Scarlet Letter Study Guide Answers

Hester displays acts of courage that portray her as a heroic character. Hester clearly suffers from her punishment of having to wear the scarlet letter ‘A’ in public as she attempts to maintain

What two necessities, according to Hawthorne, must the founders of a new colony provide immediately?

     As she stood on the scaffold, Hester held her newborn Pearl. pearl was the outcome of her unfaithfulness. Pearl had been adequately named, for she was of extreme value to her mother. Hester’s subjection to the crowd of Puritan onlookers is excruciating

“…it was nevertheless to potent to be resisted,—she felt or fancied, then, that the scarlet letter had endowed her with a new sense.” (72) The fact that Hawthorne gives Hester a new

Despite the isolation, Hester supports herself and Pearl with nothing but her inner strength. She is able to deal with the negativity from the townspeople and the local government, and is even able to be honest and compassionate in ways such as acknowledging her sin, keeping the identity of her

Hawthorne's Hester Prynne is the underdog protagonist that the reader cannot help but want to succeed. She is flawed but her flaws are outshone by her good heart and spirit. This shamed and humiliated woman is the one the reader, with the help of Hawthorne’s descriptions, wants to support. This sinful woman, with a child from wedlock, a diabolical “husband”, and a secretive lover is the motivating force that drives the reader to continue on with The Scarlet Letter. The language, descriptions, and plot of The Scarlet Letter show that Hawthorne believes the reader should look past gender stereotypes because not everything is what is

“The magistrate are God-fearing gentlemen, but merciful overmuch, - that is a truth," added a third autumnal matron. "At the very least, they should have put the brand of a hot iron on Hester Prynne's forehead. Madame Hester would have winced at that, I warrant me. But she, - the naughty baggage, - little will she care what they put upon the bodice of her gown! Why, look you, she may cover it with a brooch, or such like heathenish adornment, and so walk the streets as brave as ever!”

Ch 6) 1) In Chapter 6, Hawthorne shows a contrast between man’s treatment of Hester and God’s treatment.

Alexis Byrd 20 August 2015 The Scarlet Letter, chapters 1-4 Plot 1. Pgs. 55-59- In Massachusetts Bay Colony, the narrator starts telling us about the town.

First, Hester’s punishment could be compared to a spectacle. Indeed, after having committed adultery in a Puritan society, the town government decides to punish Hester by exposing her on a scaffold for several months and by making her wear the “A” letter on her breast to be able to identify her as an adulterer. During this time, she faces endless mockeries and insults but she never gives up; she grows stronger and doesn’t let the town judgement affect her.

But it is not recorded that… her skill [is] called in aid to embroider the white veil which was to cover the pure blushes of a bride. The exception indicated the ever relentless vigor with which society frowned upon her sin” (56-57). Even though she is seen as a wonderful seamstress and important people wear her clothing, she is still ostracized. Hester ruined her marriage and was not committed to her husband. Due to her disastrous marriage, brides do not want to wear a dress made by Hester-it could be bad luck.

Hester faces conflict with Puritan society again when she cannot use her elaborate seamstress skills to make bride veils. Although Hester is very talented she is restricted from anything that would offend the Puritan society, which becomes evident when it is stated, “But it is not recorded that, in a single instance, her skill was called in aid to embroider the white veil which was to cover the pure blushes of a bride” (73). The moral sin of Hester Prynne leads to conflict with the Puritan way of life.

Hester Prynne grew up with a Puritan state of mind, but when her and her lover had an affair, she abandoned all of her personal values. Hester was imprisoned, and had to go to trail for her crimes. The Puritan people decided that her punishment should be public shaming. Hester was forced to wear a scarlet letter “A” on her chest at all times. She was shunned to live outside of town.

Pearl is often accused of being a witch child, but Hester tries her best not to believe it. Hester does her best to be there for her daughter, even when she was faced with her own burdens. Even though she’s been through so much in her, Hester gives out all her love whenever she can. That proves that she’s become a pure and loyal person.

The Governor told Hester Pearl might be taken away from her on the issue of Pearl’s guardianship. Hester replies with “God gave me the child! He gave her in requital of all things else, which he had taken from me… Ye shall not take her! I will die first!” (Chapter 8). This shows how much strength Hester had to use to go against the local authority. To cement Hester loving Pearl, Hawthorne included Hester replying to the governor, “God gave her into my keeping. I will not give her up!” (Chapter 8). The persona provides this to show how loving Hester is and how much compassion she has for Pearl.