... they committed adultery together. Hester Prynne says to the Reverend Mr. Dimmesdale, "[t]hou wast my pastor, and hadst charge of my soul, and knowest me better than these men can"(Hawthorne 104; ch.8). Another ironic conversation is that of Dimmesdale and Chillingworth speaking about another sinner. Chillingworth is indirectly placing blame on Dimmesdale, while Dimmesdale is busy defending his ... silence about his sin. Neither man actually acknowledges switching the conversation from merely hypothetical to speaking of their own lives. Dimmesdale says, "[p]erchance he earnestly desired i...

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... modern value. In Nathaniel Hawthorne's work The Scarlet Letter the main character, Hester Prynne, is outcast from a puritan society and forced to wear a scarlet "A" on her chest. This punishment is intended to imprison Hester in cage of criticism and general bad feeling from the townspeople. Although this is accomplished for a short time, because of Hester's strength the scarlet letter she wears makes her more independent and ... eventually just as liked as the average person who shunned her in the first place, making her punishment ... . Her life changed in some ways, but the letter gi...

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... futility of societal utilization of symbols for ideological reinforcement. The cinematic version of The Scarlet Letter is a liberal adaptation and thus contains many discrepancies with the book. Ergo, the downplay of the scarlet letter is evident, as is the relationship between Pearl and Hester and the relationship between Dimmesdale and Chillingworth. The cinematic adaptation of The Scarlet Letter focuses mainly on the current problems of the Massachusetts colony with the indigenous Indian peoples. It employs a blunt use of gore ... and violence to generate a theme, which is unfavorabl...

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... , spirit, courage, and character could be victorious in battles where physical strength could never triumph. The shame Hester first felt when she wore the scarlet letter was almost unbearable. Instead of lying down to die, Hester took the scarlet letter and put it to good use. She used the crime sewn into the scarlet letter to allow her to pay penance and to suffer punishment. She sewed clothes and gave food ... startled to perceive how her beauty shone out, and made a halo of the misfortune and ignominy in which she was enveloped." How many people do we know who could keep such a proud,...

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... she felt that it didn't matter if she were to wear the scarlet letter or to have it taken off, for the people would still remember who she was with or without the mark of shame and disgrace. Hester could have also meant to convey to the ministers and crowds that she was deeply shamed on the scaffold, and no matter what they would have tried to do ... to lessen their guilt by giving Hester options for less shame (although there were none), Hester's feelings toward them would not have been consoled by any means. Hester might have intended to express that the scarlet letter affected, or wi...

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... to get revenge on the two lovers for the pain they have caused him. However, throughout the novel, Chillingworth learns to show forgiveness for their sins. The Scarlet Letter is a novel that can teach all high school readers about the effects of their sins. Along with the history of Puritan society and the effects of sin, The Scarlet Letter also holds within the plot the spirit of Nathaniel Hawthorne. Hawthorne's writing of The Scarlet Letter is his way ... say phrases lightly with a touching and valuable detail behind it (Source D). In The Scarlet Letter, the words and spirit of Nathan...

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... ! Love ... must always create a sunshine, filling the heart so full of radiance that it overflows upon the outward world" (186). Extending this metaphor of the radiance of ! love, Hawthorne often refers to Hester's scarlet letter as glowing and thus figuratively lighting up the dark and cruel world around it. When Dimmesdale stands on the scaffold, connected to Hester by Pearl, another symbol ... Chillingworth's torture. "But for [his] aid, [Dimmesdale's] life would have burned away in torments;" by prolonging his life, Chillingworth allows the minister to confess before his death (157)....

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... a scarlet letter, "A" which she had to wear upon her chest. This was the Puritan way of treating her as a criminal, for the crime of adultery. The Puritan treatment continued, because as Hester would walk through the streets, she would be looked down upon as if she were some sort of demon from Hell, that committed a terrible crime. This would give her much mental anguish and grief. On the ... keep on living. Pearl really symbolized a rose to her mother, at some times she could be bright and vibrant, and really love her mother, but at other times, she could be wilting. It was at these ti...

