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Scarlett Letter Essay

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The Scarlett Letter is a classic piece of literature by Nathaniel Hawthorne that surrounds the struggles of a woman named Hester Prynne in a Puritan society. The story follows Hester as she faces ostracism, humiliation, and inner turmoil while living with a secret sin she has committed. While every moment from the book is memorable, there are 10 specific events that can be quoted as a reminder of Hester's journey and the lessons readers can take from it. These events include Hester's walk of shame to the scaffold, her confrontation with Reverend Dimmesdale, and her ultimate decision to remain in Boston. Each of these events provides insight into the characters and their struggles, as well as the overall themes of the novel.
In the classic …show more content…

One of the themes explored in the text is the epistolary relationship between her and the late Martha Washington, the wife of President George Washington. Their relationship provides insight into the 18th century ideals of femininity and is a commentary on the lack of recognition that women have historically faced in the context of politics. Although the United States Constitution granted more rights to women than most other texts written during the same time period, the relationship between Fanny Aldridge and Martha Washington serves as an example of how the lives of women in 18th century America were still constrained (Salomon …show more content…

A highly influential work due to its poignancy and relevance, this book has maintained its popularity since it was published in 1849. Through the story of Hester Prynne, Hawthorne explored several themes such as justice, passion, and morality, that are still relevant today. In this work, there are a number of significant events that share important lessons. To name a few, there is Hester's public shaming in front of the whole town (Hawthorne, 1849), her sewing of the Scarlet A on her chest (Hawthorne, 1849), her public confession of her sin (Hawthorne, 1849), her travel to Europe (Hawthorne, 1849), her reunion with Dimmesdale at the forest (Hawthorne, 1849), and finally Dimmesdale's death and Pearl's departure (Hawthorne, 1849). Each of these powerful events reinforces Hawthorne's exploration of various themes and can help readers reflect on human nature and society. The Scarlet Letter continues to serve as an important literary source of moral

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