Intro:The popular 2004 movie “Mean Girls” centers around a clique of teenage girls who are obsessed with judging others and putting themselves on top of their high school’s social status. “Mean Girls” is the ultimate example of judgement and belittlement. Much like this movie, the historical fiction novel The Scarlet Letter written by Nathaniel Hawthorne suggests to his readers to not judge others because they sin differently than you. Hawthorne displays this idea through symbolism, irony, and Hester Prynne’s dynamic character type.
Body 1: The scarlet letter “A” embedded on Hester Prynne’s dress symbolizes that the person bearing it has committed adultery. Not only does the letter let everyone who sees it know what the person has done, it bring upon embarrassment, shame, judgement, and isolation. On page 53 Hawthorne writes, “the platform of the pillory; and above it rose the framework of that instrument of discipline, so fashioned as to confine the human head in its tight grasp and thus holding it up to public graze. The very ideal of ignominy” , to describe Hester Prynne’s public discipline. Hawthorne uses the
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Hester’s adulterous affair affected her life and image, it put her in isolation and led to shame and guilt. Although the scarlet letter bears remorse, throughout the novel Hester’s changes from a negative and unholy ego to a positive and favorable ego due to her actions. As Hester Prynne is faced with critisism and judgement, she continues to stay strong which eventually leads to people interpreting her scarlet letter “A” from “adultery” to “Able”. The change in Hester Prynne’s character exhibits that although some people may never stop their pessimistic critisism, we can overcome our sins with a strong relationship with God and a growth mindset, as Hester does. Hester Prynne’s actions demonstrate that sin is natural and should only be judged by