... that are vital to the understanding and reading of the book. For example, " so that both men and women, who had been familiarly acquainted with Hester Prynne, were now impressed as if they beheld her for the first time,- was that SCARLET LETTER, so fantastically embroidered and illuminated upon her bosom" (47). This quote immediately tells the reader that Hester is wearing this scarlet letter because she did ... something she was not supposed to. All of the men and women who previously knew her, now only looked upon her ... scarlet "A," which was how they would know her from then on. Th...

• Word Count: 711
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... place was on that same dishonoured bosom." (59) This quote refers to the bosom, where Hester's scarlet letter "A" is clipped. Pearl is the consequence of her mother's actions and faults and serves as a reminder of Hester's sin, and is more of a punishment than a blessing, and should have the same place as the scarlet letter which Hester wears around. On the other hand, Pearl is seen as a child of pure nature ... 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 boo...

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

... her on Election Day. Hester, again, describes her relationship with Pearl while attempting to convince the Governor to allow her to maintain Pearl's mother. "She is my happiness! She is my torture, none the less Pearl keeps me here in life! Pearl punishes me too!" (104). This quote examines the importance of Pearl in Hester's life. She allows Hester to feel happiness, as well ... as serves as a constant reminder and punishment of the sin that Hester has committed. Pearl is involved in an extremely perplexing ... which Hester Prynne was doomed to wear upon her bosom. It was the scarlet ...

• Word Count: 1133
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

"The Scarlet Letter" Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote "The Scarlet Letter" in 1850 in the highly religious area of New England. When it was written many people judged the novel solely on its story telling, whereas ignoring the loads of hidden themes that Hawthorne placed in the novel. "The Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne has many different themes contained in the novel, but the themes of Puritanism vs. Romanticism and the theme of reflection are the most prevalent. The Scarlet Letter is chock ... that she beheld, not her own miniature portrait, but another face, in the small black mirror of P...

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... inclined and use religion in all aspects of life including the court system. The bible states, "he [that adulteress] destroyeth his own soul"(6.32 Bible). This quote plays an important role in this book because the main characters, Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale, are adulteress. Using this, Hawthorne can describe the way Puritans deal with sin. Hawthorne's universal belief that ... guilt endures until penance is made is delineated by the way in which puritans deal with guilt. Hester Prynne, ... as this symbol is, it "was red-hot with infernal fire" (Hawthorne 82). The letter not ...

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

... child." As a result of Pearl not being accepted by the community she takes on the characteristics of nature because nature accepts her as one of its own. Pearl's character "Lacked reference, and adaptation to the world into which she was born. The child could not be made amenable to rules.". This quote reveals a striking resemblance in description between Pearl and nature. Pearl and nature are ... City: Penguin Books USA, Inc. 1986. Clendenning, John. "Nathaniel Hawthorne." The World Book Encyclopedia. 1989 ed. Griswold, Rufus Wilmot. "The Scarlet Letter." The Library of Literary Critic...

• Word Count: 1158
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... those who do not do what Puritanism says is right and holy. The scaffold is a place in the Scarlet Letter in which Puritan punishment takes its course, through the scorn that the townspeople provide to the victim on the pillory. During Hester's first encounter with the pillory, just after she is released from prison bearing the scarlet A, her reception by the townspeople is defined as "Meagre, indeed, and cold, was ... normally assessed in relation to the level of illegality of the infraction. The "mocking infamy" as compared to the "punishment of death" shows that in Puritan society, be...

• Word Count: 1003
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

In The Scarlet Letter Hawthorne creates a story where every emotion is shown. The story shows who the characters really are and what they are all about. In the song A Praise Chorus the band Jimmy Eat World expresses many feelings that the four main characters in the book have. Both the story and the song show the pain, guilt, wondering, and love Hester, Pearl, Chillingworth, and Dimmesdale feel. The book The Scarlet Letter shows the consequences of peoples actions ... should be. The quote from the book that best describes the song and Hester is, "But Hester Prynne, with a mind of native coura...

• Word Count: 634
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• Grade Level: High School

... include strict guidelines to living a holy life that is pleasing to God. In The Scarlet Letter and the history readings, it is evident that the Puritan lifestyle was reaching towards the goal of perfection. The views of The Scarlet Letter and the history readings agree on the Puritan way of life. There are many examples about the Puritan lifestyles that reflect this statement. They agree on issues involving government and politics ... not law for it? Truly, there is, both in the Scripture and the statute-book. Then let the magistrates, who have made it of no effect, thank themselves if t...

• Word Count: 867
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• Has Bibliography

... were displayed in this novel, including truth, and honor. Both Hester and Mr. Dimmesdale wanted the truth to come out so they could regain their honor within the community. After Dimmesdale's death, he was thought of as a strong and honorable man, while Hester , still adorning the scarlet letter was looked upon with sorrow, as someone who has gone through tough times. To display these ... , the author uses several literary elements and techniques including characterization and mood. The author thoroughly describes every aspect of the character's thoughts and feelings which makes it seem a...

