As a result of having to wear the scarlet letter,
Hester loses all other identity
. Even though the interpretation of the letter changes, Hester is inextricably tied to this symbol, so much so that she feels compelled to return to America after having left it with her daughter Pearl.
What was the impact of the scarlet letter?
The scarlet letter had one basic meaning, “adultery,” but to the characters of Hester and Dimmesdale
How does the impact of the scarlet letter change for Hester over time?
The scarlet letter has a profound effect on Hester,
causing her to change and grow
. She could have started a new life where nobody knew of her past or her shame, but she decides to bear the consequences of her adultery and do penance among those who scorn her, a testament to her strength of character.
How does the scarlet letter give Hester insight?
“. . . she felt or fancied, then, that
the scarlet letter had endowed her with a new sense
. She shuddered to believe, yet could not help believing, that it gave her a sympathetic knowledge of the hidden sin in other hearts.” Hester is now able to empathize with others in a way that she couldn't before.
Why is Hester important in the scarlet letter?
Hester Prynne is the heroine of The Scarlet Letter and a very strong woman, despite her circumstances. After she
commits an act of adultery
, she survives almost complete social shunning, raises her daughter alone, and finds it within her heart to do charitable works for the community that rejected her.
How does the meaning of the a change in the scarlet letter?
The letter's meaning
shifts as time passes
. Originally intended to mark Hester as an adulterer, the “A” eventually comes to stand for “Able.” Finally, it becomes indeterminate: the Native Americans who come to watch the Election Day pageant think it marks her as a person of importance and status.
What was Hester's punishment?
Hester's punishment was
a judicial sentence
; however, being forced to stand on the scaffold for three hours, and to wear the scarlet letter “A” for the rest of her life. It was socially humiliating. Hester was sent to prison for committing adultery.
Who committed the worst sin in The Scarlet Letter?
Roger Chillingworth
is by far the worst sinner in The Scarlet Letter.
What is the main message of The Scarlet Letter?
Major theme. The major theme of The Scarlet Letter is
shaming and social stigmatizing
, both Hester's public humiliation and Dimmesdale's private shame and fear of exposure.
What time of day does Dimmesdale hold his vigil in The Scarlet Letter?
Twice, Pearl asks Dimmesdale if he will stand there with them at
noon the next
day; the minister says he will stand there with them on “the great judgment day.” As he speaks, a strange light in the sky illuminates the scaffold and its surroundings.
Is Hester truly penitent for her crime?
No, not thine!” Is Hester truly penitent for her crime? Though
Hester regrets the
effect her crime has had on her child and on her position in society, she sees Chillingworth's betrayal of Dimmesdale
Why is Hester a sinner?
Hester
breaks the social laws
, and thus, is considered a sinner, condemned to wearing the stigmatizing ‘A', lying in her bosom for Adultery. With this symbol of sin, Hester suffers despise and isolation.
What was Hester's greatest sin?
Hester Prynne's sin was
adultery
. This sin was regarded very seriously by the Puritans, and was often punished by death. Hester's punishment was to endure a public shaming on a scaffold for three hours and wear a scarlet letter “A” on her chest for the rest of her life in the town.
What does The Scarlet Letter A symbolize?
While the “A” initially symbolizes
“adultery
,” later various people assign meanings such as “able” or “angel” to the letter, as the community's views of Hester change. For Governor Bellingham's servant, the letter signals Hester's upper-class (“aristocratic” or “authoritarian”) status.
Is Scarlet Letter A true story?
The Scarlet Letter is also
a historical novel
, in that it was written in 1850 but set in the 1640s and contains real-life settings, characters, and actual historical events.
What is the irony in The Scarlet Letter?
The irony is that
Hester remains true to her morals by not confessing her lover's name
, while Dimmesdale
