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Theme Of Good And Evil In The Scarlet Letter

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Theme Of Good And Evil In The Scarlet Letter
“The Scarlet Letter was written by Nathaniel Hawthorne. He is a anti-transcendentalist writer. This novel took place in the 1600’s but wasn't written until the 1800’s. It takes place in a Puritan town in Boston, Massachusetts. The town revolved around punishment. In this novel “The Scarlet Letter”, Nathaniel Hawthorne uses the symbols of Dimmesdale, Pearl and Hester's Cabin all contribute to the overall theme of good and evil.

First, Hawthorne uses Dimmesdale as a symbol to contribute to the overall theme of good and evil. Hawthorne explains “May God forgive thee… Thou too hast sinned.” (Hawthorne 228.) Dimmesdale says this quote to the crowd after announcing his secret sin of being Pearl’s father. He furthermore announces that he committed the sin of Adultery with Hester. This is showing the good side of him. How he decides to repent for what he has done wrong. Although he did evil things this was one of the many good things he did as well. Hawthorne explains “While thus suffering under bodily disease and gnawed tortured by some black trouble of the soul…” (Hawthorne 128). Dimmesdale is under so much pressure that he begins to torture himself for keeping his secret sin for seven years, which sums up the evil part of him.

In addition to Dimmesdale, Pearl is another symbol the contributes …show more content…
It describes how she herself is good and evil. Hawthorne explains “...On the outskirts of the town, within the verge of the peninsula…” (Hawthorne 74). Hester’s cabin is in between the society and the forest. The town represents good that she still has in her. The forest represents the bad things that are apart of her life. Hawthorne explains “A mystic shadow of suspicion immediately attached itself to the spot.” (Hawthorne 75.) This is the evil and dark part about Hester's Cabin. The cavil is usually dark and nobody lives there but Hester and Pearl. The people think that Hester does bad things in the
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