The Character of Hester Prynne of The Scarlet Letter
Hester Prynne is a very well recognized character in The Scarlet
Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne. She is a character about whom
much has been written such as, Toward Hester Prynn, by David
Reynolds, and The Scarlet A, Aboriginal and Awesome, by Kristin
Herzog. Reynold's essay dealt with Hester as a heroine, who is an
artistic combination of disparate female types. Herzog's essay
dealt with the idea that Hester is both wild and passionate, as
well as, caring, conservative, and alien.
Towards Hester Prynne, by David Reynolds, expressed Hester as a
heroine composed of many different stereotypes of females from the
time period Hawthorne was writing. Hawthorne created some of the
most skeptical and politically uncommitted characters in pre-civil
war history. Reynolds went on to say, His [Hawthorne's] career
illustrates the success of an especially responsive author in
gathering together disparate female types and recombining them
artistically so that they become crucial elements of the
rhetorical and artistic construct of his fiction (Reynolds 179).
Hawthorne used ironies of fallen women and female criminals to
achieve the perfect combination of different types of heroines.
His heroines are equipped to expel wrongs against their sex
bringing about an awareness of both the rights and wrongs of
women. Hester is a compound of many popular stereotypes rich in
the thoughts of the time ...portrayed as a fallen woman whose
honest sinfulness is found preferable to the future corruption of
the reverend (Reynolds 183). Hester was described by Reynolds as
a feminist criminal bound in an iron link of mutual crime
(Reynolds 183). According to Reynolds, Hawthorne was trying to
have his culture's darkest stereotypes absorbed into the character
of Hester and rescue them from noisy politics by reinterpreting
them in Puritan terms and fusing them with the moral exemplar.
Kristin Herzog had a somewhat different view of Hester in The
Scarlet A, Aboriginal and Awesome. She described Hester as both
wild and passionate, and caring, conservative, and alien. Herzog
stated that The Scarlet Letter is a story set at the rough edge of
civilization. Hester is as much an outcast as any Quaker in the
Puritan colony and she takes the colony's abuse laid upon her with
a Quaker's dignity. Herzog described Hester's Aboriginal
characteristics as caring and conservative. This aspect of
Hester's femininity is not the only trait, however, which
as mine!” To Hester, there is no reasons to put both shame on her and her partner when she can take all the shame. She proves herself to be selfless, another strong characteristic that exemplifies feminist attributes in the book. At first, when Hester is confronted by her ex-husband Chillingworth, she is portrayed as weak and feeble. This trait does not go on to prove Hester as a huge feminist character for the Scarlet Letter, but as the book continues, Hester receives the strength to stand up to him and realizes there is no need ...
In the beginning of the novel, Hester Prynne exits the prison of the Puritan community of Boston, a large letter “A” clearly visible on her chest and a child in her arms. This is the first time the letter makes an appearance, and it is here where readers realize Hester has done something terribly wrong. The letter “A” sewn onto her clothes initially represents “adulterer”, but who exactly is the father of Pearl, the child Hester is holding, if her husband has been missing for two years? The townspeople would love to know the answer to that question, too, but it is only revealed to readers a few chapters into the story as being the unexpected Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale. Dimmesdale faces an
The character of Hester Prynne changed significantly throughout the novel The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Hester Prynne, through the eyes of the Puritans, is an extreme sinner; she has gone against the Puritan ways, committing adultery. For this harsh sin, she must wear a symbol of shame for the rest of her life. However, the Romantic philosophies of Hawthorne put down the Puritanic beliefs. She is a beautiful, young woman who has sinned, but is forgiven. Hawthorne portrays Hester as "divine maternity" and she can do no wrong. Not only Hester, but the physical scarlet letter, a Puritanical sign of disownment, is shown through the author's tone and diction as a beautiful, gold and colorful piece.
"Lovely ladies ready for the call. Standing up or lying down or any way at all. Bargain prices up against the wall" (Boublil). The selling of one's body is consensual. When a woman decides to put herself for sale, she will be given the cold shoulder by her peers. Many women make the decision to sell themselves solely to provide for a child. The song "Lovely Ladies" from the musical Les Misérables, involves whores in France selling themselves to men in a Parisian back ally. The musical Les Misérables was based on a book written by Victor Hugo. One character in this book goes by the name of Fantine. She had a child out of wedlock to a man who left her and their child alone. She had to work to support not only herself but also her daughter, Cosette.
