The Scarlet Letter

[Insert Names of Author (s )]

[Insert Course Identification information here]

[Insert Professors name here]

[Insert Submission date here]

The Scarlet Letter

Despite the fact that Hester Prynne , the protagonist of the story committed adultery she is still an epitome of a woman with dignity . Even though her dress was marked with the symbol of disgrace she still lived a life with her head high and became an important member in her community as a seamstress (Hawthorne , 1981

Hester and her scarlet letter

The Scarlet letter is a story

that revolves around the lives of Hester and her daughter out of wedlock , Pearl . Hester committed an adultery with a man that she refuse to name and is sentenced to wear a scarlet letter A ' on her dress for as long as she lives . This letter is a symbol of disgrace since adultery is considered a capital sin during those times . Despite the everyday indignation that she experiences from people she still bore a child and made a living through sewing . She later on gained popularity as a good seamstress . At the climax of the story wherein the father of Pearl admitted in public that he is the father and died , Hester was already freed from sin . Hester and Pearl left for Europe and lived there until Pearl got married to an aristocrat . Hester came back to her community leaving a descent life and continued on wearing the scarlet letter even though she could have stayed at Europe together with her daughter (Woloszyn ,2002

Adultery and the scarlet letter

Adultery during the 1640 's was punishable by death and whipping . During the time of Hawthorne the Plymouth law of 1694 dictates that those who commit adultery should display a letter A ' on their dress (Eldred ,1999 . Thus , the Scarlet Letter of Hawthorne came about . The Plymouth law is viewed as a light punishment as compared to death and severe whipping however the mark of adultery will be carried as long as she lives . Her child also experienced shame and discrimination especially during her childhood when other children harass and mock her Hester , her mother , would throw stones at them to make them stop (Eldred ,1999 . Despite the many sufferings that she has incurred she has had chances of escaping her current state

Choices to escape the scarlet letter

Hester had a choice to reveal the name of the father of her child but she refuse to do so . This could have been her way out of the shame that adultery has caused her but she never did . She was made to wear the scarlet letter with the hopes that she will someday repent and reveal the name of father of her child (Hawthorne , 1981 . She never did revealed his name . Perhaps out of love , respect or other factors but this only proves that as a woman she is headstrong . She chose to endure a life as an outcast despite constant discrimination and hate thread that is brought about by the Scarlet...