Adultery in Literature: Comparing 'The Scarlet Letter' and 'Chicago'

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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. In Hester’s community it is looked down to have an affair while you are married even if you do feel alone and otherwise able to do so. Hester Prynne was having an affair with Arthur Dimmesdale while her husband, Roger Chillingworth, was away. While she was having the affair she was commiting a sin that will lead to severe consequences. This can also relate to the movie film Chicago where Roxie …show more content…

She is afraid that she will ruin the chance of her becoming a famous Jazz Performer. And she is also afraid of being hanged. All Roxie Hart wanted was to be the star of the show, because she wanted to be on top of everyone. This shows that Roxie can be very selfish. She believed that that she was too good for Amos and that she only cared about herself and she could care less about Amos feelings. This is the reason she treated Amos very bad because she knew that Amos was in love with her and that Amos will stay by her side no matter what she did to him.
Both Roxie Hart and Hester Prynne committed the act of adultery. For the reason being that they were in need of love and affection, so they went out to look for what they wanted. And they did find what they wanted but it was considered an act of adultery.
The resolution of both The Scarlet Letter and the film Chicago was that they are now forgiven by their townspeople. Hester no longer is being shamed by her town for wearing the scarlet letter in her chest. She now feels that she has freedom, she no longer has to be humiliated in front of the town of Boston. And Roxie Hart is now free she is no longer in jail or going through trials. She can now go on and live her dream of becoming a famous Jazz

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