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... be simplified with other words more commonly known to others. The importance of shorter words can make the reader appreciate the Scarlet Letter more. Because of Hawthorne's complex language The Scarlet Letter cannot be read by the person. If the average person is able to read the Scarlet Letter they miss out on some of the key allegorical and symbolic concepts because of the language barrier. The Scarlet Letter is a great story and should be able to be understood ... by everyone not just a select few. In conclusion, the Scarlet Letter's lack of details, excessive complication, and uncle...

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... overcome them? In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter Arthur Dimmesdale, and old minister, deals with the pain caused by his sin and dies in the end. Throughout the story Dimmesdale wants to get reed of the pain and misery caused by his sin. He gets reed of the pain by telling everyone about how he sinned with Hester, which takes away the burden on his heart. One major obstacle that ... any more medicine. Dimmesdale earns his freedom form his sin and dies a happy death, in the end. 2.b. What does Hester believe in? What is he willing to fight for? What is she willing to fight again...

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The Scarlet Letter Essay In Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel, The Scarlet Letter, there are many different themes portrayed throughout the book. Hawthorne develops these themes through many different symbols in his novel. Besides the obvious symbol being the Scarlet Letter, you can find many other examples of Hawthorne's use of color. The colors that he repeats in the book besides red are gray, gold, green, and black. Gray represents the strict Puritan society. Gold represents passion ... forest. Hawthorne also describes Hester's new life as "a tuft of green moss on a crumbling wall." The green mo...

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... is so because in order for somebody to go to hell you would sin, thus getting kicked out of heaven. In "The Scarlet Letter," it can be seen that the forest is hell because the sinful are the ones who get kicked out of the city. Another way that somebody could perceive this is that when someone sins they get knocked out of heaven, and will go ... world that can be seen that was created is the city. The city can be seen as their own little world because they tend to stay within the city limits. They avoid those whom they have out casted to the forest. Also, when Hester is trying to find a...

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... ) Initially Pearl symbolizes the shame of Hester's public punishment for adultery. Then as Pearl grew older, she symbolizes the wreck of Hester's life and mental state by harassing her mother over the scarlet "A' which is embroidered on her dress (Yang). Pearl is a symbol for Hester's scarlet letter. Pearl tries to make Hester accept her sin. She also makes her mother wear the scarlet letter and will not take ... it off for the wrong reason. Pearl does not want her mother to run away from her sin ... Hawthorne shows that Pearl represents the scarlet letter not only symbolically but lite...

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... to compose one correct set of morals based on religion. Therefore, acts such as adultery aren't punished so harshly, because everyone doesn't see it as being wrong. Scarlet letters today have a direct correlation with breaking the law. The government of the United States produced a set of laws with the same intentions as the church back in the time of The Scarlet Letter, which were the right to live a happy and fulfilling life ... . For Hester it was the eloquent scarlet letter on her bosom; while sex offenders and rapists have to constantly remind the people around them what they had do...

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... the Scarlet Letter The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne contains abundant symbolism, which is used to unify the novel and add deeper meaning. Although the actual "A" is the most obvious symbol, there are several others which have great importance as well. The most important symbol in the novel is the scarlet letter, which affects each character in a different way. The characters who are affected by the letter are Arthur Dimmesdale, Roger Chillingworth, Pearl, and Hester Prynne (Schneider). The scarlet letter ... of her illicit birth and her origins. Although the scarlet "A" keeps h...

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The Scarlet Letter: Essay (4) The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne is wholly symbolic. Almost every sentence has a deeper underlying meaning. Even the characters' names are a prelude into the personality of that character. The main characters are depicted by their names and actions; some of these characters are: Hester, Pearl, and Dimmesdale,. Hester's name means star'. This literally gives light to her personality. Amidst the stern, grey, Puritans she stood out like ... a star does in the night, sky, both personality wise and physically. "On the breast of her gown, in fine red cloth sur...

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... , and as living reminders of human foibles. The symbols used in this book are the scarlet letter, Pearl, and the rosebush next to the rusted prison door. The scarlet letter was a stigma worn by someone who had committed a sinful act many Puritan settlements. The Puritans believed that public humiliation was a just punishment for these offenders. Hester was forced to wear the letter "A" on her chest for the rest of her life, for having an ... a mark of significant importance and status. In due time, the letter became just that. When Hester returned to the community from England, she retri...

