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The Scarlet Letter The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a two hundred and fifty-four page novel about Hester Prynne, Pearl, Reverend Mr. Dimmesdale, and their conflicts. The book opens with a discussion about the prison door and a lonely rosebush whose significance will be mentioned later. It goes on to tell of Hester? s punishment for her sin; she must forever wear the letter? A?
on her breast. She must be marked as an adulteress for she and the Reverend had an affair. Hester was found out, but her partner was not. She has a baby, named Pearl, who is shunned for being a child of an evil bond. The story continues through the lives of these three people, telling of their sorrows, problems and fears. The Scarlet Letter is set in the Puritanical Boston, Massachusetts during the 1600?
s. This period was often a harsh time in America. Most of the comforts in England were all but nonexistent in the colonies. The land was often harsh in climate and soil.
It was also a hotbed of change. The people were experimenting with democracy. They were exploring new boundaries wider than they had ever known. The Puritans were practicing a strict theocracy that ruled with an iron hand. Their ways of life were also tightly formed around their religious beliefs.
The character Hester Prynne is a stubborn, bold, and proud woman. She wears her letter with pride despite its implications. Despite how she acts on the outside, Hester doesn? t feel guilty about her relationship with the reverend and she continues to love him. She mentions this to him in a whisper (p. 186), ?
What we did had a consecration of its own. We felt it so! ? Her daughter, Pearl, is a rambunctious child often seen as the devil? s child. Pearl says things like they are. For example the child says (p. 175), ?
the sunshine does not love you it is afraid of something on your bosom. ? Reverend Dimmesdale is a quiet, withdrawn, and guilty man who severely punishes himself for his sins. He feels he has betrayed his God, his people, and most of all, himself. He wishes to be as brave as Hester and confess his sins. He practices his confession (p. 140), ? I, your pastor am utterly a pollution and a lie! ?
Symbolism floods this novel. Some of the more notable symbols will be discussed. Chapter one (p. 56) mentions a rosebush flourishing amongst? unsightly vegetation which evidently found something congenial in the soil that [held] a prison. ? It blooms healthily every year.
This rose bush symbolizes Hester and how she can bloom in such a harsh environment. Pearl herself is the symbol of the relationship between Dimmesdale and Hester. She takes a role of devilishness and yet is the model of beauty and love. Later in the book, when the three main characters are standing on the scaffold in the square (p. 151), a letter?
A? is written in red across the sky. This celestial phenomena symbolizes that even adultery could be something beautiful and amazing. The most appealing aspect of The Scarlet Letter was the interesting story line.
The love story between Hester and Reverend Dimmesdale to be very romantic and inspiring. It made staying focused on the book easier. The most unpleasant aspect was that they spoke Old English. It was often difficult to understand. Another unappreciated part of it was how the sentences often rambled and seemed to never get to the point. Overall The Scarlet Letter was an enjoyable piece.
It remained true to history throughout and also tantalized the readers tastes. The lesson this book tries to get across is that even a bad thing can be made good. This classic deserves to be recommended to any reader.
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Research essay sample on Hester Prynne Reverend Dimmesdale
