In this passage from Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, Hester Prynne is described, as well as the Puritan society. Hawthorne’s tone towards Hester is one of admiration, due to her inner strength and independence. Contrastingly, Hawthorne believes that the Puritan society is too harsh and cruel towards Hester, ostracizing her from her community, and shaming her for an act she did not commit alone.
Although Hester comes across as serious and steely, Hawthorne begins this passage by explaining that this is because the drastic changes in Hester’s life have left her alone in the world, with no one but Pearl by her side. She has become a pariah. “…hopeless of retrieving her position, even had she not scorned to consider it desirable,—she cast away
Although Hester comes across as serious and steely, Hawthorne begins this passage by explaining that this is because the drastic changes in Hester’s life have left her alone in the world, with no one but Pearl by her side. She has become a pariah. “…hopeless of retrieving her position, even had she not scorned to consider it desirable,—she cast away