Scarlet Letter Love And Hate Essay

What is Hawthorne's definition of love? His love represents the unattainability of a person's values, desires, and morals. What is Hawthorne's definition of hate? Hate expresses the infatuation of one's abhorrence for another. Hawthorne argues that there are significant differences between the beneficial and detrimental effects of love and hate by showing it through the struggles and triumphs of the characters Hester Prynne, and Arthur Dimmesdale. Hester loved many things, she loved Pearl, Dimmesdale, being a “rebel”, and eventually helping the less fortunate and women like her. Hester loves Pearl greatly, she would do anything to protect her and give her a “normal” life. Hester loved pearl so much that part of the reason she stayed with

The effect of loving Pearl is that she suffered for Pearl to have a good life. Hester also loved Dimmesdale significantly because she stayed with him even though she was suffering and going through public humiliation. She was not happy and she was even embarrassed having to endure public humiliation, she even was described as unhappy. “the unhappy woman grew pale, and trembled”. ( Hawthorne 47 ) Hester could've told the townspeople that he was the father but she chose to not because she knew the repercussions if she told. That was a true act of love she defended and kept her mouth concealed instead of getting him in trouble. As a result, Hester endured public humiliation for the rest of her life by having to wear the scarlet letter for loving and protecting Dimmesdale. Hester also was known

Some of the things he loved were his church position and God. Dimmesdale loved Hester and God so much that he would do extreme things to show his love for both. He loved Hester but he knew he couldn't have her because it could ruin his relationship with the church and God. He punished himself in odd ways to make up for the sinfulness that he did, he would whip himself in his closet and starve himself. He was so depressed and suicidal, he thought that if he hurt himself it would make him feel better and it would be even with God. Dimmesdale also loved his position in the church and that was another reason he wasn't going to come forward about being Pearl's dad, he was afraid if he came forward he would lose his position and God wouldn't love him as much. His love for Pearl also caused him hardships, when they locked hands he described it as “a strange joy, nevertheless, he now found himself”. ( Hawthorne 103) When they did this he realized that he eventually had to come clean and expose himself. The effects of loving Hester, Pearl, God, and his position in the church made him very depressed and suicidal. He loved Hester and Pearl but if he pursued them then he would be exiled from the church and would possibly lose his relationship with