...Letter” criticizes Hester Prynne for being viewed as more than an adulteress. In the end, she is viewed as the heroine of the story and her title as an adulteress is simply forgotten. Lawrence’s essay revolves around the idea and act of sinning rather than its potential aftermath. Throughout the essay, Lawrence criticizes Prynne for her sin and states that she does not deserve to be the hero in Hawthorne’s novel. Lawrence uses biblical allusions, concise syntax, and alliteration to criticize Hester Prynne in a sarcastic manner. The use of biblical allusions is prevalent in D.H. Lawrence’s critique. He uses these allusions to compare Hester to the true heroes and undermine the idea of Hester being viewed as a hero. His negativity toward Prynne is especially apparent when he states,”The fiery heart. A. Mary of the Bleeding Heart. Mater Adolerata” (Lawrence 1). By comparing Prynne to this figure, Lawrence outlines shows the glaring differences between the biblical hero and the Adulteress. Mary is known to soften evil hearts while Prynne instigated the evil (Chillingsworth) and tainted a holy man (Dimmesdale). By calling Prynne Mater Adolerata, he is using sarcasm to show that Prynne is in no way a saint like Mary. While Mary...
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...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...
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...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 falling into temptation with Hester. He wants to expel his guilt publicly, but he cannot do it himself. He needs Hester to do it for him, but she refuses. He cannot shake his guilt, and so it increases, to the point where the scarlet...
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...In, The Scarlett Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne illustrates the life and punishment of Hester Prynne and her companions in the New England Puritan society. In particular, Reverend Dimmesdale and Dr. Chillingworth are two who are punished. They are not punished directly such as a whipping or torture, but are forced to bear guilt and personal shame which can lead to mental torture. These repressed feelings lead to the different eccentric actions though out the book these were first thought to control actions by Sigmund Freud "human beings are motivated by unconscious desires, fears, needs, and conflicts", as displayed by Dimmesdale and Chillingworth(Freud Slide3). Repressed feelings cause people to have an influenced opinion of themselves and certain...
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...who haunts the forest and tempts people into signing their name in his book with their own blood as ink. The word “Black Man” is used for the first time by Hester Prynne in chapter 4 while conversing with Roger Chillingworth. She says “art thou like the Black man that haunts the forest round about us? Hast thou enticed me into a bond that will prove the ruin of my soul?” .Hester Prynne doesn’t trusts Roger Chillingworth and believes he is trying to take his revenge. Roger Chillingworth has asked Hester to keep his identity a secret. Hester Prynne knows something will be wrong because of this bond but still she makes the deal because she has no choice. This is said in chapter 14 in another conversation between Hester and Roger. The bond here is referred to the Black man’s bond where Roger Chillingworth has been compared to the Black man and has made a deal with Hester. The word Black man is used once again by Mistress Hibbins in chapter 8. Mistress Hibbins has been suspected of being a witch. She says, “There will be a merry company in forest and I well nigh promised Black man that comely Hester Prynne make one”. Here it is proved that Mistress Hibbins knows Black man well and that the Black man is not just a saying or belief. In the end of conversation, Hester says that if the magistrates had taken Pearl away from her, she would have surely come. Therefore it can be assumed that people make...
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...Hell D. H. Lawrence’s On The Scarlet Letter critically analyzes Hester Prynne, the protagonist of The Scarlet Letter, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne. While deconstructing Prynne’s character, he uses a variety of literary techniques. In this critique, Lawrence voices his disapproval of Prynne, for he sees her as a horrible role model for women. Lawrence’s sarcastic tone, relevant allusions, and short, choppy diction are effective in evaluating Hester Prynne. Lawrence’s mocking tone reinforces his beliefs that Hester Prynne should not be regarded as a standard that anybody should live by. After calling Prynne a demon, Lawrence stated, “A man must be pure, just that you can seduce him to a fall.” Lawrence’s...
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...Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel The Scarlet Letter, tells the story of a woman who commits adultery in a puritanical society. As punishment for her sin, Hester Prynne must wear the ignominious scarlet letter ‘A’ for adulteress. As a result, she is the constant target of ridicule and persecution, which in Puritan society was a punishment almost equivalent to death.Throughout the novel, multiple Puritan beliefs are reflected, however; these tenets of Puritanism are used to reveal a further symbolic or Romantic meaning. Hawthorne himself, claimed that the novel was more indicative of Romantic ideals. Even the style in which the novel was written is reflective of the Romantic Era. Puritan writing was simple and facile to interpret, whereas The Scarlet...
