Abuse In The Scarlett Letter

Despite the lonely life that she leads Hester somehow finds an inner strength to defy both the townspeople and the local government. Hester’s strength is apparent also in dealing with her husband, Chillingworth and

As a result of her biological and emotional urges, Hester grew as a person. While she couldn’t really be described as happy, she was certainly in a better condition than Pearl’s father.

Her being forced to wear the scarlet letter which led her to becoming a women’s advocate reflects the theme that good things come from bad. There was plenty of negative backlash to Hester's mistake, however she gained the ability to help other women struggling just like her. “They said that it meant Able, so strong was Hester Prynne, with a woman's strength” (pg 177, Hawthorne). The sin she committed and the experience gained through the aftermath of that sin, gives her insight on what it's like to be a woman who's being discriminated. Raising her daughter on her own and her saving her from harming herself reflects the theme that everyone makes mistakes. After all Hester is human just like everyone else. It is in our nature to make mistakes or even sin. “It is remarkable, that persons who speculate the most boldly often conform with the most perfect quietude to the external regulations of society” (pg 181, Hawthorne). The actions we take to reverse or to compensate for that sin is what makes us who we are as individuals. Her being alienated from society and developing an independent thinking mindset mirrors the theme that one must acknowledge their mistakes to learn from them. Hester’s society made it abundantly clear that what she did was absolutely heinous and that she needs to repent and beg for forgiveness. The isolation she suffered through helped her become an independent thinker and develop thoughts that we would consider ahead of her time. “The world's law was no law for her mind” (pg 180, Hawthorne). Being excluded socially gave her a chance to dwell in her own thoughts and gather perceptions different from that of other puritans. This decision that Hester makes is very important to the story because it mirrors many of the major themes the author tried getting across to its

Hester still has good morals, she wants her child to follow the Puritan religion. I imagine that something must have happened to Hester in the past with her father that she does not want her child to have to deal with, or it would be more bothersome for the father of the child to be involved with her child’s life.

Hester is introduced as a beautiful and graceful young woman. Although she has committed adultery, she is prideful and has force of character. Her situation does not stop her to present herself in front of everyone with class. I believe that is very admirable. Although she is being disgraced and ridiculed in front of everyone she knows, she does not show she is hurt. Hester Prynne is brave not only is she judged for her actions, but so is her baby. Although the child has done nothing wrong it is seen as the offspring of adultery, and the mother’s sin. The child is used to make Hester reveal the father of the infant but she refuses, once again proving her determination and force of character. As expected the crowd does not welcome Hester.

While Hester only wants to protect the identity of Peral's father. She suffers greatly from her choice of protecting him. Yes Hester maybe selfless, kind, and strong. But Hester is only human and in one chapter her weakness is revealed when she is venting in private and she's crying tears of grief. Hester suffers in silence, yes that earns her sympathy

She didn't ask for that to happen, and at the time that it happened, she was a newborn, only three months old, and didn't deserve for anything of that nature to happen to her. How could you punish a baby for being born? Hester didn't really deserve it either. They had no proof to charge her for something that could have resulted in her death, which is exactly what it says on page 104: "in our days, would infer a degree of mocking infamy and ridicule, might then be invested with almost as stern a dignity as the punishment of death itself". I get that she wasn't put to death due to the fact a that they proof they had was very limited, however she didn't deserved to be an outcast with no one to turn to but her newborn baby. They try to make it seem like her punishment isn't bad. I think that there was a real problem with the organized religion during this time. No one was allowed to live as they wanted to. It even got to the point to where the people were almost brainwashed to where they thought that Hester deserved to die. I don't think that was

As the book opens, Hester is brought forth from the jail and walked to the scaffold. For the first time being seen in public named an adulterer, Hester shies from the public as they mock her. However, "She never battled with the public, but submitted uncomplainingly to its worst usage; she made no claim upon it, in requital for what she suffered; she did not weight upon its sympathies." (Hawthorne 140). Soon, it did not matter what other people thought of Hester because of her sin. She chose not to live with the humiliation, but she did have to live with herself.

Many of the characters suffer from sin, but Hester is the one that suffers the most and goes to jail. Hester shows how someone can succeed even though people say a lot of things about her. Even though people don't like her she is brave and doesn't worry about it. One of the quotes that showed perseverance is “walk the streets as brave as ever (Hawthorne 12).” Even though people talked about her she was brave and minded her own business. The information that was given by the story was valuable because it showed to never let anyone stop

Often times, children remind their parents of the mistakes they previously made. However, if the adults gain enough courage and learn to stand up to their wrongdoings, their children will help them see and reach their upmost greatness. Nathaniel Hawthorne illustrates the life of Pearl, a young girl, in his novel, The Scarlet Letter. Initially, Hester Prynne, Pearl’s mother, marries Roger Chillingworth; however, she soon meets the Puritan Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, and Pearl results 9 months later. The Puritan society forces Hester to wear a scarlet and gold colored “A” on her chest as a reminder of her crime - adultery. In society’s eyes, Pearl serves as a reminder of Hester’s sin, establishing Pearl as a living scarlet letter, although

After Hester’s release from prison, she had the freedom to leave with a chance for new beginnings. Hester feared “she would become the general symbol at which the preacher and moralist might point, and in which they might vivify and embody their images of a woman’s fraility and sinful passion” (Hawthorne 83). However, Hester decides not to run. Not to hide from the embarrassing laughs and shameful chuckles of the townspeople. By staying in Boston and disregarding others’ meager opinions, Hester shows that she overcame the harsh labels tacked on her by her community.

While Hester is a feminist, not only does she share the ideals but shows superiority to the town while being fearless. " It may seem marvelous, that this woman should still call that place her home, where, and where only, she must needs be the type of shame.” (chapter 5, paragraph 2) Hester does not let the shame and remorse of the sin keep her away from the town like most would do. Hawthorne even states that Dimmesdale is weaker than Hester by punishing himself and holding his heart while Hester embraces the sin and is strong while carrying the letter on her chest. She leads a self-righteous life, although she could keep what she earns, she gives most away. Even the townsfolk say Hester is "so kind to the poor, so helpful to the sick, so comfortable to the afflicted."(chapter 13, paragraph 5) Hester can be seen over the townspeople helping them although they shamed her. Hawthorne presents that Hester’s “tendency of her fate and fortunes had been to set her free.” (chapter 18, paragraph 2) With this Hester has a “radiant and tender smile, that seemed gushing from the very heart of womanhood. (chapter 18, paragraph 12) These quotes from Hawthorne show that Hester’s kindness helps her overcome her sin on her own. With Hester’s contribution to the town, “Her handiwork became what would now be termed the fashion.” (chapter 5, paragraph 6) In his research, Sacvan Bercovitch remarks that “Hester Prynne ‘builds upon the tradition of the biblical Esther -

In the beginning of the written story the author reveals Hester to be a cold-hearted mother. “She had bonny children, yet she felt they had been thrust upon her, and she could not love them”(75). In public she is thought of as

Divorce. If you have left an abusive marriage you are either headed in this direction or are there now. The scarlet letter “D” is one many do not foresee being attached to their name. It was not a word I ever expected to find attached to mine. Ever. In fact, had you asked me in my younger years if I believed I would ever wear the title of divorcee you would have received a loud resounding no. I would never be one of “those” people. That would have honestly been my answer. Truly.

For all of these reasons, Hester’s feminist mindset became prevalent throughout the novel. She questions the place of women and becomes heavyhearted when she realizes she does not possess the ability to make an impact. She ponders whether being alive is worth the travesty she believes is engrained