... burden on her chest. Also, in chapter six. it shows Pearl's fascination of the scarlet letter and seems to torture her mother by playing with it. Pearl symbolized God's way of punishing Hester for adultery. On page 61 in The Scarlet Letter, when Pearl is being explained as an innocent child, Hawthorne writes "a lovely and ... at sometimes she was very happy, joyful, and full of life and color but on other days she was "wilting" which brought Hester much grief. In The Scarlet Letter it shows how if a person sins against God, he/ she will pay for what they did, even through that particula...

• Word Count: 647
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• Grade Level: High School

... and what is ethical also plays a necessary part to the development in Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter. "The mind's eye, or the imagination, is the instrument of moral insight." Imagination is what creates moralistic intuition in the writer (Jacobsen pg. 34-33). Another example that may support morality in the production of The Scarlet Letter, as a historical document, is the study Yvor Winters claims that "Puritans had allegorical morality," ... tried his hardest to present Puritan society but failed to acknowledge its true reality. Well, if Hawthorne failed to do so then why does Gorman...

• Word Count: 1014
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• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... see her learn to use the scarlet letter to her advantage, and respect it. For example: towards the beginning of the novel she fears the scarlet letter and everything it does to her, and as the reader nears the end of the novel they see Hester Prynne and how the whole entire meaning of the scarlet letter has changed from a meaning of "adultery" to the meaning of "able". All of the conflicts in The Scarlet Letter revolve somehow around Hester ... , her former husband, Roger Chillingworth, and the reverend, Arthur Dimmesdale. The conflict circle is ... ...

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• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... 's sin and is therefore a constant reminder of guilt for both Hester and Dimmesdale. Pearl is also always doing something to further her mother's guilt. The first thing she recognizes in the world is the scarlet letter, she often throws things at the letter, and she even makes one for herself out of seaweed. Hawthorne even shows her as an A herself Hester make her a beautiful red dress that ... . Although it causes Hester great pain, it is better for Hester to suffer openly about her guilt in public because she eventually comes to terms with it. Hawthorne shows the evolution of the letter...

• Word Count: 915
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• Grade Level: High School

... out. Hawthorne's purpose for presenting Hester in this way was to show "a person's attempt to see [one's] artistic side survive in a community that disapproves of the use of the imagination" (Johnson 2). The Scarlet Letter may be a sad story to those who see Hester as a helpless victim of a love affair gone awry, but to those who truly understand Hester's inner passion ... but after trying to escape this artistic prison that was Puritan code and failing outwardly, she retreated to a less obvious form of expression with the "scarlet letter, so fantastically embroidered and illuminated" (H...

• Word Count: 1145
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• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... 's sin and is therefore a constant reminder of guilt for both Hester and Dimmesdale. Pearl is also always doing something to further her mother's guilt. The first thing she recognizes in the world is the scarlet letter, she often throws things at the letter, and she even makes one for herself out of seaweed. Hawthorne even shows her as an A herself Hester make her a beautiful red dress that ... . Although it causes Hester great pain, it is better for Hester to suffer openly about her guilt in public because she eventually comes to terms with it. Hawthorne shows the evolution of the letter...

• Word Count: 917
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• Grade Level: High School

... that her punishment is enough and that she should no longer wear the scarlet letter. A few pages later, Hawthorne writes, "The scarlet letter had not done its office." (Pg 110) As the book goes on, it becomes more and more clear that the scarlet letter hasn't done its office, hasn't done what it is meant for. The letter and punishment was supposed to teach Hester to not sin, and she ... still lies to Pearl about the meaning of the letter, another sin. At the end of chapter 15 ... case they may not have committed adultery, but Hester still would have committed fortification, which is al...

• Word Count: 944
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• Grade Level: High School

... the Scarlet Letter. They suffer with the guilt of the sin of adultery that they committed. At the time, the Puritans looked down on this type of sin. Hester and Dimmesdale can be compared and contrast in the way they handled their scarlet letter, their cowardliness, and their belief of what the afterlife is. Hester and Dimmesdale both bear a scarlet letter but the way they handle it is different. Hester's scarlet letter is a piece of clothing, the "SCARLET LETTER ... , so fantastically embroidered and illuminated upon her bosom" (Hawthorn 51). Dimmesdale on the other hand, has a scarlet l...

