Imagine being an influential leader of the public but knowing deep down you disappointed them. Imagine walking through town knowing that you are a hypocrite. Imagine being the parent that gave birth to a “demon.” Nathaniel Hawthorne depicts these situations in The Scarlett Letter. He utilizes Arthur Dimmesdale and Hester Prynne, to demonstrate how owning one’s sin can positively impact one physically or mentally. Dimmesdale commits a sin by impregnating Hester. Unlike Hester, Dimmesdale never openly
Words: 723 - Pages: 3
Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote The Scarlet Letter during the 1800s in Boston, Massachusetts when men were the dominant gender in society. The whole book is based on how Puritan society always chose men over women. They would punish women constantly and without any hesitation. In this book, Hawthorne writes about Hester who had an affair but had also recently gave birth to a child. Throughout the book we tend to see how there were many punishments towards women. Hawthorne lets us know that he is not
Words: 1538 - Pages: 7
Mount, and the Puritans attacked. The Puritans punished the colonists due to their opposing views, but the leader of the Puritans spared the newly married couple due to their love for each other, a quality which was rare in their colony (945-52). Hawthorne shows hope can be constantly robbed but somehow can find a way to shine through by using symbols such as the maypole, sunlight, and the placement of a wreath.
Words: 598 - Pages: 3
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
Words: 645 - Pages: 3
Faith and innocence are easily forgotten or lost in times of temptation and sin. In the story "Young Goodman Brown," symbolism can be found in Young Goodman Brown by the way he acts on the path with the devil and also in his wife, Faith in her name and pink ribbons. Young Goodman brown symbolizes more than one thing. He symbolizes good men, the battle between faith and temptation, and morality. This is shown when he goes into the woods and the whole - time regrets leaving his faith and thinks
Words: 438 - Pages: 2
In both The Minister’s Black Veil and The Scarlet Letter, there are many similarities between the two, portraying the views of Mr. Hawthorne. The stories are both centered around Puritan societies and how they view sins. In both stories the main characters, Hester in The Scarlet Letter and Mr. Hooper in The Minister’s Black Veil, wore symbols to show they committed sins. In The Scarlet Letter Hester was forced to wear a red A to show that she had committed the sin of adultery. “The scarlet letter
Words: 385 - Pages: 2
Born on July 4, 1804, Nathaniel Hawthorne lived in a harsh puritan lifestyle. At the age of 4 his father died at sea and his family with no financial support moved in with his wealthy uncle. At an early age a leg injury left young Nathaniel immobile; during this time he developed a passion for reading and decided to become a writer. With the aid of his wealthy uncles, Nathaniel Hawthorne attended Bowdoin College from 1821 to 1825. At Bowdoin College he met and befriended Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Words: 525 - Pages: 3
The birth-mark on Georgiana’s cheek in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short story, The Birth-Mark, was a characteristic of hers that she adored. Her husband had considered perfect until after they got married and her and her husband got intimate. He saw her birthmark as an imperfection and wanted to make her the perfect woman that she could be without her birthmark. Although, he did not know that removing her birthmark would have unpleasant consequences. This birthmark that Georgiana possessed was a charm
Words: 466 - Pages: 2
Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson were both influential people. Thoreau was inspired by Emerson's ideas. They encouraged the people around them to think for themselves, simplify their lives, and enjoy nature. These are the major similarities in their philosophies on life. Thoreau and Emerson both believed in self-reliance. Thoreau thought that people should live their life exactly how they want. He did not want people to live the life that their parents wanted them to
Words: 449 - Pages: 2
The Scarlet Letter In the Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, A young woman named Hester Prynne in Boston is prosecuted for adultery. To symbolize her crime, she has an “A” imprinted on her bosom. As a result of her committing adultery, she and Reverend Dimmesdale (his identity is not identified until later in the book) have a child. She is a very curious child, and her name is Pearl. Roger Chillingworth, comes to see Hester on the scaffold and he doesn’t want his identity revealed either but
Words: 823 - Pages: 4