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The Scarlet Letter Romantic Love

Decent Essays

As demonstrated, the notion of love incites much of the action in The Scarlet Letter. Romantic love envelops Hester and Dimmesdale in a veil of secrecy and is what conceals the identity of Pearl’s father from the reader. Familial love is what characterizes Hester as a protective and loving mother. Upon further examination it also complicates the reader’s characterizations of Dimmesdale and Chillingworth. Dimmesdale is clearly acting out of love for Hester, but is he acting out of love for Pearl? If so, why are his actions so easily explained by fears of the exposing of his affair and romantic love for Hester? Moreover, why would Chillingworth leave his estate to Pearl, an unceasing reminder of the fact that his wife was unfaithful? This examination

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