The Badge of Shame

A detailed Summary of The Badge of Shame


"Woman, it is thy badge of shame!". Governor Bellingham was describing the scarlet letter to Hester while they were discussing if the punishments that Hester had to go through were adequate enough for the crime. Hester was living in the outskirts of the city in a small abandoned cottage for several years with the only thing that had any monetary value in her life, her child and the product of committing adultery, Pearl. She and her little Pearl were shunned from the community for her acts. In The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Hester is punished in more than one way, and she is able to deal with it openly so the community will, over time, forgive her.

The most obvious subject of punishment that Hester had to cope with is wearing the scarlet letter. "By the point which drew all eyes and, as it were, transfigured the wearer. . . was the scarlet letter, so fantastically embroidered and illumin


ated upon her bosom". Hester wrought the scarlet letter before she stood on the scaffold. When Pearl asks her why she wears the letter she replies that she wears it for its gold thread. Hester wears the letter for many years, even after the people in the community care anymore, so that she will be fully forgiven for her sin.

Hester was not accepted by the community because of her sins. She was forced to live in an abandoned cottage on the edge of the city. "Hester Prynne, therefore, did not flee. On the outskirts of town, within the verge of the peninsula, but not in close vicinity to any other habitation, there was a small thatched cottage. It had been built by an earlier settler, and abandoned because the soil about it was too sterile for cultivation. . .". Hester and her little Pearl not only lived in the little cottage, they spent most of their time there, only going into town for important things like food and sup

Some common words found in the essay are:
Hawthorne Hester, Hester Pearl, Hester Prynne, Governor Bellingham, scarlet letter, Shame Woman, standing scaffold, able deal openly, deal openly, wearing scarlet letter, edge city, wears letter, people community, abandoned cottage, city hester, able deal, wearing scarlet,

Approximate Word count = 629
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

join now Save Paper

Related Essays

  • Red Badge of CourageHenry Flemingamp39s growth ... When Henry is struck in the by his own comrades and receives his red badge of courage, he feels that the shame has been lifted off of his shoulders and he ... 1003 words
  • the red badge of courage ... He learned that war deals with death shame, and sorrow, not just victory and freedom. On page 266, Henry becomes a man. ... He had earned the Red Badge of Courage. 489 words
  • An Essay About The Scarlet Letter Finding Ones Own Truth.s ... What can you do for the child I can teach my little Pearl what I have learned from this, laying her finger on the red token. Woman it is thy badge of shame. ... 611 words
  • The Red Badge of Courage Literary Critique ... He learned that war deals with death shame, and sorrow, not just victory and freedom. On page 266, Henry becomes a man. ... He had earned the Red Badge of Courage. ... 520 words
  • The Red Badge of Courage Literary Critique ... He learned that war deals with death shame, and sorrow, not just victory and freedom. On page 266, Henry becomes a man. ... He had earned the Red Badge of Courage. 509 words

Professional Essays

  • Thurgood Marshall ampamp the Civil Rights Movement ... freeing them from the humiliation and shame of riding in the back of buses, and opened accommodations to them work which lifted a badge of shame off the ... 1709 words
  • 20th Century World Events ampamp Figures ... The Watergate scandal, at first a badge of shame for the United States, ultimately resulted in an honorable return to a timetested American democratic ideal ... 1954 words
  • Application of Billy Joel Song to History ... The Watergate scandal, at first a badge of shame for the United States, ultimately resulted in an honorable return to a timetested American democratic ideal ... 1950 words
  • Homelessness in American History ... to be drowned in a sea of cheap labor, exploited by the great orchards, hounded by sheriffs, their poverty a badge of shame Leuchtenburg, 1963, pp. ... 3968 words
  • Sir Gawain and The Green Knight ... confesses his shame, See My lord, said the knight, touching the girdle, this is the blazon of this guilty scar I bear in my neck, this is the badge of ... 801 words
  • Pearl in Hawthorneamp39s The Scarlett Letter ... Hester returns to Boston and continues to wear the scarlet letter, though it has become a badge of honor rather than of shame, something Hester did not intend ... 1357 words


Saved Paper

Save your papers so you can locate them quickly!

Newest Essays

Testimonials

  • "Thank You So Much!!! You have saved me once again!!!"
    Jack M.
  • "With so many papers to chose from, I was able to get ideas to help me with all of my classes. Thank You!"
    Brian P.
  • "I've used this site for the last 3 years to help me come up with ideas for my papers."
    Sara J.
  • "I use this site every week to help me write my own papers!"
    Rachel W.
  • "I love this site!!!"
    Marie N.
Home Join Now Support
Acceptable Use Policy About us FAQ
All papers are for research and reference purposes only!
© 2002-2009 DirectEssays.com. All Rights Reserved.