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what is the argument in the scarlet letter

by Johanna Daugherty Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Full Answer

What is the connection between Pearl and the Scarlet Letter?

These chapters link Pearl even more explicitly to the scarlet letter. Hester dresses her daughter in “a crimson velvet tunic of a peculiar cut, abundantly embroidered with fantasies and flourishes of gold thread.” Pearl and the embroidered letter are both beautiful in a rich, sensuous way that stands in contrast to the stiffness of Puritan society.

What happens at the end of the Scarlet Letter?

The Scarlet Letter. In the end Chillingworth is morally degraded by his monomaniacal pursuit of revenge; Dimmesdale is broken by his own sense of guilt, and he publicly confesses his adultery before dying in Hester’s arms. Only Hester can face the future bravely as she prepares to begin a new life with her daughter, Pearl,...

What is the setting of the Scarlet Letter?

The Scarlet Letter, novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne, published in 1850. It is considered a masterpiece of American literature and a classic moral study. Summary. The novel is set in a village in Puritan New England. The main character is Hester Prynne, a young woman who has borne a child out of wedlock.

Who is the main character in the Scarlet Letter?

The Scarlet Letter. The main character is Hester Prynne, a young woman who has borne a child out of wedlock. Hester believes herself a widow, but her husband, Roger Chillingworth, returns to New England very much alive and conceals his identity. He finds his wife forced to wear the scarlet letter A on her dress as punishment for her adultery.

What does the letter A mean on Pearl's bosom?

Why do people use arguments?

What is Prynne's argument with Chillingworth?

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Hester Prynne In D. H. Lawrence's On The Scarlet Letter

In his essay “On the Scarlet Letter,” D.H. Lawrence criticizes society’s perception of Hester Prynne. Hester is the protagonist in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel The Scarlet Letter, and Lawrence regards her relationship with Arthur Dimmesdale as morally inacceptable. Lawrence also condemns those who try to condone her sinful behavior.

Examples Of Allegory In The Scarlet Letter

The Relevance of the Allegorical Tale, The Scarlet Letter, in Modern America From the Holy Bible to Albert Camus’s The Stranger, authors have sought to teach readers about human existence through conceptual characters and fantastical plots.

Scarlet Letter : The Rejection Of Puritan Values

Benjamin Stoops Mr. Goldhammer Honors American Studies 2 November 2015 Scarlet Salvation: The Rejection of Puritan Values in The Scarlet Letter In The Scarlet Letter, each of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s characters undergo internal challenges.

Double Life In The Scarlet Letter

lives, one of which they do not want society to know about. In The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne states, “No man for any considerable period can wear one face to himself and another to the multitude, without finally getting bewildered as to which may be the true” (340).

Essay on Scarlet Letter

Scarlet Letter The Puritan Beliefs As Told Through The Scarlet Letter Nathaniel Hawthorne was not a Puritan. But Hawthrone’s forefathers were Puritans, so he had an understanding of their belief system and their basis behind it. He stated that he hoped the sins of his forefathers had been forgiven.

Critical Analysis Of Hester Prynne

D.H. Lawrence provides an effective critical analysis of Hester Prynne from Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel, The Scarlet Letter. He criticizes Hawthorne’s portrayal of the story’s protagonist, which negatively affects the way readers view her. Lawrence’s writing targets Prynne as a seductive woman with vile intentions. D.H.

Hester Prynne Change In Scarlet Letter

In The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne portrays how a young woman, Hester Prynne, is forced to live with the scarlet letter “A” on her breast to mark her shame of adultery. Hester commits the appalling crime with the widely known Puritan minister, Arthur Dimmesdale.

What does the letter A mean on Pearl's bosom?

