Preview

What Does The Greed Symbolize In The Scarlet Letter

Satisfactory Essays
Open Document
Open Document
95 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
What Does The Greed Symbolize In The Scarlet Letter
After all, even though each character can be seen as a symbol, all of them have a negative understanding about them. Hester, having the scarlet letter, is publically shamed and is out casted near the forest, only to be ridiculed every time she goes into town. Pearl is seen as possessing witch like powers, and is considered a devil child. Dimmesdale is full of sorrow and agony, as keeping his sin inside him hurts him a lot. Chillingworth is full of hate towards both Hester and Dimmesdale, and is psychologically torturing Dimmesdale because of it.
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Chapter 17 summary scarlete letter
    • 710 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Chapter 17 summary scarlete letter

    Person Vs. Society – Dimmesdale fears that only the worst will happen if the town finds out that he is the father of Pearl and the companion of Hester. This is also ironic because the scarlet A has done the exact opposite for Hester. She has become a much appreciated citizen of the society[situational].…

    • 710 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Who Is Dimmesdale's Suffering In The Scarlet Letter
    • 1373 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Who Is Dimmesdale's Suffering In The Scarlet Letter

    According to Bruce Granger, who quotes, “The beautiful Hester, who has been wandering morally ever since they sinned together, is now more his enemy than the diabolical Chillingworth” (199). This quote is brought upon by the idea that Dimmesdale becomes lacking in will due to his strong affection for Hester, and ultimately causes Dimmesdale to have a moment in which he attempts to run away from his sin. Even though Dimmesdale wants to escape the pain of his sin by being with the woman he loves, Dimmesdale can not run away from his past and suffers from not being able to be with Hester. Another aspect to support this idea is when Dimmesdale proclaims, “Neither can I any longer live without her companionship; so powerful is she to sustain” (Hawthorne 177). This quote from the Scarlet Letter shows how significant Hester is to Dimmesdale. Dimmesdale is admitting to Hester how much he longs for her and how much he has suffered from being away from Hester. Even though Dimmesdale tells Hester of how much he longs to be with her and Pearl, Dimmesdale still feels the sin chasing after him, when he does not hold Hester’s or Pearl’s hand to walk into town. “Will he go back with us, hand in hand, we three together, into the town?” (Hawthorne 185). Hester helps explain to Pearl that Dimmesdale…

    • 1373 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Scarlet Letter Misunderstood Quotes
    • 443 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Scarlet Letter Misunderstood Quotes

    An imp of evil, emblem and product of sin, she had no right among christianed infants” (97). This is why the townspeople see her as evil and ungodly. Since Hester holds the scarlet letter, the townspeople know Pearl isn’t Chillingworth's daughter which means Hester committed adultery. During this time period, religion was a huge part of everyone's lives so committing sin was seen as blasphemous. What the townspeople didn’t know is that Dimmesdale is Pearl’s father. This wasn't revealed until the end of the book.…

    • 443 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Hypocrisy in the Scarlet Letter Essay Example
    • 952 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Hypocrisy in the Scarlet Letter Essay Example

    Arthur Dimmesdale’s hypocrisy is the most prominent. He gives public sermons on sin meanwhile he conceals to himself his private sin of fornicating with Hester. During his sermons he tells the people he is a sinner knowing it will only make him appear as a humble saint while trying to relieve some of his guilt. His selfish act of prevarication harms not only himself but Hester and Pearl as well. Hester must suffer through taking the public shame of the scarlet letter while Dimmesdale keeps his respected and pious reputation. Pearl is bastardized by Dimmesdale’s deplorable actions and is forced to be raised by a single parent. Dimmesdale’s daughter reaches out to him asking him to stand with her and her mother on the scaffold, symbolizing Dimmesdale confessing to his sin but he declines. In many attempts to ease his own guilt, Dimmesdale commits acts of self-mutilation that only adds to the deterioration of his physical health, causing him to eventually die, stopping him from ever living a happy life with Hester and their daughter. If he been honest to the community, he would have been able to relieve himself of his guilt and have no reason to not go on and enjoy a life with…

    • 952 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Reverend Dimmesdale In The Scarlet Letter
    • 1267 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Reverend Dimmesdale In The Scarlet Letter

