How Does Hester Prynne Change In The Scarlet Letter
analytical Essay
742 words
The author of The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne, expressed ideas of love, passion, shame, and punishment throughout his 1800s based novel. Due to the fact that this novel was based in a Puritan time period, it brought many mental and sometimes physical difficulties for the main character, Hester Prynne. The Puritans solely believed in God and all of his rules. With that said, the author decided to illustrate the drama of Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale’s adultery in order to describe the change in Hester’s attitude. Because of the many events, adversities and struggles, Hester had a complete change in attitude from shame and embarrassment to love, proudness and satisfaction.
When Hester first emerges from the jail she is looked at
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In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how nathaniel hawthorne, of the scarlet letter, expressed ideas of love, passion, shame, and punishment throughout his 1800s based novel.
- Analyzes how hester prynne is treated as a woman of shame, despite her promise to keep the secret of the father of her daughter pearl. she is despised by almost everyone and tries to hide.
- Analyzes how hester was publicly shamed, while arthur dimmesdale, who was also to blame for the adultery crime, was fighting within himself.
- Analyzes how the scarlet letter took the main character, hester prynne through struggles and made her into a strong woman that no one believed she could ever be.
While Hester was publicly shamed, Arthur Dimmesdale, who was also to blame for the adultery crime, was fighting within himself. Hester was shamed and forced to wear the Scarlet Letter A on her bosom for 7 years; Dimmesdale hid behind lies and secrets for 7 years and it tore him apart. This time Dimmesdale, Hester, and their daughter Pearl, stand on the scaffold together. The whole town began to realize who the lover of Hester was this whole time and who became the father of Pearl 7 years ago. As years went on, people began to forgive Hester. Hester then began to start over. After she is released from prison, she is allowed to leave Boston, but she decides to stay. She supports herself and starts over by her needlework. Although for so long her shamed destroyed her, she had a change in attitude. The people in the town began to look at the A on her chest as “Able” and not “Adulter”.This allowed Hester to change from an easy going and tender women to a strong and passionate women. She realized that she needed to be strong and independent. I believe that once she stood on the scaffold with Dimmesdale and Pearl she found happiness and strength within herself. Her attitude changed from negative to a positive outlook; she realized that her past made her stronger as a woman. The people of the town had forgiven her and some even respected her. This scene of the book showed that Hester …show more content…
Her attitude in the beginning of the story was shameful, but she gained strength and became a strong, wise woman. Hester did not realize that the hardest things she had to face, were what made her strong. A negative way of life and actions transformed into a positive and strong attitude. Once Hester, Pearl and Dimmesdale stood on the scaffold, she found the pride, peace and
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- Character Of Hester Prynneanalytical essayShe knows the severity of her sin, and therefore welcomes her punishment without rebellion. When she stands on the scaffold with Pearl, Hester accepts "that one token of her shame would but poorly serve to hide another, [so] she took the baby on her arm... On the breast of her gown, in fine red cloth, surrounded with an elaborate embroidery and fantastic flourishes of gold thread, appeared the letter A" (Hawthorne 50). She humbles herself by proudly displaying both of the symbols of her disgrace: the scarlet letter A, and Pearl, her sin-born daughter. Not only does Hester display her shame, but gives back to her community. She shows compassion toward the poor and sick of the Puritan town. Hester delivers food to the poor and helps the ill. Many people of the community begin to alter how they interpret the scarlet letter that the poor Hester is forced to wear. The townspeople discuss her claiming "Its is our Hester,-the town 's own Hester, who is so kind to the poor, so helpful to the sick, so comfortable to the afflicted!"(Hawthorne 147). The letter "A" that Hester bears on her chest begins to mean "able" instead of "adulterer." Even when Hester moves away, she refuses to stay away and returns to the town to serve her remaining punishment. The town is the home of her sin and the place of her penance. Hester isolates herself from the rest of the town and lives in solitude. Hester Prynne
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how hester prynne's sin of adultery causes her to become the most hated woman in her community. she believes that her husband, roger chillingworth, is dead until he arrives at her public shaming.
- Analyzes how hester prynne's strength persists throughout the novel, even though the women and all the other citizens of the town constantly throw insults and shame at her, but she never breaks.