Internal Argument: Hester Prynne undergoes an internal argument as to whether she should tell her daughter, Pearl, what the scarlet letter "A" means on her bosom. The persuasive appeal in this case in mainly logical; Prynne is considering telling Pearl due to her remarkable precociousness. Prynne discovers this through multiple instances of the child's life from the beginning. Pearl has always been fascinated by the "A" on her mother's dress and has displayed a very odd temperament for a child, as opposed to other children of her age. Prynne also considers this in hopes that she will have a confidant. Prynne looks upon Pearl as "unflinching," with an "uncontrollable will." Through this diction, Prynne realizes that Pearl may make a valuable companion, as a child with such properties -in a society in which children are typically mellow and obedient- would not simply bend to the will of another adult, were such an adult to question her about her mother's life. The townspeople see Prynne under a shadow, and yet Pearl looks upon her mother with utmost trust and loyalty. However, Prynne decides not to reveal her secret to Pearl, because she tells herself that this matter is not a way to make a confidant. In this revelation, Prynne is shown to be caring, unselfish woman, as she refuses to burden her daughter with her own troubles. Prynne fears that, in making young Pearl her confidant, it will be hurtful to her.

Why do people use arguments?

Ultimately, any other can utilize argument in order to create a rounded , multifaceted character. Arguments have high emotional tension within; often strong anger or sadness. In anger, people tend to reveal a side of them not normally apparent in their everyday lives.

What is Prynne's argument with Chillingworth?

Argument 2: Another argument Prynne has is with Dimmesdale, in an attempt to warn him of the fact that Chillingworth is her husband. Prynne feels incredible guilt for not informing Dimmesdale of this earlier, and "permitting him to lie for so many years." She finds that she cannot live with Dimmesdale's suffering, as she cares for him too much. She drives this point to support her reasoning for revealing such a secret through asyndeton, claiming that her reason for entering an agreement with Chillingworth to keep secrets was motivated to save "thy [Dimmesdale] good --thy life-- thy fame--" Dimmesdale would have lost everything, had he revealed that he had an affair with Prynne. The town's opinion of him would have been shattered, and he would live in utter condemnation for the remainder of his life. Prynne has experienced this, yet in spite of it all, would not reveal the father of her child. It is only when she finds his life is in peril that she decides to give up a secret. She does inform Dimmesdale that his physician, Chillingworth, was her husband, and he is angry and claims "he cannot forgive thee." Nevertheless, he does. The depth of love Hester has for Dimmesdale is truly shown in this argument, even though she risked losing him forever.

What is the scarlet letter A?

The scarlet letter A that Hester is forced to wear is finely embroidered with gold-coloured thread. As both a badge of shame and a beautifully wrought human artifact, it reflects the many oppositions in the novel, such as those between order and transgression, civilization and wilderness, and adulthood and childhood.

Where does Hester go in Scarlet Letter?

Only Hester can face the future bravely, as she prepares to begin a new life with her daughter, Pearl, in Europe. Years later Hester returns to New England, where she continues to wear the scarlet letter.

What is Dimmesdale's sense of torment at his guilty secret and the physical and mental manifestations of?

Dimmesdale’s sense of torment at his guilty secret and the physical and mental manifestations of his malaise reflect the pathology of a society that needs to scapegoat and alienate its so-called sinners. Eventually, personal integrity is able to break free from social control.

What is the meaning of Pearl and the embroidered letter?

Pearl and the embroidered letter are both beautiful in a rich, sensuous way that stands in contrast to the stiffness of Puritan society. Indeed, the narrator explicitly tells the reader that Pearl is “the scarlet letter endowed with life.”. The narrator tells us that Hester has worked to create an “analogy between the object of [Hester’s] ...

What is the purpose of Dimmesdale's words?

Dimmesdale momentarily acknowledges this in his speech, but the purpose of his words is not to ponder ambiguities but rather to point to these ambiguities as proof of the futility of all interpretation. Pearl, he says, came from God, and therefore must be intended as Hester’s companion.

What does Hester do to Pearl?

Hester pays a visit to Governor Bellingham ’s mansion. She has two intentions: to deliver a pair of ornate gloves she has made for the governor, and to find out if there is any truth to the rumors that Pearl, now three, may be taken from her. Some of the townspeople, apparently including the governor, have come to suspect Pearl of being a sort of demon-child. The townspeople reason that if Pearl is a demon-child, she should be taken from Hester for Hester’s sake. And, they reason, if Pearl is indeed a human child, she should be taken away from her mother for her own sake and given to a “better” parent than Hester Prynne. On their way to see the governor, Hester and Pearl are attacked by a group of children, who try to fling mud at them. Pearl becomes angry and frightens the children off.

