reverend named Arthur Dimmesdale‚ aspiring to be him. Little did they know that the entire time that they idolized him‚ he was hiding a sinful secret that would relentlessly haunt his soul for the rest of his mortal life. In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter‚ Arthur Dimmesdale’s cowardice‚ misery‚ and faith are what ultimately led to his unfortunate demise. Arthur Dimmesdale was not in any sense brave; in fact‚ he was a major coward. After committing
Premium Nathaniel Hawthorne The Scarlet Letter Hester Prynne
In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s book‚ “The Scarlet Letter‚” a very prominent theme is the idea of how something a little bit out of the ordinary can become quite exaggerated. In the beginning of the book‚ the main character‚ Hester Prynne‚ is made to wear a scarlet letter to pay for her sin of adultery. This letter and even Hester herself is exaggerated in the eyes of society throughout the book. “It was whispered‚ by those who peered after her‚ that the scarlet letter threw a lurid gleam along the dark
Premium Hester Prynne Nathaniel Hawthorne The Scarlet Letter
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
Premium The Scarlet Letter Nathaniel Hawthorne Adultery
In Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter‚ Pearl serves many roles as a character. In the harsh Puritan society she lived in with her mother Hester‚ she provides some comical relief into their difficult lives. Hester was condemned her whole life from committing adultery. Her letter was not the only punishment she faced‚ but the internal guilt of knowing she went against her religion sat with her for life. Pearl was her most precious gift and she gave Hester a reason to keep going and continue on with her
Premium Family Love Marriage
Transformation The setting of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Scarlet letter” is crucial to the understanding of the event that takes place in the story. The setting of the story is in Salem‚ Massachusetts during the Puritan era. During the Puritan era‚ adultery was taken as a very serious sin‚ and this is what Hester and Dimmesdale committ with each other. Because of the sin‚ their lives change‚ Hester has to walk around in public with a Scarlet Letter “A” which stands for adultery‚ and she is constantly
Premium Nathaniel Hawthorne The Scarlet Letter Hester Prynne
“The motherchild relationship...requires the most intense love on the mother’s side‚” according to Erich Fromm‚ a German psychologist. The love that Hester expresses toward her daughter Pearl in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter‚ and the lessons that she teaches her are what makes Hester a great mother. In return‚ Pearl improves Hester’s public image with her beauty and keeps Hester’s emotions and actions in check. The way these two characters subconsciously complement each other forms a
Premium Nathaniel Hawthorne The Scarlet Letter Puritan
The Scarlet Letter Essay Prompt #1 As far as women are discussed in past societies‚ they are usually not the heroes. Nathaniel Hawthorne thought otherwise in his literary work‚ The Scarlet Letter. Heroes are often characterized as courageous‚ strong‚ and ones with humility. Nathaniel Hawthorne’s character Hester Prynne exhibits all of these qualities of heroism. Due to Hester Prynne taking responsibility for her sin of adultery and deciding to continue to work arduously in a society where she is
Premium The Scarlet Letter Nathaniel Hawthorne Hester Prynne
Anaysa Viviana Arce Professor Dr. Don Macon English Literature 1302 21 April 2013 Feminism & Sexism: The Scarlet Letter “In Heaven’s own time‚ a new truth would be revealed‚ in order to establish the whole relation between man and woman on a surer ground of mutual happiness” (ch. 24). The Scarlet Letter; where there is a woman‚ a husband‚ and a lover. A story where women are downgraded‚ humiliated‚ punished‚ and judged for their actions. It is an obvious that eras have changed as
Premium Hester Prynne Puritan The Scarlet Letter
is the scarlet letter‚ Monica Lewinsky‚ and Justine Sacco’s issue. These sources display negative effects of public shaming towards the people is unjust. Public shaming causes cruel punishments‚ depression and it should be left in the past. First‚ cruel punishment is something that is given to you that is way more dreadful then what it should actually be. Hester Pryme is a victim of a cruel punishment that she truly did not deserve. Chapter 5 of Scarlet Letter “Here‚ she said herself had been
Premium The Scarlet Letter Hester Prynne Nathaniel Hawthorne
Shelby Kane Dr. Mulholland College Literature February 21‚ 2012 Life Struggles in The Scarlet Letter and Frankenstein If you read a lot of classic literature‚ you can usually see multiple similarities in them. Whether the plots or themes are alike‚ they convey similar messages. In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein‚ there are very similar life struggles that the characters go through. The main characters of each novel; Hester Prynne‚ Arthur Dimmesdale‚ Victor
Premium The Scarlet Letter Hester Prynne Nathaniel Hawthorne