Heroism In The Scarlett Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne

More often than not, heroes are represented as large, muscled men with capes, flying in the sky, working by day, fighting crime by night. Although this is a comic depiction, it is what the majority of children grow up thinking a hero looks like. Similarly, a hero, or heroine, is defined as someone who is “admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities”. The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, plays with the idea of heroism, making it a subtle, yet effective quality, rather than a career. The novel follows the story of Hester Prynne, a young mother who committed adultery in a Puritan society. She is outcasted by a red “A” placed on her chest for the world to see, and the public to comment on. Her inflicted punishment from the town, and herself, affects not only her world, but, Pearl, her daughter, and the people around her. With good …show more content…
When dealing with Hester, there is a constant contradiction of her being miserable to her heroism. The reader never feels just one way about a character. He does this because it is similar to the audience. Everyone has flaws, as well as highlights and valuable aspects. Hester is just as much a human, therefore has all the same qualities. The novel, The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne captivates what true heroism is. No, Hester does not have a cape, and can not actually fly, but her nature as a person makes her the heroine people do not expect, but fall in love with. Her silent suffering is a symbol of strength to move on, rather than the weakness that people would draw from initial reaction. Through charity work, and relationships, she is able to push forth and create a better life for her family. Hester’s nobility, courage, and outstanding achievements, as the definition accounts for, are progressed throughout the novel and turn her once miserable self, into a respectable character; a transformation everyone wants to