What chapter does Hester at her needle?
Why does Hester use her money?
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What did Hester do for money?
She supports herself and Pearl through her skill as a seamstress. Her work is in great demand for clothing worn at official ceremonies and among the fashionable women of the town — for every occasion except a wedding. Despite the popularity of her sewing, however, Hester is a social outcast.
How was Hester regarded in the community what did she do for the poor How did they act towards her?
How did they act toward her? Hester was banished from society for her sins. She spent her time making clothing for the poor, but even they would scorn and insult her.
What role does Hester play in the community?
Finally, Hester becomes an angel of mercy who eventually lives out her life as a figure of compassion in the community. Hester becomes known for her charitable deeds. She offers comfort to the poor, the sick, and the downtrodden.
What did Hester do?
Hester Prynne is the heroine of The Scarlet Letter and a very strong woman, despite her circumstances. After she commits an act of adultery, she survives almost complete social shunning, raises her daughter alone, and finds it within her heart to do charitable works for the community that rejected her.
Why did Hester make clothes for the poor?
Modern Text. Hester sought not to acquire any thing beyond a subsistence, of the plainest and most ascetic description, for herself, and a simple abundance for her child. Her own dress was of the coarsest materials and the most sombre hue; with only that one ornament,—the scarlet letter,—which it was her doom to wear.
What adultery did Hester commit?
Hester has given up on her husband who has been lost for two years at sea. She committed adultery with Arthur Dimmsdale but swore not to give up his identity.
Why did Hester cheat on Chillingworth?
Hester's unhappiness, due to a mismatched matrimony, leads her to become an adulteress. Chillingworth makes Hester to be unhappy. Her initial sadness, along with the three year absence of her husband, resulted in adultery.
What are the two main reasons Hester decides to stay in the colony?
Hester decided to stay within the colony because here she was rooted in a way; she had sinned there, and deserved to live out her punishment there. The second reason was because her lover, Dimmesdale was there.
How is Hester alienated from society?
Hester Prynne and Pearl are both alienated by their society because of the sin with which they are associated. Hester has committed adultery and must wear a scarlet 'A' on her bosom because of it. This labels her and sets her apart from society. Pearl is likewise tainted because she was conceived in adultery.
What crime did Hester commit?
Fictional character overview Because Hester has no husband with her, she is imprisoned, convicted of the crime of adultery, and sentenced to be forced to wear a prominent scarlet letter 'A' for the rest of her life.
Is Hester more of a Rebel or Victim?
Hester Prynne is depicted as a victim rather than a rebel because she was shunned out of society, hypocritically acted upon, and she was viewed as an evil life.
What secrets did Hester keep?
What are Hester Prynne's secrets? Hester keeps secret the name of her illegitimate child's father (Reverend Dimmesdale) and the true identity of Roger Chillingworth (her husband). She will not reveal Pearl's father to protect Reverend Dimmesdale's reputation, as he is the minister of the church.
How did Hester Prynne help the poor?
Hester has become more active in society. She brings food to the doors of the poor, she nurses the sick, and she is a source of aid in times of trouble.
What was the effect of the letter A on Hester and her reputation in the community?
The letter gave Hester a new power to sympathize with and be charitable to others. Townspeople even began to interpret the letter very differently from its original meaning. They began to believe that the symbol no longer meant adultery, however, its new significance was to mean “Able” (111).
How do the townspeople treat Hester and how does she react?
How do the townspeople treat Hester and how does she react? The townspeople all look down on Hester and publicly disrespect her. When she is mocked, she feels insulted but never tries to retaliate. She comes more humble and charitable after having the revelation that everyone is guilty of having sin in their hearts.
What is important about the community saying the a means Hester is able?
What is significant about about Hester's position in the community now that years have passed? Hester is more highly regarded now than she was previously. The people have chosen to view her "A" as symbolizing that she is able.
How Did Hester Prynne Change Throughout The Scarlet Letter
1. The Scarlet Letter is a fictional historical romance novel written by Nathaniel Hawthorne. 2. In The Scarlet Letter, the protagonist, Hester Prynne has been accused of adultery in her Puritan society, in Boston, Massachusetts.
The Scarlet Letter: Hester Prynne | SparkNotes
Although The Scarlet Letter is about Hester Prynne, the book is not so much a consideration of her innate character as it is an examination of the forces that shape her and the transformations those forces effect. We know very little about Hester prior to her affair with Dimmesdale and her resultant public shaming. We read that she married Chillingworth although she did not love him, but we ...
