THE SCARLET LETTER 2

A detailed Summary of THE SCARLET LETTER 2

Set in seventeenth-century Boston, Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter is abotu consquences of hidden and open sin. Hester Prynne commits adultery against her husband with Arthur Dimmesdale, a young clergyman. As part of her punishment, Hester is required to wear a red "A" everyday. Hawthorne uses symbolism throughout the novel to depict the Puritan views, the views of the adulterers, and the contrasting views of the people in the community. He exhibits these viewa through symbolism in the letter "A", objects, the three scaffold scenes, the forest scene, and the characters.

Hawthorne uses symbolism through the letter "A." According to one expert, the main character in The Scarlet Letter is the letter itself (Baym 86). It has many repetitions and double menaings within itself (Byam 89). This scarlet "A" is inscribe in one form or another on Hester, Dimmesdale, and Pearl (Baym 84). However, the only true letter is the letter that hester wears on her breast (Baym 86). The "A" is Hester's armor of pride, but is also her emblem of suffering (Martin 114). Baym also states that knowing what the letter means is what the novel is all about (86).

The red "A" clearly stands for adultery. Puritan society sees the "A" as a

The letter "A" also aquires a reaction form the Puritan society. They are outraged that she walks the streets, wearing her embroidered "A," as if nothing has happened. To the Puritans, Hester is only piling sin on sin by decorating her "A" (Hart 96). They feel she should die for her sins and not use her punishment as a way of showing her skill. Others some to her rescue, arguing that she will always feel the pain of the letter in her heart. After a while, some privately stop looking at the "A" as a symbol of her sin, but begin to see it as a token of her good deeds (149).

The letter "A" might also stand for able. Despite all of the prejudices against her, Hester gives herself unselfishly to those that need her, transcending above everyone's expectations. Hawthorne reveals the transformation of Hester;s character in the following passage: The letter was the symbol of her calling. Such helpfulness was found in her,--so much power to do, and power to sympathize,-- that many people refused to interpert the scarlet "A" by its original signification. They said that it meant Able; so strong was Hester Prynne, with a woman's strength. (148).

The Scarlet letter can also stand for Arthur. This would allow us to not only think of Hester's sin, but would also show us the name of her lover (Baym 88). According to Martin, "The community has pinned the initial of her lover on her breast, then wondered for seven years who he might be" (122).

The first scaffold scene symbolizes the beginning of hester's punishment and torture. She stands on the scffold with her three month old baby, Pearl, in her arms. Hester receives much ridicule from the community. Her mini

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Approximate Word count = 1138
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English