Honors American Lit. B Kathryn Durga The Scarlet Letter: The Child at Brook-side 3/22/13 In this passage Dimmesdale is speaking about Pearl standing on the other side of the stream refusing to go to him and Hester. The contrast between Pearl standing on the opposite side as them parallels the contrast in their lives. Hester‚ now not wearing the scarlet letter‚ and Dimmesdale are concealing their relationship and their sin in the forest‚ representing a world of secrecy. Pearl‚ however
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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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There is a lot of commotion around the town discussing whether or not Hester’s punishment was enough to be considered just. Some of the people wanted a harsher punishment and not some weak punishment like being in jail for a couple of days. But the punishment the magistrates gave was a good one and they didn’t need to go to the extreme. Hester did break a major crime committed adultery and she will pay for it later on‚ she is going to be outcast of the town‚ and she will keep pearl so she will always
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Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter. It is the driving force behind the actions of the main antagonist Roger Chillingworth. In the novel his obsession for revenge is seen as an uncontrollable desire that consumes the character. Chillingworth told his wife‚ Hester Prynne‚ that he would find the adulterer and have him punished. He wanted Hester’s partner to suffer the same humiliation she had to endure. Chillingworth wanted him to stand on the scaffold for three hours‚ wearing a letter “A” and become
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Scarlet Letter relates to the theme of individual versus society in various ways throughout the novel because of the main character’s (Hester) hardship with her secrets that were kept. Not only Hester but Dimmesdale and Chillingworth were keeping secrets from each other and the whole town. Hester has to control her desire to tell the truth and practices the art of deception to hide these secrets from others. Throughout the history of mankind‚ the use of deception to promote oneself to a higher
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In the novel “The Scarlet Letter” by Nathaniel Hawthorne‚ Hawthorne makes Hester the most “free” character by showcasing her transformation from ostracized sinner to an able woman of her letter in order to display the idea that repressed sin destroys the soul while openness and honesty sets a soul free. Hester was not burdened with the internal guilt that consumed her “fellow sinner”‚ Arthur Dimmesdale‚ because she had to wear her sin openly on her chest‚ forcing her to confront her sin and the stigma
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The Scarlet Letter assignment #1 – Chapter 2‚ pages 6-7: I used the Visualize the Scene category. I can see Hester Prynne emerging from the prison. I can see that she is ladylike‚ tall‚ and beautiful. I can see her in a beautiful dress with the A embroidered on it walking through the crowd with her head held high and a baby in her arms. #2 – Chapter 3‚ pages 13-16: I used the Ask a Question category. Who is this man who has come into the town with the Indian? Why does he question a townsman
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In a novel of sin and redemption‚ symbolism is used to broaden the significance of certain aspects. Throughout The Scarlet Letter‚ Hawthorne uses a barrage of themes‚ motifs‚ and symbolisms. These images help to unify the novel and enrich the meaning behind the work. Early in the novel‚ Hawthorne refers to iron‚ oak‚ chains mainly to demonstrate the Puritanism that takes place in the novel. However‚ he also uses these symbolic items to display the bonds between characters and what they believe in
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Sin‚ vengeance‚ evil‚ and redemption are all words one can associate when thinking about The Scarlet Letter‚ by Nathaniel Hawthorne. The character who takes the truest form of these negative words is Roger Chillingworth. Hester Prynne had married Chillingworth in England‚ however left her for many years. During those years‚ Chillingworth spent time with Indians learning their ways while Hester had an ill legitimate child with a beloved priest named Arthur Dimmesdale. When Hester Prynne begins her
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Nathaniel Hawthorne chose such a controversial topic as adultery for The Scarlet Letter‚ his nineteenth century novel of "seventeenth century sexual repression and hypocrisy"‚ demonstrates a delicate yet changing climate with regard to infidelity. Historically‚ carrying on an adulterous affair back in such an era of Puritanism and traditional values was not taken lightly; in fact‚ by today’s standards‚ such horrific treatment for what is now considered an everyday occurrence was harsher than murders
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