Multiple meanings and discussion providing insight into the letter .
The letter "A" was to be worn as a punishment, to be worn in shame, to be worn as "adulteress." This may not have been clearly and directly stated to the reader, but throughout reading the book, you gather possible hidden meanings of Hester's scarlet letter. Although the sense of the meaning "adulteress" is constant, the metaphoric, emotional, and moralistic meanings of the scarlet letter vary from positive to negative interpretations throughout the novel The Scarlet Letter. .
The Puritan community was a dark, strict society, feeling indifferent to the humanity of the woman standing before them on the scaffold, with her infant daughter against her chest. The beautifully embroidered letter does not glow in the eyes of the people. The letter shapes the way they look at Hester and the way they treat her. They isolate Hester not only socially but also through her location, which ultimately causes her own emotional isolation. "It had the effect of a spell, taking her out of the ordinary relations with humanity and inclosing her in a sphere by herself." (40) .
However, the people's attitude does change. It goes through various roller-coasters of positive and negative meanings throughout the course of the novel. The symbolism of the scarlet letter is expanded in Chapter Five, Hester at Her Needle. Whereas at first it represented Hester's adultery and also her needlework skills, it now takes on more meanings. The letter begins to represent the hidden shame of the community. This shame is shown through Hester's reactions around the community, like when she almost covers up the letter with her hand. Preachers will stop in the street and give sermons when they see Hester. The letter therefore becomes an example of crime and acts as a deterrent for others in the community. .
Throughout the beginning chapters Hester is isolated and looked down upon by the Puritans.
He tried to tell Scarlett his reasons. ... Scarlett's mother died, and her father has gone crazy. ... The war had ended, but Scarlett's struggles have just begun. ... At first, Scarlett and Rhett get along very well. ... Rhett is inconsolable and Scarlett blames Rhett for allowing her to ride. ...
Scarlett O"Hara of Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind is far from an admirable literary heroine. ... Another way in which I identify with Scarlett O"Hara is her tenacity. ... For her whole life, Scarlett believes that all of her actions are motivated by winning man of her dreams. ... Like Scarlett, I realized this quite far into the process. ... But just as Scarlett's life to that point was not lived in vain, it's not too late for me either. ...
Throughout Gone With the Wind Scarlett faces many hardships. ... When Scarlett's beloved plantation home, Tara, is threatened by carpetbaggers, she does not give up. ... If Scarlett did not have any, she would have considered it impossible to save Tara and given up without a fight. ... In Scarlett's case this came in the form of near starvation. ... It can make one stronger, as it did for Margaret Mitchell's lead character Scarlett O"Hara in Gone With the Wind . ...
Scarlett "became a wife within two weeks" of the picnic at Twelve Oaks(130). ... Many of Scarlett's disappointments were due to the change of events. ... The war arrived in Atlanta as Scarlett fled for Tara. ... Scarlett was home at Tara trying to salvage what was left of the plantation. ... Scarlett worked all day long and "every movement was agony"(415). ...
Scarlett teaches the viewer to never give up through her endless fight for survival. ... No matter her age or how many times she remarries, Scarlett remains very childlike at heart. ... Fortunately, Scarlett has a whole other side to her character. ... Scarlett is the most headstrong and determined character as portrayed in these scenes by Vivien Leigh. ... Lastly, Scarlett teaches us to make the best of every situation. ...
Scarlett's lifestyle before the war left her unprepared for the responsibilities to come and even though she was selfish, the tragedies in Scarlett's life shaped her character into the woman she would become after the Civil War. ... In reality the last line is Scarlett's monologue about returning to Tara: "Tara! ... Scarlett is a prime example of a southern belle. ... Scarlett changes during her time working in the hospital in Atlanta, and the fire is symbolic of the end of Scarlett's girlhood. ... The next scene shows Scarlett happy and singing while lying in bed. ...
The film features the life of Scarlett O'Hara, played by Vivien Leigh, during the onset of the American Civil War. ... Distraught, Scarlett declares her love to Ashley at a barbeque, Ashley however, states that he does not reciprocate her feelings. The entire exchange is observed by one Rhett Butler played by Clark Gable, who is infatuated with Scarlett O'Hara. ... Scarlett decides that the most important thing from there on out are the survival of her family and her own well-being. ... I believe that the main character, Scarlett O'Hara, was meant to show a woman of the 1930...
In my opinion, the main character of the novel/movie Scarlett O'Hara was the best character of all. ... Rhett recognizes "and admires "Scarlett as scheming and ambitious. Through war, peace, marriages, births, and deaths, Scarlett continues her pursuit of Ashley while Rhett continues his pursuit of Scarlett. ...
Obviously, this did not set well with Scarlett, and she becomes depressed for some time. ... Trying to make Ashley somewhat jealous, Scarlett marries Charles Hamilton. ... Later, Scarlett realizes that Melanie actually sourced Scarlett's own personal strengths. As the South changes, Scarlett follows suit precisely. ... In effect, Scarlett loses two men in one meaningless blow. ...
