face them. Hawthorne uses Hester as the heroine because she is the only character in a puritan society who is morally justified by their actions. Hester Prynne is “a figure of perfect elegance on a large scale‚” a young and beautiful woman (Hawthorne 46). She brought a child into the world with an unknown father. She is punished by Puritan society by wearing the scarlet letter A on the bosom of her dress. The letter is decorated in gold thread; it is decorated in gold because it is a reflection of
Premium The Scarlet Letter Hester Prynne Nathaniel Hawthorne
“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 Worst Sinner in The Scarlet Letter In The Scarlet Letter there are three main sinners presented to the reader. Hester Prynne‚ Arthur Dimmesdale and Roger Chillingworth are all written with their own forms of sin‚ and each has a unique coping mechanism for their sins and guilt. Sin‚ at this time‚ was a hugely important part of daily life‚ and punishment for one’s sins was universally seen as not only a positive thing‚ but a necessary action to keep the people of the colony pure. Both Hester
Premium The Scarlet Letter Nathaniel Hawthorne Hester Prynne
no definite one. I decided to explore different interpretations. These roses would “offer their fragrance and fragile beauty to the prisoner.” (42) These soft‚ red roses offer a small but bold contrast to the strict‚ black and white world of the puritans. The vibrant flowers give a splash of life to the monotonous‚ dreary scene. The roses can also be interpreted as a beacon of hope; the one last symbol of freedom and beauty before one is condemned to prison‚ a cold‚ heartless place. It’s almost
Premium Rose
occurred. He further comments that even if that is not the reason‚ Hester may have been inclined to remain in Boston because her secret lover still lived there. Hester’s skill at needlework‚ earlier shown in the fine way that she displayed the scarlet letter‚ allows her to maintain a fairly stable lifestyle. However‚ her reputation as an outcast and loner causes a certain aura to be cast around her. Thus‚ Hawthorne points out that young children often crept up to her house to spy on her while she
Premium The Scarlet Letter Nathaniel Hawthorne Hester Prynne
Scarlet Letter Study Guide 1/6/12 1. Hester Prynne- Hester Prynne‚ the protagonist of the novel‚ is the mother of Pearl. She must wear the scarlet letter A on her body as punishment for her adulterous affair with Arthur Dimmesdale‚ the town minister. Pearl- Hester’s daughter. Rev. Dimmesdale - Arthur Dimmesdale is a respected minister in Boston and the father of Pearl. While Hester waited for her husband to arrive from Amsterdam‚ she met Dimmesdale and had an adulterous affair with him‚
Premium The Scarlet Letter Hester Prynne John Winthrop
of men and women. The irony of this stereotype proved the disability of human to move forward mentally‚ while the technological advances improve society. During the 16th and 17th centuries of America‚ there was a group of European people called “Puritan” settled in America‚ and established their New England colonies. The role of women in Puritan society were mothers‚ wives and farmers or gardeners. They considered inferior than men and had no saying in decision making. From this perspective of women
Premium Gender Female Gender role
connotations that include purity and warmth. Puritan society would welcome light as a symbol of the former‚ but warmth is not reminiscent of the strict religion. Puritans valued simplicity and hard work‚ but experiencing warmth as an emotion stemming from joy and laughter was unacceptable. With their strict rules‚ anyone who sinned was persecuted. The Scarlet Letter‚ by Nathaniel Hawthorne‚ illustrates the story of Hester Prynne‚ a young woman condemned by Puritan society. She committed adultery with the minister
Premium
A Human Form of the Rose Bush Pearl‚ in the Scarlet Letter is in many ways a human form of the rose bush introduced in chapter 1. Just like the rose bush‚ Pearl is wild and free. She does not listen to what others say about her‚ she does not care what other’s opinions are one her. Some people call her the devil’s child because she represents sin‚ but her mother considers her an angel. The rose bush has a representation of sin in the way that it grows outside of the prison and is a reminder of
Premium Nathaniel Hawthorne The Scarlet Letter Hester Prynne
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