Jonathan Alessi 10/16/11 Period 4 Who Are You?: An analysis of identities in The Scarlet Letter Identity‚ what is it? Is it a name? Is it defined by what we do‚ where we work or how hard we play? Is identity categorized by a moment from our past or is it defined by the present? Is identity of a person only one definite thing or is it dependent upon the observer? According to Nathaniel Hawthorne identity is definite‚ unchangeable‚ and can be defined by one single moment in a person’s life
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The Scarlet Letter Nathaniel Hawthorne‚ in his novel The Scarlet Letter‚ argues that the role of shame in society is not what keeps the citizens of that society pure and is possibly the worst type of punishment. Hawthorne supports his argument by demonstrating his perspective on shame through the rhetorical strategy of enthymeme given the major premise‚ minor premise‚ and conclusion. The author’s purpose is to persuade his audience that salvation can only be earned by being open about and true
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Throughout The Scarlet Letter‚ two prominent characters battle with how to react to societal views‚ and that ultimately changes ones outlook on life. Primarily‚ one can change the way that society views them by being strong or transversely by being weak and maleable. To begin‚ by remaining strong and trusting herself‚ society begins to evolve and view Hester in a new light. The book quotes‚ “The letter was the symbol of her calling. Such helpfulness was found in her-so much power to do and power
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The effect of the symbol--or‚ rather‚ of the position in respect of society that was indicated by it-- on the mind of Hester Prynne herself‚ was powerful and peculiar. All the light and graceful foliage of her character had been withered up by this red-hot brand‚ and had long ago fallen away‚ leaving a bare and harsh outline‚ which might have been repulsive‚ had she possessed friends or companions to be repelled
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Matthew Polito Mrs. Audiffred Honors English 11 Writing Assignment #2 October 29‚ 2012 Sin‚ Guilt‚ and The Scarlet Letter Sin and guilt are themes that are not only central to The Scarlet Letter‚ but to the entirety of Puritan Culture. They come hand in hand‚ and are seen as almost necessary for moral perfection. Throughout The Scarlet Letter‚ nearly every character is changed or at least affected by sin and guilt‚ and for many of them it is in a life changing way. It is an unavoidable side
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The preface to Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter‚ “The Custom House”‚ serves to introduce the society and times in which the story is set; also‚ this essay provides the background story for the finding of the scarlet letter. The Custom House also provides a definition of what a romance is. Excerpts from “The Custom House” essay closely link to The Scarlet Letter’s text. Two notable examples of these parallels can be found in the descriptions given of the townspeople in Salem who live by ancient moral
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Scarlet Letter Analysis In a passage from The Scarlet Letter‚ the narrator concocts a sense of a judgmental and somewhat contemplative attitude toward the Puritan society. The narrator’s stance is emphasized mainly on the author’s description of the Puritans and his use of symbolism to describe their community. Throughout the passage‚ the Puritans are described in such a sense that characterizes them as a monotonous and ruthless society governed by laws and religion. As the Puritans are standing
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In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s‚ The Scarlet Letter‚ the author uses three scaffold scenes to mark the development of Hester Prynne. The image of Hester atop the scaffolding is a metaphor for her forced solitude; for her banishment from society; and for the futility of her punishment. In the first scene‚ Hawthorne uses the scaffold to explain how Hester can not believe that the “A” and the baby are real. In the second scaffold scene‚ Hawthorne tries to convey to the reader that Hester
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novels and writings‚ with one of them being The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. The Scarlet Letter depicts a woman who is shamed of adultery and has to wear a scarlet “A” on her bosom‚ and the “A” seems to have supernatural powers that effect Hester Prynne and people around her in many different ways. The scarlet “A” attached to Hester Prynne’s bosom was a sign of her committing adultery and was permanently attached for her public shame. But the letter had other negatives to it‚ as “It had the
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A Scarlet RomanceIt is the year 1644‚ Boston Massachusetts‚ and the stage is set for one of the most famous romance novels of our time. The Scarlet Letter‚ by Nathaniel Hawthorne set a genre standard for American Romanticism‚ with an intrinsic love of nature‚ sense of freedom of imagination and emotion‚ and the low regard Hawthorne holds for organized religion and all that it entails. In his novel‚ Hawthorne builds on the standards of romanticism‚ as the trend away from Puritanism and religious Oligarchy
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