• Word Count: 706
• Approx Pages: 3
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... 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 those around her. The most frequently used color symbol by Hawthorne is red. Red most obviously represents Hester's sin, as shown by her scarlet letter. Her scarlet letter, like her sin, is something she must always deal with ... well as representing simple evil. Light symbolizes a state of enlightenment and a refreshed spirit, as well as purity. The color symbols in The Scarlet Letter help to ...

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

... , the letter is shallow in meaning, standing for the sin of Adultery. To resonate the "A" in the mind of the reader Hawthorne displays the letter in a variety of altered profiles. Besides being the beacon from Hester's breast the letter "A" is presented in several forms. It is on the armor breastplate in Governor Bellingham's garden, in the sky on the night of Dimmesdale's scaffold vigil, continually little Pearl is pictured to be the scarlet letter personified, and the most ... wild ones -- and they had made her strong, but taught her much amiss." Through the course of the novel Hester ...

• Word Count: 661
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• Grade Level: High School

... , not of that one sin, for which she had borne so long and dreary a penance, but of her many good deeds since. The scarlet letter had the effect of the cross on a nun's bosom." (148) Due to Hester's caring and considerate virtues, the scarlet letter no longer stood for adultery and alienation. "Some people began saying that A stands for "Able" (158) and more accurate sign of herself. So ... in some ways, it was almost a gift that Hester's community knew of her sin. She could accept the punishment and continue her life and Pearl's, but most importantly, she didn"t the let the sin destroy ...

• Word Count: 1175
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• Grade Level: High School

... and ideals. Women of this time were not thought of as able to overcome hardships and trials because they were considered weak, but Hawthorne showed to the world with The Scarlet Letter what women, in actuality, were like. The embodiment of Hawthorne's feminist ideals, Hester, was an unusual character for that time period. Women weren't considered very important. Yet, "so strong was Hester Prynne, ... spirit, courage, and character could be victorious in battles where physical strength could never triumph. The shame Hester first felt when she wore the scarlet letter was almost unbearable...

• Word Count: 1087
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• Grade Level: High School

... uses symbols to represent a forgiving nature, a punishment for a sinful act, and as living reminders of human foibles. The symbols used in this book are the scarlet letter, Pearl, and the rosebush next to the rusted prison door. The scarlet letter was a stigma worn by someone who had committed a sinful act many Puritan settlements. The Puritans believed that public humiliation was a just punishment for these offenders. Hester was forced to wear ... a prison for criminals. Right from the beginning Hawthorne hints at the fact that many of the Puritan ideas very hypocritical. The symbols u...

• Word Count: 843
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... 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, Hawthorne shows that sin, known or unknown to the community, isolates a person from their community and from God. He shows us ... doubtless caused by one of those meteors the minister, looking upward to the zenith, beheld there the appearance of an immense letter-the letter 'A'-marked out in lines of dull red light" (Hawt...

• Word Count: 1118
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• Grade Level: High School

... women's societal standing suggests that women are becoming more feminine and compassionate. At first glance, Hester is considered to be a contemptible adulteress, but as the novel progresses, the scarlet letter on her chest takes on a new meaning. At the beginning of the novel, Hawthorne explains how women have become more feminine throughout generations: Morally, as well as maternally, there was a coarser fibre in those wives and ... society views Hester as an adulteress. However, outside of that community, the scarlet letter on her chest does not have the same scandalous meaning. The ...

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... for Hester and favors her more than any other character in the novel. Nathiel Hawthorne criticized the way Puritans lived. As we see the narrator also has these thoughts. "On the breast of her gown, in fine red cloth, surrounded with an elaborate embroidery and fantastic flourishes of gold thread, appeared the letter A." (The Scarlet Letter) The author describes the scarlet letter as elaborate and ornate, even though it's supposed to be punishment ... . Typically many would describe it as hideous and repulsive but he didn't. The scarlet letter is a reflection upon her which makes her mor...

• Word Count: 673
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• Grade Level: High School

Irony in the Scarlet Letter There are many ironic occurrences in the novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter. One example of irony is when Hester implies that Reverend Dimmesdale knows her best since he is her pastor, while we later understand that Dimmesdale knows her because they committed adultery together. Hester Prynne says to the Reverend Mr. Dimmesdale, "[t]hou wast my pastor, and hadst charge ... Dimmesdale and Chillingworth speaking about another sinner. Chillingworth is indirectly placing blame on Dimmesdale, while Dimmesdale is busy defending his silence about his sin. Ne...