- Analyzes how hester prynne humbles herself by proudly displaying both of the symbols of her disgrace: the scarlet letter a, and pearl, her sin-born daughter.
- Analyzes how hester shows loyalty towards numerous characters in her community. she remains loyal to dimmesdale every time she is asked to reveal the name of her secret lover.
908 wordsRead More - The Scarlet Letter: An Analysis Of Hester Prynneanalytical essayVictim Turned Sinner The portrayal of Hester Prynne in the novel, The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, has led to many different opinionated views. Many debate whether or not Hester Prynne should be portrayed in an angelic or sinful light. The author and critic, D.H. Lawrence, focuses on Hester’s sin itself, and focuses on having the reader view an alternate perspective of Hester, seeing her not as the victim, but as the criminal, as she should be viewed based on traditional Puritan values. Lawrence achieves the perspective that Hester should be viewed in a sinful light through his rhythmic and fluid syntax, negative and hateful diction, as well as his sarcastic and critical tone.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the portrayal of hester prynne in the novel, the scarlet letter, by nathaniel hawthorne, has led to many different opinionated views.
- Analyzes how d.h. lawrence incorporates rhythmic and fluid syntax in his critique of hester prynne in a succinct way.
- Analyzes how d.h. lawrence uses pessimistic and hateful diction to express his negative outlook on hester prynne.
- Analyzes how d.h. lawrence's critique of hester prynne combines rhythmic and fluid syntax, negative and hateful diction, and a sarcastic and critical tone.
736 wordsRead More - Essay On Hester Prynne In The Scarlet Letteranalytical essayThe heavy and somewhat unjustified law of puritan society is a heavy weight that is too nearly too much for any person to bare. Hester Prynne is one person to feel the full weight of the law, and not only is she damaged internally, but she also experiences a noticeable physical change, and Nathaniel Hawthorne does well to depict the overbearing weight of Puritan law through the dimming of Hester’s radiant beauty. The scarlet letter is a symbol of Hester’s sin, and is also a constant reminder, and it is also the very thing that defines her as a person in society. The effects of the letter are apparent from when Hester first stands on the scaffold, to when she gradually loses her gorgeous appearance over time, to when she removes the letter and her radiant beauty returns.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how nathaniel hawthorne depicts the overbearing weight of puritan law through the dimming of hester's radiant beauty.
- Analyzes how the scarlet letter symbolizes hester's artistry and imagination that thrives in her at this early point in the novel.
- Analyzes how hester is physically described in the first scaffold scene as a tall young woman with an elegant figure. her complexion is rich, her eyes are dark and deep, and her features give her beautiful face.
- Analyzes how hester's physical appearance changes with the effects of the scarlet letter. she becomes an active and helpful member of society.
643 wordsRead More - How Is Hester Prynne Annotation In The Scarlet Letteranalytical essayA Cain Called Abel D.H. Lawrence’s critical essay “On the Scarlet Letter” addresses a multitude of ideas and criticisms regarding Hester Prynne in Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter. He investigates different aspects of both her characterization and her sin through his analytical essay. In doing so, he reveals Prynne’s abhorrent actions and wrongfully gained admiration through use of repetition, choppy syntax, and Biblical allusions.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how lawrence's critical essay "on the scarlet letter" addresses a multitude of ideas and criticisms regarding hester prynne in nathaniel hawthorne'
- Analyzes how lawrence uses repetition to emphasize hester's less-than-holy attributes. the words "seduction" and "purity" are sacred and fleeting, while seduction is the willful desecration of this sacred element.
- Analyzes how lawrence uses choppy syntax to emphasize crucial truths about hester's wrongfully gained admiration.
- Analyzes how lawrence uses biblical allusions to convey hester prynne's deception. the word "able" is not spelled in its usual way, but instead is a name.
- Analyzes how lawrence successfully argues his claims on the actions and characterization of hester prynne through repetition, choppy syntax, and biblical allusion.
