The Scarlet Letter

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The Scarlet Letter One of the most well known pieces of literature we read this year was Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Scarlet Letter". This novel is considered one of Hawthorne's best pieces and can be considered a literary classic. It is obvious to see that "The Scarlet Letter" deals with issues such as sin and its consequences. From Hawthorne's ancestor's role in the Salem witch trials, we are aware of his personal reluctance and his critical judgment of the Puritans. Among many morals discussed in the book, Hawthorne tries to convey perhaps the strongest of these: That the only way to find salvation is to be open and honest about who you are. Through excellent use of characterization, description and expression. Hawthorne develops morality by showing the consequences of hiding sin. An example of this is through the actions of Arthur Dimmesdale and Hester Pyrnne. Hester is forced throughout the whole work to wear a Scarlet Letter A on her clothes as punishment for adultery. This is a way in which Hawthorne conveys that you will always pay for your sins (he does this through a lot of irony). At first the premises of the story is unclear until finally the scaffold scene brings all the forces brewing here into focus. Arthur, Hester's equally guilty partner in the crime refuses within himself to publicly confess his sin until the end of the novel. The fact that a reverend, who should considered an Angelic figure to the Puritans, is a sinner can be considered situational irony. Although it seemed that Chillingworth wanted this to happen, he did not. Chillingworth attempts to stop Arthur but fails. The fact the Chillingworth knew and kept pushing at Arthur is another way in which Hawthorne shows his guilt towards the Puritans. Shortly after he confesses, his life comes to an end. Hawthorne summarizes the delayed importance of being truthful about oneself in his quote, "Be true! Be true! Show freely to the world, if not your worst, yet some trait whereby the worst may be inferred!" (Pg. #) It is apparent in chapter 13 and 14 that Hawthorne is trying to prove how the Puritans have a problem with independent thinking (Example). This is also shown through the way Hester raises Pearl and how it is so different then conventional Puritan parenting styles.

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