Navigation
•
Home
•
Members
•
Papers
•
Forums
•
Search
•
Signup
•
Links
•
Contact Us
•
About
Top 10
Popular Essays
Rated Essays
Newest Essays
Report
Print
Add to Favorites
Report
Messages
Rate
Similar Reports
Help
The Scarlet Letter (Click to select text)
The Scarlet Letter Nathaniel Hawthorne who was a well-known American author wrote The Scarlet Letter in 1850. Nathaniel Hawthorne was from Salem, Massachusetts and when he wanted to write short stories. He was troubled by unhappiness because he wasn't having any success in writing. He then had some success, but then he died a very depressed man. The Scarlet Letter is a novel that greatly reflects the beliefs of the Puritans during his time period. This novel is a classic that hasn't changed much through time and is not really outdated. The setting of the novel took place in the Puritan period, which is from 1620-1750. It took place in the city of Boston, Massachusetts. The setting of the book is important because of the puritan beliefs, which was where the scarlet letter comes from. The novel was written in the 3rd person as well. The setting does play a small part in making this book a classic novel. The novel contains only a couple main characters that are well developed. The main character in the book is Hester Prin. She is the one who wears the scarlet letter A because she committed the crime of adultery. Hester is attractive and has a good personality. Hester has a child who is the product of her sin and Hester won't tell who the father is. The next character is Pearl and she is Hester's daughter. Pearl is not a well-developed character and could be considered controversial. Another character is Rev. Arthur Dimmesdale. Dimmesdale is a young man and is the town's minister. Dimmesdale has a good personality and plays a very important role in how the book turns out at the end. The last major character is Roger Chillingworth. He is Hester's legal husband and Hester assumed he was dead because he was gone for a long time. He to plays an important role in how it turns out. Hawthorne did a very good job in character development, which is what makes this novel a classic. This novel has a few important conflicts that are man vs. man and man vs. himself. This story starts out with Hester and Pearl being released from prison. Hester and Pearl must then get up on the gallows and stand in front of everyone in the town square. The people want Hester to admit who she committed adultery with, but she will not confess. Now her legal husband, Chillingworth, comes in and wants revenge on the one she committed adultery with. The one who is guilty is suffering a lot of pain because of the guilt building up inside. It makes this character weaker and weaker from it. Hester really loves this person and wants to protect him from punishment. Hawthorne likewise does a good job developing the plot of the novel. He used some foreshadowing and description very well and this furthermore makes this novel a classic. This book has a couple themes that the author is trying to get across to the reader. One theme is that one should always confess one's guilt because the longer you hold it inside the more you will have suffer. It is always best to get things out in the open rather then bottle it up inside. Another theme is to not commit crimes because one will have to suffer the consequences because of it. Now if Hester wouldn't have committed adultery then she wouldn't have went through what she did. The themes Hawthorne is trying to get across to the reader are very important. This also helps make this novel a classic. Hawthorne used a unique style in writing the scarlet letter. He used a lot of irony and symbolism to write this book. A good example of symbolism is the scarlet letter A and what it stands for. It stands for adultery and in the book it said it could also stand for Angel too. This style of writing helps make this a classic novel that hasn't changed through time. Again this novel is a classic piece of work that isn't outdated and will not change through time. The style, characters, theme, and the plot are what makes this a classic novel. The style plays a very important role because of how uniquely it was written by Hawthorne. Hawthorne should be happy about this novel because it was pretty successful.
Recent Board Topics
Please drop by and sign up.
[
Submit Essay
] - [
Privacy
] - [
Disclaimer
] - [
Email Us
]
Copyright 2003 EssayFarm.com