In the essay ?No Name Woman? Maxine Hong Kingston tells a story from her Chinese culture‚ of a forgotten aunt whose husband went to America. During his absence the aunt mysteriously became with child. No one in her village questioned her on how the child was miraculously conceived. Instead they attacked her and her family‚ showing their shame for the situation they were unwillingly placed in. Because the aunt is obviously pregnant by someone other than her husband the villagers consider her a threat
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In The Scarlet Letter‚ Nathaniel Hawthorne utilizes Puritan ideology to convey a philosophical reflection on sin and redemption. Adulteress Hester Prynne must wear a scarlet A to mark her shame‚ and while her lover‚ Arthur Dimmesdale‚ remains unidentified and is wracked with guilt‚ her husband‚ Roger Chillingworth‚ seeks revenge. Although all three characters contemplate redemption‚ it is only Hester that chooses to confront her sin; Dimmesdale and Chillingworth refuse. This decision is heavily influenced
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 In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter‚ life is centered around a rigid Puritan society in which one is unable to divulge his or her innermost thoughts and secrets. Every human being needs the opportunity to express how he or she truly feels‚ otherwise the emotions are bottled up until they become volatile. Unfortunately‚ Puritan society did not permit this kind of expression‚ thus characters had to seek alternate means to relieve their personal anguishes and desires. Luckily
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deliberate test of her mother because she does not know why her mother is shunned and wants an explanation. The best explanation Hester has for her daughter is to tell her that she has indeed met the “Black Man” and that the scarlet letter is his mark‚ as the old woman has said. The discussions in the last four chapters of the identity of the “Black Man” suggest a profound confusion among the characters about the nature of evil‚ the definition of which is an important theme in this book. Hester
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In the scarlet letter‚ the main character‚ Hester Prynne‚ both excepts and rejects traditional gender roles for her culture. This is evident throughout the whole book as she rejects the typical stereotype of women of this day in time‚ while she also follows along with it as well. Also in this book it is obvious of another character who is less of what the typical man should be. Therefore making Hester Prynne a powerful symbol of strength for women by not completely conforming to the typical role
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“The Trio of Sin” Hester‚ Dimmesdale and Chillingworth – the three who contributed the most dramatic beginnings for the community as they determine how they handle their sinful ways. The Scarlet Letter‚ by Nathaniel Hawthorne‚ is a well written novel to reveal the different ways a person may handle their sin. Although‚ the title of the book is rather deceiving‚ it was soon discovered how there is more than what meets the eye in this story. Shockingly‚ Hester is the more positive example for
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While reading The Scarlet Letter book I had a little trouble with understanding the words and how it was used back in the days because they have different meanings to it now. The Scarlet letter brought out many morals to me along with the themes that I was given to explain. If I would have to make up a theme or moral of the story‚ is not to lie because the more you hold in the lie the deeper the guilt grows you it will make you into a different person‚ it will make you become something you don’t
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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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dismay: she who sins and takes the pay‚ or he who pays her for her sin?” (Cruz 296). In the 1600’s‚ when a woman commits adultery and brings shame upon her husband she is often put to death as punishment. However‚ in Hester Prynne’s case she is shamed with a scarlet letter and excluded from society. In the novel written by Nathaniel Hawthorne‚ The Scarlet Letter‚ Hester is forced to wear a Scarlet Letter “A” upon be bosom for the rest of her life. Yet‚ why is one person punished when the act of adultery
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On Calvinism in Hawthorne’s Scarlet Letter ZHONGHAO Diao Abstract: Hawthorne is a famous American writer. He wrote many excellent novels‚ which are popular among the readers at home and abroad. He lived in 19th century when Puritanism was still prevailing. And his family members were strict followers of Puritanism‚ who did lots of extreme misdeeds. This kind of family background had influenced Hawthorne a lot. These two factors both contributed to Hawthorne’s writing style and themes. He believed
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