In the first chapters of the novel, Hester was punished to wear an "A" on her chest at all times. The "A" is a punishment for the adultery she committed with the towns own Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale. Instead of making it into something that people looked down upon, as something horrific and disgusting on her chest, she made it look like a beautiful, gleaming gem. She made it out of the most gorgeous sparkling gold threads that caught everyone's eye. A quote in chapter two described the scarlet letter as "so fantastically embroidered and illuminated upon her bosom. It had the effect of a spell, taking her out of the ordinary relations with humanity, and enclosing her in a sphere by herself." That shows how she is a confident and very individual person. No other woman would have as much courage as she did to make a punishment into an attraction.…
This quote perfectly describes the Scarlet Letter and how it will be affecting Hester for the remainder of her life. Her punishment (to wear the letter “A” on her breast) will always create stares of judgment, wonder, and disgrace. This quote caught my attention because the scarlet letter must be something so interesting that people who Hester knew were looking at her like they were just seeing her for the first time.…
When the everyone found out that hester committed adultery she was going to get it with the punishment but it didn’t happen and they were angry. A group of ladies were talking among another about the punishment given to Hester and one of them said this “ if this hussy stood up for judgment before us five, that are now here in a knot together, would she come off with such a sentence as the worship magistrates have awarded? Marry I think not!” (Hawthorne 44) The ladies wanted a cruel punishment and maybe wanted Hester to get the death penalty and That’s way too Harsh. The consequence the magistrates gave Hester was a good one Because they will affect her life in the town and will go to pearl next after Hester is not here anymore.…
In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s classic novel The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne uses symbolism to reinforce the idea that, for every action, there is a positive or negative effect that will follow. In simple terms, if you do something bad, there will be a negative consequence. One of the main recurring symbols in the novel is the scarlet letter itself. The scarlet ‘A’ that Hester Prynne wears in the novel is worth a lot more than just its material value, it relays many ideas and themes. The ‘A’ is a punishment for one of the worst sins that could be committed; adultery. The punishment that is caused by the scarlet ‘A’ manifests itself in different ways and in different people. For example, Hester’s punishment comes in the form of public embarrassment and shame, whereas Minister Dimmesdale’s guilt comes in the form of personal guilt. The ‘A’ means different things at different times in the book also.…
When The Scarlet Letter was written the Author, Nathaniel Hawthorne, discovered many ideas and facts about the Puritan community. Knowing this Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote about how women in the 17th century lived and how strict the society's rules can be, one major rule that was followed strictly phonate was “Actions spoke louder than words, so actions had to be constantly controlled.” (nd.edu). When the book begins it starts with introducing Hester and how she has done this huge violation according to the bible, maybe even causing the death penalty upon herself. As The Scarlet Letter goes through the timeline of how she is isolated and is shunned from the society; eventually, Hester slowly becomes part of the society by being the pure character she really was. This lets her take off the scarlet “A” and change the meaning of Adultery to the meaning of Able. Hawthorne decribes the climax of Hester’s story by expressing, “The letter was the symbol of her calling. such helpfulness…
Even though they both sinned, they each spent their lives gaining penance in their own way. Hester was an outcast of the community. Moreover, she got treated as the town punching bag practically. As a result, she always was in pain and suffering even if she didn't show it at times. Additionally, she knew that she had to bear the weight of the “A” on her bosom. Hester could have been happy and felt free by removing the scarlet letter, but instead she kept it on because she knew she had to in order…
In the beginning, Hester’s scarlet letter was seen as a sinful, dark, symbol of adultery. However, the townspeople “refused to interpret the scarlet A by its original signification” (168) and “said that it meant Able”…
revenge and one of secrecy. He was not driven by an anger at his own sin, but…
In contrast to Dimmesdale’s suffering, Hester’s sin is publicly known. Even though Hester tries to be brave while standing in the Pillory with a “haughty smile, and with a glance that would not be abashed...” (Hawthorne, 52), she begins to feel uncomfortable as everyone around her starts staring at the scarlet letter embroidered on her chest. Hester begins to realize how sinful she was among her community, feeling lonesome and weak, “...she perchance underwent an agony from every footstep of those that thronged to see her, as if her heart had been flung into the street for them all to sprung and stumble upon.” (Hawthorne, 55). Hester has this feeling due to the strict puritan law. She knows that her life will never be the same again and that is what bothers her the most. As she leaves the prison, she believes that from that day on, people will use her as a bad example to society and that she is…
Read the following passage from Nathaniel Hawthorn's The Scarlet Letter. In a well-organized response, analyze how the author's use of language influences both mood and tone.…
In The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne displays many examples of love and hatred throughout the story. Though Hawthorne shows that love and hatred both have the potential to harm, hatred has a greater tendency to cause pain. This is clearly seen in Hester’s love for Pearl and Chillingworth’s hatred for Dimmesdale.…
The Scarlet Letter is a story that characters have to live and deal with the effects of sin in different ways. Of all the characters in the book, the Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale is the character represented as the most weak. He is a much stronger guy than he is given credit for. The amount of control he has over handling and dealing with burdens is out of this world.…
Having an “A” on her chest will not be the deciding factor in whether or not she goes to Hell. She has sinned, and the only thing that will wipe her sin away is confessing. In chapter thirteen, people start to think that the “A” on her chest has meant “able” instead of “adulterer” because of all the charity work she has done for poor people. Even with the meaning of the “A” changed, Hester’s attitude did not change. Instead of being nice to people, Hester became meaner and rasher. “Meeting them in the street, she never raised her head to receive their greeting.” (111) Hester’s attitude gets worse the more she doesn’t confess, because the guilt is eating away at her. Not the scarlet letter, but the sin itself is what is causing Hester…
Almost all people have felt some type of guilt. Whether it be from cheating on a test, lying to your parents, or forgetting your best friend’s birthday, guilt can be very powerful, it gives us a contrite awareness that we have acted in a way that some would considered to be wrong. In The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale have committed a great sin, and because of this sin, it causes these characters to have an extensive amount of guilt. Hawthorne transmits the idea of guilt and sin by using different symbols, like the scaffold. Throughout the novel, the scaffold’s symbolic significance of guilt demonstrates how one can attempt to overcome their guilt by confessing and being a productive citizen of society.…
Hester’s punishment of wearing the letter “A” was not a fair punishment and caused her embarrassment. For example, when Hester stood on the scaffold she felt very embarrassed because everyone in the town stared at her and judged her for the crime she committed. According to the text, The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, when Hester stood on the scaffold she painfully realizes her present position of shame and punishment when she remembers her past life (Hawthorne 49.)…