... themes in his book. In The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne unveils the tale of two lovers in a Puritan society: one a minister and the other a lowly embroiderer. They fall in love and create a child together out of wedlock. The society then rejects the mother, Hester Prynne, and forces her to wear a scarlet letter, the novel's namesake. Arthur Dimmesdale, the minister, stays quiet about this affair in fear that the society will similarly disown him ... she should, and asks the exact questions she should not. These questions shape Dimmesdale and Hester in their personal development, ...

• Word Count: 890
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography

... sin. When we were first introduced to Pearl, she was immediately drawn to the Scarlet "A" on Hester's bosom. "But the first object of which Pearl seemed to become aware was the scarlet letter on Hester's bosom! One day, as her mother stooped over the cradle, the infant's eyes had been caught by the glimmering of the gold embroidery about the letter' and, putting up her little hand, she grasped at it, smiling not ... a natural inclination to focus on the scarlet letter, which is show in its fullest in Chapter 15. " Pearl took some eel-grass, and imitated, as best as she could, on her own...

• Word Count: 1133
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... he is so terrified of everyone in the town finding out his secret that he is blind to any enemy within his own home. Chillingworth engages the minister in a conversation about why men keep secrets in their hearts, rather than reveal them immediately. Dimmesdale clutches his breast and struggles to avoid directly answering the questions Chillingworth poses. The two men are interrupted by Pearl ... and Hester walking through the cemetery outside. Pearl is jumping from gravestone to gravestone, and finally starts dancing upon a large, flat stone. When Hester tries to make her stop, she take...

• Word Count: 5572
• Approx Pages: 22
• Grade Level: High School

... . (Bloom 91-92) Pearl is also greatly affected by the scarlet letter, but in another way. Although she questions Hester about the "A", she is not told the true meaning. Pearl suffers a loss of identity and her mother's refusal to tell the truth keeps her daughter in the dark, not knowing of her illicit birth and her origins. Although the scarlet "A" keeps her in the dark, she also is a symbol of it. Pearl ... 's function in the novel is a symbol, used to show that the production of Hester ... ...

• Word Count: 1366
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... his very essence, Arthur 3 Dimmesdale illustrates Hawthorne's theme of a sin-stained conscience and redemption only through truth. The novel begins to seek into the heart and conscience of Arthur Dimmesdale when Roger Chillingworth questions him about his thoughts on sinners and their secrets. Feeling full well the distress of his own secret, Arthur proclaims that those who hold such "miserable secrets will yield them up ... truth, as well as of the traits of the human character, lead to this and decisive victory in the battle against himself. In the novel, Arthur Dimmesdale was an effe...

• Word Count: 2338
• Approx Pages: 9
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... and have his revenge. Even after consistent questioning by Reverend Wilson (the Church) and the Governor (the State), Hester refuses to disclose the name of the man who has committed adultery with her. When Chillingworth is admitted to her jail cell as a physician, he also questions Hester about the father's identity, and she again refuses to divulge the name. Angered by Hester's defiance, her husband warns her never to ... are Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale, both bearers of a Scarlet Letter of Adultery, one public and one private. Hester Prynne, the bearer of the scarlet letter in...

• Word Count: 1929
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

... to fling at them- Because of Pearl's seclusion from society nature seemingly sympathizes with Pearl, which is evident by eerie role of the sunshine in the forest. "The light lingered about the lonely child, as if glad of such a playmate," . The sunshine seams almost grateful for Pearl presence, accepting her as an equal, and illuminating her beauty. Perhaps Hawthorn meant this as a ... 's harsh reaction to her existence and constant disapproval, and is a product of nature and its ways She is extremely intelligent and always asking questions at the most inauspicious times, such as requesti...

• Word Count: 1158
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... into a capricious, precocious, and very observant child. Pearl delights in the scarlet letter and enjoys emphasizing the symbol on her mother's breast. In fact, it is said that when Pearl was a baby, the first feature she noticed about her mother was the scarlet letter on her breast. Pearl is a symbol in the story; she is Hester's salvation, pride, and joy, and also ... scarlet letter, has made a green "A" at the beach and placed it on her dress. Unusually bright, the child begins to ask acute and observant questions: "What does the letter mean, mother? and why dost thou wear it? and wh...