    Dimmesdale represents the good in the novel and Chillingworth is the bad. Chillingworth in a sense is the scarlet letter and Dimmesdale is the cause of the scarlet letter. It is thought that Dimmesdale might be the scarlet letter because he is the one that committed the act of adultery when in fact the scarlet letter can be seen in Chillingworth. Dimmesdale is the cause and he feels the pain and suffering that come along with the letter, but he is remorseful and sorry for his actions. The scarlet letter represents evil and sin which is represented by Chillingworth. Hester and Dimmesdale wear the scarlet letters that in turn hinder them and we see the one hurting them is in fact Chillingworth. These two characters represent the two aspects of nature and everything in the world, good and…

    • 1267 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Scarlet Letter Sin Quotes
    • 1162 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Scarlet Letter Sin Quotes

    She is the result of Dimmesdale and Hester's love for each other. Because of Hester's crime, Pearl is also discriminated because of her mother. "Behold, verily, there is the woman of the scarlet letter; and of a truth, moreover, there is the likeness of the scarlet letter running along her side! Come, therefore, and let us fling mud at them!"(Hawthorne 112). This quote explains how the Puritan children felt about Hester and Pearl. They wanted to fling mud at them because these children were probably told to hate them, and also of the crime Hester committed. Pearl is also considered a wild child, and very untamed and very unlike Puritan children."The child shall be well cared for!–far better than tho canst do for it."(Hawthorne 124). And "The discipline of the family in those days, was of a far more rigid kind than now....Hester Prynne, nevertheless, the loving mother of this one child, ran little risk of erring on the side of undue severity. Mindful, however, of her own errors and misfortunes, she early sought to impose a tender, but strict control over the infant immortality that was committed to her charge. But the task was beyond her skill. After testing both smiles and frowns, and proving that neither mode of treatment possessed any calculable influence, Hester was ultimately compelled to stand aside and permit the child to be swayed by her own impulses." (Hawthorne 100). This quote explains how unlike Puritan child Pearl is, and how's she's offended. Pearl is considered wild and has no rules to follow, because Hester hasn't disciplined her. Because of this, the Townspeople want to give Pearl away to someone who's a better parent. Hester's sin has affected Pearl because she isn't treated with respect and she's considered the result of Hester's sin. Pearl is also considered a wild child that must be…

    • 1162 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Hester Prynne Character Analysis In Scarlet Letter
    • 801 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Hester Prynne Character Analysis In Scarlet Letter

    Hester was convicted of being an adulterer, and the novels follows her story in a 17th century Puritan town. The tale focuses on Hester, her daughter Pearl, her lover Dimmesdale, and her husband Chillingworth. They are all enduring their own battles with sin, some coming out of it better than others. Pearl is a physical version of Hester and Dimmesdale’s consciences. Pearl serves as a living version of the scarlet A on Hester’s chest. She torments Hester, and pushes Dimmesdale to acknowledge his sins. Pearl serves as a major character in this classic tragedy, and leaves the character better off than they…

    • 801 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Rhetorical Strategies In Nathaniel Hawthorne's 'The Scarlet Letter'
    • 986 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Rhetorical Strategies In Nathaniel Hawthorne's 'The Scarlet Letter'

    Hester can atone for her sin of adultery, but every day that she keeps the secret of her lover, and the true identity of Rodger Chillingworth a secret she is committing a sin. If Hester would have “Take heeds how thou deniest to him---who, perchance, hath not the courage to grasp it for himself---the bitter, but wholesome, cup that is now presented to thy lips!”(Dimmesdale 47) things would have been infinitely better for everyone. Everyone Hester Prynne loves, she does in a hypocritical way. She loves Pearl enough to sacrifice to feed and clothe her, but she does not love Pearl enough to give her a father. Hester loves Dimmesdale, but she does not love him enough to expose his sin publicly, and she conceals her knowledge of Chillingworth. Either you love something whole-heartedly, or you don’t. Hawthorne might have portrayed Hester in a more favorable light then the other characters, but still she should have to wear a scarlet H in addition to her…

    • 986 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Scarlet Letter Guiltiest Quotes
    • 501 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Scarlet Letter Guiltiest Quotes

    One of the main considerations while reading The Scarlet Letter, is who seems to be the guiltiest character. The three prime targets are Hester, Dimmesdale, and Chillingworth. While all of them have questionable morality and have committed "sin", Dimmesdale, the puritan minister, is the guiltiest character. He initiates a physical relationship with Hester, knowing she is married, he fails at the fatherly responsibility of taking care of his daughter, Pearl, and he selfishly cares more about himself than his secret family.…

    • 501 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    How Does Nathaniel Hawthorne Use Symbols In The Scarlet Letter
    • 570 Words
    • 3 Pages

