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Comparing Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter: Book And Movie

602 Words3 Pages

The majority of the movie version of The Scarlet Letter and the novel version where very similar, but there were several differences between the two. The Scarlet Letter centers around the tale of a young and beautiful women named Hester Prynne, who live in Puritan times. Hester is accused of adultery, a sin according to the bible, and is sentenced to time in prison and public shame. Her partner in the affair, the well-loved Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, hadn 't been revealed. Hester 's husband, Roger Chillingworth, becomes Dimmesdale 's personal doctor. Over several years, Hester 's daughter, Pearl, grows up, and Dimmesdale 's health begins to fail. On the election day of the village, Dimmesdale confesses to being Pearl 's father before dying on the scaffold in front of the townspeople. The movie version follows the novels telling of this story …show more content…

Despite the movie following the book very closely, there were several obvious and notable differences between the movie interpretation and the novel version of The Scarlet Letter. The most noticeable difference was the absence of the character, Mistress Hibbins. Mistress Hibbins appeared several times in the novel, acting as a temptation for Hester, and is often described as a witch or agent of the Devil. The second most major difference in the movie, was the lack of energy in Pearl. In the novel, Pearl Prynne was described as a "demon child" on several occasions. She often had a lot of energy and was very excitable. In the movie, this energy is missing from Pearl, and she seems far less energetic than described in the novel. The last major difference between the movie and the novel is when Hester goes to meet Dimmesdale in the forest. In the novel, Hester is said to have removed her Scarlet Letter during a portion of the scene. In the movie, Hester only ever removed her letter at the very end of the movie. There were several other differences, but these were the most easily noticeable differences between the movie and

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Pearl In The Scarlet Letter Quotes

581 Words | 3 Pages

In the Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Pearl starts of as a secondary character as the novel progresses Pearl becomes significant to many of the key events of the story. Some examples of this are the scene in the scaffold at night, when Hester meets Dimmsdale in the woods, and when she makes the connection about the letter in her mother's bosom and the reason why the minister holds his hand on his chest. Pearl is a very intuitive, smart, wild and clever child; and at her young age is impressive how this child knows who to trust. She is acts as Hester's conscience as the novel progresses in many ways. Pearl is a very intuitive character making her more interesting.

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Comparing Minister's Black Veil, And The Scarlet Letter, By Nathaniel Hawthorne

1253 Words | 6 Pages

During the 17th century, the Puritans crossed the sea to grace America with their presence. In an astounding example of foreshadowing, the Puritans set up a patriarchal, semi-authoritarian society based on strangely unforgiving laws interpreted from the Holy Bible. Generations later, Nathaniel Hawthorne is raised in a post-Salem witch trial society amongst Puritans. Hawthorne is devout; however, the unjustifiable actions of his ancestors disturbs him. Hawthorne grew to have deep criticisms of Puritan society, and this became evident in his works.

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Movie Essay: The Scarlet Letter Vs. Easy A

634 Words | 3 Pages

"Easy A" is a movie that is loosely based on Hawthorne's novel, "The Scarlet Letter". In this movie, Olive can be compared in a way to Hester Prynne. Although they both have different roles in their society and being in different time periods. They always have one thing in common, the similarity is that they both wear a red "A" on their clothing. In the Scarlet Letter and Easy A, they both have many differences but one constant similarity.

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Hester Prynne: A Role Model That Transcends Time

1415 Words | 6 Pages

A Role Model that Transcends Time Hester Prynne changed dramatically throughout the course of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s, The Scarlet Letter. Initially she was viewed as the antagonist and was a destructive character to those around her. After being confined in her cottage with Pearl, she began to develop a sense of who she needed to become in order to efficiently raise Pearl. Hester’s ability to do what was necessary for her improvement made her into a respectable role model for women to shadow. Hester chose to isolate she and Pearl to create a wave of self-improvement. Because of Hester’s mysterious, seductive, and rebellious actions, she demonstrated the characteristics of a byronic hero.

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Scarlet Letter Compared To Today

516 Words | 3 Pages

Dimmesdale, knowing that he is the father of Pearl, keeps it a secret for a very long time. Dimmesdale had burned an “A” on his chest. In the book he states “At last… I stand upon where, seven years since, I should have stood; here, with this woman, whose arm… sustains me, at this dreadful moment, from grovelling down upon my face! Lo, the scarlet letter which Hester wears! … it hath cast a lurid gleam of awe and horrible repugnance round about her.

