Scarlet Letter Fate Quotes

In the same way, the characters in The Scarlet Letter determine their fate through their own actions. Similarly to The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, the theme of doing what one wants versus living up to societal expectations is, shown through the scenes that happen in the town of Boston, and the scenes that happen outside of it. The first instance where this occurs while inside of Boston is when Hester decides to defy her society by having a child with the man she truly loves. Even though the affair was with a man whom Hester loves, since she is already married when she has the affair, she is being publicly questioned, on a scaffold; about the name of the man, she had the affair. While on the scaffold, Hester felt “as if her heart [has] been

The first instance where this occurs outside of the Boston is when Hester decides to use her needleworking skills as her profession. Hester’s expert needleworking skills led her to the point where her work “[is] seen on the ruff of the Governor; military men [wear] it on their scarfs, and the minister on his band” (Hawthorne 80). Through her skills of needleworking, Hester is able to subscribe to the culture of society by making clothing that is used by the people of Boston in their day-to-day lives. In addition, she also uses her needleworking skills to make clothing for the poor. Even though Hester goes through the trouble of making clothing for the poor, the poor still look down on her since she is a sinner. This shows how ungrateful and judgemental her society is. All things considered, through these many skills Hester accomplishes, the meaning of the scarlet letter, embroidered on her chest, changes in meaning from ‘adulterer’ to ‘able.’ This eventually leads to women looking up to her and going to her for advice. As a result, “the scarlet letter ceased to be a stigma which attracted the world’s scorn and bitterness, and became a type of something to be sorrowed over, and looked upon with awe, yet with reverence too” (Hawthorne 257). Hester’s experiences living with society, as they looked down upon her, eventually changes the way society looks at people and the choices they make. In addition, due to the respect people gained towards Hester, more people in the Puritan society of Boston began to realize that even the most holy of people may be sinners deep down inside. All in all, through the many different situations where the theme is shown, the characters of The Scarlet Letter choose their