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...Merit, Marriage, and Mistresses Each day, billions of people across the world interact with each other. Many times, it’s on a professional basis in order to conduct day to day business. Other times, relationships are formed out of proclivity towards similar aspects of life in which a friendship is formed. The topic of this essay, however, is based upon the relationships that are cultivated out of feelings of love. These sorts of relationships have fascinated people for centuries. Authors, from centuries ago, have written entire plays based upon the respectable and illicit relationships between men and women. Infidelity alone is talked about in over one-hundred and sixty six verses in the Bible while marriage is mentioned one-hundred and seventy seven times. The fact of the matter is that the bonds between men and women are interesting, complex, and scandalous many times. It’s for this very reason we have entire magazines dedicated to following the social lives and relationships of famous people. Three works of literature in particular shed light upon the development and consequences of these illicit relationships. These three works are Fortunata and Jacinta by Benito Perez Galdós, Adolphe by Benjamin Constant, and The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Each of these books contains similar and distinct, relationship development, main characters, characterization of classes, environment depiction, and resolutions. Fortunata and Jacinta was written by Benito...
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...The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, is a novel that delves into the effects of social ostracization. The main character Hester Prynne is unable to be accepted into society because she has been labelled as an adulteress. The townspeople’s inability to forgive Hester because of their devout religious beliefs only adds to her feelings of guilt and embarrassment. The judgement passed on Hester contributes to the overarching theme that people who believe themselves to be righteous are usually unjustified in their vendetta and are equally immoral ,if not more so, than the person they believe is in the wrong. The cruelty Hester faces is the driving force behind her actions. The scarlet “A” that Hester is forced to wear hardens her resolve against the community that has rejected her. Instead of moving away after her secret is revealed Hester decides to stay in spite of the adversity she will face. Initially, she stays because she believes her salvation can only be obtained in the place where she committed the wrongdoing (Hawthorne, 71). Despite the townspeople talking about her and mocking her, Hester tries her best to eke out a life for herself and her daughter Pearl. The...
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...The Puritan “A” Essay Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Scarlet Letter” tells the story of a woman, Hester Prynne, who conceived a child through an adulterous affair. As punishment for her sin she must wear a scarlet letter “A” on her dress. This story took place in the Puritan town of Boston; in the Puritan society “A” is a symbol of adultery or affair. Hester was forced to wear this letter as a constant reminder of her shame and so that everyone would know what she has done. The townspeople automatically began to mistreat her and her daughter so that they would leave and their society could remain pure. Although the original Puritan meaning of the letter “A” is adultery, throughout the story “A” takes on different meanings such as able and angel. Initially the Puritan society sees the “A” as a mark of punishment for sin but over time their outlook changes. In spite of all Hester endured throughout her years of being labeled as an adulterer she still remained strong. “Such helpfulness was found in her,—so much power to do, and power to sympathize,—that many people refused to interpret the scarlet A by its original signification. They said that it meant Able; so strong was Hester Prynne, with a woman’s strength” stated a member of society (13.3). She worked to redeem herself of the wrong she had done; she was a helper to those that were in need, sick, or poor. Her actions caused many members of society to change their viewpoint and no longer view her as an adulterer but as someone...
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...of fear; fear of sin and a fear of God. Hester Prynne, a Puritan woman of the sixteen hundreds, committed a sin that would leave her with a life of ridicule and guilt. Her life is narrated by a dweller of the eighteenth century, two hundred years after her lifetime. Hester Prynne’s life is told in the novel, The Scarlet Letter, written by Nathanial Hawthorne and is stationed in the Puritan town of Boston during the sixteenth century. Prynne, who was sent to America by her husband, was left alone by him for two years. Soon, she became attracted to another man, committed adultery, and bore a daughter whom she named Pearl. Due to this child, her fellow Puritans became aware of her deadly sin, and Prynne was sentenced to prison for a short time, public ridicule on a scaffold, and a life of recognition wearing the “Scarlet A,” which stood for her sin of adultery. In Nathanial Hawthorne’s novel, The Scarlet Letter, Hester Prynne’s punishments were fair to her crime. For the crime of adultery that Hester Prynne committed, the punishment of staying in prison was fair. Prynne, living in Puritan Boston in the sixteenth century, was seen as someone as deadly as a murderer. During this time, adultery was known as a horrid sin which would send a person to Hell upon death. Therefore, the usual punishment for this crime during this time was death, which Prynne narrowly escaped due to the understanding of the townspeople. If Hester Prynne would not have had the child and the townspeople...
