Hester Prynne as a Heroine Volner 1 What makes a hero? Some may say saving lives‚ or stopping evil‚ but in literature‚ these are not the only requirements for the title of “hero.” It is monstrously debated amongst literary scholars whether or not Hester Prynne of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter is a true heroine or not. She displays heroic qualities‚ but many
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Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter he follows Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale through their journey of discovering the truth and realizing what perfection truly is. Hester and Dimmesdale are sworn to secrecy by one another when we are first introduced to them in The Scarlet Letter. Each of these characters are ashamed of their sin‚ adultery‚ and are trying their best to protect themselves and their reputation by keeping it a secret. Hester Prynne is seen to be evil in her town‚ and she must
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creates Hester as an Eve-like figure to reinforce the concept of original sin and to converse the detrimental effects of guilt and sin on the human psyche. “In the view of the Infinite Purity‚ we are sinners all alike” (Hawthorne 310). Hawthorn derives this statement from his belief of original sin. He models Hester Prynne after Eve or the fallen women. Eve’s sin results her from being banished from paradise‚ falling‚ suffering‚ but finally attaining salvation‚ just like Hester does throughout
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Hester Prynne’s Heroism Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter focuses on seven years in the lives of four people living in a puritan community in seventeenth century Boston. Hester Prynne‚ the wife of Roger Chillingworth‚ falls in love with the Rev. Arthur Dimmesdale and the two have a child‚ Pearl. The novel explores the effects of adultery on these four characters. Ralph Waldo Emerson once said‚ "It is the surmounting of difficulties that makes heroes." A hero has the qualities of loyalty and
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Letter‚ were a group of people who were shaped by English experience and complete involvement in religion. The Puritan society molded itself and created a government based upon the Bible and implemented it with force. The crime of adultery committed by Hester generated rage‚ and was qualified for serious punishment according to Puritan beliefs. Ultimately the town of Boston became intensely involved with Hester’s life and her crime of adultery‚ and saw to it that she be publicly punished and tortured.
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one’s journey through difficulties. The story revolves around a strong‚ independant women in Hester Prynne‚ who was shunned from society for committing adultery. She permanently wear a scarlet A upon her chest as a symbol for her shame and Hester is often the subject of ridicule and used as an example in sermons. However‚ she has a very strong will and is has overcome many challenges in her life. Hester Prynne is a strong heroine figure‚ and the Scarlet Letter can be classified as a feminist novel
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In the novel The Scarlet Letter‚ by Nathaniel Hawthorne‚ Hester Prynne‚ the female protagonist‚ must cope with being named a sinner within a strict and judgemental seventeenth century Puritan society. Hester chooses to accept her punishment of wearing a scarlet letter ‘A’ on her breast but feels no remorse for her allegedly shameful and sinful act. Hester Prynne proves herself to be a strong‚ independent‚ modern heroine by refusing to conform to societal gender norms‚ while still earning the respect
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Hester vs. Her Adversities The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a historical novel set in 17-century New England. It’s a disturbing tale of Hester Prynne‚ a woman caught in a conflict between puritan ethics of her community and the law of her own love. The struggle is seen between the laws of the bible and those of her own moral authority. In this novel‚ Prynne survives through her trials and torments and triumphs over her adversities. Society fails Hester during her judgment on the scaffold
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At first‚ Hester may seem to be the victim. The adultery she committed when her husband was at sea‚ leads puritan authorities to give her the bright red "A" for adultery. She is left to stand in shame of puritan citizens‚ feeling their stares‚ their whispers and their judgement. In the eyes of the people‚ she is the greatest example of sin. Hester Prynne is also the object of a shady love triangle between herself‚ Arthur Dimmesdale‚ and her husband‚ Roger Chillingworth. The drama of the patriarchial
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Hester Prynne is a Feminist The Scarlet Letter can easily be audited as early feministic piece of literature. Nathaniel Hawthorne created a story that exemplifies Hester as a strong female character living with her choices‚ whether they were ethical or unethical (Hawthorne‚ 52). Hester Prynne is a feminist who refuses to accept the subordinate role of women because she has financial‚ emotional‚ and intellectual independence. Hester Prynne is comparable to a modern feminist because of her
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