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Guilt is a major theme in The Scarlet Letter, and appears primarily in the psychology of Arthur Dimmesdale. Dimmesdale is tormented both by guilt at his sinful act of fathering an illegitimate child, and then by the guilt of failing to take responsibility for his actions and having to hide his secret.
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By Theme Female Independence Guilt Nature vs. Society...
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The Scarlet Letter opens with a long preamble about how the...
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Looking through the pile, he notices a manuscript that is...
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By Theme Female Independence Guilt Nature vs. Society...
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The Scarlet Letter presents a critical, even disdainful, view of Puritanism. The narrator depicts Puritan society as drab, confining, unforgiving, and narrow-minded that unfairly victimizes Hester. In the scene in which Hester is released from prison, the narrator describes the town police official as representing the "whole dismal severity of ...
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Sense of Sin Sin and the sense of sin is one of the major themes that appear from the very first chapter from the discovery of the story and the scarlet letter. However, not only does sin mean an act against the accepted religious norms, but also a rebellion against social traditions. The passionate act of Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale which ...
Conformity to Religion The punishment of breaking religious rules invite heavy censure and punishment. This is also one of the major themes of The Scarlet Letter. Sexual relations without marriage are still frowned upon. During the Puritan period in Boston, society has strict rules for such cases of which Hester becomes an unwitting victim. Dimmesd...
Criticism of Puritanism Criticism of Puritanism is another major theme of the novel, The Scarlet Letter. Hester’s crime is as huge as that of Dimmesdale. However, one is caught and sentenced, while the other is free. Dimmesdale hides his secret due to his position and status. When Hester is released, it is stated by the anonymous narrator that even...
Public and Individual Guilt The nature of guilt and its public and individual status is laid bare in The Scarlet Letter. The status of the guilt committed by Hester and her public punishment plays havoc with her life. The consequences of this public punishment are to ostracize only her and not the man in question. Hence, this affair has left a grea...
Partial Punishment and MoralCodes Seeing only Hester going through punishment is a secondary theme of the novel. The minister and the supposed judge, Dimmesdale, also deserves the punishment. The Puritan moral code applies to both individuals. However, it happens that only, Hester Prynne has to go through the punishment and public shaming, while Di...
Feminine Resilience The public shaming act of Hester Prynne and her resilience to go through the grueling social isolation is another major theme of the novel. It seems that Hawthorne has unconsciously placed his weight on the feministic side. The projection of Hester as an epitome of an individual having suffered unjustly shows that The Scarlet Le...
Mockery of Law The novel had imperceptibly mocked at the rule of law of that time when Puritanism was thriving in the region. The rule of law does not permit a woman to engage in adultery and when caught they must endure severe punishment. However, the same law does not do the same for a man. Mr. Dimmesdale not only escapes punishment but also is a...
Domination of Patriarchy The domination of the patriarchy is another theme of the novel, The Scarlet Letter. The novel opens with an anonymous narrator, who is narrating the story of a woman. Interestingly, the narrator is a male, narrating about the male-dominated society. They have legislated the laws, formed the religious codes and also arranged...
Redemption Although it is not very dominant, the theme of redemption looms large in the background of the sin and punishment. Hester, though ostracized, earns redemption by helping the poor and working as a seamstress. Dimmesdale, on the other hand, earns his redemption when he confesses his crime after giving a passionate final sermon after many y...
Love Although it does not seem that love is a dominant theme, Dimmesdale and Hester love each other during the absence of her husband. The result is the birth of Pearl. It is because of love towards Dimmesdale Hester doesn’t disclose his identity. She is shown as an epitome of love that she never ever tries to expose her lover. Her silent sacrifice...
What is the main theme in ‘The Scarlet Letter’ by Nathaniel Hawthorne? Sin and punishment are probably the two most discussed themes in ‘ The Scarlet Letter ,’ and these subjects are pervasive and heavily indulged in by the author throughout the book.
The Scarlet Letter Themes. The main themes in The Scarlet Letter are free will, retribution, hypocrisy, gender, and illusion versus reality. Free will: Hester and Dimmesdale are...
Sep 23, 2024 · 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.
The Scarlet Letter study guide contains a biography of Nathaniel Hawthorne, literature essays, a complete e-text, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes.
