The Scarlet Letter, Vice Or Virtue? Essay, Research Paper

The Scarlet Letter, Vice or Virtue?

Hawthorn & # 8217 ; s Novel, The Scarlet Letter, is brimming with many vivid symbols, the most evident of which is the vermilion missive & # 8220 ; A & # 8221 ; , that Hester Prynne is made to have on upon her thorax. Throughout the novel, hawthorn presents the vermilion missive to the reader in a assortment of ways. Yet an of import inquiry emerges, as the life of Hester Prynne is described, which deals with the affects that both the vermilion missive and Hester have on each other. There is no distinct reply to this inquiry, as many illustrations back uping both statements can be found throughout the novel. The missive evidently causes Hester much heartache, as she is mocked and ostracized by many of the townsfolk, yet on the other manus, subsequently in the novel Hester & # 8217 ; s bravery and pride aid to alter the significance of vermilion missive in the eyes of both herself and the populace.

First, there many cases, both actual and symbolic, which support the impression that the vermilion missive has a strong affect on Hester. As seen early in the novel, the public sentiment of a 17th century puritan society can be rather shockable. As Hester is foremost marched out of the prison, the adult females of the town frown at her. & # 8220 ; At the really least, they should hold put the trade name of a hot Fe on Hester Prynne & # 8217 ; s forehead. & # 8221 ; ( p.36 ) The initial sentiment of the society is highly barbarous and Hester, who tries urgently to stay strong and undisturbed in the face of this rabble choler, is by no agencies deaf. The barbarous actions of the townsfolk throughout the fresh contribute to the ways in which the vermilion missive affects Hester. Yet, these affects of the vermilion missive on Hester can be defined more specifically when examined on the symbolic degree. In many ways, Hester & # 8217 ; s girl Pearl, serves as a symbol for the vermilion missive. Pearl is after all the cause of the vermilion missive, for if she had non been born, Hester would hold ne’er been found guilty and hence ne’er accused of criminal conversation. Pearl becomes the incarnation of the vermilion missive, merely as the vermilion missive is a lasting reminder of Hester & # 8217 ; s wickednesss, Pearl serves as a life reminder of Hesters entry to crave. Many of the things that immature Pearl utters, fill Hester with apprehension. For illustration, upon being told that she was sent to earth by God, the immature yearling responds, & # 8220 ; & # 8216 ; He did non direct me! & # 8230 ; I have no Heavenly Father! & # 8217 ; & # 8221 ; ( p.67 ) It is pearls adverting of such things as this that cause Hester to theorize where the immature kid even came from. & # 8220 ; & # 8216 ; Thou art non my kid! Thou art no pearl of mine! & # 8221 ;

( p.67 ) It is in this sense that the vermilion missive, which immature Pearl symbolizes, tortures Hester. Thus, in both the actual sense, of the crowd’s jeer of Hester, and the nonliteral sense of the torment caused by pearl, the vermilion missive has great affects on Hester Prynne.

An every bit squelching statement in contrast to the 1 aforementioned can be made, in which Hester greatly affects the missive she is made to have on. Throughout the novel, Hester tries highly difficult to stay strong in the face of those that ridicule her. By and by, through her persevering actions, in an effort to repent for her wickednesss, she begins to alter the peoples sentiment of the missive. & # 8220 ; The vermilion missive had the affect of a cross on a nun & # 8217 ; s bosom. It imparted to the wearer a sort of sacredness, which enabled her to walk firmly amid all peril. & # 8221 ; ( p.112 ) The townspeople Begin to see the missive to stand for able, instead than for criminal conversation. The new significance Hester gives the missive is besides shown on a symbolic degree, when during a meteor shower the missive & # 8220 ; A & # 8221 ; displayed in the sky is interpreted by the town to stand for the word & # 8220 ; Angel & # 8221 ; . In add-on, if Pearl is a symbol stand foring the vermilion missive, Hester views Pearl as her lone joy in the universe. Hester sees Pearl to be & # 8220 ; a approval as a reminder of her wickedness & # 8221 ; . Hawthorn gives the intimation of a scriptural allusion in which Hester positions Pearl as & # 8220 ; The pearl of great monetary value & # 8221 ; ( Matthew 13 ) . The & # 8220 ; pearl of great monetary value & # 8221 ; refers to heaven, and Hester positions Pearl as the lone piece of heaven she will of all time hold. Therefore, due to Hester & # 8217 ; s great bravery in the face of hardship and her ability to alter the manner people view her, along with the fact that she embraces pearl as her lone joy shows that Hester has a strong control over the red missive.

Throughout the novel, Hawthorn gives many grounds that support both sides of the statement over the affects that both the vermilion missive and Hester have on eachother. Yet, when symbolism depicts the vermilion missive to be Pearl, the statement between Hester and the missive is best epitomized in the undermentioned citation. & # 8220 ; In giving her being, a great jurisprudence had been broken ; and the consequence was a being, whose elements were possibly beautiful and superb, but all in upset & # 8230 ; & # 8221 ; ( p.62 ) The citation, if examined with the idea that & # 8220 ; her & # 8221 ; refers to the vermilion missive, depicts that although Hester & # 8217 ; s bravery allows the missive to be seen as beautiful, there still remains a shadow of stalking upset that the missive casts over Hester & # 8217 ; s life. Hester shapes her life so that it remains in delicate balance with the baleful shadow of the missive.