Scarlet Letter
"I consider The Scarlet Letter the most intensely moving and the most beautifully composed work in American fiction," said Roy R. Male in his article, "The Tongue of Flame: The Scarlet Letter". This reader of the Scarlet Letter enjoyed the book immensely and he even said, "No other book is so deep, so dual, and so complete." The critic says that the book is based upon three characters: Hester, Chillingworth, and Dimmesdale. Pearl, who was another character in the book, is just used as a physical manifestation of Hester's and Dimmesdale's sin. Male believes The Scarlet Letter can be divided into three sections; each section describing a different theme. The first section (Chapters I to VIII) concerns about Hester's limited ascension. The middle section (Chapters IX to XVI) portrays the burden of guilt and where it should recide. Then the final section (Chapters XVII to XXIV) deals with Dimmesdale's ascension. Each of the three sections deals with a different dilemma of the main characters. The story is based on Hester Prynne's life. It has been argued what the purpose of the book is, if it is to show the triumph of Hester to all or if the story is about orthodox satisfaction in the Puritan world. Male
The writer, Henry Chorley wrote an article, "A Powerful but Painful Story" on the book, The Scarlet Letter. The writer says in his article that The Americans rate Hawthorne as one of the most original and peculiar writers of American fiction. There is a mixture of Puritan reserve and wild imagination in Hawthorne's works. There is passion and description that many people will not agree with or even understand. The Scarlet Letter has increased Hawthorne's reputation with all those who do not condemn the tale written. says that the widespread of disagreement among critics about what the purpose of the story is due to, "the richness of the book." The Scarlet letter, like any other great tragedies, deals with the quest of truth. The crucial moment of truth occurs in The Scarlet Letter when the reader who is already emotionally involved sees Dimmesdale's agony and then sees his purification when he dies. He says, Pearl was a manifestation of the truth. She represented the sin that the whole book is based on and she was the living proof that the sin was committed. Chillingworth was used as a symbol of guilt. He was a leech draining his patient of nerve, will, and physical energy. He invaded the house of Dimmesdale, which was used as the symbol of the heart showing guilt is invading Dimmesdale heart.
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 881
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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