    How Does Nathaniel Hawthorne Use Symbols In The Scarlet Letter

    Given her past, Prynne’s genuinely good character is depicted through her kindness toward everyone, especially Reverend Dimmesdale, who did less than his duty as Pearl’s father because both Prynne and Dimmesdale wanted to save his reputation as a religious leader. The scarlet letter gains a new positive meaning, “But did your reverence hear of the portent that was seen last night? A great red letter in the sky—the letter A, which we interpret to stand for Angel” (193). The once-shameful scarlet letter that stained Hester Prynne’s chest now gives her new respect from the society she lives…

    • 570 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Hester Prynne, Arthur Dimmesdale
    • 527 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Hester Prynne, Arthur Dimmesdale

    In conclusion, this idea of appearances being deceiving outwards is true for the characters Hester Prynne, Arthur Dimmesdale, and Roger Chillingworth. Hester even though “committed” a sin, was alway a kind and helpful person. Dimmesdale is the minister of the town and everyone assumes he would do no sin however he did, he kept a secret that he is Pearl’s father. Also,…

    • 527 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Pearl In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter
    • 723 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Pearl In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter

    The way that Nathaniel Hawthorne introduced Pearl as a character in The Scarlet Letter lead to a better understanding of Hester and Dimmesdale throughout the story. Pearl serves as a living example of Hester and Dimmesdale’s actions to Hester herself, Dimmesdale, the townspeople, and the reader. Pearl’s confident outer appearance also creates a questioning mood throughout the story that allows the reader to…

    • 723 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Hester Prynne In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter
    • 389 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Hester Prynne In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter

    The “A” serves as a daily reminder of wrong doings for Dimmesdale constantly weighing on his soul. Hester having a mark for her sin and himself having none causes Dimmesdale great guilt, so he wears his own mark “a scarlet letter- the very semblance of that worn by Hester Prynne- imprinted in the flesh.” Roger Chillingworth, or whatever his name is, isHester Prynne’s husband and a physician. Chillingworth sees the “A” as constant proof of his wife’s betrayal while hes was away. Seeking revenge becomes his passion in life ending with the death of Dimmesdale. As for Chillingworth “all his strength and energy-all his vital and intellectual force- seemed at once to desert him” after the death of Dimmesdale. The scarlet letter”A” has many appearances from strength of character to betrayal. Hester. Dimmesdale, and Chillingworth all have connections with the scarlet letter “A” that Hester wears. This simple symbol ties them together yet, distinguishes them from each other with the personal signifigance of the scarlet letter…

    • 389 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Capital Punishment In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter
    • 901 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Capital Punishment In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter

    Dimmesdale experiences a worse outcome. One day, Hester and Dimmesdale meet in a forest. Hester wants him to forget about his sin and move on. However, he hesitates to do so because he is the one who holds his people and honors God. Eventually, after his speech on Election Day, he confesses. He stands on the scaffold with Hester and his daughter, Pearl. Now, everyone sees the scarlet letter on the Reverend’s chest. Then, he dies on the scaffold. This is a tragic consequence of the sin. Although it can be thought that Dimmesdale doesn’t get much pain, he is fighting with himself inside him(“What”). On the other hand, after several years, Hester leaves and returns to Boston alone. Hester lives in a small cottage and is still isolated from the society. However, she continues her needlework. She works hard and tries to contribute to her society. At last, she begins to be accepted and known as a hard worker. This is when her letter A changes its meaning. At first, the scarlet letter A means adultery. Later, it becomes a symbol of able. After many years, Hester dies and is buried next to Dimmesdale, sharing a scarlet A. Hester and Dimmesdale have very different outcomes. Though Hester is publicly known for her sin, she accepts it and moves on. She works hard with her job and is always brave. On the other hand, Dimmesdale keeps everything in himself and ends up dying…

    • 901 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Identity In The Scarlet Letter
    • 701 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Identity In The Scarlet Letter

    The scarlet letter on Hester's breast embodies passion truth, and sin. Hester wears her identity proudly and accepts herself for who she is in her entirety. Dimmesdale's mark embodies truth, sin, and shame. Hiding the truth only makes the consequence worse and in Dimmesdale's case his mark is punishment for not being true to his whole identity. One should make the best of who they truly are and also whom society views them as. One should not deny any of their flaws because they are a part of whom they are. One should make their greatest flaw their greatest…

    • 701 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics