... brings loathing after it." This was said 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, ... ). This is God's condemnation of the two sinners, most especially Dimmesdale. Hester has already been discovered and is receiving her punishment by wearing the scarlet letter branding her as an adulteress and keeping her socially isolated. Dimmesdale, however, hides his sin from ...

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

... character, plays the role of a sinner from the beginning of the book. She is characterized as a very strong, independent woman, who bears a beautiful scarlet A on her chest. The Puritan ideals of sin are shown at the beginning of the novel when Hester stands upon the scaffold with her newborn for three ... notices that her guilt will not pass until she makes penance. In addition to 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" (Hawt...

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

... corroded his soul, leading to sickness and guilt. Later when he confesses, he was released from the painful and died peacefully. Important Passage: "Mother," said little Pearl, "the sunshine does not love you. It runs away and hides itself, because it is afraid of something on your bosom. It will not flee ... the connection between sin and humanness. "Mother," said [Pearl], "was that the same minister that kissed me by the brook?" "Hold thy peace, dear little Pearl!" whispered her mother. "We must not always talk in the market-place of what happens to us in the forest." The passage expla...

• Word Count: 720
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... 's novel is a story of adultery, social judgment, and moral redemption. Hester cannot hide 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 ... children of the puritans looked up from their play, - or what passed for play with those sombre little urchins, - and spake gravely one to another: -"Behold, verily, there is the woman of the scarlet letter; and...

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

... one sin, for which she had borne so long and dreary a penance, but of her many good deeds since " (147). The truth of Hester's scarlet letter changed; it no longer represented her weakness and evil, instead, she was now seen as a hardworking woman who is kind and humble. Larger part of ... forest and the edge of town. "Throwing his eyes anxiously in the direction of the voice, he indistinctly beheld a form under the trees [...] and so little relieved from the gray twilight into which the clouded sky and the heavy foliage had darkened the noontide, that he knew not whether it were a woman...

• Word Count: 1931
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

... that led to the deadliest punishment - execution or corporal punishment. The letter A came to symbolize different things for each character. For Hester, the Scarlet Letter symbolizes her adultery and for Dimmesdale, it is a reminder of his hidden sin. The characters are given different punishments corresponding to their symbolisms ... punishment of hiding his guilt from the public. Hester became stronger from her punishment, but Dimmesdale becomes destructed from his sin. The Scarlet Letter portrays the idea that guilt is harsher and more destructive than public punishments. Hester is per...

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... the story in her features. The girl is the bad result of the adultery between her parents, who can be considered as the symbol of the sin and scarlet letter. "However, wisely judging that one token of her shame would but poorly serve to hide another."(p12) Just because of this, Hester worries ... but she still treats Pearl as her only treasure and dresses her up every day. Hester dresses up Pearl to look nice just like she does to the scarlet letter itself. Pearl is Hester's misery, punishment but she is also her only happiness, as she is sent as a blessing and as retribution to remind H...

• Word Count: 830
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... has committed a sin either knowingly or by accident. Some sins are committed out of love, like that of Hester and Dimmesdale in "The Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne. While others commit the sin of hate just like Chillingworth. Hester was forced to bear the letter "A" (adultery) as ... "H" (hate) in order to transform myself into a better person and to gain more knowledge of things that I wouldn't be able to see for myself without my Scarlet Letter. Hate is such a strong word, but it is also a strong sin. Hate means to have evil thoughts or thoughts of inflicting pain on another pe...

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

Secret Sin Leads to Guilt In "The Scarlet Letter", Hawthorne depicts a way of life that no longer exists in today's society. It was a society of fear in a strict moral code. The morals, which were based on religious beliefs, ... Chillingworths" tormenting comments. Once secrets were out everyone in the community knew about it immediately. Hester cannot even bring herself to tell her own daughter the true reason for the scarlet letter, which seems everyone but Pearl knows. Hester states, "I will keep thy secret, as I have his" which shows her intent on keeping her secret (Hawthorne 45). Many ...

• Word Count: 558
• Approx Pages: 2
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... public they must wear a scarf. During the 1850's Puritan goals were to purify the Church of England (Internet Source 2). To purify the Church of England would require rules that allow little room for tolerance. "Spare the rod, spoil the child"(KJV, Proverbs) was abused. If one did not go by their standards they may very well be branded a witch, and much ... knew that Dimmedale's confession would not end the reproach of the people on him. So in His demonstration of love, He takes him home. In summary the story of The Scarlet Letter is nothing more than the absence of the Father in the li...

• Word Count: 2000
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

... picture that is formed. In a work of literature, each thread is an idea and the common picture is a theme. In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, each thread is an ironic element of setting, and together, they demonstrate people's tendency to seek shelter from, instead of in, society. Vivid ... go through their lives struggling with themselves trying to cope with the guilt and shame associated with their past actions. In Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel, The Scarlet Letter, he shows the lasting effect that sin has on Hester and Dimmesdale. Hester Prynne's guilt is the result of her comm...

• Word Count: 1828
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... a man. Dimmesdale is hiding in fear as he travels his path to reconciliation. Throughout the novel Dimmesdale becomes increasingly hurt, as he bears his own scarlet letter within his heart. Dimmesdales fear is apparent when he is walking out of the forest and he runs into a young virgin. He feels as ... that he has done. This sermon is like a slap on the face to the Puritans by showing their unbeknownst hypocrisy where they shuddered at Hester's scarlet letter yet, Dimmesdale's letter received no recognition. "Thou hast escaped me"(pg 175). In this short yet powerful line Dimmesdale yell...

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

... fact makes it easier." this common phrase has been proven true in many people's lives, but is also a harsh fact that Boston's Rev. Dimmesdale, a key character in Nathaniel Hawthorne's the Scarlet Letter, had to face. In this twisted story of deception and adultery set in the Puritan era, Hawthorne introduces Dimmesdale as a weak and cowardly man who refuses to take responsibility ... people respect and look up to the Reverend. Throughout the story, Dimmesdale desperately tries to confess, envying Hester, for her courage, he says, "Happy are you Hester, that wear the scarlet letter openl...

• Word Count: 882
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... fact makes it easier." this common phrase has been proven true in many people's lives, but is also a harsh fact that Boston's Rev. Dimmesdale, a key character in Nathaniel Hawthorne's the Scarlet Letter, had to face. In this twisted story of deception and adultery set in the Puritan era, Hawthorne introduces Dimmesdale as a weak and cowardly man who refuses to take responsibility ... people respect and look up to the Reverend. Throughout the story, Dimmesdale desperately tries to confess, envying Hester, for her courage, he says, "Happy are you Hester, that wear the scarlet letter openl...

• Word Count: 889
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

Superficial Moral Systems Exposed in Lord of the Flies, Crime and Punishment, The Scarlet Letter, and Pygmalion "The superficial nature of human moral systems" is a valid concern in society today. This has always been a factor in society that authors have felt the need to ... family and friends. People only do what is expected. If moral behavior is no longer expected, it will stop being practiced. A perfect example of this human hypocrisy lies in The Scarlet Letter's Arthur Dimmesdale. To his congregation, Dimmesdale is an icon of morality, but he knows better. Every night he beats himself w...

• Word Count: 686
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School