The Scarlet Letter Essay Topics Below I have given you several essay topics on The Scarlet Letter. Choose one and compose an essay in response to the questions it raises. The essay should be 3-5 pages in length‚ should be carefully proofread‚ and should follow the guidelines defined by MLA. Due Tuesday‚ September 27‚ 2011‚ at the beginning of class. 1. Explain how The Scarlet Letter may be read as a “psychological novel.” You may want to focus on the psychological nature of one or two
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Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter has much to instruct psychoanalysts and psychotherapists‚ probably no other American novel lends itself so well to an study in gravity of the dynamics‚ conflicts‚ and aggressive attribute of shame. Hawthorne‘s novels deal with persons caught in a fight between individual desires and the ethical weight of society‚ a struggle which the being usually loses. More importantly‚ Hawthorne‘s characters are secluded individuals‚ who refuse society‘s principles but
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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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a sense of sin when the symbolism and foreshadowing of ’vrigin soil as a cemetery’ is mentioned in chapter 1. It is ironic as Hester will not die as a virgin and has in fact committed adultery. The rose bush is an interesting symbol of passion and love as the ’rose’ illustrates‚ it was the
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The Mysterious Forest In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter‚ life is centered around a rigid Puritan society. In this society‚ people are not allowed to express their true thoughts and feelings. Every human being needs the opportunity to express how they truly feel; otherwise the emotions become bottled up until they begin to hurt the person. Unfortunately‚ the puritans were not allowed this type of expression. Luckily‚ at least for the four main characters‚ Hawthorne has created
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In the Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne‚ Dimmesdale who is a minister acts as a role model to the townspeople. He is the last person who should commit a crime and lie about it. As the minister of the community‚ Dimmesdale is held to certain moral standards‚ and is expected to be the moral measure for his congregation. He attempts to follow the strictures of society‚ but must hide his sins of adultery and hypocrisy to remain angelic within the community. Dimmesdale weighted with the guilt of
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The Scarlet Letter: Review Adultery‚ betrayal‚ promiscuity‚ subterfuge‚ and intrigue‚ all of which would make an excellent coming attraction on the Hollywood scene and probably a pretty good book. Add Puritan ideals and writing styles‚ making it long‚ drawn out‚ tedious‚ wearisome‚ sleep inducing‚ insipidly asinine‚ and the end result is The Scarlet Letter. Despite all these things it is considered a classic and was a statement of the era. The Scarlet Letter is a wonderful and
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Literature Mrs Hanan-West February 22‚ 2010 Final Draft Does Hester Prynne’s Role in Puritan Society affect her feminism? Throughout the Scarlet Letter‚ Hawthorne depicts Hester as a dynamic character who is constantly struggling with her identity within the Puritan Society. Ever since her conviction of adultery and her punishment as the Scarlet Letter‚ the Puritan Society has tried labeling and identifying her with their terms and laws. Hester has also identified herself with these terms‚
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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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against another‚ is characterized as a corruption of the mind of the affected individual. Throughout the history of literature‚ countless authors have incorporated the theme of revenge into their works. For example‚ in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s‚ The Scarlet Letter‚ Roger Chillingworth seeks revenge on Minister Dimmesdale because of his crime committed with Hester. Similarly‚ in William Shakespeare’s‚ Othello‚ Iago devises an evil plan to avenge Othello of his rumored sin. Iago‚ the two-faced antagonist
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