Scarlet Letter :: Essays Papers

Scarlet Letter In the novel The Scarlet Letter, the cherry letter A has several meanings through and throughout the novel. For each character the blood-red letter stands for something different. Each of the main characters interprets the letter in different forms. The townships mint observe the letter as a form of shame and embarrassment. For Hester the letter trains on several different forms. Arthur Dimmesdale, the Reverend, sees the letter on Hesters knocker as a continuous torture of his sin and secrete. He goes through terrible ordeals throughout the novel. For Roger Chillingworth (Hesters husband), the letter stands for violence. The Townspeople see the sanguine letter A as a form of embarrassment for Hester and a way of keeping order and peace within the colony. The story begins with Hester having to go on the scaffold and stand there for three hours with her two ignominious sins, the letter A (which stands for Adulteress) and her illegitimate child. The mag istrates feel as though constant public embarrassment will disclose the secret of the childs father. On the scaffold Hester experiences harsh words. A group of women are having a discussion in the crowd and one-woman states, At the very least, they should throw away put the brand of a hot iron on Hester Prynnes forehead. She may cover it with a brooch, or such like cultural adornment, and so walk the streets as brave as ever (1332). This tilt shows that it was not enough that the townspeople knew she committed a sin, but they cute to see the sin on her chest constantly. This letter somehow gave them power over Hester and made them feel more superior. Without them seeing the letter they mat that her sin was not being seen. Even after Hester moves away from the town, into the forest, children go there to get a glimpse of her this continues the embarrassment for Hester. Also, the ministers of the town recitation Hesters sin in their sermons. Another way in which the town punishes Hester and tries to have some type of power over her is when they try to take her child. As the novel progresses and Hester becomes a helpful person in the community, people begin to accept her in society again but the sanguine letter is never overseen.