The Symbolic Nature of the Scarlet Letter Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter introduces themes within the story that recur in several settings and serve as metaphors for the underlying conflicts. The trouble in interpreting The Scarlet Letter is the fact that the story is packed full of symbolism that can be either overlooked‚ or misinterpreted. From the actual letter A’‚ down to the use of colors‚ Hawthorne wrote his story with the intention of making the reader work harder and read
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Sin and Atonement Sin: to violate a divine law by transgression or neglect. Atone: to make up for deficiencies. Hawthorne uses these two themes to compare and contrast two different characters‚ Hester Prynne and Mr. Dimmesdale. Although both Hester and Mr. Dimmesdale drank from the same cup of sin‚ only one sinner has properly atoned for themselves. Hesters atonement is carried out daily in public‚ before God and the people‚ while Dimmesdales “ Atonement” is carried
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“The Scarlet Letter” Feminist Essay While Hawthorne is influenced by stereotypes‚ The Scarlet Letter‚ by Nathaniel Hawthorne does serve to criticize patriarchy as he creates a plausible individual who is strong in the face of patriarchal opposition. Hester turns her punishment into a life changing experience by becoming a better‚ stronger‚ and more independent person than she was at the beginning of the novel. The way she handles her punishment does not make it right but
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Hester Prynne: Beyond Feminism/Anti-Feminism By: Dylan Horn “She will not speak!... Wondrous strength and generosity of a woman’s heart! She will not speak!” (59). In Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter‚ Dimmesdale expresses his admiration for Hester’s strength in remaining silent in the face of vitriolic accusations by the Puritan judges‚ as they forcefully implore her to reveal the name of her lover. One can interpret Dimmesdale’s quote as expressing amazement and reverence at Hester’s choice
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Grayce Byrnes Mr. Smith AP English 11-Period A 24 September 2012 The Passion of Pearl In the novel The Scarlet Letter‚ Nathaniel Hawthorne depicts the hardships of a young girl named Hester forced to live with the letter A pinned to her chest in penitence for her sins in a strict Puritan town in the 1800s. The illegitimate daughter of Hester carries the same traits and qualities as Hester‚ making Pearl a double of Hester. Hawthorne defines Pearl with his use of abstract diction‚ whimsical
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Introduction Throughout the story‚ Pearl is depicted as pure‚ evil‚ one with nature‚ non-relaxing and peaceful. The colors “walls of white‚” “relaxing evening rain‚” “earthen shaded granite‚” and “India black tea” help relate the characteristics of Pearl and her changes throughout the story. Walls of White The color “walls of white” describe Pearl’s name and what she has to live up to. Hester names her child Pearl. “But she named the infant ‘Pearl‚’ as
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Hector Guevara First Block English II Mr. Richmond May 9‚ 2013 Outline for The Scarlet Letter Thesis Statement: In the extraordinary book of Nathaniel Hawthorne‚ diction and symbolism are used to convey Hester Prynne’s conflicts with herself and the townspeople‚ people on this
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In The Scarlett Letter‚ Hester Prynne has an attitude that embraces the fact that she is an outsider in the Puritan community. By the end of the story‚ Hester does not care anymore what any of the townspeople think of her‚ and she has become a stronger woman (Hawthorne
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At the start of the book‚ Hester is a young woman with a newborn baby. She has been alone in New England for the past two years because her husband‚ a wealthy scholar from England‚ sent her ahead to the Massachusetts Bay Colony while he took care of business at home. The arrival of a baby was sufficient evidence to convict her of adultery. It is difficult to know what kind of person Hester was before the book begins. However‚ the book opens with her sudden acknowledgment of shame as she stands before
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The final scaffold scene in The Scarlet Letter serves as an illuminating incident where various themes and there meanings are explained. The kiss Arthur and his daughter share and how it transforms Pearl into a compassionate human shows the reader why Nathaniel Hawthorne emphasized the importance of their kiss in previous scenes. Pearl is explained throughout the books as an “elf-child” but her interaction with the reverend finally enlightens her and tell the reader her relationship with her father
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