centered on several conflicts of human nature that result from the adultery and punishment of Hester Prynne. There are three major conflicts each for which Hawthorne created a specific main character to illustrate: Pearl‚ Hester’s illegitimate daughter‚ depicts the conflict purity versus sin‚ Roger Chillingworth‚ Hester’s former husband‚ depicts good versus evil‚ and Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale‚ who sinned with Hester‚ depicts the conflict love versus hate. Each of these characters has distinct qualities
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barring the person from moving ahead with their life‚ no matter how insignificant the crime. Michael L. Lasser takes a similar approach‚ arguing that Pearl is a mirror image of Hesters guilt—a constant reminder of her mistake. Lassers argument has merit because Hawthorne not only uses mirror imagery in relation to Hesters guilt‚ but also in regards the emotions of all characters. In Mirror Imagery in The Scarlet Letter‚ Michael Lasser argues that Hawthorne uses mirror imagery to reveal a characters
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11/24/12 Scarlett letter analysis The novel the Scarlett letter is one with many themes and motifs. A major motif is light vs. dark‚ this can even be carried on to the characters of the novel and their essence. Hester Prynn can be viewed as the novel’s light in an intolerant society; meanwhile Rodger Chillingworth is portrayed as a dark character that is fueled by a sick yearning for retribution. Hawthorn uses these stark differences to portray the multiplicity that is found in the human
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will” (Ch. 2‚ 42). Even though Hester is described a being brave the look of fear is also visible on her face as she holds Pearl tightly (Ch 2‚ 43). As the story evolves the townspeople show less direct disdain towards her but she still feels that they are still all looking upon her with judgement. The townspeople were less harsh with her but she still expected at any moment to be punished by the townspeople because she dealt with it for years. This is shown when Hester is standing in the crowd in
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Nathaniel Hawthorne utilizes the minor characters Pearl Prynne and Roger Chillingworth to provoke the major characters in the novel‚ as well as to further portray existent themes and ideas developing through other parts of the story. Throughout the course of the novel‚ Pearl’s persistent fixation on the scarlet letter “A” embroidered on Hester’s chest acts as a constant reminder for Hester of her committed sin and reveals deeper emotions within Hester. Unintentionally‚ Pearl continues to draw Hester’s
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Hester clearly fits into Edward’s description of an ideal Puritan woman. In his essay‚ he writes‚ “Is most just and conscientious in all her actions; and you could not persuade her to do anything wrong or sinful.”(Edwards). As stated by Edwards‚ an ideal Puritan woman should be consistently selfless and kind‚ not just pretending to at certain times. Also‚ a kind spirit should not be easily influenced by surrounding negativity. Hester does indeed‚ possesses these two
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away‚ mother‚ or he will catch you! But he cannot catch little Pearl!" Chapter 10 "Come up hither‚ Hester‚ thou and little Pearl....Ye have both been here before‚ but I was not with you. Come up hither once again‚ and we will stand all three together!" Chapter 12 "[M]any people refused to interpret the scarlet A by its original signification. They said that it meant Able; so strong was Hester Prynne‚ with a woman’s strength." Chapter 13 "The glow‚ which they had just before beheld burning on his
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both mood and tone. The scene was not without a mixture of awe‚ such as must always invest the spectacle of guilt and shame in a fellow-creature‚ before society shall have grown corrupt enough to smile‚ instead of shuddering‚ at it. The witnesses of Hester Prynne’s disgrace had not yet passed beyond their simplicity. They were stern enough to look up her death‚ had that been the sentence‚ without a murmur at its severity‚ but had none of the heartlessness of another social state‚ which would find only
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words‚ it plays both on the field of the outer and inner worlds. In all cases‚ violence stages a relation between domination and subjection which are entangled in it. In The Scarlet Letter‚ violence seems to be the leading string of the plot: Hester Prynne has to undergo the ordeal of penance in a Puritan society that harshly condemns adultery. One can see here the atmosphere of violence she is plunged into. More generally‚ or rather more specifically‚ violence is present on various levels in this
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the townspeople. Hester had countless opportunities to name her fellow sinner but she choose not to. Dimmesdale was the minister of the town’s church and shouldn’t have any direct contact with Hester outside the word of god. The only place they could meet in secret to do whatever they pleased was the forest because it was a safe place. There were no rules and everyone was free to do anything without punishment or be judged. In order to keep Dimmesdale identify a secret‚ Hester met him there at night
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