How Does Be True Relate To The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne
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How does be true relate to the Scarlet Letter? Hawthorne portrays this idea many times throughout this book. For example, truth or the lack thereof can be linked to the conflicts such as secrets, marriages, and sins. “Speak; and give your child a father!” (Page 40; Chapter III) The secrets are who the father is and who Roger Chillingworth really is. “I am a stranger, and have been a wanderer…” (Page 36; Chapter III) Hester becomes a weak link in her marriage. “Yonder woman.. was the wife of a certain learned man… He sent his wife before him, remaining himself to look after some necessary affairs.” (Page 37; Chapter III) When she leaves Europe she is married to Roger and they are apart for 2 years. They are expected to meet again in the New
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Be true! Be true!’” (Page 145; Conclusion) Truth is the only way to succeed in life and feel right about it. Lying may help one achieve their goals, but it will not be morally acceptable. The majority of the novel is effects of the lies and sins, some being positive but mainly negative. Hawthorne purposefully creates these sins to emphasis the consequences of them. Nothing good comes out of sin and lies. Sins, secrets and lack of commitment can be used to describe the events in the Scarlet Letter. In some cases, all three can be used for the same situation. For instance adultery is a sin, a secret of who the adulterer is, and lack of commitment on Hester’s part with her marriage. “‘Forgive me! In all things else, I have striven to be true. Truth was the one virtue which I might have held fast, and did hold fast through all extremity; save when thy good,- thy life,- thy fame,- were put in question! Then I consented to deception. But a lie is never good, even though death threaten on the other side!’” (Page 109; Chapter XVII) Of all people, this statement should not be coming out of Hester’s mouth. It does not appear that she strives to be true. But this idea is one theme of the Scarlet Letter that is applied many times in the
Be true! Be true!’” (Page 145; Conclusion) Truth is the only way to succeed in life and feel right about it. Lying may help one achieve their goals, but it will not be morally acceptable. The majority of the novel is effects of the lies and sins, some being positive but mainly negative. Hawthorne purposefully creates these sins to emphasis the consequences of them. Nothing good comes out of sin and lies. Sins, secrets and lack of commitment can be used to describe the events in the Scarlet Letter. In some cases, all three can be used for the same situation. For instance adultery is a sin, a secret of who the adulterer is, and lack of commitment on Hester’s part with her marriage. “‘Forgive me! In all things else, I have striven to be true. Truth was the one virtue which I might have held fast, and did hold fast through all extremity; save when thy good,- thy life,- thy fame,- were put in question! Then I consented to deception. But a lie is never good, even though death threaten on the other side!’” (Page 109; Chapter XVII) Of all people, this statement should not be coming out of Hester’s mouth. It does not appear that she strives to be true. But this idea is one theme of the Scarlet Letter that is applied many times in the