Rhetorical Analysis Essay On The Scarlet Letter

Hester Prynne, Guilty As Sin Despite what Hawthorne intends us to think, D.H. Lawrence writes to expose the malicious side of Hester Prynne in his critical essay, “On The Scarlet Letter”. To convey his reasoning, he provides context and analysis of her character and her actions throughout the novel. Lawrence uses sarcastic tone, biblical allusions, and choppy and repetitive syntax to prove that Hester Prynne is not a heroine in the Scarlet Letter. Lawrence presents a sarcastic tone in order to prove that Hester is not as heroic as Hawthorne perceives. For example, in his essay while writing that Hester’s sin should not be taken lightly, he mentions that the greatest “triumph a woman can have, especially an American woman, is the triumph of seducing man: especially if he is pure” (Lawrence). In this way, he believes Hester is a bad example for American women. Hester is the one who entices Dimmesdale, even though she was still married; however, Hawthorne sees Hester’s sin as redeemable. Lawrence utilizes sarcasm to explain that Hawthorne wrongfully portrays …show more content…
Lawrence mentions that Hester is Hawthorne’s Abel, in reference to Cain and Abel, and how it “becomes a farce” (Lawrence). He does this to explain that although Abel is the victim in the biblical story, Hawthorne portrays Hester as Abel, even though she is the one who seduces Dimmesdale. Hester makes a mockery out of the tale, and out of Abel himself because she is said to be pure when she is not. Lawrence makes another allusion to baby Jesus and his mother, Mary. Similar to Mary, Hester has a child who would “be a startling redemption the world will get from the American infant.” (Lawrence). Though Mary’s child is born out of God, Hester’s child is born out of sin. Lawrence wants the reader to see that Hawthorne wrongfully equates Hester and Mary because Hester is the epitome of sin, unlike