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Conformity In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter

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Roger as a hopeful cripple. When he was younger, Roger thought that he could “delude [himself] with the idea that intellectual gifts might veil [his] physical deformity” (Hawthorne 43). The idea that a good quality can overshadow a poor quality allows Roger to become hopeful that his deformity will be a minor speck compared to his intelligence.

Roger as a disappointed host. Roger states that his “heart was a habitation large enough for many guests, but [it is] lonely and chill, and without a household fire” (Hawthorne 43). Throughout his life, Roger has expected for many people to love him, but as he grew older, he realized it was just a false fantasy.

Roger as an empathetic detective. Roger is certain that he is able to find the child’s …show more content…
Roger explains that he will not pursue the child’s father because he will not “interfere with Heaven’s own method of retribution” (Hawthorn 44). As a Puritan, Roger believes that God will punish the child’s father in a righteous way, and thus have no need to seek out his own revenge against …show more content…
Hester is afraid that Roger is the devil, asking him if he is “like the Black Man that haunts the forest [a]round [the town]... and [if he] [had] enticed [her] into a bond that will prove the ruin of [her] soul” (Hawthorne 45). Hester is still a devout Puritan, and the interactions between her and Roger allows her to make a similar connection to the devil, who was known for making corrupt bargains.

Hester as a protective mother. Hester was afraid that Roger would poison the baby, since she asked him if he would “avenge [himself] on the innocent babe” (Hawthorne 42). Hester is initially hesitant to administer the medicine to her baby, because she was scared that Roger would kill the baby in revenge of her unfaithfulness to him.

Hester as a suicidal individual. Hester tells Roger that she has “thought of death” and has “wished for it… [and] would even have prayed for it, were it fit that [she] should pray for anything” (Hawthorne 42). Ever since she has had the baby, Hester thinks that death would have been a better punishment for her than to be shamed for the rest of her

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