The Scarlet Letter Essay

Throughout the mid-1800’s, the time period that Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote The Scarlet Letter, the Puritan society in the New England colony abided by strict codes of conduct, many of them strongly influenced by perceptions of gender roles. Here, men were perceived as authoritative figures, while women were highly condemned due to constant accusations of crimes such as witchcraft and adultery. Set in Boston during the late seventeenth century, Hawthorne’s romantic novel depicts the story of…

“The Scarlet Letter” by Nathaniel Hawthorne is loaded to the brim with underlying themes and symbols, from the first page to the last. The most important of these, however, is the scarlet letter itself. Its influence runs deeper than any other symbol in the novel, as none of the others sustained such a firm grip over the story, characters, and ideas like the letter did. The scarlet letter is a key to most of the thematic elements of “The Scarlet Letter.” One of the most longstanding and…

the novel, The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne shows how one’s character can be very influential to the people around them. Pearl, Hester Prynne’s daughter, who is very symbolic but also makes some drastic changes occur. Hawthorne wrote about Pearl to show how one character can make a difference no matter how young. Although some depict Pearl to be a flaw in society, she is actually an essential character in the novel. Pearl symbolizes the living version of the scarlet letter she also…

From the point during which Hester and Pearl first stood on the scaffold until seven years later when she contemplated leaving the hostile town, the scarlet letter Hester wore upon her bosom changed in meaning. The antagonistic townspeople outside the prison where Hester first stood on the scaffold were so disgusted by her sin they suggested harsh punishments including branding her and claiming she, “ought to die” (Hawthorne 36). This was the first encounter that demonstrated the society was…

Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, cautions the reader of the danger involved with letting society contaminate our identity. Hawthorne’s brilliant use of setting, character development, and unique symbolism help highlight these perils. The values and environment of Puritan society impact how the Puritan’s view Hester, as well as how Hester views herself. Hawthorne’s construction of the town center highlights the danger of allowing society to contaminate identity. This setting plays a…

The Scarlet Letter is a story of sin, guilt, love, and revenge set in a strict Puritan community shortly after the Salem witch trials. However, the story is more than it appears to be. Beneath its sinful cover, it uses psychological elements to portray a deeper understanding and meaning. Nina Baym’s article, The Scarlet Letter in the Scarlet Letter, examines the importance of the scarlet letter in the story and how it rejects Puritan laws and beliefs. Baym’s article explains why the scarlet…

The Mysterious Being! The first chapter of “The Scarlet Letter” sets in motion the rest of the story in a few aspects including; the setting, an imagined world, and hidden in the text, is Mother Nature. Something that one may overlook throughout simple daily life is the gift, protection, and unforgiveable powers of nature. However, when the society of man dishes out a harsh, unwanted fate to someone while turning their back in disappointment, such as the Puritan Society did to Hester Prynne,…

Sin in the Scarlet Letter The Scarlet Letter, a historical fiction novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne, is a hopeless tale of one Hester Prynne, who committed adultery and now has to pay for her crime, and her relationship with the rest of the characters in the book; this reveals how a harsh society can ruin lives. The negative impact of committing sin and secret-keeping is seen throughout the entire tale of The Scarlet Letter; it is portrayed through Hester’s fate, the intertwined lives of…

the novel The Scarlet Letter written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, many of the characters commit sinful actions. A common theme in the novel is that all characters live with sin, but only those who are worthy of redemption live with guilt. This integral relationship between sin and guilt is expressed through Hester’s public shame, Dimmesdale’s effort to save face, and Puritan hypocrisy. To start, Hester shows that she is worthy of redemption because she is ashamed to wear the scarlet letter. Although…

The Scarlet Letter Nathaniel Hawthorne helps the reader understand the actions of the Townspeople through giving an understanding of the time period and the setting. Nathaniel Hawthorne’s piece The Scarlet Letter narrates a story that is based in the New England Colonies during the mid-17th century. During this time the puritans were running from religious prosecution and came to the New World to further reform The Church of England. The Town is a setting in The Scarlet Letter that…