... 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

... interesting. Another impact occurred during the wedding when Hooper raised his glass wishing happiness to the newlywed couple the brightened the features of the guests like a cheerful gleam from the hearth (Hawthorne 322), and the veil once again came to life and cast a tide of gloominess upon the ceremony. The central theme held the essential interpretations about life. Hawthorne tries to tell ... that everyone has their own black veil, which symbolizes one's secret sins in life that is not lifted until death. The concept of the black veil in The Minister's Black Veil is similar to the...

• Word Count: 436
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... is exactly opposite of what is intended. Hester's social isolation leads her to ponder and speculate on human nature, social organization, and larger moral questions. Hawthorne was also very creative in the symbolism he used throughout the Scarlet Letter. Some believe that the scarlet letter is meant to be symbolic of shame. This backfires in a sense because is becomes a powerful symbol of identity to Hester. Pearl, Hester's ... daughter, is also symbolic in that she is a constant representation of Hester's sin, but she is also the greatest blessing Hester has ever received. In fact, .....

• Word Count: 579
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... Boston. Another factor in Dimmesdale's illness is his lack in ability to discuss his sin with anyone. Even Hester does not speak with him about the situation for seven years after Pearl is born. After the two speak about the predicament and decide to leave for England, Dimmesdale is so relieved that he might be able to escape his sin that he thinks five evil ... thoughts, which for the puritans is as bad as sinning itself. Unlike the sins of Hester and Dimmesdale, Roger Chillingworth's secret sin is more severe. While the sins of the other characters were sins ... is able to ask Dimmes...

• Word Count: 897
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School