The Burning Vs The Scarlet Letter

The Scarlet Letter, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, focuses on the life of Hester Prynne—the unlucky soul who is caught committing adultery and forced to live a life of shame and ignominy. The scaffold is not only the start of her predicament, but it is also the end of the once seemingly perfect Reverend Dimmesdale’s own guilt. The scaffold is the setting of a scene three times throughout the novel: the beginning, middle, and end. For such a lifeless object, it is difficult to recognize its significance in the novel; however, the scaffold is used by Hawthorne to portray the changing relationship between the characters, specifically Hester, Dimmesdale, and Pearl.

We are introduced to Hester by hearing the description of fervor, “A throng of bearded men, in sad-colored garments, and gray, steeple-crowned hats, intermixed with women, some wearing hoods and other bareheaded, was assembled in front of a wooden edifice, the door of which was heavily timbered with oak, and studded with iron spikes” (Hawthorne 45). The idea that a character is introduced with such distinction shows the ostracization the character will deal with. The importance of this quote is not only exhibited by its words but also it’s place in the novel, by being the introduction to Hester and the first words of the novel, immense value and deeper meaning is added than it would have if the quote had been later on. Hester is talked among the townspeople as a “... woman [who] has brought shame upon us all, and [she] ought to die.” This is the pinnacle of shame she experiences and as the novel progressed so did the towns folks’ opinions.

They must stop fearing of the speculations and judgments made by others, and take action against being swayed by the principles of traditional roles. “Thus Hester Prynne, whose heart had lost its regular and healthy throb, wandered without a clue in the dark labyrinth of the mind; now turned aside by an insurmountable precipice; now starting back from a deep chasm” (Hawthorne, 182). Hawthorne uses figurative language, such as metaphor, to compare Hester’s mind to a labyrinth and a mountainous peak, which she can’t seem to overcome. Since Hester has no one but Pearl, who is only a child, she is unable to discuss and share her woeful feelings and distress with others. She has a few ideas on how to overcome male chauvinism- a belief where men are believed to be inherently superior to women- within the society, however, her solitude deters her from taking any immediate actions and makes her feel lost.

On the other hand Hester doesn’t want or try getting attention through her actions. Also she becomes an outcast of the Puritan community and she slowly finds her way back through hard work and showing she cares. Secondly the way the two characters

“It was whispered, by those who peered after her, that the scarlet letter threw a lurid gleam along the dark passageway of the interior.” (67) is the last sentence of chapter three. Hawthorne uses this haunting sentence to make the statement that Hester Prynne can never relieve herself of her sin, and that she will always be constantly reminded of it, even in the dark. Hawthorne is also foreshadowing that the scarlet letter is much more powerful than it seems. Chapter 4: “The

In the Dark Romantic Novel, The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne conveys the theme that being surrounded by a negative influence can change a person for the worse through his use of recurring motifs, notably, the Scarlet Letter and its effect on Hester. When Hester and Dimmesdale meet in the forest, the two speak privately and honestly to one another for the first time in 7 years. They both decide that they wish to leave the puritanical society which has caused them so much ignominy and pain. With the decision made, Hester decides to throw the scarlet letter next to the brook. Upon doing so, she realizes that “the burden of shame and anguish departed from her spirit … she had not know the weight until she felt the freedom” (Hawthorne 199).

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.

With the continuous, generous contributions towards the poor, the rich, and the rest of the townspeople along with her sewing skills, the town’s view of Hester changes. However, even with this change, the town continues to use Hester while still disparaging her and ignoring her efforts to reintegrate into society. In fact, even after the reveal of the secret sinner’s identity and the establishment of a promising future for her daughter, Hester is abused in that “people brought all their sorrows and perplexities, and besought her counsel” (Hawthorne, 180) at no cost, due to the expectations forced upon her. In summary, through the interactions between Hester and the patriarchal society as well as the men, it is evident that there are notable differences between gender roles where woman is nothing more than a luxury.

In The Scarlet Letter, Hester Prynne defies the Puritan society’s harsh laws by committing adultery and later redeems herself by becoming a helpful member of Puritan society. Nathaniel Hawthorne

The Scarlet Letter is an excellent book by Nathaniel Hawthorne, published in the year 1850. Considering that the 1850’s was more than 150 years ago, I wanted to relate this book to nowadays. Hester was not seen the same with her Scarlet Letter, and people felt ashamed of her. I began to think who wore their own “Scarlet Letter” in our generation. There are many people who commit sin or are looked down upon.

In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel, The Scarlet Letter, a woman named Hester Prynne is found guilty of committing adultery. She lives in the Puritan settlement of Boston, Massachusetts where if the town’s laws are broken, the culprit suffers. Throughout the novel the Puritans ridicule and mock Hester for her actions. Through Hawthorne’s use of diction and imagery he exemplifies his disapproval for the unyielding religious punishments of the Puritans. The town’s magistrates condemn Hester to stand on a scaffold in front of the whole town for three hours.

In D. H Lawrence's passage “On The Scarlet Letter”, he downgrades Hester because he views her as a disgraceful person . The majority of the passage talks about how bad Hester is for sinning and she seduces men for her happiness. Lawrence uses keywords to make his idea about Hester clearer. He mocks her for her foolish actions. Lawrence uses repetition, mocking tone, and biblical allusion to critique Hester.

"It was debated whether or not the scarlet letter was to be taken off her bosom." With this, the people are beginning to consider that maybe Hester has fulfilled her punishment. She has gained their acceptance once again, and it was mostly due to her not backing down from her silence. She gained the respect of the community with her tenacity, her sewing skills and her charitable ways with the poor in the community. Being an outsider, she was able to see the community for what they really were, judgemental, and was able continue on with her life, which led to her being recognized for her good

The “tendency of her fate and fortunes had been to set her free (137).” She no longer has to subscribe to the same set of rules as the other Puritan women because the scarlet letter is Hester’s “passport into regions where other women dared not tread (137).” Thus, it is easier for her to have an irregular lifestyle. It is because her life has been displayed for the public to see that Hester is able to let go of her reservations, expectations, and inhibitions. Furthermore, Hawthorne presents various scenes in which Hester and Dimmesdale are equals.

The novel also explores the feeling of isolation that each of the characters face. In the end, Hester is greatly admired for her heroic characteristics. Hester Prynne is the heroine of “The Scarlet Letter” because of her courage, brave