Everyone focuses on something in life, whether it is getting good grades at school, being the most popular kid in school and on social media, or work and that is not bad by itself. Everyone has their list of priorities and something has to be at the top of that list. If asked, some may say family or religion and truly mean it. For others, money, power, possessions, and even narcotics are possible answers to the question,”what is the most important thing to you?” And the reason why plays a large part in the effects it has on the person’s life and the lives of those around him. For it is the mindset towards the obsession that a person has that determines the short and long-term effects it will have. Nathaniel Hawthorne shows this almost perfectly
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While the Scarlet letter is an important part of her life and character, she doesn 't let it be the end all of her lifestyle. For example, Hawthorne often uses heavy symbolism to describe this fact, like in Governor Bellingham’s manor, when Hester and Pearl glance into the suit of armor. “The scarlet letter was represented in exaggerated and gigantic proportions, so as to be greatly the most prominent feature of her appearance. In truth, she seemed absolutely hidden behind it.” At first glance, this passage shows how much of her character is made up of the Scarlet letter, but with a deeper look, Hawthorne implies that this really isn 't true. He says that it is “exaggerated” and seems to hide her, but in truth it doesn 't. This is because she doesn’t let it decide her actions or control. By knowing this she is able to think and choose for herself. A normal person that had just been shamed to that extent probably would have left the community or at least have been spiteful towards those who had punished her. Instead she chooses to live there near the ones who scorned her and even going as far as to help others that are down on their luck. This isn 't how people normally think someone obsessed with something would act, and Hester is obviously obsessed with the scarlet letter. After all, obsession is just an idea or thought that continually preoccupies or intrudes on a person 's mind. And if a person looks at their kid and constantly compare it to their sin, that sin has to be on the mind of the individual. But why does she compare things to it when the meaning behind it changes quite often? Foreigners see it as a sign of respect and townsfolk think of it as either a symbol of a sin or a symbol of her hard work and kindness. The reason for this is that even though
While the Scarlet letter is an important part of her life and character, she doesn 't let it be the end all of her lifestyle. For example, Hawthorne often uses heavy symbolism to describe this fact, like in Governor Bellingham’s manor, when Hester and Pearl glance into the suit of armor. “The scarlet letter was represented in exaggerated and gigantic proportions, so as to be greatly the most prominent feature of her appearance. In truth, she seemed absolutely hidden behind it.” At first glance, this passage shows how much of her character is made up of the Scarlet letter, but with a deeper look, Hawthorne implies that this really isn 't true. He says that it is “exaggerated” and seems to hide her, but in truth it doesn 't. This is because she doesn’t let it decide her actions or control. By knowing this she is able to think and choose for herself. A normal person that had just been shamed to that extent probably would have left the community or at least have been spiteful towards those who had punished her. Instead she chooses to live there near the ones who scorned her and even going as far as to help others that are down on their luck. This isn 't how people normally think someone obsessed with something would act, and Hester is obviously obsessed with the scarlet letter. After all, obsession is just an idea or thought that continually preoccupies or intrudes on a person 's mind. And if a person looks at their kid and constantly compare it to their sin, that sin has to be on the mind of the individual. But why does she compare things to it when the meaning behind it changes quite often? Foreigners see it as a sign of respect and townsfolk think of it as either a symbol of a sin or a symbol of her hard work and kindness. The reason for this is that even though