Nathaniel Hawthorne used his writing skills to appropriately show the strict intolerant ways of the disciplined Puritan America of 1850, with ... 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 ... of revenge he exacts on Dimmesdale. The light stands for truth and purity and Pearl's free nature. A major th...

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

... Scarlet Letter This research paper concentrates on the meanings of the two settings of the marketplace and the forest wilderness of Nathaniel Hawthorne's the Scarlet Letter. The marketplace is to stand for religious doctrine and Puritanical code, and the forest wilderness is to present the evil of human nature, at times it works ... two different settings in the novel. The conclusion restates the thesis of the paper. Outline An Analysis of the Marketplace and the Forest Wilderness of Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter I. Introduction. 1. The background of Nathaniel Hawthorne. 2. The brief ...

• Word Count: 2453
• Approx Pages: 10
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

Good vs. Evil Within The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne portrays the contrast of good and evil through the Reverend Dimmesdale and through his physician, Roger Chillingworth.   He also emphasized the necessity to "Be true" through Hester's vow to keep the secrets of both men.   Throughout the novel, Hawthorne showed that whether one is outwardly good or evil, one must be true and needs others ... far, the most evil character in the story. He personifies vengeance and bitterness.   As he uses Dimmesdale's good looks to represent his inner beauty, Hawthorne uses Chillingworth's physical...

• Word Count: 1430
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

Symbolism in 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 ... the city is to sell her very well-crafted clothing. This in turn causes the Puritan view of her letter "A" to change from adultery to ability. (Hawthorne; Schneider) Arthur Dimmesdale is as much responsible for the creation of the scarlet letter as Hester. Their illicit love has had a different effect him because he ... the minister. When his devilish face is shown, later ...

• Word Count: 1366
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

The Metamorphosis of Dimmesdale in The Scarlet Letter In The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, there are many characters that transform; one of them is Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale. Dimmesdale committed a great sin of the puritan society, he slept with another mans wife and Hester Prynne ... this eat away at him and torment him. The people still saw him as a great man and he was never really seen as a dirty man. In The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne Dimmesdale makes many changes - especially at the scaffold scenes. Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale starts from a god like man to a crazy gu...

• Word Count: 1308
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... great deal with the idea of sin, the punishment that comes from it, and the repentance that some undergo to cleanse themselves of that sin. In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, the author uses the scaffold scenes to depict the idea of private versus public sin. The first scaffold scene establishes the tone for ... to force her to lay open her heart's secrets in such broad daylight, and in presence of so great multitude." Here is the first presentation of Hawthorne's idea in regard to private versus public sin. Dimmesdale argues that it is not fair that Hester's secret be reveale...

• Word Count: 1460
• Approx Pages: 6

... understanding of God's grace. Because of this understanding he will lead a life in which hypocrisy and guilt will be the chains that bind him. It is important to note that Nathaniel Hawthorne, the author, writes from a 2 Puritan frame of reference. He has been reared in a Puritan home. The Puritan view stressed rules and regulations with regard to leading a successful "religious" life. Women ... them as well. There were only a few types of garments that she would not be hired to make. These were garments worn by the ministers, linens put in the church (Hawthorne 81). She was not permitt...

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

... lead to self-reliance? The nature of sin exists internally and externally and affects one's state of mind. Set in the mid 17th century, the three scaffold scenes developed by Nathaniel Hawthorne in The Scarlet Letter depict the moral, emotional and psychological effects of Hester Prynne, Arthur Dimmesdale, and Roger Chillingworth. Also, the Scarlet letter "A" that Hester is obligated to wear affects ... scaffold scene occurs late at night at the same scaffold on which Hester stood seven years earlier. The scene represents the irony between Hester's "outer" sin and Dimmesdale's "inner" s...

• Word Count: 1995
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

... inner beauty. Not long after this story was published, did women start rebelling against their so-called "position" in society. Hester would have been very proud. The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, is an amazing story of Hester's strength in exposing and accepting her sin, choosing to wear bold apparel, and helping Dimmesdale deal with his inner conflict. She is truly a model ... it, which shows a true strength from within. When she was subjected to standing on the scaffold she held her baby tight as people looked her up and down with disgust (Hawthorne 52). Even though the "A"...

• Word Count: 1678
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne (298 pages) The story begins in Salem, Massachusetts with a nameless narrator who was the surveyor in a customhouse. He stumbles across a number of documents in the house's attic and among these, ... what that mark was on Dimmesdale's chest that made Chillingsworth believe it was him who was the father, since it was kept from us. It was a real shocker that Ms. Hawthorne had Arthur Dimmesdale fall dead when his daughter is kissing him at the end also. I mean I knew he was really ill and everything, but I was hoping it was all just ... ...

• Word Count: 1497
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... around them, but in doing so corrupt themselves, and subsequently the entire human race. They degrade from perfect creatures into sinful individuals influenced by temptations, greed, pride, and evil. Similarly, Nathaniel Hawthorne's characters in The Scarlet Letter develop into less humane creatures as a result of the evil around them. The influence of evil leads to the corruption and degradation of those characters ... ...

• Word Count: 1412
• Approx Pages: 6

... in our room. We would often breakdown under the heavy burden of guilt, however, and we would realize the relative ease of time in our room. In The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne similarly develops the concepts of guilt and the freedom gained by confession. In the first of three distinct scaffold scenes, Hester Prynne stands alone under direct scrutiny from the public ... ...

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