... contest it is about love. Others state Hawthorne was commenting on the laws of the Puritan communities. All of these may be correct. Hawthorne himself may not be able to tell a person the exact point of his story, but that is the beauty of it. The reader can decide for him or herself. I have read The Scarlet Letter a few times and every time I am left feeling empowered ... that confined her hair; and down it fell upon her shoulders [t]here played around her mouth, and beamed out of her eyes, a radiant and tender smile, that seemed gushing from the very heart of womanhood" (Hawthorne, 16...

• Word Count: 3565
• Approx Pages: 14
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... to his congregation, but they simply assume he is being humble and honor him even more. This only increases his sense of shame and guilt. Since he doesn't have the courage to tell the community, he accepts Hester's plan to escape from Boston. " Dimmesdale, unlike Hester Prynne, did sin blindly through passion, committing an act which he felt to be wrong. And ... a human heart." Yet society has no stigma to fix upon his breast. (Hawthorne 19). Hawthorne clearly indicates that Chillingworth's sin of tormenting Dimmesdale is greater than Dimmesdale's sin of adultery with his wife. Even tho...

• Word Count: 1373
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

In Nathaniel Hawthorne's, The Scarlet Letter, he describes the story as a "tale of human frailty and sorrow."" This is most likely due to the fact that all the main characters go through some sort of sorrow and hardship throughout the novel. Each is unique in it's own way and has a different effect on the character. Furthermore, each character has his/her own major flaw or sin. Roger Chillingworth ... he is mine. He bears no letter of infamy wrought into his garment, as thou dost; but I shall read it on his heart."" (75). This was the first but not the last time for which he will declare his ...

• Word Count: 1529
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale: Not A Hero As a main character in Nathaniel Hawthorne's tale of "The Scarlet Letter", the Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale is confronted with circumstances both in and out of his control, that lead to his demise. Even though it can be argued that Reverend Dimmesdale is a tragic hero, he lacks the strength and underlying goodness essential for him to fulfill this role. With such discrepancies ... as her own Reverend Dimmesdale cries out, "She will not speak!" and places his hand, for the first time, over his heart. This gesture will reappear and grow in significance durin...

• Word Count: 2932
• Approx Pages: 12
• Grade Level: High School