What Is The Tone Of The Scarlet Letter

Lawrence’s biblical allusions to Hester provide a comparison to that of other sinners. He uses allusion for the reader to better understand Hester and her actions. Lawrence compares Hester to a remorseful prostitute when he states, “Then when you’ve brought him down, humbly wipe off the mud with your hair, another Magdalene” (Lawrence). He compares Hester to Mary Magdalene as a way of saying that their actions are similar to one another. He implies that just like Mary Magdalene, Hester tainted a pure, innocent soul into her arms, by luring Reverend Dimmesdale to commit a sinful action with her. Lawrence further implies that Hester and Dimmesdale are, “The new Adam

To begin with, the author first highlights the alien and wild mental state of Hester through multiple similes. Lines 11 to 13 describe Hester in a metaphorical wilderness where she “wandered, without rule or guidance, in a moral wilderness; as vast, as intricate and shadowy, as the untamed forest. . .” This simile elaborates

In his essay “On the Scarlet Letter,” D.H. Lawrence criticizes Hester’s immoral behavior for her adulterous actions. Lawrence views her as a shameful member of Puritan society and centers his argument on her sin and its effects on the story’s plot. D.H. Lawrence’s use of different literary techniques strengthens his claim that Hester is not the heroine through his sarcastic tone, abrupt syntax, and biblical allusions.

Biblical allusion is the final device used to attack Hester Prynne and her sin. Using these, Lawrence is able to illustrate his beliefs and connect Hester’s wrongdoings to other literary works. He first takes on the character of Pearl, remarking on how as an infant she was “to redeem the world” and on how “It will be a startling redemption the world will get from [this] American infant” (Lawrence). While this quote does attack Pearl, it also shames her mother. Being the living example of Hester’s sin, Pearl is compared to the holy being of Jesus

‘The young woman was tall, with a figure of perfect elegance.” and “She had dark and abundant hair, so glossy that it through off the sunshine…” (4). While managing to face her realities, Hester accepts her “sin” and fate with dignity.

The author established that Hester was a beautiful woman: “The young woman was tall, with a figure of perfect elegance, on large scale. She had dark and abundant hair, so glossy that it threw off the sunshine with a gleam, and

Lawrence’s admirable diction makes Hester out to be undeniably unique in her beauty, making her stand out from the other women in the village and thus seen as an icon. He then takes this concept further by using sarcasm to mock her selfish beauty. She is “put upon the scaffold [to] worship her there” just so all will start “envying [her] sin, and beating [her] because [she’s] stolen an advantage over [the villagers]” (Lawrence). By showing off her scarlet letter and accepting worship, Hester uses her sin as a way to get pity from the public. Lawrence’s use of the admirable diction points out the irony of the situation. As a hero is worshipped for good deeds, Hester uses her looks to turn the tables and get people to worship her for her sin. D.H. Lawrence sees her as a goddess, “so picturesque in her attire and mien” (Lawrence). Hester Prynne is so beautiful that she is as unnatural and fake as a painting. She deceives the public eye into making them see her as a picture perfect woman. This is a selfish lie to manipulate people into loving and adoring her.

In D. H. Lawrence’s essay “On The Scarlet Letter,” Lawrence analyzes Nathaniel Hawthorne’s portrayal of the adulteress Hester Prynne. He argues that Hester’s character is not worthy of the praise she receives in The Scarlet Letter because of the severity of the sin she commits in the novel. Instead of focusing on Hester’s character after the sin, he bases his argument on the sin itself. Lawrence uses terse syntax, an accusatory tone, and biblical allusions to depict Hester as the sinner of the story.

The classic biblical allusions Lawrence interwoven in his essay appeal to people’s knowledge and makes a lasting connection that the audience automatically already relate to. Lawrence uses the story of Mary Magdalen and calls Hester Prynne “another Magdalene” essentially using biblical terms to allude that the heroine of the novel is a prostitute (D.H.Lawrence). People specially in the time in which Lawrence wrote his paper people knew their bible well so by referencing to Mary Magdalene he shows people Hester Prynne’s true colors. This powerful allusion persuades people because of the connotation behind the reference he makes. Moreover, he takes the story of Cain and Abel and applies it to the Scarlet Letter. Hester Prynne throughout the story changes the meaning of the Scarlet Letter to mean able but, Lawrence takes it a step farther and changes it to Abel. The name is used in place of the word

By utilizing brief diction, D.H. Lawrence ridicules Hester and exposes the severity of sin itself. Lawrence simultaneously attacks Hester Prynne in a figurative and literal manner as he refers to her as “[an] Adulteress. Alpha. Abel, Adam. A] (Lawrence). It is through these brief insults that she is shot down by the words that best describe her. His acclimations greatly define her as the superior sinner. There is no reason for Lawrence to elaborate on the details of her sin; he attacks her in a consistent tempo

To begin, the scarlet letter had lost its meaning over the course of time. “Then, also, the blameless purity of her life during all these years in which she had been set apart to infamy was reckoned largely in her favor.” (Chapter XIII) The author’s purpose is to call attention to the Puritan’s weak shaming system. For example, if the person being subjected to the humiliation does not draw attention to them self, the villagers will lose interest in the crime; this allows the villagers a healing time. In Hester’s case the people were able to see her in a new light. “Such helpfulness was found in her-so much power to do and power to sympathize-that many people refused to interpret the scarlet “A” by its original signification. They said that it meant “Able”; so strong was Hester Prynne, with a woman’s

Lawrence utilizes biblical allusion by forming phrases said by Hawthorne in biblical terms to make Hester’s sin seem less of what it actually is. This is used more against Hawthorne in the sense that it brings in the Puritan religion by using relative characters that correlate with the events that occur. Moreover, these allusions draw conclusions to the characters while using statements that audience members may recognize or understand better, “it is Arthur Dimmesdale who dies… she lives on and is Abel” (Lawrence

The tone is shameful, dramatic, somber and forgiving. Hawthorne talks about how before she is first brought out of the prison she is being shamed people believe “she ought die” because of the disgrace she has brought to the Puritan community(45). Hawthorne poses the question “Is there not law for it (45)?” to show the how harsh and serious Puritan time was. They wanted Hester to pay for her sin no mercy shown. She is placed on a scaffold in the middle of the market place for all to see and shame. The dramatic tone is shown when Pearl “[points] her forefinger,first, at the Scarlet letter on her bosom, and then at the clergyman’s own breast.” It is implied that Arthur himself carries a letter embroidered onto his chest signifying he

Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter 1. What is the author’s purpose in delivering this literary piece to the public? The author’s purpose in delivering this literary piece to the public is to demonstrate how people can be isolated from society by being different.

In his essay On The Scarlet Letter, D.H. Lawrence contradicts Hawthorne’s portrayal of Hester Prynne in The Scarlet Letter. Hawthorne respects Hester and portrays her as a victim, whereas Lawrence argues that she is one of the main sinners in the novel. D.H. Lawrence establishes and supports his claim that Hester Prynne is unworthy of Hawthorne’s praise by effectively utilizing concise syntax, frequent repetition, and strong biblical allusions.