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Hester Prynne Isolation Scarlet Letter

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The novel begins with Hester Prynne facing the relentless nature of the Puritan people while on a scaffold. She has been forced to bear the letter “A” on her chest, with her child “Pearl” cradled in her arms for she has committed an unforgivable sin, adultery. Hester is persistent in not revealing the name of the child's father for she cannot come to tarnish his reputation. Following this incident, Hester is forced to raise this child on her own and in complete isolation, refusing to reside with others. She does this as a way of punishing herself. When Pearl is threatened to be taken away from her, Arthur Dimmesdale prevents this from happening. Arthur coincidentally is laboring at the same time that Hester Prynne is, but from a heart illness. He is always grabbing his chest. Chillingworth, Hester’s …show more content…
Seeing the pain that the reverend is enduring at this moment, the two join hands with him. The reverend still refuses to publicly confess what he has done. This very scene is symbolic as is seen with the meteor that creates the letter “A” in the sky. Hester, having great concern for the reverend, recognizes Chillingsworth harmful intentions and requests that he doesn't pursue them. Hester and the reverend encounter each other in the forest where they decide to flee together and avoid facing the scorn of a relentless community. Hester removes her “A” after they have agreed to flee but Pearl is unable to recognize her mother with the letter having been removed. As a result, Hester is forced to bear the letter again. Hester has discovered that Chillingworth will be on the same ship as them prior to leaving. This being another indication that the couple shouldn’t flee, leads Dimmesdale to confess his sin after his sermon. Pearl accepts the fact that he was able to expose his sin and kisses him due the fact that he was able to expose it in her presence and in front of the whole

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