The Scarlet Letter is a novel written by Nathaniel Hawthorne describing the life of Hester Prynne. Through the novel, Hester struggles with the judgemental society of the Puritans. To the Puritan community, she is represented as an example of what a woman should not be. Hester is tormented to wear a letter "A" for life. This letter is supposed to make her an outcast and make the people of the town turn against her. I think that Hawthorne has the letter "A" change throughout the novel ,in my opinion, so that Hester can change and become a better person.Even so, she changes what the letter means and what it is meant to stand for throughout the novel. Hester Prynne came into a new town that she wasn't very fond of. Her husband was captured by the Indians for a distinctively long period of time. Hester no longer thought her husband was going to be with her, so she began a new life without him. While there, she met a man and fell deeply in love with him. Soon after, Hester became pregnant and disgrace fell upon her life as the whole town was informed. She is taken into a prison with her baby Pearl, because of her adultery. She is told to tell who the father is, but she strongly refuses to do so. Due to her resentment, she is taken into the town's prison for at least 9 months and was then let out to be put upon the scaffold to let the ministers and towns people to discuss the sin she committed . But for the very last time they asked her again who was the father of the child. Hester then replied, "Never!". The aggravated crowd angrily decided upon what her sentence should come to. She is taken back to the prison is told to never take the Scarlet letter "A" off. Hester would have to live with the letter embroidered on her bosom without end. It was a symbol of her wrongdoing and how she didn't live by the way of life that the Puritans stressed for.
Even though the "A" stood for adultery, through the actions of the towns people, it also began to stand for "alone". It became the word "alone" because she was sentenced into a life of exile and is a outsider to the puritan people. Shortly after her harsh sentence, she was let out of her prison cell and started a new life. She was free to go anywhere in the world. Even with that being said, she settled on a small cottage. Hester was constantly by herself and couldn't be involved with any of the people of the town. Eventually, she and her daughter Pearl became very close friends. Still, Hester was not socialized with any part of the outside Puritan people. During this time she feels as if she is not part of the community and is frequently being abused by the brutal judgemental Puritan society. While being alone, she began creating a business in sewing clothes for the townspeople. She becomes very popular by this profession and creates some clothing for the women of the town. However, her first knitting's were for herself and Pearl. This is important to the story because it helps to show how she is changing throughout the novel.
In the course of this, her letter then starts to stand for "able". In the process of her seamstress workings, she still seemed to not have a social life with the Puritans. But as time passed, Hester changed her position in the public and is known for her bravely acts. She didn't let her shameful crime get into the way of the struggle she was to endure for the rest of her life. Instead, she completely changes her mind-set out of a negative viewpoint, and into a positive approach towards her and Pearl's being. Hester is no longer known for her sinful act, but her "able" spirit to tolerate the judgmental and ruthless Puritan society. Although it was not easy, she develops into a new person in the community of the people. The opinions of the Puritans changes entirely, furthermore, letting the people begin to recognize Hester as who she really is and not shameful unto the Puritan community. Hawthorne is showing that anyone can change no matter what you've done in your life.
In the beginning of this Novel, Hester Prynne's Scarlet letter of punishment stood for her ignominy of the wrongdoing she committed, whom the Puritans had acknowledged. The people inconsiderately labelled Hester with the Scarlet letter, without admiring her willpower to never reveal the name of the father of her only child, Pearl. Nevertheless,Hester proved to the society that you can never fully "brand" a person for any crime. You will not succeed in doing so because a person can change who they are.
Even though the "A" stood for adultery, through the actions of the towns people, it also began to stand for "alone". It became the word "alone" because she was sentenced into a life of exile and is a outsider to the puritan people. Shortly after her harsh sentence, she was let out of her prison cell and started a new life. She was free to go anywhere in the world. Even with that being said, she settled on a small cottage. Hester was constantly by herself and couldn't be involved with any of the people of the town. Eventually, she and her daughter Pearl became very close friends. Still, Hester was not socialized with any part of the outside Puritan people. During this time she feels as if she is not part of the community and is frequently being abused by the brutal judgemental Puritan society. While being alone, she began creating a business in sewing clothes for the townspeople. She becomes very popular by this profession and creates some clothing for the women of the town. However, her first knitting's were for herself and Pearl. This is important to the story because it helps to show how she is changing throughout the novel.
In the course of this, her letter then starts to stand for "able". In the process of her seamstress workings, she still seemed to not have a social life with the Puritans. But as time passed, Hester changed her position in the public and is known for her bravely acts. She didn't let her shameful crime get into the way of the struggle she was to endure for the rest of her life. Instead, she completely changes her mind-set out of a negative viewpoint, and into a positive approach towards her and Pearl's being. Hester is no longer known for her sinful act, but her "able" spirit to tolerate the judgmental and ruthless Puritan society. Although it was not easy, she develops into a new person in the community of the people. The opinions of the Puritans changes entirely, furthermore, letting the people begin to recognize Hester as who she really is and not shameful unto the Puritan community. Hawthorne is showing that anyone can change no matter what you've done in your life.
In the beginning of this Novel, Hester Prynne's Scarlet letter of punishment stood for her ignominy of the wrongdoing she committed, whom the Puritans had acknowledged. The people inconsiderately labelled Hester with the Scarlet letter, without admiring her willpower to never reveal the name of the father of her only child, Pearl. Nevertheless,Hester proved to the society that you can never fully "brand" a person for any crime. You will not succeed in doing so because a person can change who they are.
1 comment:
Great essay Melody! Just on question what was Mrs.Turner's point for you writing the paper I kind of don't know from reading it. Any how Good Job :)
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