The Scarlet Letter
During the novel, 'The Scarlet Letter', three characters, Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, Mistress Hester Prynne, and Roger Chillingworth, of 17th century Puritan Massachusetts were tortured by moral conflicts dwelling within each one. The story begins as Hester Prynne is standing on the scaffold in the town. In her arms is her child, Pearl, and on her chest is an embroidered letter, "A". While Hester's husband was supposedly out at sea, Hester had an affair with Dimmesdale and then gave birth to the baby girl. For three hours, Hester stands on this scaffold as the townspeople gathered around to gossip and stare at her. In the disorder of faces in the crowd, Hester sees the face of a man she was fiercely familiar with, whom we later learn is her true husband, Roger Chillingworth. As the story unfolds, all three characters were tortured whether internally or externally. Arthur Dimmesdale was a very established, respected man who was greatly looked up to. People described him as a "'God fearing' gentleman, but merciful overmuch" (p.49). What they didn't know was how hypocritical he actually was. Even though Hester bared his child, his outward demeanor deceived the villagers, and he appeared as a holy man. The gu
The second character tortured by moral conflicts was Mistress Hester Prynne. Isolated from the community, Hester is forced to rise a step higher than average for respect in the Puritan Community. Hester is one of the strongest and self assured female characters in literature. She was motivated by her loves for Pearl and Dimmesdale and by her believes in Puritan values. The rose by the prison symbolizes Hester and her insuppressible spirit and she brings goodness and morality into the story. She goes through the most external humiliation of the three main characters. Unlike Dimmesdale who is highly popular, Hester is looked down upon. She carries with her the scarlet letter on her chest, her illegitimate child, and a scarred heart. Prynne is tortured daily by her own naive daughter who is trying to be just like her mother, and doesn't understand the meaning of the letter. It pains Hester to watch her child go about in the world as if possessed by an agent of Satan, and she both loves, and in the same ways, loathes the child. At one time, Chillingworth mentions to Hester that the magistrates may let her remove the scarlet letter, but she declines. She is now revered and respected by most members of the community because of the letter upon her bosom, for to many, it now represents able, and not adultery. Her strength to satisfy the needs of others and comfort them is a gift that many townspeop
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 943
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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