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... , the letter is shallow in meaning, standing for the sin of Adultery. To resonate the "A" in the mind of the reader Hawthorne displays the letter in a variety of altered profiles. Besides being the beacon from Hester's breast the letter "A" is presented in several forms. It is on the armor breastplate in Governor Bellingham's garden, in the sky on the night of Dimmesdale's scaffold vigil, continually little Pearl is pictured to be the scarlet letter personified, and the most dramatic of the ... "A"'s is that which is on Dimmesdale ... ...

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The Scarlet Letter Essay The Scarlet Letter is a book with one main symbol. The most complex and misunderstood symbol in the book is Pearl, the daughter of Hester Prynne. Pearl is a real and constant reminder of Hester's sins, she proves as much more evidence than the "A" that Hester wore, for she is a real living breathing person who will always remain a part Hester. Pearl in the novel is a character that is agonizing to ... constantly nag her mother and became obsessed with the scarlet "A" that her mother wore. She is anything but a normal Puritan child, and her character is created very in...

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... her sin, Hester must wear the Scarlet Letter "A" on her bosom for the remainder of her life. Hawthorne also uses many literary elements in The Scarlet Letter, such as symbolism and irony. The Scarlet Letter, pearl, and sunshine are examples of symbolism. What is ironic about The Scarlet Letter is that Hester holds both the role as sinner and saint. Hester Pyrne, after being found guilty of committing adultery, must wear the Scarlet Letter "A" on her bosom as a punishment ... gives birth to her daughter, Pearl. Pearl's name is also an example of symbolism. Her name means she came of grea...

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... of Pearl's perceptive, other worldliness and preternatural vision, she is able to realize the pains of conforming to the social ways. Pearl also sheds light on Hester's internal battle between identity and society. She portrays this when she sees that Hester has removed her scarlet letter. The reaction Pearl gives about this illuminates the wrongness in trying to escape ones identity, rather than trying to accept it ... . This further proves that through Pearl's purity and free will, she is able to cast light upon certain characteristic flaws. The novel, The Scarlet Letter, provides ... ...

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... really seemed to embrace Hester because of her actions and finally after seven years she is getting the attention and the open arms from people who once treated her as if she was worthless. "The scarlet letter had the effect of a cross on a nun's bosom." (179). She was viewed in the same light of a holy woman and a cross is a symbol of protection and holiness and it is a symbol ... f being sin free and a symbol of love and justice. Though the scarlet letter had changed its meaning, it could not change her heart. Hester ... . Hester later rips off the scarlet letter 'A' and is seen in an...

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... so, is she going to leave for Europe with Dimmesdale? Towards the beginning of The Scarlet Letter, we see Hester being punished publicly for the sin she has committed with Dimmesdale. In chapter 2, Hawthorne writes, "He laid his right hand upon the shoulder of a young woman, whom he thus drew forward; until on the threshold of the prison-door, she repelled him, by an action marked with ... believe that her punishment is enough and that she should no longer wear the scarlet letter. A few pages later, Hawthorne writes, "The scarlet letter had not done its office." (Pg 110) As the book goes...

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... meanings of Hester's scarlet letter. Although the sense of the meaning "adulteress" is constant, the metaphoric, emotional, and moralistic meanings of the scarlet letter vary from positive to negative interpretations throughout the novel The Scarlet Letter. The Puritan community was a dark, strict society, feeling indifferent to the humanity of the woman standing before them on the scaffold, with her infant daughter against her chest. The beautifully embroidered letter does not glow in the eyes of the people. The letter shapes the way they look ... at Hester and the way ... ...

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Scarlet Letter Essay Guilt in The Scarlet Letter In Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel The Scarlet Letter guilt and its effects are a constant theme. The story is based on the results of guilt as an effect of sin. The first character who is exposed to this guilt is Hester, who struggles more openly with this problem. On the other hand the Reverend Dimmesdale suffers alone with a searing guilt which ultimately leads to his demise. Hester is the most immediately ... affected by guilt, which is openly shown to the public by the scarlet letter, that she bears on her clothing. Another visible sign of her...

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• Grade Level: High School