... elaborately embroidered scarlet letter "A,"" the symbol for adulteress, which the Puritan society forces her to wear. Ostracized by society and enveloped within her own sins, Hester's situation is further blackened by the appearance of her former husband Chillingworth in New England. Throughout the story, the two men in Hester ... up in their own anguish and troubles. Hester, however, grows stronger and more morally righteous until she is actually favored by Hawthorne, despite her sins. Shunned as the undesirable model of a sinner, Hester's character is truly remarkable in how she overco...

• Word Count: 1177
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... on her chest caused her to be isolated by the townspeople. They are all hypocrites for being the same people who go 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 ... Hawthorne employs white and light to oppose darkness as a state of self-containment. White most clearly symbolizes purity. Pearl, who has not committed any great sins nor does he hold herself back from anything, is always portrayed with the light shining on her. When Hester re...

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

... , because every time Hester looks at Pearl she sees the potential good in herself. Thus, In the novel The Scarlet Letter, Pearl exists solely as a symbol of Hester's sins, positive traits, and past self, not as a character in her own right. Pearl is compassionate solely to her parents. As they both go through their different struggles, Pearl is the one thing that ... much of a symbol as anything else, if not more. In The Scarlet Letter, although Pearl is represented as a character, she is not fully developed. She physically represents Hesters sins, positive traits, and past self. Pearls ...

• Word Count: 1245
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... and touches the townspeople. Hester and Dimmesdale planned that they will leave for Boston and live happily ever after, however Chillingworth tried to stop them. In a parade, Dimmesdale confesses to sins and right after the confession, he died peacefully. Hester and Pearl was relieved from their guilt. The theme within the story is unconfessed ... sins leads to the destroying of the soul. Hester who was dubbed with the guilt, openly admits it thus her soul was not destroyed, instead she gathers strength and courage to ... of individual identity in the face of social judgments. After m...

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

... attempts to absolve himself at night on the scaffold with no one watching. He intends to free himself from all his inner anguish and let the town know of his sins," all the dread of public exposure had been so long been the anguish of his life never-the-less he found himself." However, Dimmesdale has tortured himself so much mentally ... and physically that he cannot get past his hallucinations. Although the scaffold is a place for humiliation and public condemning, it now has no effect because there is no one there to witness him. Instead, the scene shows ... his sermon, which the tow...

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

... from God and should not be disciplined for something that his or her mother has done. Hester and Pearl should not be condemned or tormented by the community for Hester's sins, this is an inner conflict and must be solved by the individual, not the society. God is the only one who has the authority to do so. It is said ... each person has. Pearl is the physical consequence and constant reminder of Hester's life-long sin. Her main purpose in this novel is to serve as a symbol of her mother's past. As long as Pearl is alive, so is Hester's guilt and pain. Pearl is Hester's only reason to l...

• Word Count: 1200
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... (Chapters 7-12). Pearl is unaware of who her father is, and it is Hester who refuses to answer her questions about her past. Naturally, Pearl becomes a very curious child in her secluded life from society. Pearl deems answers for her past and becomes infuriated in Hester's refusal to expose the truth. As a result of Pearl's seclusion from society, nature sympathizes with Pearl ... the minister hides. Hester is informed by the witch that she knows the minister also has a hidden sin comparable to Hester's scarlet token (6 Chapters 21-24). Dimmesdale ultimately confesses his sins of adulte...

• Word Count: 845
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... deal with its consequences. How one decides to deal with it will result in a cleansing of one's soul or in the rotting of one's soul. One can decide to confess sins and faults, and continue with one's life, or one may keep one's deeds secret, to harrow up one's souls for many years. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne remains a classic ... the years. Dimmesdale explains that feels miserable playing the dichotic roles of sinner and minister (p. 174). Hester, although only a poor embroiderer, is humble and happy because she has put her past behind her. These two characters develop t...

• Word Count: 890
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography

... on all sorts of issues. While the scarlet letter seems to be an important symbol, it seems insignificant compared to Pearl who functions as a live symbol and a reminder of Hester's past. Even though Pearl served many purposes in this book, her primary function was as a symbol. She is the consequence of a sin committed between two people and a constant reminder of this ... 's relationship to Pearl is revealed. Additionally, the rosebush next to the rusted prison door should not be overlooked. The rosebush symbolizes nature and its ability to forgive people for their sins. The prison symbo...

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