The past always comes back to haunt us in our lives. ... Characters in this novel go through their lives struggling with themselves trying to cope with the guilt and shame associated with their past actions. ... Her "moral agony" (Bloom 34), is her guilt that is slowly surfacing while she faces the crowd realizing that she has been stripped of her pride and everything that was important to her in the past. ... Hester is only worried about raising Pearl, so that she doesn't look into her past (Lawrence 42). ... Sins are our misfortunes. ...

• Word Count: 1828
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

Their future and newfound identities are a projection of the past sins that they have committed. ... Hester creates a new identity for herself as a woman, completely devoid of her past sins, and in turn is shown to be a positive and empowering role model. ... Hester makes the decision to outwardly exhibit her past misgivings, no matter what judgments will be made by onlookers. Hester choosing to wear the letter was her showcasing her own sin. ... She has chosen to accept and face her past, and in doing so, obtains a sort of happy ending for herself. ...

• Word Count: 1347
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

Pearl's life and behavior directly reflects the unacceptable and abnormal nature of Hester's adulterous sin. ... Pearl should be constant reminder of personal sin to everyone that meets her; however, as it would be, she only reminds others of Hester's sin. ... The scarlet letter matures into a symbol of Hester's perseverance, while Pearl continues to enhance herself as a subject of Hester's past indiscretions. It is clear that Pearl is as much a blessing to Hester as she is a wicked reminder of the past. ... Pearl's evolution throughout this novel directly rel...

• Word Count: 765
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

She is a constant reminder to Hester's sin. ... Pearl is unaware of who her father is, and it is Hester who refuses to answer her questions about her past. ... Pearl deems answers for her past and becomes infuriated in Hester's refusal to expose the truth. ... Does Pearl now know that Reverend Dimmesdale clutches a sin as deep as her mothers? ... Pearl is an important character, as she is a constant reminder to Hester's living sin. ...

• Word Count: 845
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

The author, Nathaniel Hawthorne, addresses sin in the book quiet frequently, this essay addresses how Hawthorne really thought about sin and it's aspects like punishment. The Scarlet Letter is a novel that deals with the theme of sin. ... In The Scarlet Letter, the idea of sin and punishment is the main theme of the novel and how Hester Prynne, the main character, has been punished for her sin of adultery. ... This sin remains with Hester for seven years until her death, and the Puritan community never seems to forgive her for her sins. ... However, people should be able to leave...

• Word Count: 802
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

Everyone has committed a sin either knowingly or by accident. ... While others commit the sin of hate just like Chillingworth. ... Hate is such a strong word, but it is also a strong sin. ... I see sin better punished when it is not known. The sinner goes through more guilt and has to live with it forever unlike in the past where they belief abasement was punishment. ...

• Word Count: 675
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

First we see two symbols in the town that show how sin isolates people. ... Dimmesdale, however, hides his sin from people. ... When Hester meets Dimmesdale in the forest, all the sorrow of the past few years since their sin is brought up. ... However, she is not truly repentant for her sins. ... Progressing until they are "past all moral sense," they eventually give "themselves over to loose conduct" (Paul, Ephesians 4:19). ...

• Word Count: 1118
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

This pride illustrates that she is not sorry, and not regretful for her sin. ... Chillingworth vows to make the father pay for his sins. ... Roger is so corrupt by his revenge that he cannot see past the sin and will never forgive. ... That old man's revenge has been blacker than my sin. ... However, suffering ruins Chillingworth, disabling him to repent for his sins. ...

• Word Count: 695
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

Her sin is a one of passion. Hester Prynne's sin is adultery. ... He commits a sin against her. ... Red is passion and sin. ... People should be able to leave the past behind them and start over, yet that never seems to happen, and Hester is forced to drag this guilt around with her until her last breath of air....

• Word Count: 1044
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

Sin was an unspeakable trait in a person's personality. ... Jacobsen affirms "Sin in the artist makes him more aware of sin and guilt in others, and hence opens and expands his view of life" (Jacobsen pg. 39). ... As Gorman puts it, "The Scarlet Letter was a shadow of his own spiritual past" (Gorman pg. 144). Meaning, that Hawthorne could have committed such a sin as adultery or know of one who has. ... If this were slightly true, then why would Nathaniel Hawthorne begin to provide a public source for his past experiences? ...

• Word Count: 1014
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

Dimmesdale also believes that his sin has taken the meaning out of his life. His life's work had been dedicated to God, and now his sin has tainted it. ... In fact, his mental anguish of sin is what had caused his illness. ... This act of declaring his sin is one step closer to salvation. ... On the scaffold, Dimmesdale openly brought his sin to light and finally felt restored. ...

• Word Count: 723
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

THEME The Scarlet Letter centers round the consequences of sin, especially shame and guilt. ... Hester is made to publicly acknowledge her sin. ... Hester's sin, shame, and guilt are clearly heightened by the fact that she lives in a strict Puritanical society, which is unable and unwilling to forgive her sin. ... Ironically, Hester and Pearl walk past the scaffold, and the minister calls for them to join him, for it is protected by the cover of darkness. ... Dimmesdale is still unable to confess his sin. ...

• Word Count: 1285
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

To the eyes of the Puritans, Hester's act of adultery, although not punishable by death, is a sin that should be branded upon her forever. Thus, the opening scene of the novel begins with Hester standing on the scaffold holding her baby "the fruit of her sin "in her arms. ... Hester, however, grows stronger and more morally righteous until she is actually favored by Hawthorne, despite her sins. ... This shows a disdain that she has towards the letter, because no matter how it is perceived, it is still a reminder of her sinful past. ... Because she cannot undo the past, Hes...

