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Secret Sin In Scarlet Letter

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Nathaniel Hawthorne is the author of not only the Minister’s Black Veil, but the famous novel, The Scarlet Letter. In both novels, he writes about secret sin and how society keeps us from being savages. He profusely believes there is an evil sickness inside of everyone. Hawthorne is a hardcore anti-transcendentalist who is obsessed with puritanism and his great uncle, John Hathorne. In his world-renowned novel, The Scarlet Letter, he writes about how the Puritan religion beats down on Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale. Hester is accused of adultery and is the mother of Pearl; her baby born into darkness. Pearl is the result of Hester’s sin. Arthur is a Puritan minister who is secretly the father to Hester’s baby. Hester confesses her guilt …show more content…

Hawthorne uses this shameful letter to prove the theme of guilt. The Scarlet Letter stands for adultery, which Hester has committed and disobeyed one of the 10 commandments. The color scarlet symbolizes blood, sex, and sin. This “A”reminds her everyday of her guilt with the constant stares and judgement. Hawthorne writes, “... for the accumulating days and added years would pile up their misery upon the heap of shame” (76). At this time, Hester is transferring from the prison into the town. She realizes how difficult it will be for her to rebuild her life with the guilt of the eternal Scarlet Letter. As time goes on, Hester finds her home on the brink of society and at the edge of the forest. Here, she takes care of her precious Pearl and sews her days away. Hawthorne narrates, “Then, gasping for breath, did Hester Prynne clutch the fatal token, instinctively endeavoring to tear it away; so infinite was the torture inflicted by the intelligent touch of Pearl’s baby hand” (93). This shows how obscure the Scarlet Letter is and how everyone, even babies, bring attention to it. This reminds Hester, every time, of her crime and how the guilt sticks to her like glue. The Scarlet Letter is a constant and brutal reminder of Hester’s guilt which contributes to the theme of

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