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Relationships in The Scarlet Letter

            In The Scarlet Letter, as relationships change between the characters a turn of events occur. The story takes place in Boston back to a time of Puritanism. Hester Prynne is committed of adultery. This story is about how she copes with her sin and how her it affects the people around her. The relationship that Roger Chillingworth and Dimmesdale have with each other is somewhat unusual. Chillingworth is Dimmesdale's physician. He decides to move in with Dimmesdale to take better care of him since his health is declining. The townspeople approve of the idea that the two live with each other and think only good of it. You'd think that Chillingworth is a harmless guy since he's a physician and is responsible for tending to the minister. In actuality he is the enemy. But Dimmesdale is so terrified of everyone in the town finding out his secret that he doesn't realize that his enemy is living in his own home. Chillingworth knows that Dimmesdale is hiding some deep dark secret. So he spends a great deal of time and energy to make him reveal it. .
             One night after the minister fell asleep Chillingworth put his hand over Dimmesdale's heart to read it. Hawthorne's write that he acted, How Satan comports himself when a precious human soul is lost to heaven and won into his kingdom. Chillingworth wants to hurt the minister as much as possible. It consumes him to the point that he can only focus on causing him pain. Little Pearl plays a major role in the story. She is a living version of the scarlet letter. Her mother even makes her clothes look like the letter that she wears on her bosom. Pearl is not affected by the community. She is a free-spirited child. Pearl is curious and always asks her mother what the letter means. But every time she asks, her mother refuses to tell her. Although Pearl is an every day reminder and living proof of Hester's sin, Hester finds great joy in her daughter rather than resenting her.


Essays Related to Relationships in The Scarlet Letter

1. The Scarlet Letter - Hester Prynne, Tragic Heroine

In the book, "The Scarlet Letter," Nathaniel Hawthorne creates a character who is so loving, passionate, and mistreated that the reader cannot help but feel badly for her. ... She is reminded of her sin every day with her child, Pearl, and the scarlet letter. ... Throughout the story of "The Scarlet Letter," Hawthorne tips off the reader that Hester Prynne is destined for a downfall because her character is written a classic tragic heroine. ... It is evident that "Hester's story will not and cannot end happily" (Guy-A Critical Review of The Scarlet Letter-Website), because her tragedy is ...

  • Word Count: 1733
  • Approx Pages: 7
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

2. Scarlet Letter

A Dissection of the Various Insignias Present within Masterpieces of the Written Word and Film The Scarlet Letter, The Scarlet Letter (movie version), and Chocolat all contain a conspicuous amount of symbolism that is peppered throughout these works. ... Many objects, events, and relationships in these three works overflow with symbolism. ... The Scarlet Letter offers four distinct symbols: the scarlet letter, the meteor, Pearl, and the rosebush next to the prison door. The scarlet letter is definitely the most pronounced symbol within this novel. ... Ergo, the downplay of the scarlet letter...

  • Word Count: 397
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

3. Scarlet Letter

She is forced to sew a scarlet-colored letter on the front of her dress in plain view of anyone who might encounter her. ... Hester derives her sense of self-identity from the Scarlet Letter. ... The fact that she chooses to engage in a sexual relationship with another man exposes a weakness in her relationship with Roger. ... Her fabrication of the Scarlet Letter evokes indignation and resentment from the townspeople. ... Why did she not leave and begin her life anew without the stigma of the Scarlet Letter? ...

  • Word Count: 1295
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Grade Level: High School

4. Scarlet Letter

Pearl plays one of the most crucial roles in The Scarlet Letter. ... "But the first object of which Pearl seemed to become aware was the scarlet letter on Hester's bosom! ... It was the scarlet letter in another form; the scarlet letter endowed with life!" ... A letter, the letter A, but freshly green, instead of scarlet!" ... Her character acts as a mysterious and interesting symbol in The Scarlet Letter. ...

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

5. The Scarlet Letter - Symbol of the Letter "A"

Throughout The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne embeds a variety of signs and symbols in the letter "A." ... Pearl, the daughter of Hester Prynne, is the symbol of the illegitimate relationship Hester had and is considered a sin in Puritan society. Pearl is the "the animate letter, the child dressed in gold-embroidered scarlet" and "the scarlet letter in another form, the scarlet letter endowed with life.... Pearl's attire of the same deep, scarlet color and its same stitching, very much alike Hester Prynne's own scarlet letter on her chest was another represen...

  • Word Count: 1468
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Has Bibliography

6. The Scarlet Letter

The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne The Scarlet Letter is a story that shows a love that cannot be. ... The sunshine is the love of a man (Arthur Dimmesdale) and it does just what Pearl says - it runs and hides itself from the scarlet letter. ... With Roger in Boston he would get in the way of them having an open relationship and he would destroy their true love. ... Hester wears the scarlet letter, so Arthur can't be with her or it might destroy his reputation. ... Because of all these reasons, The Scarlet Letter is a story about a love that could not be. ...

  • Word Count: 381
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: High School

7. Pearl in Relation to the Scarlet Letter

The character Pearl in Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter is one of great intrigue and symbolism. ... The emotional side of Pearl reflecting the scarlet letter appears in the way Pearl acts. ... The physical allusion of Pearl to the scarlet letter appears in the way Hester dresses her daughter. ... Pearl appears as a visual, living symbol of the scarlet letter on Hester's dress. ... Pearl serves as a representation of Hester's relationship with Dimmesdale. ...

  • Word Count: 790
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

8. Scarlet Letter Critique

The Scarlet Letter is a wonderful piece of literary work. ... The various types of characters in The Scarlet Letter help create a dim feeling to readers. ... " Hester Prynne, leading along little Pearl, in her scarlet grab, and pointing her forefinger, first at the scarlet letter on the bosom, and then at the clergyman's own breast."" (134) The dreams Dimmesdale had because of his guilt with having a relationship with Hester led him to have powerful dreams. ... The Scarlet Letter was a book that met all guidelines and does not require any editing. The Scarlet Letter was a novel t...

  • Word Count: 789
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

9. The Scarlet Letter

The Scarlet Letter is a book revealing lives of sin, social identity, and humanity. ... The most remarkable feature of her, besides her beauty, is the elaborately sewn letter on her bosom; a scarlet "A" stitched with gold thread. Through the crowd's remarks and the narration of Hester's thoughts, it can be concluded that the scarlet letter stands for "adulteress." ... Pearl delights in the scarlet letter and enjoys emphasizing the symbol on her mother's breast. In fact, it is said that when Pearl was a baby, the first feature she noticed about her mother was the scarlet letter ...

  • Word Count: 3653
  • Approx Pages: 15
  • Grade Level: High School

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