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Character Names In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter

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It is estimated that an average of 130,000,000 babies are born each year around the world. (Ross 2). These infants possess given names that have significances behind it such as a saint name, after another family member, or a trait that the word possesses. Correspondingly, Nathaniel Hawthorne’s, The Scarlet Letter characters develop entitlements to names that have specific meanings. Pearl Prynne and Reverend Dimmesdale reinforce character names that possess deeper definitions. The names Pearl Prynne and Reverend Dimmesdale, in The Scarlet Letter, depict their personality traits and amplifies how others view them. Hester Prynne only has one treasure, her daughter Pearl Prynne, whom she advocates throughout her life. Meanwhile, the town which Hester and Pearl Prynne live in, torment Hester because of her grave sin, adultery. As a result, Pearl Prynne supports her mother and becomes her prized possession. After Hester Prynne stands on the scaffold for hours, Hester Prynne presents the name of her daughter, which is Pearl Prynne because she “...purchase[s] [her] …show more content…

Soon enough, Reverend Dimmesdale allows Roger Chillingworth to move in with him because of his illness. He did not know that Roger Chillingworth has a plan; he, therefore, becomes “[d]oomed by his own choice…” (Hawthorne 76) because Chillingworth displays adequate behaviors at first, but plans revenge on Reverend Dimmesdale in secret. For instance, Roger Chillingworth plans on breaking up Reverend Dimmesdale and Hester Prynne, so he can have Hester Prynne for himself. After Reverend Dimmesdale confesses to his sin on the scaffold, he “...hast escaped [Chillingworth]” (Hawthorne 210), he becomes a real father to Pearl Prynne and accepts his sin. Reverend Dimmesdale let his enemy overpower him because he is dimwitted until he broke free and confessed his

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