How To Read Like A Professor Analysis

Over the course of the last few centuries, Christianity has been a driving force in the development of western culture. From igniting Crusades in the Middle Ages to introducing new words to the English vocabulary, the Christian religion has had a considerable influence on every aspect of the western culture known today; arguably, the arts and literature specifically were the most heavily impelled by Christianity. As Thomas C. Foster states in his book How to Read Like a Professor, writers of all forms of media are at least aware of the stories of the Bible, and use them in their works, whether it be a story structure or the names of people in biblical anecdotes. Because of this, it is interesting to notice that most classic novels (and even present works) use the idea of Jesus, or the Holy Spirit, in their narratives to create new yet familiar characters. Nathaniel Hawthorne …show more content…
A prime example to better understand this can be found in the final chapters of the novel, in which Dimmesdale reveals a mark on his chest similar to that of Hester’s mark. “‘Stand any here that question God’s judgment on a sinner! Behold...’ ‘May God forgive thee!’ said the minister. ‘Thou, too, hast deeply sinned’” (382). This scene distinctly resembles Jesus sacrificing himself to relieve all people of sin, where in the context of this narrative, Dimmesdale sacrifices himself to abate the sin of Hester Prynne. This scene also speaks to the blind following to Dimmesdale as a religious leader, as he was a man of deep sin. Another perspective may view Dimmesdale sacrificing himself to prevent Chillingworth from harming anyone else. Chillingworth’s cries of, “Thou hast escaped me!”, as Dimmesdale dies in the marketplace can be seen as Chillingworth being defeated and unable to claim vengeance upon