Themes: • Individual Identity vs. Society Hester could have left New England and shed her scarlet letter ‘A’. She also acts dismayed when Chillingworth tells her the magistrates are considering removing her ‘A’. If Hester ran away or removed the letter, she would be acknowledging that the ‘A’ is shameful thing that she wants to get rid of and that society controls her. Hester stays and changes the letter’s meaning into something positive (A for Able). She cannot remove the ‘A’ because it is a part of her, and she will not let anyone else think that they have the authority to control who she is. Dimmesdale is also tormented by a society that determines his identity. Being the minister, he is an important symbol in the community. Everyone but Chillingworth and Hester think he is holiness personified, and Dimmesdale, for the longest time, does nothing to correct this misconception. Dimmesdale, unlike Hester, doesn’t understand one’s individuality, strength, and identity are obtained by being yourself, not hiding it. • Truly being Human, Knowledge, and Growing from Sin Hester and Dimmesdale’s sin results in pain and alienation for the both of them. Hester is actually cast out of society while Dimmesdale separates himself from his true nature because of his guilt. However, both Hester and Dimmesdale learn more about human nature; they both become more knowledgeable about what it means to be human as a result of their sin. Hester’s ‘A’ gets her to examine both her society and herself; she also becomes a stronger, bolder person. Dimmesdale is better able to sympathize with and connect with his congregation because he has experienced what they have gone through; he is much more humble and down to earth because of his sinful experience, and as a result, his sermons are much more powerful and meaningful. Hester and Dimmesdale are forced to examine themselves more closely each day, learn what it means to be human, and actually grow into better people because of their sin. • The Nature of Evil The devil, a.k.a. the Black Man, is mentioned several times in the novel. Chillingworth is obviously driven by the devil after evilly pursuing revenge for so long, Dimmesdale fears that he has made a pact with the devil, and the witchy Mistress Hibbins clearly has sold her soul to the devil. However, the source of the evils is debated throughout the novel; is Chillingworth entirely responsible for his vengeful attitude, or did Hester and Dimmesdale drive him to it? Is Pearl just being inquisitive, or has Hester and Dimmesdale’s sin spawned a devilish, fiendish nymph? Throughout the book, these characters try to discover what is evil and what is not. In the end, it is made clear to the reader that Chillingsworth’s vengeance is pure evil, and Hester and Dimmsedale’s sin isn’t as evil as one might think. The book shows that evil comes from a close link between hate and love, because both are passionate feelings. When love is destroyed or hurt, evil often arises.
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Themes:
• Individual Identity vs. Society
Hester could have left New England and shed her scarlet letter ‘A’. She also acts dismayed when Chillingworth tells her the magistrates are considering removing her ‘A’. If Hester ran away or removed the letter, she would be acknowledging that the ‘A’ is shameful thing that she wants to get rid of and that society controls her. Hester stays and changes the letter’s meaning into something positive (A for Able). She cannot remove the ‘A’ because it is a part of her, and she will not let anyone else think that they have the authority to control who she is.
Dimmesdale is also tormented by a society that determines his identity. Being the minister, he is an important symbol in the community. Everyone but Chillingworth and Hester think he is holiness personified, and Dimmesdale, for the longest time, does nothing to correct this misconception. Dimmesdale, unlike Hester, doesn’t understand one’s individuality, strength, and identity are obtained by being yourself, not hiding it.
• Truly being Human, Knowledge, and Growing from Sin
Hester and Dimmesdale’s sin results in pain and alienation for the both of them. Hester is actually cast out of society while Dimmesdale separates himself from his true nature because of his guilt. However, both Hester and Dimmesdale learn more about human nature; they both become more knowledgeable about what it means to be human as a result of their sin. Hester’s ‘A’ gets her to examine both her society and herself; she also becomes a stronger, bolder person. Dimmesdale is better able to sympathize with and connect with his congregation because he has experienced what they have gone through; he is much more humble and down to earth because of his sinful experience, and as a result, his sermons are much more powerful and meaningful. Hester and Dimmesdale are forced to examine themselves more closely each day, learn what it means to be human, and actually grow into better people because of their sin.
• The Nature of Evil
The devil, a.k.a. the Black Man, is mentioned several times in the novel. Chillingworth is obviously driven by the devil after evilly pursuing revenge for so long, Dimmesdale fears that he has made a pact with the devil, and the witchy Mistress Hibbins clearly has sold her soul to the devil. However, the source of the evils is debated throughout the novel; is Chillingworth entirely responsible for his vengeful attitude, or did Hester and Dimmesdale drive him to it? Is Pearl just being inquisitive, or has Hester and Dimmesdale’s sin spawned a devilish, fiendish nymph? Throughout the book, these characters try to discover what is evil and what is not. In the end, it is made clear to the reader that Chillingsworth’s vengeance is pure evil, and Hester and Dimmsedale’s sin isn’t as evil as one might think. The book shows that evil comes from a close link between hate and love, because both are passionate feelings. When love is destroyed or hurt, evil often arises.
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