Monday, July 22, 2019
The Scarlet Letter Characters Essay Example for Free
The Scarlet Letter Characters Essay Despite the fact that Hester Prynne, the protagonist of the story, committed adultery she is still an epitome of a woman with dignity. Even though her dress was marked with the symbol of disgrace she still lived a life with her head high and became an important member in her community as a seamstress (Hawthorne, 1981). Hester and her scarlet letter            The Scarlet letter is a story that revolves around the lives of Hester and her daughter out of wedlock, Pearl. Hester committed an adultery with a man that she refuse to name and is sentenced to wear a scarlet letter â€Å"A†on her dress for as long as she lives. This letter is a symbol of disgrace since adultery is considered a capital sin during those times. Despite the everyday indignation that she experiences from people she still bore a child and made a living through sewing. She later on gained popularity as a good seamstress. At the climax of the story wherein the father of Pearl admitted in public that he is the father and died, Hester was already freed from sin. Hester and Pearl left for Europe and lived there until Pearl got married to an aristocrat. Hester came back to her community leaving a descent life and continued on wearing the scarlet letter even though she could have stayed at Europe together with her daughter (Woloszyn,2002). Adultery and the scarlet letter            Adultery during the 1640s was punishable by death and whipping. During the time of Hawthorne the Plymouth law of 1694 dictates that those who commit adultery should display a letter â€Å"A†on their dress (Eldred,1999). Thus, the Scarlet Letter of Hawthorne came about. The Plymouth law is viewed as a light punishment as compared to death and severe whipping however the mark of adultery will be carried as long as she lives. Her child also experienced shame and discrimination especially during her childhood when other children harass and mock her. Hester, her mother, would throw stones at them to make them stop (Eldred,1999). Despite the many sufferings that she has incurred she has had chances of escaping her current state. Choices to escape the scarlet letter            Hester had a choice to reveal the name of the father of her child but she refuse to do so. This could have been her way out of the shame that adultery has caused her but she never did. She was made to wear the scarlet letter with the hopes that she will someday repent and reveal the name of father of her child (Hawthorne, 1981). She never did revealed his name. Perhaps out of love, respect or other factors but this only proves that as a woman she is headstrong. She chose to endure a life as an outcast despite constant discrimination and hate thread that is brought about by the Scarlet letter that she wears. She still has communication with the father of her child. This is a reflection of her strength.            Hester could have opt to live forever in England but she chose to go back to her home town. When she came back she still wore the scarlet letter. She lived a humble life and her opinions were sought and she was respected (Woloszyn,2002). She had a variety of options available for her since she has had a good life in England. For one she could have stayed there. Second she could have have came back but used a different identity. Third, she could have looked for a new husband. There are other options apart from coming back to her hometown wearing the scarlet letter. Im quite sure a lot of women who have experienced what she has gone through would not even wear the scarlet letter again. She on the other hand continued wearing it as a sign of repentance. The woman behind the scarlet letter            Hester is but a fragment of the millions of women who commit adultery. This is a sin however Hester proved that a person should not be judged by a single mistake but by how she lived her life. There are different factors that may push one to commit adultery but what matters is that Hester repented for her sins and continued to repent until the day she died.            The scarlet letter that she has worn for so long has not penetrated in her. She is still free from bitterness and vile as she lived and showed a beautiful heart. Though she has committed a sin she refused to keep her head buried in shame. She held her head high, earned a descent living and raised a beautiful child.            She serves as an inspiration for women. References Eldred, Eric. Notes to the Scarlet Letter. 1999. 7August 2008             http://www.eldritchpress.org/nh/sl02-n.html Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Scarlet Letter. Bantam Classics. 1981 Woloszyn,Margaret. â€Å"Short Stories†2002. 7August 2008            http://www.tqnyc.org/NYC00041/SCARLET/LETTER.htm
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