The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, expresses the aspects of a strict Puritan community of 17th century Boston. The values and morals of the Puritan settlement influence the social as well as moral expectations of the people. Many characters are affected by the strict laws, especially, Hester Prynne. Her development throughout the story is based upon the punishment and suffering she endures as a result of her sin. Hester Prynne is caught in a conflict between the Puritan morals of her community and a higher law: one of her own love. She chooses to defy the Puritan beliefs and ethics by...

• Word Count: 764
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... 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 ... along. She did not attempt to conceal the symbol that she wore, for she kn...

• Word Count: 1352
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... man, hence his dark romantic novel The Scarlet Letter. This allegorical novel depends heavily on symbol and character. The novel is chock full of symbolic dimension of images, characters, and descriptions. The Scarlet Letter defines the American Romanticist movement while using symbolic characters and places that give the book seemingly two different stories. The first story denotes the story going on in the book, including the characters. The other story has symbols that speak ... area to be feared or weary of. The fear of the forest is what makes it safe. Along with the sense of natur...

• Word Count: 1687
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

The Scarlet Letter is a novel that's deals with the topic of sin in Puritan society. The author, Nathaniel Hawthorne, addresses sin in the book quiet frequently, this essay addresses how Hawthorne really thought about sin and it's aspects like punishment. The Scarlet Letter is a novel that deals with the theme of sin. Throughout history, people have committed all types of sins, and whether they are major or minor, people have ... The Scarlet Letter, the idea of sin and punishment is the main theme of the novel and how Hester Prynne, the main character, has been punished for her sin of adulte...

• Word Count: 802
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel, The Scarlet Letter is based on the puritanical custom of affixing a giant red, letter "A" to anybody that committed adultery. The novel centers on the adulterous Puritan Hester Prynne. Throughout the novel, she loyally refuses to reveal the name of her partner. The novel is generally regarded as Hawthorne's masterpiece and as one of the classics of American literature. However, it also reflects the typical, partriarchical attitude of both puritan society and of ... see that Hester Prynne clearly fits into this stereotype as well. As reviewed here, The Scarlet Lett...

• Word Count: 1505
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... reappear and grow in significance during the course of the novel. However, this is also the same gesture that Hester Prynne makes when remembering the scarlet letter upon her own bosom. Hawthorne brilliantly connects Hester Prynne's openly displayed shame with Reverend Dimmesdale's secret shame by having both characters touch the same spot where the scarlet letter is displayed. We see the same motion of weakness again when ... characters can bring forth hidden emotions and thoughts. The forest trail leads characters away from the Puritan settlement, and out into the dense and dark fores...

• Word Count: 2932
• Approx Pages: 12
• Grade Level: High School

... want anyone to see his sinful face. The procession is the setting at which a sickly Dimmesdale's humanity is seen. Through the past seven years Dimmesdale has become frail and weak, at the hand of Chillingworth. I think that Dimmesdale does not admit to the townsfolk that he is the father of Pearl because he is afraid to love. The puritans strong moral code, along with their strong laws and ethical ... caused. Dimmesdale is in love with Hester, and he finally in his dying breath lets it be known to the townspeople. Is it possible to attain forgiveness in a Puritan society after committi...

• Word Count: 1115
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School