• Word Count: 3653
• Approx Pages: 15
• Grade Level: High School

... guilty passion. It was this guilty passion that immediately drew Pearl to the scarlet, "A," on Hester's bosom. "But the first object of which Pearl seemed to become aware was the scarlet letter on Hester's bosom! One day, as her mother stooped over the cradle, the infant's eyes had been caught by the glimmering of the gold embroidery about the letter' and, putting up her little hand, she grasped at it, smiling ... celebration, Pearl dances as she waits for the procession of Reverend Dimmesdale. She is eager to know about the procession and asks Hester whether the minister will acknowled...

• Word Count: 845
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... her own accord. Her choice to remain silent about matters concerning her hidden lover was strictly her own. Also, society in no way pressured her to commit adultery; she did so out of her own weakness. However, there were instances when the Boston community simply alienated Hester out of hatred and fear of the scarlet letter that she was forced to wear. Actions taken to ... to find example of such treatment in a modern society. Disgust with those who commit such acts is a prevalent attitude. The alienation of individuals has transcended time and is evident in any community. From a natio...

• Word Count: 968
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... in The Scarlet Letter. Pearl is the living proof of the adultery between Hester and Dimmesdale making her the living scarlet letter. Pearl also symbolizes punishment for Hester. First of all the name Pearl means of great price the way Hester's life was ruined was the ultimate price that Hester paid for Pearl. With Pearl, Hester's life was ruined with constant nagging about odd questions about the scarlet letter. Pearl would also harass her mother over the scarlet "A" which ... she wore, and would make her own "A" to wear, sometimes she played games with her mother's, trying to hit it wi...

• Word Count: 493
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... works focused on what can be called the darker side of human nature. Many of the concepts Hawthorne wrote about included morality, sin, and redemption (The American Novel). Much of Hawthorne's writings' thematic patterns included the idea of self-trust verses accommodation to authority and guilt verses innocence which is shown in the book "The Scarlet Letter" (The American Novel). This book reflected much ... of what Hawthorne believed about people and society in the time period during which he lived. This piece of writing was a dramatic accomplishment for Hawthorne and order to analyze ...

• Word Count: 1291
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• Has Bibliography

... the consequences of her mistake, so she is exposed to public judgment and forced to wear the scarlet letter. However, it is Dimmesdale's guilty conscience and struggle to rise above the sin that makes the essence of the narrative. The argument for Dimmesdale as a protagonist lies in the answers to the following questions. Does Dimmesdale's character change throughout the story? Does he have an antagonist and a helper? Do his actions bring about the ... climax of the story? Finally, does he solve the ... gravely one to another: -"Behold, verily, there is the woman of the scarlet letter; ...

• Word Count: 1627
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... in-depth thought. For example, the experiences between the characters rise up questions like; Did Chillingworth's selfishness in marrying Hester eventually cause her to commit adultery with another man? The person who is taking the punishment directly is Hester herself, but is she really the nature of evil for the sin she has committed? The book argues that true evil comes from the close relationship between hate and love ... his own daughter. Well the minister's black veil is about how every person has a secret sin that they are keeping a secret. That's just one interpretation anyway. ...

• Word Count: 471
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... ;, as a way of labeling Hester. The letter ends up becoming a symbol, and it affects the characters in different ways throughout the book. When characters show a certain feeling towards the letter or behave in a certain way about it, it is clear for the reader that that is how the character feels towards the sin itself. The townspeople question Hester on who the father of the child is, and she refuses to tell ... views the letter as shame and punishment, Pearl sees it as a part of the town's ignorance. She makes it clear that she's not religious. Actually, the author makes it seem like Pe...

• Word Count: 958
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... have foreseen Pearl's behavior. Pearl has never seen Hester without the scarlet letter, and no matter how much Hester wants the letter to be her history, she knows that the scornful object will be her destiny. " I must bear its torture yet a little longer- (Hawthorne 207). Hester Prynne stays silent about the identity of her lover. Because of the strong feelings Hester has for her lover, it is easy for ... an act of love, and to Hester, there is nothing immoral about it. Unfortunately, when the Puritans find out about a couple who have committed adultery, the punishment is severe. The P...

• Word Count: 1429
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... her mother's bosom means. One must not underestimate Pearl's intelligence though. In fact, Pearl is not the demon many consider her to be; instead she is intelligent and sensitive towards her surroundings and can thus understand much about the scarlet letter her mother wears. "The neighboring townspeople had given out that poor little Pearl was a demon offspring; such as, ever since old Catholic ... enigma to her. While Pearl's natural curiosity drives her on the quest of discovering the truth behind the scarlet letter, it is her sensitive and intelligent nature which answers a few of th...

