called a “devil baby” Pearl
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In The Scarlet Letter written by Nathaniel Hawthorne‚ the use of public shaming has an everlasting effect on a woman named Hester Prynne after she commits adultery within her Puritan society. She was sentenced to stand on a platform in front of her entire community‚ and she must wear the scarlet letter for the rest of her life. Public humiliation is the dishonoring showcase of a person for everyone in a community to see. To this day‚ some judges still use public humiliation to punish people for their
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Puritans‚ the people upon a hill of Christian faith‚ were known for their strict religious regimen‚ and thus often perceived as monotonous. Likewise‚ in Hawthorne’s Scarlet Letter‚ the author expresses his accusatory and judgmental view of the Puritan community mostly through the usage of selective detail‚ dismal and contemptuous diction; as well‚ he expresses his view of the Puritan community through his grim and suspenseful tone. By using details selectively‚ Hawthorne promotes his judgmental
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Have you ever had something that brings you both joy and torture? In the book the Scarlet letter the main character Pearl punishes her mother by constantly reminding her of the horrible deed that she has done‚ yet Pearl also brings Hester joy. The author-Nathaniel Hawthorn-uses Pearl as a symbol of punishment and a gift. The author uses symbols and diction to convey the theme that even the most brutal of punishments can be confernting. Hawthorne uses diction to showhow Hester’s precious Pearl
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In a novel of sin and redemption‚ symbolism is used to broaden the significance of certain aspects. Throughout The Scarlet Letter‚ Hawthorne uses a barrage of themes‚ motifs‚ and symbolisms. These images help to unify the novel and enrich the meaning behind the work. Early in the novel‚ Hawthorne refers to iron‚ oak‚ chains mainly to demonstrate the Puritanism that takes place in the novel. However‚ he also uses these symbolic items to display the bonds between characters and what they believe in
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