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Manipulating People's Emotions In The Scarlett Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne

747 Words | 3 Pages

While exploring the power of love and, manipulating people 's emotions the Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne was written on the battle of someone who was convicted of being a sinner living in a puritan society. The Scarlet Letter was a very influential novel because it was like a change in time, because it’s so different from what we see today. The story talks about Hester, who committed adultery and instead of giving her the punishment of death, she got the leeway of public humiliation. Throughout the novel the author uses characterization, tone and symbolism to help the readers better understand. First, there were the characters that helped to connect the theme sin, crime, and punishment.

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Pearl Symbolism In Scarlet Letter

502 Words | 3 Pages

Pearl’s estranged behavior is believed to be a result of the way she was conceived through sin, which is just another example of how Pearl is the physical representation and constant reminder of Hester’s sin. Towards the end of the book, Pearl is finally allowed to be a real human being once Dimmesdale confesses his sin. In Chapter 23, Hawthorne writes, “The great scene of grief, in which the wild infant bore a part had developed all her sympathies; and as her tears fell upon her father’s cheek, they were the pledge that she would grow up amid human joy…” (Hawthorne 142).

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How Hester Prynne Changes In Scarlet Letter

941 Words | 4 Pages

We are all sinners, no matter how hard we try to hide our faults, they always seem to come back, one way or another. Written in the 19th century, Nathaniel Hawthorne shows us Hester Prynne and how one sin can change her life completely. Hester Prynne changes a great deal throughout The Scarlet Letter. Through the view of the Puritans, Hester is an intense sinner; she has gone against the Puritan way of life committing the highest act of sin, adultery. For committing such a sinful act, Hester must wear the scarlet letter while also having to bear stares from those that gossip about her.

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The Role Of Pearl In Dimmesdale's Public Confession

98 Words | 1 Pages

Truly, Pearl is an important character in the work and is both the cause of Hester’s salvation and Dimmesdale’s public confession. Pearl allows her mother to live her life freely and prompts Dimmesdale to be true to his family. She acts as the moderator in both of their lives giving them peace and hope while also making them realize reality. From three months old to adulthood, she had an effect on their lives that outweighs that of any other person. Children may be young and innocent, but they are a foundation for many people in times of

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Who Is Pearl In The Scarlet Letter

562 Words | 3 Pages

Pearl is the living embodiment of of the scarlet letter. Pearl constantly reminds Hester of her sins, without meaning to. Whenever she asks questions about Dimmesdale or about the scarlet letter, Hester is reminded of the things she did wrong. Pearl is very smart child, and she likes to ask questions and learn about things. If she sees something that confuses her, she will ask her mother about it.

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Scarlet Letter Compare And Contrast Essay

354 Words | 2 Pages

The differences between Dimmesdale and Hester can be seen throughout the book, The Scarlet Letter. For instance, Hester accepts her sin and punishment and works past it. On the other hand, Dimmesdale, feels more and more guilty and eventually dies because of it. Dimmesdale suffered more internally and Hester suffered more socially.

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Symbolism Of Pearl In Scarlet Letter

744 Words | 3 Pages

As stated in chapter six, "Her [Hester] only real comfort was when the child lay in the placidity of sleep. Then she was sure of her, and tasted hours of quiet, sad, delicious happiness; until—perhaps with that perverse expression glimmering from beneath her opening lids—little Pearl awoke!" (Hawthorne X) Pearl is Hester 's greatest treasure, but she cost Hester everything. Because of Pearl, Hester has no chance at a happy life, but Pearl brings her happiness. Pearl is almost like a paradox.

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Gender Roles In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter

374 Words | 2 Pages

Term gender role is described as a set of social norms of what types of behaviors are generally considered acceptable, appropriate or desirable for a person based on their sex ussualy centered around opposing conceptions of femininity and masculinity. Gender roles traditionally were often divided into distinct feminine and masculine gender roles, until especially the twentieth century when these roles diversified into many different acceptable male or female roles in modernized countries throughout the world. Gender roles are closely linked with gender stereotypes.

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Reading Response To Nathaniel Hawthorne's 'The Scarlet Letter'

1146 Words | 5 Pages

This effects her every day life going out in public and getting ridiculed by all the towns people she is surrounded by. Hester Prynne doesn’t just have to live with a mistake right on her shirt, but people also help her remember past. She does have her daughter or her “sole treasure.” The young girls name is pearl and she is not exactly like the others. It isn't easy because her and her mother are considered different in the community so she is lonely but very

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Hester And Dimmesdale In The Scarlet Letter

743 Words | 3 Pages

Some of the differences between these two characters are also what makes them alike, as well as setting them apart from the rest of the characters in the book. Hester and Dimmesdale’s need to repent and face their punishments in their own ways leads the reader through the book with surprises at every turn. The characters face challenges from holding in a secret, and facing a punishment all relating to the same actions taken before the book begins. Hester, the mother of Pearl ,as well as the main character, was

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