Struggle between Good and Evil in The Scarlet Letter and Macbeth
It is said that “all conflict in literature is, in its simplest form, a struggle
between good and evil.” Indeed, the fundamental conflict of human nature is that of
darkness and light; and as a mirror to life, the conflicts in literature is not different
from those in human nature. The struggle of good and evil is shown in Nathaniel
Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, which portrays the spiritual battle between and evil
man and a sinned minister, as well as the minister’s internal turmoil. William
Shakespeare’s Macbeth, similarly describes a man’s moral decay and the vengeance of
the wronged good people. Both authors use various literary elements and techniques
such as symbolism, metaphor, theme, and characterization to illustrate the struggle
between good and evil in their works.
The Scarlet Letter, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, is a story of damnation
and redemption. Roger Chillingsworth, finding out his wife’s adultery with Arthur
Dimmesdale upon his returning from Indian captivity vows to take revenge on the
minister. In the process, however, he transforms himself into the minion of devil on
earth. Through the mouth of Pearl (the fruit if the illegitimate union), the author
metaphorically calls Chillingsworth “the Black Man.” Comparing Chillingsworth to
the Devil, Pearl warns Dimmesdale “the Black man wants thy soul.” Indeed,
Chillingsworth sets out to poison his rival – both physically and mentally.
Dimmesdale, on the other hand, is waging a war within himself. His good nature
craves to confess his secret affair with Hester Prynne, yet his darker side – cowardice
perhaps- stubbornly refuses. In ...
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...ts stem from this
eternal struggle. Nathaniel Hawthorne writes The Scarlet Letter to question sin, and
Shakespeare’s Macbeth gives an alarming example of moral decay. The moods of both
masterpieces are gloomy, dissecting and examining the powerful darkness of human
psyche. In the end, however, goodness endures and shines through the dark clouds,
offering hope and testimonies for the complexity and ambivalence of humankind.
Works Cited and Consulted:
Brooks, Cleanth. Blame in Macbeth. London: Reynal & Hitchcock, 1987.
Chase, Richard (1996). "The Lessons of the Scarlet Letter." Readings on Nathaniel Hawthorne (pp. 145-152). San Diego: Greenhaven.
Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Scarlet Letter. New York: St. Martins, 1991.
Shakespeare, William. Tragedy of Macbeth . Ed. Barbara Mowat and Paul Warstine. New York: Washington Press, 1992.
“The great difference between our western Christian world and the atheistic Communist world is not political, gentlemen, it is moral,” is one of the many examples throughout McCarthy’s speech of him assuming an overconfident or superior tone. His claim to own a list of 205 names in the State Department of communist sympathizers gave support for this arrogant tone, but when asked McCarthy refused to provide anyone with the aforementioned list. McCarthy also used this tone when he said, “The reason why we find ourselves in a position of impotency is not because our only powerful potential enemy has sent men to invade our shores . . . but rather because of the traitorous actions of those who have been treated so well by this Nation,” expressing the idea that no one but the United States’ own countrymen had the strength to defeat their homeland. McCarthy’s tone throughout the article is one of absolute certainty, and gave his audience the incentive to trust
The world of English Literature captures the minds of millions of people worldwide. The stories that are read are new and old and continue to capture the attention of people even to this day. Each piece of literature can go in-depth into settings, themes, characterizations, have great styles and the thing most people enjoy... conflict. Most people don't understand or see the messages these pieces may have in them. Hidden sometimes within complex statements or meanings that the everyday person might not recollect. These "treasures" are waiting to be found and are gold waiting to be found.
The Movie “good night good luck” is incredibly historically accurate. The Movie uses authentic clips that show McCarthy and many speeches Murrow used. World War ended in 1945 leaving a broken Europe and a communist block behind. The United States quickly receded back to the red scare that had existed before WWII. The United States quickly set an anti-communist stance and prepared for a war against the communists. While the war never came some enterprising individuals placed themselves in powerful positions using the paranoia created. Among these individuals one came forward and began one of the most controversial historical programs. Joe McCarthy a nobody Wisconsin’s junior senator made his name when he gave a speech claiming his empty briefcase held the names of 205 communists. The movie “Good Night and Good Luck” tells the story how media ended Joseph McCarthy’s commy hunt and his political career.
McCarthy, J. (1950, February 09). Speech at wheeling, west virginia. Retrieved December 02, 2013 from http://teachamericanhistory.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/mccarthy_wheeling_speech.pdf
Shakespeare, William. Tragedy of Macbeth . Ed. Barbara Mowat and Paul Warstine. New York: Washington Press, 1992.
Macbeth by William Shakespeare is a recognized classic tragedy portraying the victory of good over evil. This paper will explore the various expressions of evil within the play.
Kennedy, X J., and Dana Gioia. Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. Sixth ed. New York: Harper Collins College Publishers, 1995. Print.
...y Wheeling speech created nationwide hysteria, and with its impeccable timing just days after the conviction of the State Official Alga Hiss for lying under oath about his association with the communist Soviet as a spy, fueled the fight on communism. (citation) McCarthy war on communism during the “Second Red Scare” did not leave any individual safe from accusations. He attacked government agents, entertainment industry workers, educators, union members, and alienated the left-wing Democrats. McCarthy helped to create the atmosphere of suspicion and panic with his growth in media coverage. McCarthy’s words made for big headlines and the media was quick to cover his stories. This exposure helped facilitate American approval of McCarthy and empowered him to make more accusations on those suspected of subversion. In 1953, McCarthy headed the Government Operations Commit
Shakespeare, William. Tragedy of Macbeth . Ed. Barbara Mowat and Paul Warstine. New York: Washington Press, 1992.
Ellis, Jerry. Walking the Trail: One Man's Journey along the Cherokee Trail of Tears. New
Shakespeare, William. Tragedy of Macbeth . Ed. Barbara Mowat and Paul Warstine. New York: Washington Press, 1992.
Experience is the hidden inspiration in all of literature. Every letter, word, and sentence formed, every plot imagined, and every conflict conceived has a trace amount of its creator’s past ingrained within it. But most of all, authors reflect themselves in the characters they create. The protagonist of any story embodies certain traits and qualities of his or her creator; the virtues and vices, ambitions and failures, strengths and weaknesses of an author are integral parts of their characters lives. When authors’ experiences differ, so do their characters, as seen with Welty and King. Both authors had distinct upbringings, each with their own forms of hardship. The contrasting nature of these authors’ struggles is why their characters are the antithetical. As a result of these
Shakespeare, William. Tragedy of Macbeth . Ed. Barbara Mowat and Paul Warstine. New York: Washington Press, 1992.
Worsley, A., Worsley A.J., McConnon, S. (1993). Reported food consumption and dietary habits of New Zealand adolescents. J Paedtr. Child Health.
Mays, Kelly J. “The Norton Introduction to Literature.” New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2013. Book. 592-638. October 27, 2013.