The Scarlet Letter6
Multiple meanings and discussion providing insight into the letter The letter "A" was to be worn as a punishment, to be worn in shame, to be worn as "adulteress." This may not have been clearly and directly stated to the reader, but throughout reading the book, you gather possible hidden meanings of Hester's scarlet letter. Although the sense of the meaning "adulteress" is constant, the metaphoric, emotional, and moralistic meanings of the scarlet letter vary from positive to negative interpretations throughout the novel The Scarlet Letter. The Puritan community was a dark, strict society, feeling indifferent to the humanity of the woman standing before them on the scaffold, with her infant daughter against her chest. The beautifully embroidered letter does not glow in the eyes of the people. The letter shapes the way they look at Hester and the way they treat her. They isolate Hester not only socially but also through her location, which ultimately causes her own emotional isolation. "It had the effect of a spell, taking her out of the ordinary relations with humanity and inclosing her in a sphere by herself." (40) However, the people's attitude does change. It goes through various roller-coasters of positi
" Many the townspeople realized what a high quality of character Hester possessed. During "Another View of Hester," Hawthorne explains to the reader that the scarlet A has yet another layer of meaning, which is in fact another view of Hester. In conclusion, Hester's scarlet letter shows that the universal idea that there is more than one way to view things is not only a truth, but also a complexity in itself. When dealing with human nature, the intricacy of life is accented and the variety of interpretation is strengthened. The letter therefore becomes an example of crime and acts as a deterrent for others in the community. The letter begins to represent the hidden shame of the community. This shame is shown through Hester's reactions around the community, like when she almost covers up the letter with her hand. There is the constant comparison to the rosebush that is vividly growing on the jail's door. While the actual meanings of the letter A are main points, it is also important to recognize the burning color of the letter that appears on Hester. This face of the A is a model of "acceptance," a symbol of Hester's respect for herself, and for her life. For instance, we see Hawthorne's compassion toward Hester at a point in the play when Reverend Wilson said, ". Hawthorne's tragic moral vision is illuminated in his beloved character and the letter she bore. Although Hester is clearly not a Puritan, she does show respect for the Puritan code. Whereas at first it represented Hester's adultery and also her needlework skills, it now takes on more meanings.
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Acceptance Essays