An inheritance from his father allowed Ponzi to attend the University of Rome, which only further perpetuated the goals his mother desired for him. From the stories his mother often told him of the aristocracy of the family, Ponzi sought after the wealth to accompany the reputation. At school he was accepted into a group of the wealthy elite, and often gambled to increase his monetary allowance. This however only bankrupted him, forcing him to drop out of the University. Urged by his uncle to leave Italy in pursuit of the United States because “he was refined and from a good family” and he could easily become wealthy in the United States. His uncle continued by telling young Ponzi, “in the United States, the streets are actually paved with gold. All you have to do is ...
Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “ The Scarlet Letter’’ is a classical story about sin, punishment and revenge. It all began with a young woman named Hester Prynne who has committed adultery, and gave birth to a child in a Puritan society. Through the eyes of the puritans Hester has gone against their religious ways. Hester must now wear the symbol of the letter “A” on her clothing for the rest of her life as act of shame. Hester Prynne faces a long journey ahead and her strength enables her to continue on.
The portrayal of Hester Prynne in the novel, The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, has led to many different opinionated views. Many debate whether or not Hester Prynne should be portrayed in an angelic or sinful light. The author and critic, D.H. Lawrence, focuses on Hester’s sin itself, and focuses on having the reader view an alternate perspective of Hester, seeing her not as the victim, but as the criminal, as she should be viewed based on traditional Puritan values. Lawrence achieves the perspective that Hester should be viewed in a sinful light through his rhythmic and fluid syntax, negative and hateful diction, as well as his sarcastic and critical tone.
The Nathaniel Hawthorne’s book, The Scarlet Letter Hester Prynne commits adultery and gives birth to an illegitimate child. Although this story takes place in a complete different time than the roaring 20s, the central theme can be connected to the musical film Chicago where Roxie Hart, the protagonist, commits a similar crime to that of Hester Prynne.
Contrary to Hawthorne’s perspective, Lawrence emphasizes that Hester is corrupt rather than the Puritan society. Although there are various portrayals of Hester, Lawrence focuses on Hester’s mortal sin rather than its consequences and therefore claims that her sin is unforgivable. He persuades his audience that Hawthorne’s portrayal
...away. I have come to the conclusion through reading the ISBE article and Philemon, that Onesimus was seeking some sort of guidance from Paul about Christianity, instead of looking for a way to escape his owner. Paul doesn’t scold Onesimus for coming to him, but he sends him back with a letter to Philemon telling him that Onesimus has been with himself, and that Philemon should accept him back as a fellow Christian. Paul also tells Philemon that he would keep Onesimus with him, but he didn’t want to do anything without Philemon’s word. This clearly displays that this is a non-hostile letter, regarding the faith of Onesimus, and not just instructions about what to do with him.
Raymond Carver, the author of “Cathedral” uses characterization to describe the main character, the narrator’s development in the story upon meeting a blind man. This blind man, Robert, unintentionally changes the narrator’s perspective on life and on himself. The narrator first starts off as an arrogant, close minded individual who later opens his mind and is introduced to new perspectives of life. The most important element used in this writing is characterization because it makes the reader change perspectives on how the narrator develops throughout the story and deeply goes into a lot of detail to support the narrator’s development. good thesis, but the wording is a little bland and lifeless
In closing, cognition is very much so essential for the human race to survive. However, when our ability to be social creatures is used in a maladaptive way the results are disastrous. On the other hand, when we use our social abilities for good then the human race really strives. The three movies and articles is just a reminder that if we do not use our cognition for good and continue to rely on technology to run our lives then we will not survive. The world as we know it today will be vastly different in the future if we do not change our actions.
One can learn responsibility through experience, whether the experience is great, or if it is tragic. In The Ninth Ward by Jewell Parker Rhodes, twelve year old Lanesha demonstrates her growth by bringing her and others to safety during a deadly storm. Once nurtured and cared for by her non-biological grandmother, Lanesha learns to take care of herself and others. This significance shows her transitioning from a girl to a young woman.
“No one 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 truth.” (Hawthorne 211). In the novel The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, there is a comparison of Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale. Hester represents strength while Arthur represents weakness.
12. B. Hanson and D. May, “Effect of subsurface drip irrigation on processing tomato yield, water table depth, soil salinity, and profitability”, Agricultural Water Management, Vol. 68, no. 1, pp. 1-17, July, 2004.