Sin is a prevalent theme throughout Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel The Scarlet Letter. The main character, Hester Pryne’s sin of adultery instigates the entire novel. The novel follows Hester’s journey in dealing with her sin in a strict Puritan town. Nathaniel Hawthorne provides an example of how someone’s sin can affect many individuals. Hester’s sin not only affects herself, but also affects many other characters including the Puritans, Roger Chillingworth, Arthur Dimmesdale and her daughter Pearl
In today’s society, guilt and sin are usually associated with negative connotations. People are under the impression that positive effects can’t result from bad situations. Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter takes place in the 1700’s in Boston, Massachusetts. During this time, if someone was to commit a sin, the citizens of the Puritan community would completely shame and bash the person who was involved in the wrongdoing. Hester Prynne is one character who makes a mistake that leads her to
Hawthorne’s enduring novel The Scarlet Letter remains a hallmark of American literature due to its clever incorporation of symbols and motifs. The Scarlet Letter’s theoretically mundane soap-opera plot gains a layer of depth and nuance when viewed through an analytical lens, thanks in large part to its revolutionary use of symbolism. Hawthorne ingeniously toys with the nature of symbolism itself — challenging the norms of what a “symbol” actually is. The idea of sin, for example, evolves in its significance
In The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne expresses the true nature of his characters. In his story it’s obvious and clear the portrayal of the children. Children’s are innocent they will say or do anything, unlike adults, they are not forced by societal expectations. They are tolerated and innocent to most manners therefore they are less judged but also less accountable than adults when it comes to questioning things or speaking their mind. Pearl the main Child character in the novel is an excellent example
The Scarlet Letter is a symbolical novel in which Hawthorne used few major symbols as to represent the theme of sin though this novel is capable of interpretation in various ways. “The Scarlet Letter is so popular, generation after generation, because its beauty lies in the layers of meaning and the uncertainties of the symbols and characters” (Kirk, 2000: 7) The most important symbol that represent the theme of sin is the Scarlet Letter A forced on Hester Prynne by the Puritans. The whole plot
minded- many see why he chose to separate himself with them. (The Scarlet Letter) Among all the Hawthorns were known for judging people and deciding their fate, similar to the Puritan people. They felt very strongly about people getting what they so deserved in return of their sins. In The Scarlet Letter Hawthorne uses his background knowledge and familiarity with the Puritan society to dramatize how harsh and extreme they were. (Scarlet Letter Analysis) Hester Prynne believes she has been widowed when
Although publicly admitting to sin can be a challenging task, time will heal the initial pain. Hester Prynne, of the Scarlet Letter, lives this lesson as she commits the sin of adultery. Her punishment for the sin is to wear the letter “A” on her bosom until she is allowed to remove it by the Puritan authorities wishes. Initially, Hester feels guilt and shame as she wears it. As Hester’s character grows in strength, she overcomes the letter’s original purpose of punishment. By wearing the “A,” Hester
Scarlet Letter In the Novel The Scarlet Letter by, Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote in the 1800’s, takes place in the 1600’s during puritan times. Puritanism is the believe that everyone is naturally born evil. Hawthorne teaches a lot of lessons threw symbolism. Symbolism is when the author makes a person or object have a deeper meaning. In his novel“The Scarlet Letter the symbolic significance of the Scarlet Letter, Dimmesdale and Pearl to contribute to the theme of guilt. First, Hawthorne uses the symbol
Most readers are entangle in the meaning of the letter A, only adulatory of Hester Prynne? No, it is not that simple. Firstly, the letter A is represent angel. Hester Prynne didn’t harbor a deep resentment for the punishment and abuses, instead of that she still treated nice and gentle to others. Secondly, it is able. Hester lived alone with her “only treasure”, Pearl, after she came out from the jail. Everybody feel disgusted and shamed for her at distance so that Hester Prynne did not have way
Kate Chopin’s The Awakening protagonist Edna Pontellier is said to possess “That outward existence which conforms, the inward life which questions.” In The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Hester Prynne is a character who outwardly conforms while question inwardly. Prynne is humiliated and is publicly shamed by wearing the scarlet letter upon her bosom for seven years by everyone. Going through that horrible journey she begins to question Pearl inwardly. Although some may claim that Roger Chillingworth