... them. Person sees this as favorite subject of Hawthorne's as he recalls "Dimmesdale's temptation to blight a young girl's innocence with a single word" (123) and compares it to Hawthorne considering "The Scarlet Letter "a triumphant success" because it had such an effect on [his wife] Sophia that it broke her heart and sent her to bed with a grevious headache" (122). Whether or not Person ... is female, but why there are two different words to describe males and females in this realm is another essay. The reason why I feel empowered by Hester after reading The Scarlet Letter comes from t...

• Word Count: 3565
• Approx Pages: 14
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... 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 ... ...

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

... or a consequence for Hester, but also is the un-flawed character in the novel. Finally, the letter "A" is the consequence of Hester's sin of adultery which stays with her throughout the novel. Blatantly the most obvious of the three symbols, the scarlet letter "A" contains the most power, as it is the basis for the theme of the book, which is sin and its consequences. Although Pearl was a consequence, the scarlet letter which Hester wore upon her bosom became ... part of her personality and identity. Throughout The Scarlet Letter, there are many symbols, but the forest, Pearl, and the a...

• Word Count: 2041
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

... burden on her chest. Also, in chapter six. it shows Pearl's fascination of the scarlet letter and seems to torture her mother by playing with it. Pearl symbolized God's way of punishing Hester for adultery. On page 61 in The Scarlet Letter, when Pearl is being explained as an innocent child, Hawthorne writes "a lovely and ... at sometimes she was very happy, joyful, and full of life and color but on other days she was "wilting" which brought Hester much grief. In The Scarlet Letter it shows how if a person sins against God, he/ she will pay for what they did, even through that particula...

• Word Count: 647
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... and what is ethical also plays a necessary part to the development in Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter. "The mind's eye, or the imagination, is the instrument of moral insight." Imagination is what creates moralistic intuition in the writer (Jacobsen pg. 34-33). Another example that may support morality in the production of The Scarlet Letter, as a historical document, is the study Yvor Winters claims that "Puritans had allegorical morality," ... tried his hardest to present Puritan society but failed to acknowledge its true reality. Well, if Hawthorne failed to do so then why does Gorman...

• Word Count: 1014
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... see her learn to use the scarlet letter to her advantage, and respect it. For example: towards the beginning of the novel she fears the scarlet letter and everything it does to her, and as the reader nears the end of the novel they see Hester Prynne and how the whole entire meaning of the scarlet letter has changed from a meaning of "adultery" to the meaning of "able". All of the conflicts in The Scarlet Letter revolve somehow around Hester ... , her former husband, Roger Chillingworth, and the reverend, Arthur Dimmesdale. The conflict circle is ... ...

• Word Count: 914
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... 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 effective character in illustrating the theme of conscience and redemption through truth. The Scarlet Letter is overflowing with symbolism. Understanding Hawthorne's symbols by themselves is key to understanding The Scarlet Letter as a novel. The Scarlet Letter "A" is the central symbol of the novel. It is intended to ... its meaning to evolve as the novel progresses, thus "the scarlet letter had not done its office" (Hawthorne 1...

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

... 's sin and is therefore a constant reminder of guilt for both Hester and Dimmesdale. Pearl is also always doing something to further her mother's guilt. The first thing she recognizes in the world is the scarlet letter, she often throws things at the letter, and she even makes one for herself out of seaweed. Hawthorne even shows her as an A herself Hester make her a beautiful red dress that ... . Although it causes Hester great pain, it is better for Hester to suffer openly about her guilt in public because she eventually comes to terms with it. Hawthorne shows the evolution of the letter...

• Word Count: 915
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... out. Hawthorne's purpose for presenting Hester in this way was to show "a person's attempt to see [one's] artistic side survive in a community that disapproves of the use of the imagination" (Johnson 2). The Scarlet Letter may be a sad story to those who see Hester as a helpless victim of a love affair gone awry, but to those who truly understand Hester's inner passion ... but after trying to escape this artistic prison that was Puritan code and failing outwardly, she retreated to a less obvious form of expression with the "scarlet letter, so fantastically embroidered and illuminated" (H...

• Word Count: 1145
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... 's sin and is therefore a constant reminder of guilt for both Hester and Dimmesdale. Pearl is also always doing something to further her mother's guilt. The first thing she recognizes in the world is the scarlet letter, she often throws things at the letter, and she even makes one for herself out of seaweed. Hawthorne even shows her as an A herself Hester make her a beautiful red dress that ... . Although it causes Hester great pain, it is better for Hester to suffer openly about her guilt in public because she eventually comes to terms with it. Hawthorne shows the evolution of the letter...

• Word Count: 917
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... 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 on, it becomes more and more clear that the scarlet letter hasn't done its office, hasn't done what it is meant for. The letter and punishment was supposed to teach Hester to not sin, and she ... still lies to Pearl about the meaning of the letter, another sin. At the end of chapter 15 ... case they may not have committed adultery, but Hester still would have committed fortification, which is al...

• Word Count: 944
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... the Scarlet Letter. They suffer with the guilt of the sin of adultery that they committed. At the time, the Puritans looked down on this type of sin. Hester and Dimmesdale can be compared and contrast in the way they handled their scarlet letter, their cowardliness, and their belief of what the afterlife is. Hester and Dimmesdale both bear a scarlet letter but the way they handle it is different. Hester's scarlet letter is a piece of clothing, the "SCARLET LETTER ... , so fantastically embroidered and illuminated upon her bosom" (Hawthorn 51). Dimmesdale on the other hand, has a scarlet l...