• Word Count: 566
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• Grade Level: High School

... In The Scarlet Letter Throughout The Scarlet Letter there are symbolic references made. Nathaniel Hawthorne, seems to be rather fond of using religious and natural images to symbolize different points. One of the purposes of this symbolism is to show that Puritanism is fraudulent and that their religious viewpoints are against the natural order, which is done by using contrasting natural and religious symbols in the descriptions ... as a mistake or an outcast even though when a child is born, it suppose to be a wonderful thing. Pearl also has a sort of love uncommon than the other Puri...

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

... true of all people in the novel The Scarlet Letter. In this novel, there are three main characters who commit evil and sinful acts, but each act is at a different degree of sinfulness. For example the sins get worse as the story goes on. These three sinners, in the eyes of the puritan community are the beautiful Hester Prynne, the esteemed Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, and the cold-hearted doctor, Roger Chillingworth ... sinner and the most evil is old Roger Chillingworth. He is flat out pure evil Everyone is somewhat evil, but there are different levels of sin and evil. The quote that br...

• Word Count: 1211
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... had done for fear of punishment and rejection is clearly shown by 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 ... When someone broke a rule of the bible they would be punished as if they had committed a serious crime. The quote "The law we broke! The sin here so awfully revealed!" shows how little the distinc...

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

... they say this "quality" it can ruin their reputation with the people that surround them. But, we are taught not to keep our traits from the world because it is better for the world to know that find out from a different source other then themselves. Hester Prynne was a prime example to the quote " show freely to the world, if not their worst, yet some trait whereby ... the worst may be inferred.". She was not afraid to show her trait of Adultery in her life. She proudly exposed her daughter Pearl who was not brought into this world ... I know in my heart I remained truthful and that I...

• Word Count: 599
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... tall, although her mind wanders off at times. Ultimately Hester shows her pride despite her unforgiveable' sin. Hester exhibits great courage all throughout The Scarlet Letter. The best example of this courage is her willingness to stay in Boston, the town where both the sin and punishment took place. In chapter 5, Hester arrives at a reason for her to continue to be a resident of New England, Here ... work out another purity than that which she had lost: more saint-like, because the result of martyrdom."˜(Hawthorne, P. 35) This quote illustrates how courageous Hester because she can e...

• Word Count: 909
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... about her husband, Roger Chillingworth. She rips off her scarlet letter and lets her hair down, which is looked down upon in the time where the story takes place. Hester shows courage early on in the novel when she first wears the Scarlet letter, "A", and stands tall on the scaffold in front of all the townspeople. She continues to work for the people by making dresses and clothes for them even ... that they would no longer respect him and he would be very upset and most likely lose his status among them. The quote "I will not speak" on pg 47 is where Hester refuses to tell the official...

• Word Count: 512
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... tall, although her mind wanders off at times. Ultimately Hester shows her pride despite her unforgiveable' sin. Hester exhibits great courage all throughout The Scarlet Letter. The best example of this courage is her willingness to stay in Boston, the town where both the sin and punishment took place. In chapter 5, Hester arrives at a reason for her to continue to be a resident of New England, Here ... work out another purity than that which she had lost: more saint-like, because the result of martyrdom."˜(Hawthorne, P. 35) This quote illustrates how courageous Hester because she can e...

• Word Count: 912
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... of this novel, Hawthorne chooses to begin his novel with a prison. This is an appropriate symbol for the punishment that the protagonists will suffer. The Scarlet Letter deals with the adultery sin of Hester Prynne and Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, the revenge of Roger Chillingsworth, and the towns people's attitude toward Hester and her daughter Pearl. Puritans society believed that sinners should be punished for their sin forever; death ... himself and Hester would have had a lot less worse sin. The points that Hawthorne makes are similar to the Puritan texts. In his sermon, Jonathan Ed...

• Word Count: 811
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• Grade Level: High School

... good and sheer. Then again, could we believe such people were so ascetic? How could we when we learn about certain things they did that go against the beliefs they supposedly followed? The quote I used in the first paragraph was taken from The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. This book takes place in Puritan New England, and contains a very directive event that is of mayor importance in ... the subject of this essay. The book's protagonist, Hester Prynne, is a puritan who becomes an adulteress. The quote above was said about her, from another puritan woman. Now days, it would be ....

• Word Count: 978
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• Grade Level: High School

... again, and we will stand all three together!" (pg140). After Dimmesdale gives his powerful speech, the author says "By yielding up his breath in the arms of that fallen woman, to express to the world how utterly nugatory is the choicest of a man's own righteousness" (pg 177). In this quote the author is telling how Dimmesdale after seven years has become able to declare his love ... for Hester. The excerpt explains how utterly useless it is for a man to try and be self ... taken a large physical toll on his body as well as his mind. When the townsfolk claim to have seen a scarlet lette...

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

Hester In The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne gives Hester Prynne the challenge of living in a community where everyone shuns on her the committing adultery. In addition to this, Hester has another challenge of providing for herself and her child Pearl as a single parent. Throughout the novel one may obtain confused thought as to how Hester feels about Pearl. Does Hester look at Pearl as being a curse, or ... of her behavior which all build up to display her love for Pearl. One reads, "She is my happiness! Pearl keeps me here in life" (103-104). Hester says this quote when the governor te...

• Word Count: 520
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School