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... it is afraid of something on your bosom" (138). This is evidence that the scarlet letter is the cause of Hester's darkness. Later in the book, Hester is in the forest and she throws the scarlet letter off of her bosom. When she throws it on the ground, "forth burst the sunshine, pouring a very flood into the obscure forest" (152). This represents how light accepts Hester only after she throws ... home where she can be wild, elf-like. Hawthorne describes the woods as the "great black forest [that] became the playmate of the lonely infant." Since Pearl has been driven out of Puritan civili...

• Word Count: 1017
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• Grade Level: High School

... use a symbol, such as an object, person or idea, in their novels to represent different things. This is referred to as symbolism. One example is the S on Superman's uniform, which symbolizes him being "super." In "The Scarlet Letter," Hester Prynne is sent to America alone to wait for her husband to come back from Europe. While she is waiting she becomes pregnant with her ... and caring person. Hawthorne uses many elements of symbolism in "The Scarlet Letter." He uses hypocrisy, guilt, and even characters such as Pearl. The letter "A" was obviously the most significant. It is able to ta...

• Word Count: 571
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• Grade Level: High School

... hide. Whenever she faces these people she feels she can detect a certain reaction to the sight of the Scarlet Letter that betrays a sense of guilt. Feeling such guilt as this, Arthur Dimmesdale goes to stand in shame on the platform one night. In the gloomy night sky a "meteor shower in the shape of an A" mysteriously appears. This supernatural phenomenon gives Arthur a sense of ... used to create a mysterious atmosphere through the story. Finally, intuition is also used to add romanticism to this tragic novel. Pearl, is constantly questioning the meaning of the scarlet letter "A" on he...

• Word Count: 522
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• Grade Level: High School

... her, themselves, their faith and devotedness. Mr. Hawthorne's tone during his description of Hester is subtly mystified and filled with wonder. His tone at the description of the crowd is sorrowful, irked. Although significant, tone is not Hawthorne's only weapon of choice. The Scarlet Letter was a novel filled with antagonism. Main conflicts include man versus man, man versus self, and man versus society ... of the points of view of the characters also helps the reader to see that Hester's sin had such an impact on herself and her community. Hawthorne's point of view in writing The Sca...

• Word Count: 1115
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• Grade Level: High School

... was. Others feel that a person's punishment should be based upon the severity of their crime. However, what many people overlook is the fact that in time, we all have committed sins. In The Scarlet Letter, the idea of sin and punishment is the main theme of the novel and how Hester Prynne, the main character, has been punished for her sin of adultery. As Nathaniel Hawthorne states in this ... novel, "In the view of Infinite Purity, we are sinners all alike ... very clear that Hester does not abide by most Puritan traditions and she clearly is not very orthodox. However, at times in the...

• Word Count: 802
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• Grade Level: High School

... thematically and symbolically. Hawthorne uses these many themes and symbols to convey his story soundly and strongly. The themes of personal guilt and an individual's place in society are examined in this novel and the symbol of the scarlet letter A is used to illustrate the manner in which the main characters deal with this guilt. Hester Prynne bears this symbol on her chest for all to see ... . In the beginning of the story, the 'A' is a symbol of her guilt and shame. It represents the sin Hester has committed, and is a constant reminder of that ... , gave Pearl life and a somewhat res...

• Word Count: 872
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• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... but everyone assumed it meant shame and that he had something to hide. I think that the minister thought that it was his mission to show how superficial the people were. The ministers own fiancee left him because no one knew anything about the veil he wore. Again in The Scarlet Letter, I can think of two more major examples where an object was used as a sign or omen ... . The first is of course the letter, it meant evil, shame, and sin to the townspeople. All it was, was a letter nothing more, nothing less. The second object that people took as a prolific sign was ... grew because flowe...

• Word Count: 498
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• Grade Level: High School

The Scarlet Letter has interesting details centered on irony. The personalities of the characters even contradict the obvious choice. The beginning scene shows a few very prominent views, which sets the tone of the story. The opening scene of The Scarlet Letter begins with the description of the Utopian's society with a prison. Just next to the prison, lies a rose bush in bloom. The rose bush is said to have sprouted after the famous Anne Hutchinson crossed the path to enter the prison ... . The rose symbolizes many ... ...

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