732 wordsRead More - Hester Prynne Greed In Scarlet Letteranalytical essayThe two of them, after Dimmesdale dies, continue with their plans to go back to England where they hope for a better life. Once in England, the two are able to change their lives around for the better. Pearl is even found to have a family of her own: “Mr. Surveyor Pue, who made investigations a century later, … Pearl was not only alive, but married, and happy, and mindful of her mother; and that she would most joyfully have entertained that sad and lonely mother at her fireside” ( Hawthorne 392). Pearl was able to overcome her old life and create a new one, a better one, one that was just for her. Even though her mother was no longer around she tried her best to kept in touch with her. She also kept her and her mother’s experience in mind never to let herself go back to that life. After spending many years in England, Hester finally returns to New England. When she returns she is full of sorrow and regret; however, she continues to wear her A on upon her chest as a reminder of her pain. With returning to the land of sin, people came to Hester, mostly women, with problems of their own. They hope by talking to someone who has been through so much will help them, or give them insight on what life is like to be on the outside: “And, as Hester Prynne had no selfish ends, nor lived in any measure for her own profit and enjoyment, people brought all their sorrows and perplexities, and besought her counsel, as one who had herself gone through a mighty trouble. Women, more especially,—in the continually recurring trials of wounded, wasted, wronged, misplaced, or erring and sinful passion,—or with the dreary burden of a heart unyielded, because unvalued and unsought,—came to Hester’s cottage, demanding why they were so wretched, and what the remedy! Hester comforted and counseled them, as best she might” (Hawthorne 392-393). Even though Hester was miserable and thought that no
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how in nathaniel hawthorne's the scarlet letter, a woman, hester prynne, is publicly shamed for committing adultery, and her daughter, pearl, try to adapt to life as an outsider.
- Analyzes how the self-righteous townspeople look upon hester and her daughter with judgment and spite while whispering bits of criticism. some women suggest that the letter a she wears should be branded on her forehead.
- Opines that pearl is an outcast of the town due to being the product of a sin. hester hopes that one day she will hear voices of children and be able to distinctly notice her voice.
- Describes how hester and pearl are free from the sin that has tied them down in society for seven years. they continue with their plans to go back to england where they hope for a better life.
- Analyzes how hester and pearl overcome the town's perception of them and create a new image and life for themselves.
1259 wordsRead More - Identity In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letteranalytical essayEven with the hateful comments and the negative attitude towards her daughter and herself, Hester believes that she can raise Pearl right, and to be a good mother even with the scarlet letter on her bosom. Hester`s confidence in herself, not giving up, and to keep pushing forward when times are tough keep her from drowning in despair, self-pity, guilt, and depression. For example, Hester defends her rights of motherhood to keep Pearl, and to have the confidence to speak such a way to the ministers and Governor Bellingham. Hester says, “God gave her into my keeping, repeated Hester Prynne, raising her voice almost to a shriek. I will not give her up! —And here, by sudden impulse, she turned to the young clergyman, Mr. Dimmesdale, at whom, up to this moment, she had seemed hardly so much as once to direct her eyes” (Hawthorne, 103). The quote explains how even with the scarlet letter on her chest, Hester has her own identity and will defend Pearl for anything. Hester`s true identity and the way society views her are entirely different, because she is described as a sinful hussy who does not know how to raise a child, when in reality, Hester would give her own life for
In this essay, the author
- Explains that identity is the conception, qualities, beliefs, and expressions that make the individuality of a human being. hester prynne is charged with adultery in massachusetts during the seventeenth century.
- Analyzes how hester's guilt forces her to wear the letter "a" after the scaffold. her religion and her viewpoints fuel the fire of her guilt.
- Analyzes how boston's "mean girl" attitude towards hester makes her feel inferior because she had an affair.
- Analyzes how hester's confidence makes her a stronger individual. even with the scarlet letter on her bosom, she believes that she can raise pearl right.
- Compares hester's identity and personality to the physical scarlet letter on her bosom. the views of the puritan society pale to nothing compared to her actual identity.
777 wordsRead More - The Scarlet Letter: One Sin: Two Consequencesanalytical essayBy wearing the scarlet letter as a daily reminder, Hester didn’t let her sin overshadow her defined character. Her beliefs and independence weren’t compromised. In fact, she was able to use the letter as a positive thing to help the community and repent. Hester’s work as a seamstress and her charitable deeds quieted the scorn from society. She believed that the letter “hath taught [her],--it daily teaches [her]…lessons whereof [Pearl] may be the wiser and better…” (98). Even though she may have been “doomed” by society at first, Hester was able to make Pearl a better person by using the valuable lessons she learned from wearing the scarlet letter. ...