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...In the Scarlet Letter Hester Prynne is the protagonist. She expresses a multitude of qualities in her character that an audience could find admirable or disdainful, depending on how looked at. Within the colonial Puritan period and culture she lived in, it was normal and easy to harshly react to Hester’s situation. She may not have been a heroine in the eyes of her people, but she still embodies a beautiful, strong, and confident woman. Hester Prynne has the capability of being a heroine in The Scarlet Letter by dealing with her circumstances in a mature nature, being remorseful, and still loving the world as a whole. Hester Prynne is a woman that obviously made a mistake that resulted in a public awareness. It is easy for an individual to hide mistakes or sins committed, but it takes a very strong individual to embrace it and learn from it. Hester responsibly confronts her situation in a mature nature. Any other woman could have simply fled from such an unforgiving place. “She is my happiness!, She is my torture, none the less! Pearl keeps me here in life Pearl punishes me too!” (Hawthorne 101) Hester committed the sin of adultery and in that a living product resulted. It is very admirable to see that while Pearl, Hester’s daughter, reminds her every day of what she did, Hester realizes that she must love her child and take responsibility for her actions. Another remarkable trait that Hester embodies is that she shows an utterly remorseful side to her circumstances...
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...Letter, Hester Prynne endures a drastic life changing experience. Hester is convicted, in a Puritan New England town, of committing adultery and is scolded constantly by this town. Even though Hester is in an incredibly difficult circumstance that most of the people could not endure, Hester remains proud and unregretful while her lover hides in the shadows of the sinful act. Throughout Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne portrays his belief in the significance of personal strength through the contrasting personalities of Hester Prynne, who portrays strength as she faces the sin with dignity, and her lover Arthur Dimmesdale, who portrays weakness as he continues to hide from the sin. Hester Prynne’s personal strength is important, as well as necessary, for her redemption in life. At the beginning of the novel, Hester is condemned for her sin and forced to stand on the scaffold, she remains strong and dignified despite constant disapprovals from the town. The townspeople are shocked as “Hester Prynne appeared more ladylike… than as she issued from the prison,” and when Hester’s beauty “shone out and made a halo of the misfortune and ignominy” despite her dreadful sin (49). Although at times Hester feels weak and alone, in public she continuously displays immense personal strength. Instead of running away, Hester faces her punishment and wears her scarlet letter with pride. When she is released from the prison, despite her “tension of nerves”, Hester believes...
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...Lastly, Hester becomes more of her old self, passionate and tenacious, at the end of the novel. Prynne displays how she reacts to going to Europe and how she still cares for her daughter, Pearl. This also reveals how people still react to her at the end. Prynne appears to be more passionate and tenacious than in chapters 10-18, she is not as cold towards others because maybe she has hope because she is going to Europe with Dimmesdale and start a brand new life. However, during Dimmesdale appearance in chapter 22, Prynne felt her “strong, calm, steadfast enduring spirit” (Hawthorne 220) sink while seeing Dimmesdale’s new flourished outlook upon the people. Prynne felt all her hope in going to Europe unlikely for Dimmesdale appears buoyant and brand new, not broken and...
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...developed their own voice in society similar to the main character Hester Prynne. Hester is a strong independent female and we could learn from her courage. Hester Prynne is forced by the Puritan people to wear a letter A on her chest, which symbolizes the sin of adultery that she has committed. The local citizens were not fond of Hester due to her independence and confidence. Even though she is reminded about her sin every day by wearing the letter A, she wears the symbol to show the strength and courage she has for her daughter Pearl and for herself. Hester takes the responsibility of the sin she that she has committed even though Reverend Dimmesdale is partially to blame. Reverend Dimmesdale speaking to Hester Prynne says, "I charge thee to speak out the name of thy fellow-sinner and fellow-sufferer! 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” (Hawthorne, 79). Reverend Dimmesdale is speaking to Hester Prynne hoping that she would confess that she committed adultery with him so the Reverend would no longer suffer the guilt he faces. The Reverend is deomonstrating cowardly acts by wanting Hester to confess his sin so he can suffer the pain with her. When he could easily confess his bad actions himself. Hester is not a shamed of her...
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