... committed what was considered a great sin in the time period, and it manifested differently within them. Their future and newfound identities are a projection of the past sins that they have committed. While their sin may have been a choice, the consequences from their misgivings are shown to be up to fate. While both ... major transformation in identity throughout the novel, Hester's is the most revolutionary. Hester creates a new identity for herself as a woman, completely devoid of her past sins, and in turn is shown to be a positive and empowering role model. In the final chapter an...

• Word Count: 1347
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... becomes a fundamentalist preacher and then quickly relapses into his former ways. This is ironic because Alec tells Tess that he wants to save her from her sins, when he is the one truly responsible for her damnation. Another example of irony is when Tess proclaims to Alec that " I will always be ... made evident when Tess proclaims " I was a child when I left this house Why didn't you tell me there was danger in men-folk?'- Despite her past indiscretion, Tess still occupies the role of the heroine in the novel and at time exhibits the behavior of a martyr. As a result of her selfless n...

• Word Count: 2133
• Approx Pages: 9
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... born evil, or if they choose it; do people have an unalterable, predisposed life or are they shaped by the environment surrounding them? The popular idea is that once someone sins, they are, and will always be a sinner. However, John Steinbeck, author of East of Eden, addresses this discourse with a very different perspective. Although many people believe that evilness is an ... the steps" (Steinbeck 110). Although Charles is disgusted by this woman, Adam goes against his brother and takes her in. Adam, unaware and unquestioning of this woman's origin and past, falls in love with her an...

• Word Count: 2130
• Approx Pages: 9
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... himself and the more insight he has on his own life. Liesl encourages Dunstan to live his life the way he wants to and forget about his past which he feels responsibility and guilt for Mary and Paul Dempster, regarding the snowball incident when he was still a very young boy. Liesl transforms and ... change Dunstan by tempting him to do new things and a live a life which does not tie him to his past. During Dunstan's transformation, he comes to term with the fact that Mary Dempster is not a Saint he thought her to be but sees her as a kind ... thought her kind of madness was funny- a d...

• Word Count: 1556
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... . Her strong will and ability to see through the social mockery sets her apart from most in that society. Through the story she never once asks for forgiveness for her sins nor apologizes for her acts. She stands strong and takes whatever consequences come to her. Hester proves she has complete and utter pride in chapter fourteen when Chillingworth tells her ... the Puritans she is already, like her mother, pushed into the society. Pearl is a symbol of naturalism. In nearly everything she does, as a young child, she finds immense pleasure. Just past survival, pleasure is the foremost imp...

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

... , an education at Bowdoin, a reflective time at Brook Farm with famous literary friends, a marriage, and a daughter, Hawthorne became engulfed in "his consuming interest in the nation's history, particularly the Puritan past; his exploration of the psychological and emotional factors underlying human behavior; his eagerness to understand the power and politics of sexuality; his probing of sin, concealment, guilt, penance, and redemption ... only the other way! If it were I who was to be always young, and the picture that was to grow old!" (Wilde 19). From then on, as Dorian ages and sins...

• Word Count: 1523
• Approx Pages: 6