Nathaniel Hawthorne’s the Scarlet Letter‚ Pearl is a symbol of adultery and sin. Being the product of such‚ she leads Hester and Dimmesdale to the acceptance and confession of their sin. She’s the beautiful daughter of the towns adulterist and has mean traits. Pearl is technically the only living symbol of the scarlet letter. She also makes a connection between Hester and Dimmesdale. Initially Pearl is the symbol of Hester’s public punishment for her sin. As the book goes on Pearl grows up and represents
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Scarlett Letter Dialectical Journal “On one side of the portal‚ and rooted almost at the threshold‚ was a wild rose-bush‚ covered‚ in this month of June‚ with its delicate gems‚ which might be imagined to offer their fragrance and fragile beauty to the prisoner as he went in‚ and to the condemned criminal as he came forth to his doom‚ in token that the deep heart of Nature could pity and be kind to him." Chapter 1‚ pg. 46 | -This rose-bush represents Pearl afterwards in Hester’s life. The prison
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The understanding of varied historical and cultural meanings associated with ‘walks’ aid the 21st century reader in interpreting how Nathaniel Hawthorne purposefully characterizes Hester and Dimmesdale to unify a thematic concern for The Scarlet Letter. Solnit’s diction develops important imagery (specifically metaphors) to guide the reader’s understanding of ‘walking’. “Walking becomes testifying” (Wanderlust: A History of Walking) The denotation of the word ‘testifying’ means to serve as evidence
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child who’s always striving to learn more. In Hester’s life‚ Pearl is given to her as a symbol of Hester’s past. Although Hester and Dimmesdale could have committed adultery without having Pearl‚ Hawthorne made Pearl a character to symbolize Hester and Dimmesdale’s actions. Pearl serves as a living example of Hester and Dimmesdale’s actions to Hester herself‚ Dimmesdale‚ the townspeople‚ and the reader. The main conflict in the book‚ The Scarlet Letter‚ was Hester’s action of committing adultery. I
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The difference between their cases was that Dimmesdale did not confess until seven years after the crime was done. Although he never received a punishment from the government as Hester did‚ he punished himself Everyday. He was tortured with guilt in his heart; as a result‚ carried out fasts‚ and other
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Arthur Dimmesdale. Hester is exiled from the community‚ living on the brink of wilderness‚ “outlawed from society‚ and so freed‚ in a sense‚ she…. [goes] beyond accepted Puritan attitudes toward society and theology” (Eisinger 325). No longer an active participant in society‚ living in nature with only her daughter‚ Hester is presented with a sense of freedom. She embraces that freedom and uses it to break down the walls of society that have governed her life. In a similar fashion‚ Dimmesdale is exposed
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determination that she will need to overcome the legacy of her creation. In this scene she also creates the need in Dimmesdale to absolve himself of his guilt. The second scaffold scene is the opportunity for Dimmesdale to attempt to release his guilt from the first scaffold. However‚ Pearl creates a need in Dimmesdale to repent in front of the town. During the third scaffold scene‚ Dimmesdale is able to release his guilt about his crime and his lack of strength. He is also able to complete his obligation
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Joseph Gurke 10.17.2012 Ms. Boas P.1 The Scarlet Letter Light‚ Dark‚ Sunlight and Shadows Throughout his entire life‚ Nathaniel Hawthorne had lived in seclusion from people and society‚ isolating himself and his thoughts behind a mysterious shade. This may explain why the themes of sin‚ secrecy and guilt are used in Hawthorne’s fiction‚ exploring hidden human dimensions. The images of sin‚ secrecy‚ and guilt are constantly portrayed in Nathaniel Hawthorne ’s‚ The Scarlet Letter‚ through the
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face‚ which I would gladly have been spared the sight of. But still‚ methinks‚ it must needs be better for the sufferer to be free to show his pain‚ as this poor woman Hester is‚ than to cover it all up in his heart.” (118) This was said by Arthur Dimmesdale‚ the clergyman with the secret of a bastard child. He punishes himself daily for his sin‚ and takes no pleasure in the pain that the sin causes‚ his lover‚ Hester to feel. How can a man‚ who is that compassionate‚ be an evil sinner bound forever
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characters develop unique personalities and character traits. Hester‚ the mother of Pearl‚ is kindhearted and comes to realize her own worth. Chillingworth is evil and selfish. He looks for the flaws in others and uses those weaknesses to hurt them. Dimmesdale is timid and cowardly. While he means well‚ he does more harm than good and leaves Hester to clean up his mess. Pearl is the most insightful‚ she thinks things through and uses her perceptfulness to help others realize their mistakes and recognize
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