Through Hester’s perceived loss of life, femininity and her questioning of womanhood, as well as the townspeople’s changed view on her, it becomes clear that the “A” upon her chest had a different effect than the original intention.
Hester’s seclusion from society has sucked the life out of her. During this chapter, it becomes apparent that the life inside of Hester is shriveling up because she is losing “all the light and graceful foliage of her character” (148) due to her punishment. Not only has the shame affected intangible differences like her character, but there are also physical differences. Nothing in Hester’s face had anything “for Love to dwell upon” (148) and her body was decaying in its loss of “Passion” (148) and “Affection” (148). The narrator elaborates on this idea when he explains that when a woman experiences such “peculiar severity” (148) it is simply fate to lose her “feminine character and person” (148). Both Hester’s shame and isolation forced “dark questions” (150) into her mind, such as the existence of “womanhood” (150). She …show more content…
The sin Hester committed was meant to put her into “long seclusion from society” (144). However, the letter is not punishing her as it was set out to be. The people began to see her as a token of the town. However, now that time has past, people interpret scarlet letters as “Angels” (144). The people also describe her as an object of possession in their society by calling her “our Hester” (147). They view her as the woman who “is kind to the poor” (147) and “helpful to the sick” (147) demonstrating their respect for her. The public humiliation she went through on the “pedestal of shame” (63) with a “red-hot brand” (148) that represents adultery is a harrowing concept that ensues a life of indignity. Nevertheless, Hester’s position in society has taken a turn from a stain to the culture to “benevolence”
Hester’s seclusion from society has sucked the life out of her. During this chapter, it becomes apparent that the life inside of Hester is shriveling up because she is losing “all the light and graceful foliage of her character” (148) due to her punishment. Not only has the shame affected intangible differences like her character, but there are also physical differences. Nothing in Hester’s face had anything “for Love to dwell upon” (148) and her body was decaying in its loss of “Passion” (148) and “Affection” (148). The narrator elaborates on this idea when he explains that when a woman experiences such “peculiar severity” (148) it is simply fate to lose her “feminine character and person” (148). Both Hester’s shame and isolation forced “dark questions” (150) into her mind, such as the existence of “womanhood” (150). She …show more content…
The sin Hester committed was meant to put her into “long seclusion from society” (144). However, the letter is not punishing her as it was set out to be. The people began to see her as a token of the town. However, now that time has past, people interpret scarlet letters as “Angels” (144). The people also describe her as an object of possession in their society by calling her “our Hester” (147). They view her as the woman who “is kind to the poor” (147) and “helpful to the sick” (147) demonstrating their respect for her. The public humiliation she went through on the “pedestal of shame” (63) with a “red-hot brand” (148) that represents adultery is a harrowing concept that ensues a life of indignity. Nevertheless, Hester’s position in society has taken a turn from a stain to the culture to “benevolence”