Since the apple was first bitten in the beginning of time, sin has played an important role in shaping humanity. The reactions of the sinners often play a large role in the effects of the crime. Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter captures the nature of sin and the message that revealed sin is rewarded while concealed sin is punished, using young Pearl, the scaffold, and the scarlet A itself as three clear symbols to explore this dark aspect of humanity.
Pearl is a representation of the dark and wild nature of sin. This is shown in her many descriptions, where she is referred to as an elf-child, nymph, and sprite. She is continually referred to as an otherworldly creature, giving the important repetition that cements this fact. This quality ensures that she is separated from the Puritan community. Poor Pearl never has a friend, and passes the time with make-believe weed enemies, and even her own reflection, as a substitute to human companionship. “...except as Pearl, in the dearth of human playmates...The singularity lay in the hostile feelings with which the child regarded all these offspring of her own heart and mind. She never created a friend, but seemed always to be sowing broadcast the dragon’s teeth, whence sprung a harvest of enemies, against whom she rushed to battle.” (Pg. 87) She is further shown to be separate from society by disregarding basic social rules, and commits acts such as dancing on graves and yelling and flinging mud at her Puritan antagonizers. This chasm is clearly a result of the concealed sin of her father, because while remaining unacknowledged, she can’t assimilate into the community.Pearl also represents a physical manifestation of her parent’s sin. The novel describes “ the child’s whole appe...
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...ester also begins to define the meaning of the letter, and tirelessly cares for the sick in the community. The people then declare that the letter has taken on the meaning “Able”. Though the title letter is extremely central to specifically her character, Hester is not the only character suffering from the effects of a scarlet letter.The “A” burnt on Dimmesdale chest has very large effects on his life. He scourges himself in an attempt to rid himself of the consuming guilt of a concealed sin, and his marred chest shows the result of such a guilty heart.
What did the one bite of apple signify for humankind? The struggles of Pearl, the three major events on the scaffold, and the scarlet letter are three symbolic representations of the nature of sin and the motif of concealed and revealed sin in the novel, and can be taken as lessons for all of the dark nature of sin.
The first theme expressed in The Scarlet Letter is that even well meaning deceptions and secrets can lead to destruction. Dimmesdale is a prime example of this; he meant well by concealing his secret relationship with Hester, however, keeping it bound up was deteriorating his health. Over the course of the book this fact is made to stand out by Dimmesdale’s changing appearance. Over the course of the novel Dimmesdale becomes more pale, and emaciated. Hester prevents herself from suffer the same fate. She is open about her sin but stays loyal to her lover by not telling who is the father of Pearl. Hester matures in the book; becomes a stronger character.
Pearl looks like the human version of the scarlet letter. Pearl is an example of the innocent result of sin. All the kids make fun of Pearl and they disclude her from everything. She never did anything wrong, but everyone treats her like she committed the sin also. Pearl acts out against the children that make fun of her and acts like a crazy child. She cannot control the sin that her parents committed. Hester accepts the Puritan way and sees Pearl as a creature of
A sinful nature is an aspect in man that makes him rebellious against God. Everyone has a sinful nature and it affects every part of us. Sin corrupts the human mind and has consequences for doing wrong in the eyes of the Lord. Every individual on Earth sins, and this is represented in the novel The Scarlet Letter. Nathaniel Hawthorne uses Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale to portray how different people cope with their sin and the consequences of that sin.
In the beginning, the scarlet letter represents the sinful nature of Hester’s crime, as revealed through the thoughts and feelings of Hester and the townspeople towards the letter. When first wearing the letter in public, Hester portrays herself as indifferent towards the town’s harsh language and detest for her, despite still feeling the intensity of her punishment internally. Hester portrays herself as indifferent towards the town’s harsh language and detest for her, and strong in the difficult conditions. By “wisely judging that one token of her shame would but poorly serve to hide another, she…with a burning blush, and…haughty smile…looked around at her townspeople and neighbours” (Hawthorne, 80).
Hawthorn's Novel, The Scarlet Letter, is brimming with many vivid symbols, the most apparent of which is the scarlet letter "A", that Hester Prynne is made to wear upon her chest. Throughout the novel, hawthorn presents the scarlet letter to the reader in a variety of ways. Yet an important question emerges, as the life of Hester Prynne is described, which deals with the affects that both the scarlet letter and Hester have on each other. There is no clear-cut answer to this question, as many examples supporting both arguments can be found throughout the novel. The letter obviously causes Hester much grief, as she is mocked and ostracized by many of the townspeople, yet on the other hand, later in the novel Hester's courage and pride help to change the meaning of scarlet letter in the eyes of both herself and the public.
Sin is a major theme in The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne. In The Scarlet Letter, sin is practiced throughout a few of the characters. The only difference amongst them is the way that they try to atone for it or be completely enveloped by it. Sin can take control of a person and devour them completely to the point of no return.
Now, for the rest of her life, Hester is forced to wear a large scarlet letter “A” on the bosom of her clothing. Surprisingly the man who is also responsible for Hester’s crime is Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale. Reverend Dimmesdale is one of the communities most esteemed preachers and because of his passion during his sermons and high religious precedent, nearly everyone is fond of the charismatic reverend. Unfortunately, in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, Reverend Dimmesdale is the most considerable sinner because of his hypocrisy, and selfishness.
