Scarlett Letter Criticism Nathanial Hawthorne envisioned The Scarlet Letter as a short story published in a collection‚ but it outgrew that purpose. Most critics accept Hawthorne’s definition of it as a “romance” rather than a novel. The novel begins with an introductory autobiographical essay‚ “The Custom House” where Hawthorne describes working as a custom officer in Salem‚ Massachusetts. He describes coming across documents that provide him with the basis for The Scarlett Letter. The introductory
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In the novel of The Scarlet Letter‚ there were different types of themes which corresponded with the story. However‚ the theme that I choose is Revenge and Love. Revenge is one of the main lessons Hawthorne was trying to portray to the audience‚ because Chillingworth was up to no good in discovering Hester’s lover. The theme of love connected Dimmesdale and Hester together‚ which caused Chillingworth to have his revenge. The act of revenge began when Chillingworth returned from his journey and discovered
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Symbols of Guilt Within The Scarlet Letter The Scarlet Letter‚ a novel written by Nathaniel Hawthorne in the 1800’s‚ transports readers to a Puritan town in the 1600’s. Hawthorne‚ nephew of the Puritan Judge John Hathorne‚ was very fixated on puritanism and theocracy. Throughout his novel Hawthorne repeatedly emphasizes the importance of the Christian religion in the theocratic town. Along with stressing the topic of religion Hawthorne also accentuates the theme of guilt within his novel and uses
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everywhere in everyday life. Beginning before even before 1640‚ people in the newly established colonies were forced to wear letters on their chests for all of the public to see. People who refused were actually whipped and beaten to coerce them into wearing their letters. One particular letter was the scarlet letter “A” which represented adultery. In the novel The Scarlet Letter‚ the leading woman‚ Hester Prynne‚ is forced to wear an “A” for her sin. Hawthorne uses Hester as an example to the rest of
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individuals with different life experiences that help define who they are. Nathaniel Hawthorne also criticizes the Utopian ideals that societies often hold in his novel‚ The Scarlet Letter. The main character‚ Hester goes astray from the rules of her Puritan town and must wear a scarlet letter on her chest to declare her sin. The scarlet letter isolates Hester from the pressures to conform to society‚ giving her the opportunity to find her individualistic moral perspective in life and she shares this revelation
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The Scarlet Letter: from A to z. Journal # 1 Reading: The Marketplace‚ The Recognition‚ The Interview Journal Notes [see end of document for format criteria]: 1. Select distinguishing characteristics and remarks for Hester Prynne‚ Rev. Dimmesdale and the stranger/physician. 2. Track how the crowd treats Hester/her punishment 3. Note Hawthorne’s references to Puritan living and how they indicate bias towards their actions and beliefs. 4. Vocabulary (you
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Hester’s Scarlet Letter In the novel‚ The Scarlet Letter‚ the protagonist‚ Hester Prynne‚ is forced to publically wear her sin on her sleeve. She committed adultery‚ which was a sin that was highly chastised by the Puritan society. The Scarlet Letter that Hester wore first symbolized the burden and humiliation that accompanied the sin. Throughout the novel however‚ the meaning of the letter changed to parallel Hester’s own development into a strong‚ independent woman. The letter starts out
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reader to understand characters or context in a different way. In the book “The Scarlet Letter‚” symbolism plays an important role. There are many symbols in the book‚The symbols all have meaning‚ which help the reader to go deeper in the text. Also‚ symbolism in The Scarlet Letter enhance meaning in the text by allowing the reader to understand the characters on a deeper lever. Three significant symbols from The Scarlet Letter include: Pearl‚ Hester‚ and The Forest. Pearl is a symbol of sin and treasure
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The effect of the symbol--or‚ rather‚ of the position in respect of society that was indicated by it-- on the mind of Hester Prynne herself‚ was powerful and peculiar. All the light and graceful foliage of her character had been withered up by this red-hot brand‚ and had long ago fallen away‚ leaving a bare and harsh outline‚ which might have been repulsive‚ had she possessed friends or companions to be repelled
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influenced many poets. Symbolism is anything that stands for or represents something else. "The Scarlet Letter"‚ by Nathaniel Hawthorne is filled with symbolism which he uses to unify the novel and add a deeper level of meaning to the story. In the novel‚ the three most important symbolisms were the forest‚ the scaffold‚ and the scarlet letter "A" on Hester’s bosom. But the symbolism of the scarlet letter "A" outweighs every other symbolism. The forest is symbolic of Nature‚ both in its darker and
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