Many of the concepts Hawthorne wrote about included morality, sin, and redemption (The American Novel). ... This example proves and illustrates that fact that Hawthorne believed that keeping one's sins and guilt inside caused internal conflict and was not how a person should hide what they have done. ... This reveals that elite people, like ordinary people, will go through extreme measures to appear to be just and right to the public eye, even though they too are suffering from past mistakes that make them the type of person they are. ... Some of the strengths Hawthorne had in his writi...

• Word Count: 1291
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography

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

The people of Puritanistic faith claim to be the ones raised in good nature and proper upbringing, as not to lead to such a sin as adultery, as Hester had committed. ... The idea of predestination is a "predetermined fate" and it seemed more that the people of the town were more interested in deciding Hester's fate for her now because of her sin. The sin was committed between two adults but the town seemed to strangely get twisted along into it and travel with Hester throughout the novel. If this had been done in today's society, Hester would have had much more privacy, and...

• Word Count: 568
• Approx Pages: 2
• 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

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

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

Sin. ... Despite how severe it was sin is sin, Puritanism is best described as a religion with strict rules, which punished all sin because of the different branches that it could affect in the colony. ... Puritans dismissed themselves from the traditional confinements and formalities of Christianity, which had been building throughout the past 1500 years. ... The main philosophy that was proposed was that Man should not sin, but his sinning was inevitable. ... The generational curse was sin that carried itself through every bloodline and every race. ...

• Word Count: 1501
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• 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

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

They were very strict about sins, like lying and adultery, and believed in forgiveness and fair treatment of others. ... Hypocrisy being a major element, Hawthorne also used guilt, confession, and sin as smaller elements to get his feelings across on the Puritans" shortcomings. ... All he can think about when he sees these people are their sins which, whether it was a dream or not, he also committed. On the Sabbath day, when the congregation were singing a holy psalm, he could not listen because an anthem of sin rushed loudly upon his ear and drowned all the blessed strain. ... He ...

• Word Count: 3188
• Approx Pages: 13
• Has Bibliography
• 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 type of shunning that is done by the townspeople against Hester in centuries past by communities is based off of what were considered immoral to society during this particular time period. In the past several decades, we've expanded this type of rejection to the fine, negative science of avoidance; one that can be upsetting and hurtful to the recipient. ... This was Hester's punishment for committing her "crime." it was described as humiliating to Hester and was considered immorall to the citizens and shunned upon as a "sin". ... As you can see, both victims of such crimes are se...

• Word Count: 1654
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

How the American sense of self and the change thereof is reflected in the literary movements from 1682-1845 American civilization has undergone many changes over the past few centuries. ... Puritans held on to the doctrine of original sin in which all humans are damned from the start. ... She blamed herself for her captivity, as if it were a means of punishment administered by God for an evil deed she did not recall committing; but acknowledged that God may have considered something a sin when she did not. ...

• Word Count: 1778
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

Through the story she never once asks for forgiveness for her sins nor apologizes for her acts. ... She was born of Hester's adultery and to the town people serves as a living representation of sin. ... Just past survival, pleasure is the foremost important thing to humans. ...

• Word Count: 1687
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

How the American sense of self and the change thereof is reflected in the literary movements from 1682-1845 American civilization has undergone many changes over the past few centuries. ... Puritans held on to the doctrine of original sin in which all humans are damned from the start. ... She blamed herself for her captivity, as if it were a means of punishment administered by God for an evil deed she did not recall committing; but acknowledged that God may have considered something a sin when she did not. ...

• Word Count: 1835
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

Most adults, especially Reverend Williams, saw captivity as a spiritual journey; a punishment for sins and the destiny assigned them by God. ... By portraying the petite history, Demos provides greater understanding of the motives and reasoning behind the tensions between the New England settlers and the French and Native Americans, which in turn increases understanding of the period as a whole and helps us to relate the past to issues pressing the United States today. ...

• Word Count: 1326
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: Undergraduate