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how hester prynne and arthur dimmesdale were forced to face the realities and hardships of committing a mortal sin.
- Analyzes how hester used the scarlet letter as a positive thing to help the community and repent. she was able to turn around her punishment and guilt and make up for her transgression.
- Analyzes how dimmesdale suffered from being introverted about the sin and forced himself to suffer because of his religious beliefs. he believed that hester and he in fact committed a sin as bad as the community made it out to be.
- Analyzes how hester prynne was able to overcome her punishment of wearing the letter and the guilt she was reminded of everyday. dimmesdale physically harmed himself to make up for his guilt.
798 wordsRead More - Changes of Hester Prynne in Hawthorne's Scarlet Letteranalytical essayIn Nathanial Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, the reader meets the character Hester Prynne who as the novel progresses, one notices the changes in her character are very dramatic. The changes are both physical and in her mannerism’s. There are many significant events which took place before the start of the novel and during the novel. Some of these events that lead to this dramatic change include the affect of wearing the scarlet letter, the secrets which she keeps, and her daughter Pearl’s evil characteristics. By these events, Hester Prynne’s image is transformed throughout the time of the story.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes the dramatic changes in hester prynne's character in nathanial hawthorne’s the scarlet letter.
- Analyzes how hester wears the scarlet letter and becomes an outcast. she believes that she is not worthy of the towns acknowledgments and ignores them.
- Analyzes how hester's silence offers a passive resistance to male probing. she refuses to tell anyone the secrets that interconnect dimmesdale and chillingworth.
- Analyzes how hester prynne's constant companion, pearl, reminds her of her extreme sin. the physical movements of taking care of pearl cause her to age faster.
- Concludes that the change in hester takes a lot out of her physical appearance and her mental state. the events that take place within her life consist of ones that many readers will never experience.
495 wordsRead More - “The Scarlet Letter”, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, records a struggled life about two adultery lovers. This story was marked by the most successful work back in 1850s and also become to a big part of Hawthorne’s writing career. Through the eyes of his main character Hester Prynne, the readers seem to see a woman’s helpless under a brutal and traditional society, which was ruled by Puritan people. After his book had been published one after another, no one can deny Hawthorne’s irreplaceable talent and unremitting effort. Nathaniel Hawthorne expressed his own feelings about the dark Puritan society through many successful works, which helped him become more and more popular after he died in 1864.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the scarlet letter, written by nathaniel hawthorne, records a struggled life about two adultery lovers.
- Explains that nathaniel hawthorne, one of the famous writers in united states, was born in salem, massachusetts 1804. his father died in 1808 when he was only 4 years old.
- Analyzes how nathaniel hawthorne's "the scarlet letter" uses symbols and romanticism to display his thoughts on human nature and the corruption of puritan society.
- Analyzes how hawthorne's sagacious perception revealed the dark and ugly side of the puritan society and remonstrated the unfairness under the laws.
- Opines that nathaniel hawthorne is the soul of american literature and will be last for many years.
1008 wordsRead More - Hester Prynne's Character Changes In The Scarlet Letteranalytical essayA change is to make or become different. In the Scarlet Letter change is very evident in the main character Hester Prynne. Hester has undergone both physical and emotional changes that have made her more acceptable to the Puritan Society.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that change is to make or become different in the scarlet letter. hester prynne has undergone physical and emotional changes that have made her more acceptable to the puritan society.
- Analyzes how hawthorne depicts hester as lady-like with great beauty, elegance, and intelligence, but he is now bland and austere in comparison to the puritans.
- Analyzes how hawthorne describes hester's actions as natural dignity and forceful to convey her defiance and reluctance to the puritan society and culture.
- Analyzes how hester has lost her passion and tenderness in becoming more acceptable to puritan society — she spends a great deal of time contemplating pearl’s purpose and if she would be better serving pearl by sending them to heaven.
- Compares hester's change throughout the scarlet letter to the original outgoing and defiant shester prynne.
715 wordsRead More