Hester Prynne - CliffsNotes
What is most remarkable about Hester Prynne is her strength of character. While Hawthorne does not give a great deal of information about her life before the book opens, he does show her remarkable character, revealed through her public humiliation and subsequent, isolated life in Puritan society.
The Scarlet Letter: Hester Prynne Quotes | SparkNotes
Important quotes by Hester Prynne in The Scarlet Letter. ... SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription.
Hester Prynne Quotes - bookroo.com
#2: “She had not known the weight until she felt the freedom.” #3: “Thus the young and pure would be taught to look at her, with the scarlet letter flaming on her breast,—at her, the child of honorable parents,—at her, the mother of a babe, that would hereafter be a woman, —at her, who had once been innocent, —as the figure, the body, the reality of sin”
What chapter does Hester at her needle?
In Chapter Five , " Hester at Her Needle," the narrator tells us that, "Except for that small expenditure in the decoration of her infant, Hester bestowed all her superfluous means in charity, on wretches less miserable than herself, and who not unfrequently insulted the hand that fed them." Hester dresses...
Why does Hester use her money?
Besides using the money she earns as a seamstress to support herself and Pearl, Hester also uses it to help the poor. The irony is that she has to endure insults from the poor and the sick she is helping. Instead of being lauded for her good works, she finds herself often used as an example of a sinful woman in sermons and public lectures.
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What happened to Hester in The Scarlet Letter?
While Dimmesdale dies after his public confession and Chillingworth dies consumed by his own hatred and revenge, Hester lives on, quietly, and becomes something of a legend in the colony of Boston. The scarlet letter made her what she became, and, in the end, she grew stronger and more at peace through her suffering.
What does Hester turn to in the novel?
Here Hester turns to Dimmesdale for help, the one time in the novel where she does not stand alone. Hester's strength is evident in her dealings with both her husband and her lover. Hester defies Chillingworth when he demands to know the name of her lover.
What does Hester do when she takes off the cap?
Symbolically, when Hester removes the letter and takes off the cap, she is, in effect, removing the harsh, stark, unbending Puritan social and moral structure. Hester is only to have a brief respite, however, because Pearl angrily demands she resume wearing the scarlet A.
What does Hester do when she removes the letter and takes off the cap?
When she removes the letter and takes off her cap in Chapter 13, she once again becomes the radiant beauty of seven years earlier. Symbolically, when Hester removes the letter and takes off the cap, she is, in effect, removing the harsh, stark, unbending Puritan social and moral structure.
What is the most remarkable thing about Hester Prynne?
What is most remarkable about Hester Prynne is her strength of character . While Hawthorne does not give a great deal of information about her life before the book opens, he does show her remarkable character, revealed through her public humiliation and subsequent, isolated life in Puritan society. Her inner strength, her defiance of convention, her honesty, and her compassion may have been in her character all along, but the scarlet letter brings them to our attention. She is, in the end, a survivor.
What does Hester say in the first scene of the story?
In this first scene, Dimmesdale implores her to name the father of the baby and her penance may be lightened. Hester says "Never!" When asked again, she says "I will not speak!" While this declaration relieves Dimmesdale and he praises her under his breath, it also shows Hester's determination to stand alone despite the opinion of society. Hester's self-reliance and inner strength are further revealed in her defiance of the law and in her iron will during her confrontation with the governor of the colony.
What is Hester's inner strength?
Hester's self-reliance and inner strength are further revealed in her defiance of the law and in her iron will during her confrontation with the governor of the colony. Despite her lonely existence, Hester somehow finds an inner strength to defy both the townspeople and the local government.
What chapter does Hester at her needle?
In Chapter Five , " Hester at Her Needle," the narrator tells us that, "Except for that small expenditure in the decoration of her infant, Hester bestowed all her superfluous means in charity, on wretches less miserable than herself, and who not unfrequently insulted the hand that fed them." Hester dresses...
Why does Hester use her money?
Besides using the money she earns as a seamstress to support herself and Pearl, Hester also uses it to help the poor. The irony is that she has to endure insults from the poor and the sick she is helping. Instead of being lauded for her good works, she finds herself often used as an example of a sinful woman in sermons and public lectures.
How long is the free trial for eNotes?
Start your 48-hour free trial to unlock this answer and thousands more. Enjoy eNotes ad-free and cancel anytime.
What is a certified educator?
Our certified Educators are real professors, teachers, and scholars who use their academic expertise to tackle your toughest questions. Educators go through a rigorous application process, and every answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house editorial team.