Morality in Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter Essay - 2124 Words

Morality in The Scarlet Letter ...pain is in itself an evil; and indeed, without exception, the only evil; or else the words good and evil have no meaning. (Chase 127) In the novel The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne presents a very clear view of his stand on morality, which he carefully cultivates through the course of the story. The moral, which is Be true! applies equally well to all of the characters in the novel. Though his view does seem to stand as true through the length of the story, it does not, unfortunately, transfer as smoothly to our lives today. In essence it is a hedonistic view to take, which requires a slight stretch as to his interpretation as to how evil, and important, an individuals pain is unto†¦show more content†¦However, either way, it defined her. This is implied in one passage which reads: ...owing to a particular effect of this convex mirror, the scarlet letter was represented in exaggerated and gigantic proportions, so as to be greatly the most prominent feature of her appearance. In truth, she seemed absolutely hidden behind it. As a result of this eclipse of her former personality, Hester became everything the Puritans wanted physically. She was a great Samaritan in the community, and was utterly humble and honest. When she showed the worst in her at all times, she had nothing to hide from the people who she met, and their opinions of her could only raise. The irony in the fact that she became a model citizen in the eyes of the Puritans only points to Hawthornes distaste for the Puritan way of life, for Hester manifested a perfect Janus; a two faced entity of whom no one knew the true nature. Physically, the Puritans loved her behavior, actions, and example. Mentally, however, the community might not have been as pleased. The scarlet letter did not complete its work, and Hesters thoughts began to stray toward what they would possibly have labeled as evil, or heretical. In doing so, however, she found an abiding peace in herself and her child, if a hate for Puritan society. ThisShow MoreRelatedJosh Lyon. Mrs. Voshell. Honors English 10. 6 January 2017.979 Words   |  4 PagesJosh Lyon Mrs. Voshell Honors English 10 6 January 2017 Symbolism in The Scarlet Letter Within The Scarlet Letter Hawthorne uses symbolism, â€Å"the use of symbols to represent ideas† (Bell 10), affluently. The amount of symbolism Hawthorne uses could lead some to believe that The Scarlet Letter is in fact an allegory. Nearly every object in Hawthorne’s novel is symbolic. Hawthorne uses everyday objects and places to symbolize many main themes, concepts, and ideas in the lives of Hester and Pearl asRead MoreHester Prynne In The Scarlet Letter Essay906 Words   |  4 PagesD.H. Lawrence’s criticism, â€Å"On the Scarlet Letter,† criticizes Nathaniel Hawthorne’s portrayal of Hester Prynne in The Scarlet Letter. Lawrence finds fault in how Hester’s sin of adultery is glorified in the novel. D.H. Lawrence argues that Hawthorne mischaracterizes Hester Prynne as a heroine by using choppy syntax, biblical allusions, and a sarcastic tone. One rhetorical device Lawrence effectively uses to argue that Hester is mischaracterized as a heroine is choppy syntax. This is evident whenRead MoreBeing Earnest By Oscar Wilde1332 Words   |  6 Pagesindirectly connected to the idea of moral ambiguity that The Scarlet Letter portrays. Nathaniel Hawthorne’s classic novel The Scarlet Letter depicts the actuality of romance, sin, and revenge rooted in the 17th century American society. Strong Puritan beliefs of the characters in The Scarlet Letter created many different forms of moral ambiguity that can be described as illustrating both good and evil. 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She represents several entities in the novel just by her being, but when her morality is delved into, much more of the nature of the story can be revealedRead MoreThe Characterization Of Hester Prynne In The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne729 Words   |  3 PagesLawrence suggests in his article, â€Å"On the Scarlet Letter.† There is a genuine disparity in the methods Lawrence uses to portray Prynne, and those used by The Scarlet Letter’s author, Nathaniel Hawthorne. Because of his utilization of impactful syntax, religious allusion , and critical tone, D.H. Lawrence’s claim, that Hester Prynne is a contradictory character to pure society, is effectively justified when compared to the seductive elements of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s writing. Lawrence uses impacting