SCARLET LETTER

             In Nathaniel Hawthorne's climactic novel, The Scarlet Letter, Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale face numerous problems in their lives. Hester must deal with the constant barrage of insults by the townspeople, due to her wearing of the scarlet letter A. To the Puritan society, Hester should be looked down upon as an adulterer, and she must be scorned for her actions. For this reason, Hester is trapped. This is where Hester's
             daughter, Pearl, comes to the rescue. Through Pearl, Hester is allowed to face the constraints of the town. Pearl not only saves her mother, but she also saves her father, Dimmesdale. Since this minister committed a sin with Hester, he must face the guilt that comes along with the crime. The guilt comes from his religion, and also from himself. However, Hester's evil husband Chillingworth, has been on a vengeful voyage to torture Dimmesdale. He uses
             evil potions and tonics to slowly kill him. Pearl pushed her father to admit his wrongdoings. By doing this, Dimmesdale would be free from the evil grasps of Roger Chillingworth. Although Hawthorne may have portrayed Pearl as a demon child, she is the complete opposite to that- Pearl is a heroine.
             It is nearly impossible for Hester Prynne to walk through the market place without facing some sort of scornful actions. On one occasion, the children of the town decided to throw mud at Hester and Pearl. "But Pearl, who was a dauntless child, after frowning, stamping her foot, and shaking her little hand with a variety of threatening gestures, suddenly made a rush at the knot of her enemies, and put them all to flight" (Hawthorne 95). Hester would
             not have been able to do as Pearl did, or perhaps she would not have had the courage as Pearl does. Thus, Pearl acts as an extension of Hester, in a sense that Pearl is the side of Hester that wishes to be free.
             This novel is very allegorical and everything has some kind of hidden, symbolic meaning. "Sunshine" is commo...

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SCARLET LETTER. (1969, December 31). In MegaEssays.com. Retrieved 01:11, May 20, 2024, from https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/75511.html