Drapier's Letters

The effects of guilt can be seen at the beginning of the story in regards to the way that individuals in the colony perceive inappropriate actions. By first setting the stage by providing a context in which adultery is viewed as an extremely odious offense, Hawthorne creates an apt world which sets the stage for the rest of the story. As Puritan ideals that emphasize the need to remain accepted in society according to a strict set of values exist, so does the greater potential to be judged…

century. During this era in American history, the religious Puritans had no tolerance for those who did not live by their rules and punished those individuals in an effort to keep Puritan morals in line. In the historical fiction novel The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne writes in satire about the iron spikes of Puritan law and conforming to such a society. Three of the main characters, Hester Prynne, her daughter, Pearl, and her lover, Reverend Dimmesdale, stand out from Puritan…

Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter is a story entirely focused on public shame. During the time of the Puritans in the mid-1600s, ignominy was one way punishment was granted unto those who had committed sins. Ignominy, though a foreign word to many, is no old topic. Seen in nearly every aspect of society today, public shaming nearly completely controls the image society gives to those who have done wrong. The reputation of a poor action is on the shoulders of the wrongdoer for nearly the…

The letter “A” exhibited Hester’s talent and artistry. When she was being shunned Hester did needlework to create a living. Hard work and charity were what transformed the significance of the letter “A” from sin to identity. Although the symbol improved from a negative implication to a positive one, there could be a large number of extra symbols. For…

inspired by Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel The Scarlet Letter. Written by Bert V. Royal and directed by Will Gluck, the story follows a teenage girl after telling a white lie about losing her virginity and how it effects her life and those around her. The film premiered in 2010, winning both a Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Comedy Film and an MTV Movie Award for Best Comedic Performance. Created as a modern adaptation to The Scarlet Letter, Easy A invents a creative and comedic…

Puritan society. Women were not viewed as strong, independent characters because that image was usually associated with men. In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, the main heroine, Hester, is an exception to the viewpoint of women being incompetent. Although the book is not entirely centered on women’s rights, The Scarlet Letter shows Hester as a courageous woman, and that contributes to the novel being perceived as feminist. Being strong was not a quality commonly affiliated with…

The book A Scandal in Bohemia by Arthur Conan Doyle and the book The Purloined Letter by Edgar Allan Poe both present cases where the lead detectives must procure a lost or stolen item. Although both authors use almost congruent plots, characters and situations to expose readers to great tales of ratiocination, the contrast in the characters’ behavior, the fluctuation in plots and the slight difference in situations lead to Doyle’s A Scandal in Bohemia to be a more thought provoking and cultural…

The Scarlet Letter Through a Feminist Lens In a 17th century puritanical society one definitely does not get too much freedom. Especially if one is like that of Hester Prynne, an adulteress with a child from her affair. While Hester may be a cheater and stands for all of the things that are wrong in the world, there is two sides to every story. Hester could be seen as a hero, a 17th century feminist role model for all of the girls in the Puritan community despite the sins that she has…

scarlet letter A on her dress for the rest of her life. The scarlet letter A that she wears represents Adultery which was often considered punishable by death in the time period of the story. It is surprising that she did not have to face the harsh reality of punishment by death. It could be considered that the punishment she did receive would then be quite favorable over other, much harsher punishments then. The story goes on and it is then decided that she must wear a scarlet letter A on…

Utilization of Literary Elements in The Scarlet Letter Puritan lifestyles were based off of strict religious ruling, and anything that defied their beliefs and God was seen as a threat. In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel, The Scarlet Letter, a female archetype named Hester has committed the act of adultery. Hester has a child out of wedlock, and refuses to give out the father’s name. For her committed sins Hester is put through the humiliating process of displaying an embroidered ‘A’ standing for…