Ambiguity in Scarlett Letter

A detailed Summary of Ambiguity in Scarlett Letter

In the world of literature, authors many times strive to create a perspicuous, easy to understand novel. To keep from becoming convoluted, they want to create a novel in which every aspect of the work including the plot, character, and symbols are clear-cut and definite. However, sometimes adding ambiguity provides a positive effect on a novel by allowing readers to interpret the book in their own way. Because readers can have several interpretations, each reader has the freedom to choose what [he or she] believes the author meant to convey. Thus, Nathaniel Hawthorne, a great American writer, creates one of his greatest works, The Scarlet Letter , through the use of ambiguity. Because he supposedly found a "mysterious package" with the manuscript of the story, Hawthorne tells this story from a indefinite point of view in which he himself offers several interpretations on certain matters and Hawthorne simply abandons some parts of his novel in ambiguity. In The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne creates remarkable novel through the use of ambiguity especially in the characters and the scarlet letter of the novel.

To begin with, Hawthorne creates major ambiguity in several

of his characters. For example, Chillingworth presents one of Hawthorne's ambiguous characters. The author states that Chillingworth has knowledge of herbs and hints that he practices black magic. He also hints that he has links towards Mistress Hibbons. However he leaves the matter in ambiguity, never actually revealing whether he had any direct connection with Satan. Hawthorne instead ends chapter four with Hestor asking "Art thou like the Black Man that haunts the forest about us? Hast thou enticed me into a bond that will prove the ruin of my soul?". Chillingworth responds, with a sinister smile, with the reply of, " Not thy soul. No, not thine!", leaving the reader to wonder whether he truly is the "Black Man". Secondly, Dimmesdale presents yet another example of Hawthorne's ambiguity in his characters. Obviously, Dimmesdale has a fear of Chillingworth. Chillingworth himself notes that "he is conscious of me. He has felt an influence dwelling always upon him like a curse. He knew, by some spiritual sense...that no friendly hand was pulling at his heart-strings, and that an eye was looking curiously into him, which sought only evil, and found it."(chap.14)

Some common words found in the essay are:
Scarlet Letter, Hestor Pearl, , Chillingworth Chillingworth, Hestor Art, Letter Hawthorne, Election Day, Chillingworth Hawthorne's, Mistress Hibbons, scarlet letter, Secondly Dimmesdale, novel scarlet letter, ambiguous meaning, hawthorne creates, character ambiguities, letter novel, meaning letter, ambiguity characters, ambiguous characters, novel ambiguity, novel scarlet, hawthorne's ambiguous characters,

Approximate Word count = 794
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

join now Save Paper

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.

Ambiguity in Scarlett Letter

Related Essays

Saved Paper

Newest Essays

Testimonials