Love is a complicated emotion. Most people think that love is a feeling that comes from the heart, but it actually comes from the brain. There are different kinds of love in the world and different ways to express each kind. The brain generates chemical signals to help individuals to understand love. In order for people to understand these symbols, the ancient Greeks came up with the four terms: Eros, storge, agape, and philia to describe the four types of love. Each of these types of love is demonstrated in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Scarlett Letter” in different ways. Different characters in the Scarlett Letter share Eros, storge, agape, and philia love. Eros is a very affectionate and sensual kind of love. It usually triggers romantic feelings.
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Agape love sees completely beyond any imperfections the other person may have, and it focuses on the person’s own self underneath the exterior. In this type of love, people accept the other person for who they are, regardless of any underlying conditions. This is the type of love that God shows to his children. No matter how much sin people commit, he still continues to love them. This is the type of love that most people work towards developing with others. Dimmesdale shows unconditional love towards Pearl and Hester at the end of the book. At first Pearl did not like the reverend because she says, “Mother, was that the same minister that kissed me by the brook?”(p.440). Later on she grows a deeper love for him and she eventually kisses him back and the spell was broken; this happened right before Dimmesdale died. Dimmesdale also grew an agape love for Hester at the end of the book. Hawthorne writes, “Shall we not meet again?" whispered she, bending her face down close to his. "Shall we not spend our immortal life together? Surely, surely, we have ransomed one another, with all this woe! Thou lookest far into eternity, with those bright dying eyes!” (p.469). This quote symbolizes how Hester and Dimmesdale want to spend eternity with each other because they gained an unconditional …show more content…
Philia love is love that one would have for a friend. This type of love refers to a warm, friendly love. Generally, this is the love that would make one want to be friends with someone else. People that are best friends usually share this type of love because they each seem to make the other happy. Since philia love involves friendliness and affection, this is not shown towards enemies. Dimmesdale and Chillingworth shared a platonic relationship. Neither knew that Chillingworth was really Hester’s husband, or that Hester had an affair with the reverend. Dimmesdale did know that Hester went to the physician to have an interview, and he thought he was very intelligent. Chillingworth was successful in curing people. He says, “I joy to hear it," answered the physician. "It may be that my remedies, so long administered in vain, begin now to take due effect. Happy man were I, and well deserving of New England 's gratitude, could I achieve this cure!”
Agape love sees completely beyond any imperfections the other person may have, and it focuses on the person’s own self underneath the exterior. In this type of love, people accept the other person for who they are, regardless of any underlying conditions. This is the type of love that God shows to his children. No matter how much sin people commit, he still continues to love them. This is the type of love that most people work towards developing with others. Dimmesdale shows unconditional love towards Pearl and Hester at the end of the book. At first Pearl did not like the reverend because she says, “Mother, was that the same minister that kissed me by the brook?”(p.440). Later on she grows a deeper love for him and she eventually kisses him back and the spell was broken; this happened right before Dimmesdale died. Dimmesdale also grew an agape love for Hester at the end of the book. Hawthorne writes, “Shall we not meet again?" whispered she, bending her face down close to his. "Shall we not spend our immortal life together? Surely, surely, we have ransomed one another, with all this woe! Thou lookest far into eternity, with those bright dying eyes!” (p.469). This quote symbolizes how Hester and Dimmesdale want to spend eternity with each other because they gained an unconditional …show more content…
Philia love is love that one would have for a friend. This type of love refers to a warm, friendly love. Generally, this is the love that would make one want to be friends with someone else. People that are best friends usually share this type of love because they each seem to make the other happy. Since philia love involves friendliness and affection, this is not shown towards enemies. Dimmesdale and Chillingworth shared a platonic relationship. Neither knew that Chillingworth was really Hester’s husband, or that Hester had an affair with the reverend. Dimmesdale did know that Hester went to the physician to have an interview, and he thought he was very intelligent. Chillingworth was successful in curing people. He says, “I joy to hear it," answered the physician. "It may be that my remedies, so long administered in vain, begin now to take due effect. Happy man were I, and well deserving of New England 's gratitude, could I achieve this cure!”