• Word Count: 1056
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... but when true love found her, her life changed for the better (even if she had to go through so much pain in the beginning). Jimmy Eat World's two lines summarize The Scarlet Letter and all the characters, "Someone's gonna ask you what it's all about. Whatcha gonna have to say for yourself?- These two lines ask all the questions about the book. What does Hester have to say for herself ... for committing adultery, what does Dimmesdale have to say for himself for not telling people he sinned and letting Hester take all the punishment. What does ... ...

• Word Count: 634
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... punishment will thereby be made more effectual to Salvation, I charge the to speak out the name of thy fellow-sinner and fellow sufferer!" (pg.63) Dimmesdale, while asking these questions to Hester, allows them to conceal their secret relationship from the townspeople and as well the strangers in the community. While being secluded on the scaffold, Hester comes across what seems to be familiar face in ... the crowd. She presents him as being a stranger in the novel, but yet when is placed in the prison for her crime, she comes in ... ones secret lover and father. Dimmesdale struggles th...

• Word Count: 1026
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... of a Puritan background, seems to disturb her that Pearl acts so free spirited. The best example of the difference of Pearl in a positive way is a direct statement about Puritan children, "Puritan elders; the ugliest weeds of the garden were their children" (pg. 87). By describing the other puritan children as weeds, Hawthorne symbolizes the paths that they will live. Weeds will grow up big but will never ... be as beautiful as a flower and often tries to smother flowers and kill them off. The religious descriptions of Pearl are ... assumed to be some type of witchcraft. This is even mo...

• Word Count: 675
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... forced to wear the scarlet letter built Hester's character with "Shame, Despair, [and] Solitude! These had been her teachers, -stern and wild ones, -and they made her strong." (ch.XVIII.175). Likewise Proctor's sins make him a wiser man and enlighten him to the falsehood of the witch trial. Since he knows, from personal experience, how easily one can be led astray, he questions the integrity of his ... townspeople when he asks " Is the accuser always holy now? Were they born as clean as God's fingers?"(Act II.77) With this he causes others to wonder about the legitimacy of their beliefs...

• Word Count: 524
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... authors let their readers make their own decisions about the events or characters in the story. The ambiguousness of The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne leaves many of the actions, events, and issues involving the characters up to the reader's own assumption. One of the issues posed by Hawthorne during the story is that of responsibility. Hawthorne illustrates that the lack of responsibility is harmful and should be ... an adulterer eventually kills him. Hawthorne's story begins in seventeenth-century Boston, then a Puritan settlement. A young woman, Hester Prynne, is led from the...

• Word Count: 1146
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... strong believers of this mortal sin, and are well aware of the consequences that are placed upon the desperate souls who dare commit this unforgivable sin. The literary sensation "The Scarlet Letter" written in 1850, by Hawthorne was a descriptive novel that takes back the reader to time where Puritans governed the land and sin was not tolerated, especially the hellish sin called adultery. Anyone who commits this unspeakable crime ... him, except it tempt him-yea, compel him, as it were-to add hypocrisy to sin?" (p. 1369) Dimmesdale stood up there and tore into Hester with these questio...

• Word Count: 1126
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... jail for committing adultery, Chillingworth confronts her and lets her know that he's out to get revenge on whomever she is having an affair with. He asks different kinds of questions to try to find out the truth about her affair, however, nothing works. During this meeting with Chillingworth, Hester is scared for herself and Dimmesdale because ... . Chillingworth now has nothing to live for because he was infatuated on seeking revenge on Dimmesdale that one year later, he dies as well. Revenge plays a big role in the strory of the scarlet letter. After of Chillingworths time and effort ...

• Word Count: 443
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... her own accord. Her choice to remain silent about matters concerning her hidden lover was strictly her own. Also, society in no way pressured her to commit adultery; she did so out of her own weakness. However, there were instances when the Boston community simply alienated Hester out of hatred and fear of the scarlet letter that she was forced to wear. Actions taken to ... to find example of such treatment in a modern society. Disgust with those who commit such acts is a prevalent attitude. The alienation of individuals has transcended time and is evident in any community. From a natio...

• Word Count: 568
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: Undergraduate