...The Scarlet Letter: A Not-So-Similar Ending between the Movie and the Novel The Scarlet Letter is a novel written by Nathaniel Hawthorne in 1850. In 1995, an adaptation movie of the novel was released. The movie, however, is not quite similar with the novel as one would hope – something that could be predicted easily as in the beginning in the movie the excerpt “freely adapted from the novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne” was shown. There are few differences that can be found between the ending of the novel and the movie, all of which would be discussed in the following paragraphs. The first difference appears when Arthur Dimmesdale confesses that he is the father of Pearl in front of the townspeople. In the novel, Dimmesdale does this on his Election Day sermon, where he suddenly asks Hester to stand next to him. He also shockingly reveals a red mark on his breast, which makes many people gasp because somehow it is similar with the scarlet letter worn by Hester. In the movie, however, Dimmesdale confesses his sin on a completely different occasion. His confession occurs when Hester, along with other women who are accused of practicing witchcraft, are about to get hanged in front of the townspeople. Dimmesdale interrupts the execution and after making his confession, he offers his life in place of Hester’s. And he was this close of getting hanged when the Indians attack the town and save his life. The different occasion on Dimmesdale’s confession apparently leads to the second difference...
Words: 634 - Pages: 3
...Roger Chillingworth and Arthur Dimmesdale wage a constant mental and physical battle throughout the Scarlet Letter. Chillingworth, a man of noble purpose and strong dispositions, falls further and further into his obsession of revenge. While at the same time, Dimmesdale, a respected reverend, suffers mentally and physically from his affair with Hester Prynne. As we progress through the novel, a question materializes: who deserves the blame for Hester Prynne’s affair, Chillingworth, Dimmesdale, or Hester Prynne herself? All three main characters believe they hold some sort of responsibility for the affair between Hester Prynne and Reverend Dimmesdale. Ultimately, Hester Prynne wrongs both Roger Chillingworth and Arthur Dimmesdale. Mrs. Prynne’s sin led to Roger Chillingworth’s and Arthur Dimmesdale’s demise both mentally and physically. Arthur Dimmesdale, a religious man respected by the community, ironically has an affair with Hester Prynne. Dimmesdale understands the sin he commits. He realizes all too well that he must confess publicly, but he cannot bring himself to do so. Instead, he begs Hester to announce what he has done: Be not silent from any mistaken pity and tenderness for him; for, believe me, Hester, though he were to step down from a high place, and stand there beside thee on thy pedestal of shame, yet better were it so, than to hide a guilty heart through life. What can thy silence do for him, except tempt him…(64). Dimmesdale feels nothing but shame for...
Words: 766 - Pages: 4
...novel The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne centers on the story of a heroine by the name of Hester Prynne. The novel is set in New England, where Hester resides in a strict Puritan community. From the beginning one learns that Hester is condemned to public humiliation for her crime of adultery. All through the novel Hester deals with the pressures from her community, from motherhood and from the men in her life as she attempts to redeem her freedom. Hester Prynne accepts the consequences of her actions by transcending the harsh criticism and shame from the Puritan community; therefore, she proves to be a pertinent heroine...
Words: 960 - Pages: 4
...Jennifer Cifuentes Scarlet Letter Essay April 3, 2014 Coach Roberts Chillingworth’s Revenge in The Scarlet Letter Admittedly, some people have a twisted vision of justice and evil. The scarlet letter is a historical fiction romance novel written by Nathaniel Hawthorne that gives a great example of this. This story takes place in the late 1640s in Boston, Massachusetts. In this particular society of puritans there seems to be no room for error. Hester Prynne is the main character whom commits adultery with the Reverend Mr. Arthur Dimmesdale and is forced to wear a scarlet letter upon her bosom. As a result of this sin, a child was born whom Hester named Pearl. When the rest of the town found out, Hester was forced to stand on the scaffold which was right in the middle of the town. She would stand holding little Pearl as everyone crowed around her to ridicule. That was when Hester’s husband who was missing for two years shows up and sees his wife has been unfaithful. At this point, no one knows who the father of Pearl is and Hester refuses to speak his name. Her husband is filled with hurt and anger that his wife would betray him this way. He then makes the decision to seek justice for himself. He takes on the alias of ‘Roger Chillingworth’ and takes the role as the town’s physician. He starts to torture Hester and Dimmesdale, confusing justice with revenge, and becomes evil. These things can really take a person’s life over. In this novel, Roger Chillingworth starts seeking...
Words: 1218 - Pages: 5