• Word Count: 1177
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

Hester had accepted her fate as the consequence for her sin. ... Dimmesdale could go forth and step onto the scaffold and profess his sins, but he does not. ... Over the past seven years it is more and more pressed how much he is loved by the community. ... Lucifer had fallen from heaven to hell in the Bible due to his own sinning. ... His efforts to atone his sins are unsuccessful. ...

• Word Count: 1021
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

Through the past seven years Dimmesdale has become frail and weak, at the hand of Chillingworth. ... Is it possible to attain forgiveness in a Puritan society after committing such a heinous sin? ... A punishment suitable for such a sin is already been instituted since the day it happened. ... These thoughts now give Dimmesdale a stronger reason to come out with his sin, because he obviously does not want to associate with anymore evil since his sin. "Then flinging the already written pages of the Election Sermon into the fire- (pg 154) The final realization that he must admit to his sin to...

• Word Count: 1115
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

Roger Chillingworth started to figure out that a sin or something Mr. ... (Hawthorne 136) Dimmesdale knows that no one knows what sin he is hiding, and he believes that the heart holds this secret until God judges us all. ... "Let us not look back, the past is gone!" (Hawthorne 211) Hester knows that the sin that was committed was terrible and will always have a place in their hearts but they can not dwell on it now. ... She believed that the sin would be forgiven and they would be able to love each other when the meet again. ...

• Word Count: 1114
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

The Scarlet Letter exaggerates a never ending theme of sin. ... Throughout history and cultural beliefs, everyone tends to commit a sin. ... Therefore, committing a sin was considered a crime. ... Judging and killing are sins so does it count?  ... However, people should be able to move from what they did and leave it in the past but Hester had to carry it with her every step she took until she took her last breath.  ...

• Word Count: 1240
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

As a punishment for her sin, she must stand on a scaffold and receive the insults of the people for three hours and she must wear a scarlet "A" on her bosom for the rest of her life as a symbol for her sin. ... She was, however, drawn to the A on Hester's chest, a constant reminder of her sin. ... At this point in the novel, Arthur's sin had begun, if it had not already succeeded, in consuming him. Arthur's conscience was now consumed with sin, and its weight will soon become too much to bear. ... He accepts his sin, he accepts Hester, and he accepts Pearl. ...

• Word Count: 2338
• Approx Pages: 9
• Grade Level: High School

In a parade, Dimmesdale confesses to sins and right after the confession, he died peacefully. ... The theme within the story is unconfessed sins leads to the destroying of the soul. ... It is an explanation on the significance of the scarlet letter as a symbol and the bridge of the connection between sin and humanness. ... Here had been her sin; here, her sorrow; and here was yet to be her penitence. ... She resumes wearing the scarlet letter because her past is an important part of her identity; it is not something that should be erased or denied because someone else has decided it is sham...

• Word Count: 720
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

Religion punishes her with the Scarlet Letter, society ostracizes her as punishment, and individually she was able to move on in life but still returned to her haunting past where she died. ... It constantly forced the tought of the sin she had commited and would haunt her for good. ... Society ostracized her because no one in the town had ever delt with any kind of sin as adultry so they looked at her as a witch. ... Religion punishes her with the scarlet letter, society ostracizes her as punishment, and individually she was able to move on in life but still returned to her haunting past w...

• Word Count: 727
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

In response, the reverend says, "Thou, too, hast deeply sinned! ... He looks past the reason for her situation and recognizes the good in the adulteress. ... It literally symbolizes adultery, sin, and Hester's struggle to gain self-worth and pride. ... At the end, when many claim that they see it on Dimmesdale's chest, the letter becomes a representation of his sin. ... The scaffold scenes are most important, as it represents the harshness of the Puritan society and the atonement for sin. ...

• Word Count: 1296
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

Through her generous accomplishments the community realizes she is a person who, regardless of her sin, can affect the community in a positive way. ... Their fear of sin and wickedness drove them in their quest to do what they felt was right. ... "Thus the young and pure would be taught to look at her, with the scarlet letter flaming on her breast as the figure, the body, the reality of sin" (83). ... So they used her and were willing to overlook her sins when she looked to be of value to them. ... The society was able to look past their hatred for her and see that in fact they needed her. ...

• Word Count: 1521
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

On the other hand, Pearl was considered to be born evil because she was the product of her mother's sin. ... The townspeople idolized him and did not suspect him at all for committing the same sin as Hester. ... Love is the act of caring for someone and continuously supporting them while looking past all their flaws. ... Dimmesdale never forgot her after her ignominy, even when he had a chance to move on and distance himself from his sin. ... Pearl is the living embodiment of Hester's sin and why her life is terribl...

• Word Count: 1931
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

The Scarlet Letter is a book revealing lives of sin, social identity, and humanity. ... The townsman then tells of Hester's sin, having an affair, and her punishment, to forever wear a scarlet letter on her breast as an eternal reminder of shame. ... They proclaim her sin and pressure her to reveal the identity of her illegal child's father. ... Pearl is a symbol in the story; she is Hester's salvation, pride, and joy, and also acts as an eternal reminder of Hester's sin. ...

• Word Count: 3653
• Approx Pages: 15
• Grade Level: High School

While she is standing up there looking over the crowd she starts thinking of things in the past like her parents in England and an old man who she married. ... Pearl knows about the sin her mother committed and this is one reason she has no friends so she makes her own imaginary friends to keep her company. ...

• Word Count: 2183
• Approx Pages: 9
• Grade Level: High School