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Comparing Sin In Scarlet Letter And The Minister's Black Veil By Nathaniel Hawthorne

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Similarly, Hawthorne uses symbolism of sin in The Scarlet Letter and “The Minister’s Black Veil” to display the negative effects of guilt and sin. Hawthorne uses symbolism in The Scarlet Letter to convey a deeper meaning about the sins the characters have committed. Symbols such as the ‘A’ Hester Prynne is forced to wear on her chest, and the mysterious mark on Dimmesdale’s chest are used to represent the sins the characters committed. When the Puritans of Hester’s community look at her, all they see is sin due to the red letter on her chest. Hawthorne describes this scene as, “Thus the young and pure would be taught to look at her, with the scarlet letter flaming on her breast,—at her, the child of honorable parents,—at her, the mother of a babe, that would hereafter be …show more content…

This constant reminder of sin negatively impacts the one wearing the object because it causes other characters to judge and act evil towards them. Derek Maus discusses Hawthorne's use of symbolism throughout his work and claims that Hawthorne values the use of symbolism because it allows for him to deliver a message in a non traditional way (Maus 43). Hawthorne uses symbolism in his works because it allows for him to display the negative effects of guilt in sin in a way that will cause readers to become more engaged. Symbolism shows the negative effects of guilt and sin in both The Scarlet Letter and “The Minister’s Black Veil” because in both stories the main character faces hardship simply because of an object they wear that has no other meaning than to represent sin. Although these items were only symbols, the characters wearing them faced harsh judgement because of what they

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Arthur Dimmesdale's Marking Quotes

561 Words | 3 Pages

Everyone comes across something in their life that speaks to them--a symbol as it will be called. In the book, The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, there are many symbols, but there is one that really stands out above the rest, and that is the mark on Dimmesdale’s chest. The Scarlet Letter’s primary focus is on the life of Hester Prynne, who had an affair with someone and was accused of the crime and forced to wear a scarlet letter A for the rest of her life. The mark on Arthur Dimmesdale’s chest (although it was never truly stated what the mark actually was) can be seen as guilt in physical form which slowly begins to show over time.

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Compare And Contrast The Minister's Black Veil And The Scarlet Letter

119 Words | 1 Pages

In the short story “The Minister’s Black Veil” and the novel The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne tells the stories of two men who keep their sins secret and are hurt deeply. In The Scarlet Letter, Reverend Dimmesdale does not reveal his sin to the community and experiences far more pain than Hester, whose sin is revealed. Years after the original sin, Hester has healed and is accepted by the community, while Dimmesdale still feels guilty, as can be seen when he mounts the scaffold. Dimmesdale’s experience is similar to that of Reverend Hooper, who covers his face after a secret sin and is eschewed by the community. When we refuse to admit our faults, we will feel guilty

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Similarities Between The Scarlet Letter And The Minister's Black Veil

642 Words | 3 Pages

Guilt: God’s Gift that Keeps on Giving The Puritan religion’s view on sin consists of the belief that all puritans should live a sanctified life. In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s works, The Scarlet Letter, and “The Minister’s Black Veil”, Reverend Dimmesdale (The Scarlet Letter), and Minister Hooper (“The Minister’s Black Veil”) are both leaders in the Puritan church. Amongst their superior roles, they both committed sin against God’s will. Consequently, for their inappropriate acts, Dimmesdale and Hooper both live the rest of their lives striving for redemption.

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Figurative Language In Scarlet Letter

867 Words | 4 Pages

In the novel the scarlet letter, the scarlet letter is shown through the use of imagery and figurative language to demonstrate that judgment through society as well as sin is bad while the scarlet is a symbol of sin wrapped in good and beauty. Hester is able to take something that was meant to be a punishment for a crime she committed and turn it into something absolutely stunning. Hawthorne portrayed Pearl

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What Is The Connection Between The Scarlet Letter And The Minister's Black Veil

947 Words | 4 Pages

Nathanial Hawthorne wrote many novels and short stories that focused on themes of sin. Two of these works, “The Minister’s Black Veil” and The Scarlet Letter, both discuss this theme which is one of the many connections that the two works share. Through multiple pieces of evidence, these works demonstrate a focus on the fight beginning in “The Minister’s Black Veil” between servants of the Lord and the devil. In his story “The Minister’s Black Veil,” Nathanial Hawthorne uses knowing diction to depict strong religious tones that represent the way he uses his sin and the sins of others to leave a positive impact on his parishioners in a direct comparison with how Chillingsworth’s sins become a negative representation of sin in The Scarlet Letter.

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Pearl Symbolism In Scarlet Letter

502 Words | 3 Pages

While reading The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, it is obvious that he uses a lot of symbolism throughout his writing to give the readers a deeper understanding of the Puritans and their views in these times. In this book, the community forces Hester Prynne to wear a scarlet letter on her chest to show her abashment for committing adultery and having a child, Pearl. However, Pearl is actually used as a symbol throughout this book to represent the physical embodiment of Hester’s sin, the repercussions of her breaking the law, and an unworldly being in the usual strict Puritan society. In the beginning of the book, Hawthorne uses Pearl as a way to constantly remind Hester of her sin and as a link between the secret relationship of Hester

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Summary: Symbolism Within The Scarlet Letter

616 Words | 3 Pages

Symbolism Within The Scarlet Letter Hawthorne created symbolism throughout The Scarlet Letter in order to develop the theme throughout Hester’s life. Hester is portrayed as a sheltered soul, shunned from society due to her adulterous acts. The red A and her daughter, Pearl, are symbols of Hester’s shame which she bares proudly despite society's harsh judgements. Hawthorne is able to use symbolism to develop themes, characters, and analogies in the Scarlet Letter.

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665 Words | 3 Pages

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The Consequences Of Sin In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter

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1310 Words | 6 Pages

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What Does The Deep Red Symbolize In The Scarlet Letter

940 Words | 4 Pages

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499 Words | 2 Pages

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1029 Words | 5 Pages

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1146 Words | 5 Pages

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