What is Pearl fascinated by?

Pearl is fascinated by the armor. When she points out her mother’s reflection in it, Hester is horrified to see that the scarlet letter dominates the reflection. Pearl begins to scream for a rose from the bush outside the window, but she is quieted by the entrance of a group of men. Read a translation of Chapter 7: The Governor’s Hall →.

What does Bellingham say about Pearl?

He replies by reminding the men that God sent Pearl and that the child was seemingly meant to be both a blessing and a curse. Swayed by his eloquence, Bellingham and Wilson agree not to separate mother and child. Strangely, Pearl has taken well to Dimmesdale. She goes to him and presses his hand to her cheek.

Why should Pearl be taken away from Hester?

The townspeople reason that if Pearl is a demon-child, she should be taken from Hester for Hester’s sake. And, they reason, if Pearl is indeed a human child, she should be taken away from her mother for her own sake and given to a “better” parent than Hester Prynne.

What does Wilson resent about Pearl?

Wilson resents Pearl’s seeming dislike of him, and Pearl’s refusal to answer even the simplest of questions does not bode well. With nowhere else to turn, Hester begs Dimmesdale to speak for her and her child.

What does the letter A mean on Pearl's bosom?

Internal Argument: Hester Prynne undergoes an internal argument as to whether she should tell her daughter, Pearl, what the scarlet letter "A" means on her bosom. The persuasive appeal in this case in mainly logical; Prynne is considering telling Pearl due to her remarkable precociousness. Prynne discovers this through multiple instances of the child's life from the beginning. Pearl has always been fascinated by the "A" on her mother's dress and has displayed a very odd temperament for a child, as opposed to other children of her age. Prynne also considers this in hopes that she will have a confidant. Prynne looks upon Pearl as "unflinching," with an "uncontrollable will." Through this diction, Prynne realizes that Pearl may make a valuable companion, as a child with such properties -in a society in which children are typically mellow and obedient- would not simply bend to the will of another adult, were such an adult to question her about her mother's life. The townspeople see Prynne under a shadow, and yet Pearl looks upon her mother with utmost trust and loyalty. However, Prynne decides not to reveal her secret to Pearl, because she tells herself that this matter is not a way to make a confidant. In this revelation, Prynne is shown to be caring, unselfish woman, as she refuses to burden her daughter with her own troubles. Prynne fears that, in making young Pearl her confidant, it will be hurtful to her.

Why do people use arguments?

Ultimately, any other can utilize argument in order to create a rounded , multifaceted character. Arguments have high emotional tension within; often strong anger or sadness. In anger, people tend to reveal a side of them not normally apparent in their everyday lives.

What is Prynne's argument with Chillingworth?

Argument 2: Another argument Prynne has is with Dimmesdale, in an attempt to warn him of the fact that Chillingworth is her husband. Prynne feels incredible guilt for not informing Dimmesdale of this earlier, and "permitting him to lie for so many years." She finds that she cannot live with Dimmesdale's suffering, as she cares for him too much. She drives this point to support her reasoning for revealing such a secret through asyndeton, claiming that her reason for entering an agreement with Chillingworth to keep secrets was motivated to save "thy [Dimmesdale] good --thy life-- thy fame--" Dimmesdale would have lost everything, had he revealed that he had an affair with Prynne. The town's opinion of him would have been shattered, and he would live in utter condemnation for the remainder of his life. Prynne has experienced this, yet in spite of it all, would not reveal the father of her child. It is only when she finds his life is in peril that she decides to give up a secret. She does inform Dimmesdale that his physician, Chillingworth, was her husband, and he is angry and claims "he cannot forgive thee." Nevertheless, he does. The depth of love Hester has for Dimmesdale is truly shown in this argument, even though she risked losing him forever.

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Url:https://www.ipl.org/essay/Arguments-For-The-Scarlets-Letter-FJRY4STSDAB

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