Outline For The Scarlet Letter

Introduction In the novel “The Scarlet Letter”, Hester is constantly reminded of her sin and put down for it. The Puritans look down upon her because she has committed a sin.
Thesis: Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel “The Scarlet Letter” can be seen as criticism of the beliefs of puritans and how symbolism is used to show Hester’s sin and how she is defined.
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Topic Sentence: When the Puritans had found out that Hester had conceived a child with another man, the Puritans saw this as a sin that deserved punishment.
A. Claim: The Puritans saw adultery as a sin equal to the punishment of death.
1) Primary Evidence: In his book, Hawthorne writes, “On the other hand, a penalty which, in our days, would infer a degree of mocking or ridicule, might then be invested with almost as stern dignity

2) Interpretation: The Puritan women believe Hester should be put to death for bringing shame upon them for committing the act of adultery.
B. Claim: Because Pearl was born from a sin, the Puritans feel as though she is a sinner.
1) Primary Evidence: “Without question, she is equally in the dark as to her soul, its present depravity, and future destiny.” (Hawthorne 97).
2) Interpretation: Pearl tells the gentleman that no one made her but her mother plucked her from the bush of wild roses that grew by the prison-door.
C. Conclusion: As people who claim to be pure to sin, the Puritans believed if you were conceived from a sin then you were automatically a sinner despite the fact you have not sinned yet and you deserved to die if you brought sin to their village.

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Topic Sentence Throughout “The Scarlet Letter” Hawthorne uses symbolism to show that a gift to Hester was a reminder of her sin yet she would not let her sin define who she was.
A. Claim Pearl is a symbol of the sin that Hester has