Sin is something that received a lot of focus in the Puritan community; it determines who was sent to hell in the afterlife and who would ascend to heaven. In the Puritan’s time, even the smallest use of one of the seven deadly sins would repel them away from the peaceful afterlife of heaven. The book The Scarlet Letter is based on the focus of sin in a Puritan setting. As a result from Hester’s revealed sin, there are other characters in the book that committed sins as a result of hers. Many people may think that Hester is the main source of sin throughout The Scarlet Letter, but Chillingworth, Dimmesdale, and Pearl are equally involved with Wrath, Lust, and Wrath again , of the seven deadly sins, respectively. In this book, the character Chillingworth represents the sin of Wrath. Throughout the book, Chillingworth is constantly doing all he can to find Hester’s lover and seek his revenge. His anger motivates him to do everything to bring his Wrath down upon the father of Pearl. In this way, Chillingworth represents the sin of Wrath. Next, Pearl represents the sin of Lust by being the result of Lust. Every scene she appears in shows Lust by her being sadistic, demonic, and not puritan by any means which can be viewed as punishment to Hester for committing adultery, which was widely seen in the Puritan community as something one should never do. Even though Hester technically committs the sin, we don’t experience it in the story; rather it is obviously referred to and is the main focus. Pearl represents the sin of Lust by being the product rather than offender. Lastly, Dimmesdale represents the sin of Wrath. While it is the same sin as Chillingworth, Dimmesdale’s actions varied drastically from Chillingworth by Dimmesdale foc...
In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, symbolsim is constantly present in the actual scarlet letter “A” as it is viewed as a symbol of sin and the gradally changes its meanign, guilt is also a mejore symbol, and Pearl’s role in this novel is symbolic as well. The Scarlet Letter includes many profound and crucial symbols. these devices of symbolism are best portayed in the novel, most noticably through the letter “A” best exemplifies the changes in the symbolic meaning throughout the novel.
In the novel The Scarlet Letter and the short story “The Minister’s Black Veil”, Nathaniel Hawthorne incorporates romantic elements, such as beauty, truth, innocence, and sin, in his criticism of Puritan societies. In both texts, Hawthorne argues that all people, even those in strictly religious societies with corrupted standards, are capable of sin. Hawthorne uses symbolism and light and dark imagery to convey his argument.
Nathanial Hawthorne, an American author during the 19th century witnessed the power of sin to wreak havoc not only to an individual but a whole community. His novel The Scarlet Letter expresses this very idea by exposing the follies of mankind and the potentially detrimental effects of sin trough Hester Prynne, Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, and Roger Chillingworth who all affected by sin in different ways. Utilizing powerful symbols and light/dark imagery, Hawthorne conveys to the readers, through these characters, the power of how one’s response to sin can positively change an individual or gradually destroy one by spreading like a contagious disease and ultimately consuming the victim.
One of the main themes in The Scarlet Letter is that of the secret. The plot of the book is centered on Hester Prynne’s secret sin of adultery. Nathaniel Hawthorne draws striking parallelism between secrets held and the physical and mental states of those who hold them. The Scarlet Letter demonstrates that a secret or feeling kept within slowly engulfs and destroys the soul such as Dimmesdale’s sin of hypocrisy and Chillingworth’s sin of vengeance, while a secret made public, such as Prynne’s adultery, can allow a soul to recover and even strengthen.
Pearl is an offspring of sin whose life revolves around the affair between her mother and Reverend Dimmesdale. Due to her mother's intense guilt during her upbringing, she is not able to become more than a mirror image of her surroundings; like a chameleon, she mimics everything around her, and the changes that occur externally affect her internally. Pearl stands out as a radiant child implicated by the sin of her parents. Without a doubt, if Pearl hadn't been born and such a burden had not been put upon Hester, she would have experienced a life without visible ridicule. It is only when the sin is publicly revealed that she is liberated by the truth.
Hester and Dimmesdale both bear a scarlet letter but the way they handle it is different. Hester’s scarlet letter is a piece of clothing, the “SCARLET LETTER, so fantastically embroidered and illuminated upon her bosom” (Hawthorn 51). Dimmesdale on the other hand, has a scarlet letter carved in his chest. This is revealed when Dimmesdale was giving his revelation, in which “he tore away the ministerial band from before his breast. It was revealed!” (Hawthorn 232). Since the Scarlet Letter on Hester is visible to the public, she was criticized and looked down on. “This women has brought same upon us all, and ought to die” (Hawthorn 49) is said by a female in the market place talking about Hester. She becomes a stronger person through living this hard life. Dimmesdale instead has to live “a life of cowardly and selfish meanness, that added tenfold disgrace and ignominy to his original crime” (Loring 185). He becomes weaker and weaker by time, “neither growing wiser nor stronger, but, day after day, paler and paler, more and more abject” (Loring 186). Their courage is also weak.
Initially Pearl is the symbol of Hesters public punishment for her adultery. As the novel progresses and Pearl matures she symbolizes the deteriation of Hester's like by constantly asking her about the scarlet letter "A". Pearl in a sense wants her mother to live up to her sin and, she achieves this by constantly asking her about the scarlet letter. Another peice of evidence that shows how Pearl symbolizes the sin Hester has committed, is when the town government wants to take Pearl away from her Revrend Dimmsdale convinces the government that Pearl is a living reminder of her sin. This is essentialy true, Hester without Pearl is like having Hester without sin.