The Scarlet Letter Theme Analysis: Sin, Hypocrisy, and Corruption
The Scarlet Letter Essay
Prompt: How does Hawthorne develop his themes of sin, hypocrisy, and corruption in the Puritan society through the occurrences of the scarlet letter, the scaffold, the Puritans, the prison, and the forest in the story?
In the world today, themes and symbolisms have played a major role in the development and presentation of past and present novels. These themes and symbolisms within a novel shape the overall story and often work hand in hand to convey its purpose and meaning. One such novel would include The Scarlet Letter, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne; in this story, along with all his others, he has incorporated his three predominant, driving themes: sin, hypocrisy, and corruption. In The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne uses the occurrences of the scarlet letter, the scaffold, the Puritans, the prison, and the forest in the story to develop his themes of sin, hypocrisy, and corruption within the Puritan society.
The theme of sin in the story is supported by the scarlet letter, the scaffold, and the forest. The scarlet letter, forced to be worn by Hester Prynne as a punishment for her act of adultery, is the physical representation of her sin. The scarlet A is always visible for the Puritans to see on Hester Prynne, and she is foremost ashamed of her sin, though she turns it into more of an ornament by beautifully embroidering the A in red and gold, thereby adorning a piece of her artistry of which she can take pride in, as opposed to a horrid punishment. For example, in chapter two, it states, “On the breast of her gown, in fine red cloth surrounded with an elaborate embroidery and fantastic flourishes of gold thread, appeared the letter A. It was so artistically done, and with so much fertility and gorgeous luxuriance of fancy, that it had all the effect of a last and fitting decoration to the apparel which she wore…” Yet, its chronic presence as a reminder of her sin set her apart from the rest of society. In chapter five, it says, “In all
Prompt: How does Hawthorne develop his themes of sin, hypocrisy, and corruption in the Puritan society through the occurrences of the scarlet letter, the scaffold, the Puritans, the prison, and the forest in the story?
In the world today, themes and symbolisms have played a major role in the development and presentation of past and present novels. These themes and symbolisms within a novel shape the overall story and often work hand in hand to convey its purpose and meaning. One such novel would include The Scarlet Letter, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne; in this story, along with all his others, he has incorporated his three predominant, driving themes: sin, hypocrisy, and corruption. In The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne uses the occurrences of the scarlet letter, the scaffold, the Puritans, the prison, and the forest in the story to develop his themes of sin, hypocrisy, and corruption within the Puritan society.
The theme of sin in the story is supported by the scarlet letter, the scaffold, and the forest. The scarlet letter, forced to be worn by Hester Prynne as a punishment for her act of adultery, is the physical representation of her sin. The scarlet A is always visible for the Puritans to see on Hester Prynne, and she is foremost ashamed of her sin, though she turns it into more of an ornament by beautifully embroidering the A in red and gold, thereby adorning a piece of her artistry of which she can take pride in, as opposed to a horrid punishment. For example, in chapter two, it states, “On the breast of her gown, in fine red cloth surrounded with an elaborate embroidery and fantastic flourishes of gold thread, appeared the letter A. It was so artistically done, and with so much fertility and gorgeous luxuriance of fancy, that it had all the effect of a last and fitting decoration to the apparel which she wore…” Yet, its chronic presence as a reminder of her sin set her apart from the rest of society. In chapter five, it says, “In all