Another valuable lesson taught in the story is the effects of sins. The plot is not only based around the sins committed by Hester Pryne and Arthur Dimmesdale but also the results their sins have caused. ... However, throughout the novel, Chillingworth learns to show forgiveness for their sins. ... Hawthorne's writing of The Scarlet Letter is his way of making the lives, culture, and customs of the past relevant to our modern lives. ... If this novel becomes banned from schools, students will lose a true understanding of the past life of the Puritans. ...

• Word Count: 707
• Approx Pages: 3
• 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

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

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

The many of the symbols in this book deal with sin, punishment and redemption. ... While the scarlet letter seems to be an important symbol, it seems insignificant compared to Pearl who functions as a live symbol and a reminder of Hester's past. ... She is the consequence of a sin committed between two people and a constant reminder of this same sin. Consequently, Pearl can be viewed as both punishment for the sin and as a blessing from nature. ... The rosebush symbolizes nature and its ability to forgive people for their sins. ...

• Word Count: 843
• Approx Pages: 3
• 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

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

Hester was a social outcast because of her past and the mistakes she made, and because of this, she would cause such an upheaval that it would cause a pastor to reveal a life-altering secret. ... Hester and Dimmesdale are the Adam and Eve of the town who commit the ultimate sin by eating the fruit of adultery. Their experience allows the townspeople to see how it is to really be human and that committing sins is a forgivable part of human life. ... Sin, rather than power, is the basis of The Scarlet Letter and donates to the message that perfection is not achievable by a set of rules that is e...

• Word Count: 710
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

The author uses words such as "broad shouldered, well-developed busts, and ruddy cheeks" to emphasize the manliness of women in past generations. ... Older women believe that Hester should be punished severely because the sin she commits is irreparable. ... The sin that she committed is considered to be irredeemable to the Puritan society. ... She believes that it is her fate to become a prophet to the city of Boston, but she realizes that someone of such angelic qualities does not commit herself to sin. ... Although Hester commits an irreparable sin, her womanly inner strength and fortitu...

• Word Count: 904
• Approx Pages: 4

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

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