the scarlet letter

A detailed Summary of the scarlet letter

The novel The Scarlet Letter, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, is set in the mid 1600's. When the first scene opens the main character Hester is convicted of committing the sin of adultery. She is forced to wear the letter "A" on her breast. This letter "A" is a huge part of the story for many people. The "A" is shown as a sin and to certain characters the sin means different things. Through out peoples lives an object or event can create numerous different emotions in people. This event (sin) may be shown or can be hidden, each can be equally painful and will always remain in ones self. This is shown in the three main characters: Hester, Chillingworth and Dimmesdale.

Hester is forced to be publicly open with her sin. Therefore, she sees the letter "A" as a form of incredible humiliation. She is seen as an outcast and the "A" makes her feel unwelcome. The "A" is a constant reminder of the sin, "she will be a living sermon against sin, until the ignominious letter be engraved upon her tombstone" (Ch.3). She learns to except the "A" and others see her as "able", but the letter still hangs

Chillingworth looks at the letter "A" in a different view. He used the letter as a way to live. The "A" represents his vengeance. He needs the letter to live. He strives off the "A" and makes goals. First to find out who was the man Hester slept, "it irks me.... That the partner of her iniquity should not, at least, stand on the scaffold by her side. But he will be known! - he will be known! - he will be known! (Ch. 3). He becomes obsessed when he finds out that Dimmesdale is the partner and begins to see the "A" as

revealing the sin to people. Dimmesdale as he is revealing the sin to people. This shows how the letter "A" was a constant reminder of the sin to Dimmesdale and how it ate away at him. In a way the "A" is Dimmesdales enemy. The "A" burns inside of him and makes him weak, "Happy are you, Hester, that wear the scarlet letter openly upon your bosom! Mine burns in secret." (Ch.17). For this, one may believe that the "A" had the greatest effect on Dimmesdale. It made him suffer the most, but a large part of his suffering was because Chillingworth pushed him further and further over the edge.

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Approximate Word count = 760
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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the scarlet letter

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