The scarlet letter stands for adultery and only adultery and nothing more. In “The Meaning of the Scarlet A‚” Claudia Durst Johnson describes how the “A” In The Scarlet Letter‚ by Nathaniel Hawthorne‚ evolves in the meaning as the story goes on. Johnson is incorrect in her assertion as the “A” maintains the meaning of Adultery throughout the book. The first reason Claudia gives is‚ “Much of the meaning of the scarlet letter resides in Pearl because she is the result of Hester’s adultery.” (Johnson
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In "The Scarlet Letter"‚ Nathaniel Hawthorne portrays the hypocrisy of the Puritan society of the seventeenth century with the story of the downfall and redemption of Hester Prynne. The hypocritical Puritan society punishes Hester for committing adultery. However‚ in her own mind‚ she does not see her actions as a sin because she acts out of love. Furthermore‚ she redeems herself by turning her offense into a virtue. Through the tale of Hester Prynne‚ Hawthorne’s moral is that the sin is not in adultery
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There is a great deal of symbolism in The Scarlet Letter‚ and it may seem rather overdone to some readers. This is because the intent of the novel was not to portray a completely accurate or realistic account of Hester Prynne’s story‚ but rather to use that symbolism to make a point. The first chapter‚ though it is barely two pages long‚ is absolutely filled with symbolism‚ and the rest of the novel is no different. James states that the symbolism "is overdone at times‚ and becomes mechanical; it
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Nathaniel Hawthorne‚ author of “The Scarlet Letter” chooses to use a number of different symbols in vital scenes throughout his book. In the story‚ the reader will recognize a number of different images that have much deeper meanings contributing to the plot of the novel. Hawthorne produces a detailed image for the reader and makes the symbols clear in his writing. Symbolism is a major aspect of “The Scarlet Letter”‚ without it‚ the story would not be as highly regarded as it is today. There are
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Public Humiliation The Crucible and The Scarlet Letter share many themes that are still present in today’s society‚ such as the use of public humiliation as a punishment. Because of their sins‚ both John Proctor and Hester Prynn were alienated and punished by their peers and town leaders. The public humiliation that they faced helped shape the characters in the eyes of the reader and effected the way that they behaved and acted. In The Crucible John Proctor and the other towns people were punished
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The Scarlet Letter characters struggle to accept their own personal identities. Hester embodies the scarlet letter‚ while Dimmesdale tries to break his stereotypical religious identity. By wearing the scarlet letter‚ Salem publically shames Hester. If she leaves the town‚ then she could remove the A‚ but instead she stays. She could go away with her daughter Pearl and have a completely normal life. She refuses to leave because the letter has become her identity‚ and she uses its power. Some people
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Read the following passage from Nathaniel Hawthorn’s The Scarlet Letter. In a well-organized response‚ analyze how the author’s use of language influences both mood and tone. The scene was not without a mixture of awe‚ such as must always invest the spectacle of guilt and shame in a fellow-creature‚ before society shall have grown corrupt enough to smile‚ instead of shuddering‚ at it. The witnesses of Hester Prynne’s disgrace had not yet passed beyond their simplicity. They were stern enough to
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Kayla Lang 1/21/14 Sin Victimizes the Innocent In the novel The Scarlet Letter‚ Nathaniel Hawthorne explores the idea of sin and how it affected those in the Puritan era. Hester Prynne‚ with her baby in her arms‚ is ridiculed in front of the entire town. Hester and her daughter are shunned to a house on the outskirts of town‚ isolating them from the Puritan community. Pearl and Hester grow up in the town alone as social outcasts‚ but they do have each other. Pearl is raised by her single mother
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Brandon H. 12.17.2012 C.A. Rough Pearl In “The Scarlet Letter”‚ Nathanial Hawthorne masterfully weaves symbolism into his plot. The smaller implied themes of the story add an element to “The Scarlet Letter” that is lacking in many books‚ modern and classic. Pearl‚ being the daughter of one of the main characters‚ is portrayed in two ways‚ just like many of the other characters in the story. In Hawthorne’s tale of the scarlet letter‚ Pearl Prynne is represented as both a symbol as well as
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The Role of the Scaffold‚ “the Platform of Pillory”‚ in the Scarlett Letter and what it represented Thesis: The Scaffold was the platform of humiliation. The Scarlet Letter is a novel that revolves around the repercussion of an adulterous encounter in Puritan Boston. It emerged that a young beautiful woman (Hester Prynne) bears child with a respected clergyman (Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale). According to the Puritan Code‚ this would lead to public condemnation and mockery hence the two “partners in
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