• Word Count: 706
• Approx Pages: 3
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... to church weekly repenting their sins. Hawthorne uses many symbols throughout The Scarlet Letter. Hawthorne uses the colors red, black, and white to represent Hester's emotions and the emotions of those around her. The most frequently used color symbol by Hawthorne is red. Red most obviously represents Hester's sin, as shown by her scarlet letter. Her scarlet letter, like her sin, is something she must always deal with ... well as representing simple evil. Light symbolizes a state of enlightenment and a refreshed spirit, as well as purity. The color symbols in The Scarlet Letter help to ...

• Word Count: 1044
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... , 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 ... wild ones -- and they had made her strong, but taught her much amiss." Through the course of the novel Hester ...

• Word Count: 661
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... , not of that one sin, for which she had borne so long and dreary a penance, but of her many good deeds since. The scarlet letter had the effect of the cross on a nun's bosom." (148) Due to Hester's caring and considerate virtues, the scarlet letter no longer stood for adultery and alienation. "Some people began saying that A stands for "Able" (158) and more accurate sign of herself. So ... in some ways, it was almost a gift that Hester's community knew of her sin. She could accept the punishment and continue her life and Pearl's, but most importantly, she didn"t the let the sin destroy ...

• Word Count: 1175
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• Grade Level: High School

... the public's humiliation, Hester also receives the punishment of wearing a red scarlet letter A on her chest, which stands for adultery. As beautiful as this symbol is, it "was red-hot with infernal fire" (Hawthorne 82). The letter not only symbolizes the humiliation of the public, but also the deep burn that guilt evokes. The children in the village are taught to look at the woman who bears the scarlet letter "as the figure, the ... body, the reality of sin" (Hawthorne 74). Pearl, a very smart and curious, girl is described as elfish ... ...

• Word Count: 1253
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... and ideals. Women of this time were not thought of as able to overcome hardships and trials because they were considered weak, but Hawthorne showed to the world with The Scarlet Letter what women, in actuality, were like. The embodiment of Hawthorne's feminist ideals, Hester, was an unusual character for that time period. Women weren't considered very important. Yet, "so strong was Hester Prynne, ... 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...

• Word Count: 1087
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• Grade Level: High School

... like Hawethorne; why Others Don't By Jonathan Milgrom My beliefs supplemented my enjoyment of The Scarlet Letter. I have been brought up Lutheran, I believe in God, but at present I frequently question some of the ideals presented by my religion. I subscribe to the dogma that Love is the recompense to the sullen life given to us from original sin, and believe that even if sin is ... 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). In The Scarle...

• Word Count: 1485
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... uses symbols to represent a forgiving nature, a punishment for a sinful act, 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 ... a prison for criminals. Right from the beginning Hawthorne hints at the fact that many of the Puritan ideas very hypocritical. The symbols u...

• Word Count: 843
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... by St. Augustine, regarding immorality. This is discovered to be very true by the main characters in The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne's story of a woman (Hester) who lives with the Puritans and commits adultery with the local minister (Dimmesdale). In his novel, Hawthorne shows that sin, known or unknown to the community, isolates a person from their community and from God. He shows us ... doubtless caused by one of those meteors the minister, looking upward to the zenith, beheld there the appearance of an immense letter-the letter 'A'-marked out in lines of dull red light" (Hawt...

• Word Count: 1118
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... itself as a character who sinned. What happens to Hester, Dimmesdale, and Chillingworth results from the ethics, morals, sterness and the rigidity of the individual Puritans the characters interact with. These individuals collectively are the Puritan society of Boston in1642 which in fact are sinners but not the most severe of the novel. During The Scarlet Letter Hester Prynne, "a young women who has born herself an illegitimate child and believes herself ... . Farmington Hills, Mich.: Gale Group. December 2000. Http://www.galenet.com/servlet/SRC/ Gerber, John. "Form and Content in The S...

• Word Count: 2203
• Approx Pages: 9
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... . The symbolism of the prison, roses, the scaffold, the letter "A," contrasts between light and dark, and the forest throughout the novel are the undefined characters. An understanding of these symbols is vital to a complete comprehension of the complexity of the story; Hawthorne technique of using symbolism is brilliant and it helps the reader understand the whole concept. In The Scarlet Letter, images increase the reader's understanding of the characters. The first chapter sets the tone for the story. Though the initial ... she may associate with it. A monstrous version is reflected in...

• Word Count: 1915
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

... time have pondered the subject of the book; the most accurate response according to Richard Chase, the author of The Puritans and the Scarlet Letter, portrays the book to be a tale of sin and repentance with stress on the repentance. Other subjects of The Scarlet Letter encompass the moral and psychological result of sin- the isolation and morbidity, innocence and guilt, and the distortion and thwarting of the emotional life. In Hawthorne's remembered novel, The Scarlet Letter, The community along with ... Hester Pryne, Author Dimmesdale, and Roger Chillingsworth all commit a crime; onl...

• Word Count: 1751
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

... for Hester and favors her more than any other character in the novel. Nathiel Hawthorne criticized the way Puritans lived. As we see the narrator also has these thoughts. "On the breast of her gown, in fine red cloth, surrounded with an elaborate embroidery and fantastic flourishes of gold thread, appeared the letter A." (The Scarlet Letter) The author describes the scarlet letter as elaborate and ornate, even though it's supposed to be punishment ... . Typically many would describe it as hideous and repulsive but he didn't. The scarlet letter is a reflection upon her which makes her mor...

• Word Count: 673
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... that Pearl deserves to have beautiful clothing. Another representation of Hester's love for Pearl is when Hester and Arthur Dimmesdale finish their conversation in the forest. Hester takes the scarlet letter off her breast, and throws her ignominy into the dirt. The world of which Hester has dreamed seems to have become a reality, and she is ready for it. Unfortunately, Pearl's tantrum shatters this ... fantasy into pieces. Hester could not 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 hist...

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