The Importance Of The Scarlet Letter

Decent Essays
As time progressed, so did the people’s view of Hester. Hester became a role model of volunteering and being a good samaritan and helping however she could. Her scarlet letter, once a sign of sin and shame, had now taken a different meaning, “The letter was the symbol of her calling. Such helpfulness was found in her--so much power to do, and power to sympathise--that many people refused to interpret the scarlet A by its original signification. They said that it meant Abel, so strong was Hester Prynne, with a woman 's strength.” (132). Hester’s had changed as well. Gone was her passion and fire, replaced with an unresponsive, distant person yet she refuses to remove the scarlet letter. Over time, Hester had grown to felt guilty about keep Chillingworth’s …show more content…
Pearl says “It is for the same reason that the minister keeps his hand over in heart” (147) jokingly, although in truth she was correct, which worried Hester slightly. Pearl then begged her mother to tell her what it meant, and why the minister kept his hand over his heart, but nevertheless, Hester brushed it off and gave her a fake answer. Several days later, Hester decided that she had to tell Dimmesdale the truth of Chillingworth’s identity and was going to meet him in the forest where they would not be seen together. Pearl asks her mother to tell her a story about the Black Man, “How he haunts this forest, and carries a book with him a big, heavy book, with iron clasps; and how this ugly Black Man offers his book and an iron pen to everybody that meets him here among the trees; and they are to write their names with their own blood; and then he sets his mark on their bosoms. Didst thou ever meet the Black Man, mother?" (153). Hester lied and said that she had met the Black Man before and that the scarlet letter is the Black Man’s mark. They then hear footsteps approaching and Pearl believes it is the black man. Heester assures her it is not the Black Man but rather Mr Dimmesdale. Pearl once again asks her about why he puts his hand on his heart, "And, mother, he has his hand over his heart! Is it because, when the minister wrote his name in the book, …show more content…
Because of having to wear the scarlet letter, she had gained individuality and strength by adapting to the situation. For the last 7 years, Dimmesdale has only found misery wherever he looks.He is envious of Hester’s scarlet letter, “ Happy are you, Hester, that wear the scarlet letter openly upon your bosom! Mine burns in secret!” (158). The secret has been eating away at him for 7 years, and he feels as though no one, except Hester, knows the true him. After they decide to go back to Europe, the couple is filled with energy, and Dimmsdale shares that this he can feel joy again and Hester casts off her scarlet letter, freeing herself for a moment from the restraints of isolation. She lets her hair down and the sun shines on her, something that Pearl had recently commented on never happening. Pearl had enjoyed herself in the woods, as she seemed to have a way with animals and plants, “ The truth seems to be, however, that the mother-forest, and these wild things which it nourished, all recognised a kindred wilderness in the human child.” (170). Because of her isolation from other people, Pearl had a different relationship with nature, thinking of it as a friend. Here, she symbolizes an innocence which has been protected from the world and up to her own

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