Scarlet Letter Theme
Nathaniel Hawthorne was an American Novelist in the 1800s. He wrote the book The Scarlet Letter, a story about secret sin that takes place in a small puritan town in Boston Massachusetts in the 1600s. In the book Hester Prynne, the main character is pregnant with a child although her husband has been missing for years. She is accused of adultery and is forced to wear a embroidered scarlet letter “A” on her chest. The father of pearl their child is reverend Dimmsdale. As the character's life unfolds it gives a view of how secret sin can affect a person. In his novel, The Scarlet Letter Nathaniel Hawthorne uses the symbolism of Pearl, Dimmesdale and the Black Blossom to contribute to the overall theme of secret sin. To …show more content…
His name represents his character's traits. Dimmsdale dims the truth about his sin, keeping his adultery a secret. His health dims as he continues to keep pearl a secret it takes a toll on his body and eventually this was his downfall. His guilty secret killed him. Hawthorne explains “They go about among their fellow creatures, looking pure as new-fallen snow while their hearts are all speckled and spotted with iniquity at which they cannot rid themselves.’’ (Hawthorne 172). Dimmsdale is explaining that all people have secret sin they just lie to themselves and each other. However confessing is the only way to live purely and without sin. This is ironic however because he himself has secret sin. As the book continues Hawthorne say “hast thou found peace?”... “None!-nothing but despair!” he answered but what else could I look for being what I am”(Hawthorne 103). In this quote Heaster asks dimmesdale if he has found peace. He hasn't he has dimmed all purity and truth from his life and in result he cannot find peace. Dimmesdale has kept the truth locked up inside for so long his secret sin is killing …show more content…
The Black Flower represents the growing of sin and the darkness of retributive punishment. Hawthorne explains, “... The black flower of civilized society, a prison(Hawthorne 46). Hawthorne is explaining that the prison is a ugly mark on civilization. The prison stands at the middle of the town. It prompts a feeling of uncertainty in the towns people. Reminding them of the consequence of secret sin. This prison is where Hester is forced to stay after being committed of adultery. It’s also where pearl was born. As the book continues, Hester’s husband Chillingworth who comes back after being abducted by Indians becomes Dimmesdale's physician. He knows that the reason Dimmesdale is dying is he is keeping a big sin secret. Chillingworth explains. “Let the black flower blossom as it may”(Hawthorne ). Chillingworth is telling Dimmesdale that he deserves the pain he is feeling because he brought it open himself. The blossom represents retributive punishment for secret sin. Hester is punished by society in the prison and through social outcast. Dimmesdale punishes
Nathaniel Hawthorne was an American Novelist in the 1800s. He wrote the book The Scarlet Letter, a story about secret sin that takes place in a small puritan town in Boston Massachusetts in the 1600s. In the book Hester Prynne, the main character is pregnant with a child although her husband has been missing for years. She is accused of adultery and is forced to wear a embroidered scarlet letter “A” on her chest. The father of pearl their child is reverend Dimmsdale. As the character's life unfolds it gives a view of how secret sin can affect a person. In his novel, The Scarlet Letter Nathaniel Hawthorne uses the symbolism of Pearl, Dimmesdale and the Black Blossom to contribute to the overall theme of secret sin. To …show more content…
His name represents his character's traits. Dimmsdale dims the truth about his sin, keeping his adultery a secret. His health dims as he continues to keep pearl a secret it takes a toll on his body and eventually this was his downfall. His guilty secret killed him. Hawthorne explains “They go about among their fellow creatures, looking pure as new-fallen snow while their hearts are all speckled and spotted with iniquity at which they cannot rid themselves.’’ (Hawthorne 172). Dimmsdale is explaining that all people have secret sin they just lie to themselves and each other. However confessing is the only way to live purely and without sin. This is ironic however because he himself has secret sin. As the book continues Hawthorne say “hast thou found peace?”... “None!-nothing but despair!” he answered but what else could I look for being what I am”(Hawthorne 103). In this quote Heaster asks dimmesdale if he has found peace. He hasn't he has dimmed all purity and truth from his life and in result he cannot find peace. Dimmesdale has kept the truth locked up inside for so long his secret sin is killing …show more content…
The Black Flower represents the growing of sin and the darkness of retributive punishment. Hawthorne explains, “... The black flower of civilized society, a prison(Hawthorne 46). Hawthorne is explaining that the prison is a ugly mark on civilization. The prison stands at the middle of the town. It prompts a feeling of uncertainty in the towns people. Reminding them of the consequence of secret sin. This prison is where Hester is forced to stay after being committed of adultery. It’s also where pearl was born. As the book continues, Hester’s husband Chillingworth who comes back after being abducted by Indians becomes Dimmesdale's physician. He knows that the reason Dimmesdale is dying is he is keeping a big sin secret. Chillingworth explains. “Let the black flower blossom as it may”(Hawthorne ). Chillingworth is telling Dimmesdale that he deserves the pain he is feeling because he brought it open himself. The blossom represents retributive punishment for secret sin. Hester is punished by society in the prison and through social outcast. Dimmesdale punishes