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Lessons in The Scarlet Letter

            In the novel "The Scarlet Letter," Nathaniel Hawthorne depicts the customs and cultures of the puritan society. He leads all of the readers in the curiosity of the sanctity and sanity of the story. Many people in the American school system have struggled with the question whether or not to ban the novel from being taught because of the context. What these people lack is the true understanding of what valuable lessons the novel really teaches. American schools systems should continue allowing The Scarlet Letter to be taught because of its teachings of the Puritan society, the effects of sin, and the spirit of Nathaniel Hawthorne.
             Any true educator can see how there are many elements that can be taught through The Scarlet Letter. The plot of the story revolves around the Puritan era which has so much rich history to be told about the society. This particular society is well known for the discipline and loyalty it has for religion (Source A). Puritans have a deep respect for the law of God and a hatred for those who break it, which is why they have such harsh punishments when the law is broken (Source A). When Hester Pryne is announced for committing adultery, she must pay the price for the sin she has made. However, in the Puritan Society, their views can also be seen as hypocritical. The town's governor and minister continuously preach to people in Boston about how worldly items do not matter and how sacred the law of God is; both of these men go against what they have told others by doing what they have said not to do. The Scarlet Letter is able to teach readers this history about the Puritan society through the actions of each character in the novel.
             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. Once the town of Boston discovers the act of adultery Hester commits, she is put out in the market place to face public shame.


Essays Related to Lessons in The Scarlet Letter

1. Scarlet Letter's Use Of Symbol

Scarlet Letter's Use Of Symbolism To Show Psychological Effects Of Sin "The act gross and brief, and brings loathing after it." ... She wears her scarlet letter among the solemnly dressed Puritans as this rosebush wears its scarlet blossoms amidst a small plot of grass and weeds. ... In a moment of joy, Hester removes the scarlet letter and tosses it away from herself. ... We later see this is true as she lives her final years alone in her cottage on the outskirts of town, still with the scarlet letter affixed to her bosom. ... Such ones, as well as all of us, should take...

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

2. Scarlet Letter

The Pariah " The talk of the neighboring townspeople, who, seeking vainly elsewhere for the child's paternity, and observing some of her odd attributes, had given out that poor little Pearl was a demon offspring- - page 95 of Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter. ... Teasing pertains to Pearl because she is teased unmercifully by the Puritan children. " The children of the Puritans looked up from their play and spoke gravely one to another: "Behold, verily, there is the woman of the scarlet letter, and, of a truth, moreover, there is the likeness of the scarlet letter runni...

  • Word Count: 626
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

3. The Scarlet Letter

The Scarlet Letter Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter is a story about Hester Prynne, a woman who commits a sin. ... Hawthorne uses many symbols throughout The Scarlet Letter. ... Red most obviously represents Hester's sin, as shown by her scarlet letter. ... Hawthorne also uses black and darkness as symbols throughout The Scarlet Letter. ... Knowing when sin happens and being able to come out of situations even stronger are two of the lessons taught by The Scarlet Letter. ...

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

4. Scarlet Letter Paper

The symbols used in this book are the scarlet letter, Pearl, and the rosebush next to the rusted prison door. The scarlet letter was a stigma worn by someone who had committed a sinful act many Puritan settlements. ... The symbols used in this book are the scarlet letter, Pearl, and the rosebush next to the rusted prison door. The scarlet letter was thought to be the proper way to deal with people who had committed adultery at that time. Public humiliation was thought to teach the people a lesson. ...

  • Word Count: 843
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

5. Scarlet Letter

The letter that Hester was forced to wear upon her bosom, the scarlet letter was not only a symbol of her adulterous sin, but of the women herself. ... Other than the scarlet letter, she was a very moral woman whose only joy in life was her daughter Pearl. ... Concealment Secrecy, concealment, and deception almost always lead to suffering in The Scarlet Letter. ... p.46 The Scarlet Letter: A small piece of red cloth, with a capital A embroidered in gold on it. ... The scarlet letter is imposed on Hester as an act of punishment. ...

  • Word Count: 1015
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: High School

6. The Scarlet Letter

The Scarlet letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne explores sin and its consequences. ... Man had marked this woman's sin by a scarlet letter, which had such potent and disastrous efficacy that no human sympathy could reach her, save it were sinful like herself. ... Even though her life is difficult, Hester through her own doing rises above the scarlet letter "A" on her chest. ... His revenge isn't directed towards Hester, " I have left thee to the scarlet letter, if that have not avenged me, I can do no more!" ... Hawthorne teaches us many lessons throughout the story. ...

  • Word Count: 1373
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

7. Remorse in The Scarlett Letter

In The Scarlet Letter the main character that changes is Hester. ... " (Pg 107) At this point in The Scarlet Letter, it seems that Hester has learned from her lesson and has changed her ways. Some even believe that her punishment is enough and that she should no longer wear the scarlet letter. A few pages later, Hawthorne writes, "The scarlet letter had not done its office.... This is where it becomes very clear that Hester has not learned her lesson. ...

  • Word Count: 944
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: High School

8. Comparing Ethan Frome To The Scarlet Letter

This novel is quite similar to "The Scarlet Letter" by Nathanial Hawthorne. ... In the Scarlet Letter, Hester Prynne had an arranged marriage with Roger Chillingworth who sent her to a colony in Massachusetts before him. ... In the "Scarlet Letter" Hester decided to go back to England with Reverend Dimmsdale. ... While fictional it seems so real, and the books can teach important lessons to the readers....

  • Word Count: 560
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: High School

9. The Scarlet Letter

Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel, The Scarlet Letter, is a classic tale of human frailty and sin and the hardships that are caused by a single mistake. ... At the same time, The Scarlet Letter, tells the story of one woman's struggle to find meaning in living after disobeying the highly regarded word of God. ... The Scarlet Letter uses dark romanticism as Hawthorne attempts to explain the sinfulness of human nature and why people act as they do. ... It [the letter] was revealed!" ... A lesson was learned, however, by the characters involved and the people who read this novel. ...

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

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