The American Spirit In The Scarlet Letter

The Scarlet Letter and the American Spirit Readers would look at the Scarlet Letter and they wouldn’t think of it as a way to describe the “American Spirit” because of all the hatred and the negativity that goes on in the novel. After reading an assortment of characters that comprise a living, breathing definition of the American identity, we gain an overview of just how vastly diverse and complicated the people of this country have always been and continue to be. Hester Prynne and Pearl are great examples of what the American experience and Spirit was and will continue to be. Hester Prynne screams out, heart and soul, american spirit. She is relatable, extremely human, and most of all, flawed. Her life is plain and average, and her personality is the exact opposite of flashy. Though she cannot represent every single struggle that Americans must deal with, her very situation is not as important as the ways in which she chooses to handle it. Hester Prynne is merely a vessel for any American situation; any struggle or hardship could be substituted in for her sin of

Through all the torturing, she continued to keep her baby’s father a secret. Even though Chillingworth knew before any of the torturing began. Pearl was able to grow up, seen as a precious gift in the world and not just some sinful reminder of Hester and Dimmesdale. She’s going to be able to grow up and be whatever she aspires to be. Altogether, both Hester and Pearl represent the “American Spirit” in their own unique ways that you have to dig deep to find. Hester was a great mom, and friend. She stayed true to herself, even when she was getting shamed and judge throughout her whole process. Pearl represented a gift, not a mistake. Getting the people to realize that, gave her the American experience of being able to find herself and where exactly she belongs in this