Unit AS 2 - The Study of Poetry Written after and the Study of Prose 1800-1945
Essay
Essay- Is There Forgiveness in “The Scarlet Letter”?
11 views 0 purchase
Course
Unit AS 2 - The Study of Poetry Written after and the Study of Prose 1800-1945
Institution
CCEA
Book
The Scarlet Letter
“There is no forgiveness in ‘The Scarlet Letter’ by Nathaniel Hawthorne”- how far do you agree with this statement?
This is an top-scoring A-Level essay on the theme of forgiveness in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Scarlet Letter”. As well as a clean copy, I have included an original,...
The Scarlet letter chapters one through seven study guide
Essay- Pearl as a Symbol of Sin in “The Scarlet Letter”
All for this textbook (14)
Written for
A/AS Level
CCEA
English Literature
Unit AS 2 - The Study of Poetry Written after and the Study of Prose 1800-1945
All documents for this subject (33)
Seller
Follow
jessiebolton06
Reviews received
Content preview
“There is no forgiveness in ‘The Scarlet Letter’ by Nathaniel Hawthorne”- how
far do you agree with this statement?
In Hawthorne’s “The Scarlet Letter”, the author extensively explores the
concept of punishment, which is intrinsically linked to the idea of forgiveness.
Hawthorne uses his criticism of the fictional Puritan elders to condemn his
own unforgiving, intolerant ancestors who participated in the Salem witch
trials. This is achieved by portraying his fictional world as a place without
forgiveness.
This is clearest in the character of Hester, who is extensively punished
for her crime of adultery. Speaking of Pearl, she exclaims “She is my
punishment none the less!”. The exclamation highlights the pain of Hester’s
godly punishment, Pearl. This allows Hawthorne to portray the scarlet letter as
a superfluous punishment, showin to the reader how the townsfolk are without
forgiveness. The townspeople continue to show their lack of forgiveness
towards Hester when her charitable deeds lead to the “A” being renamed for
“able”. Despite the fact that there were “none so willing as she” to give aid to
others, she is still isolated. The assertive tone emphasises Hester’s good, kind
nature to the reader. Despite this, she is still isolated, and Hawthorne uses this
mistreatment to highlight the rigid, unforgiving nature of the Puritan moral
code.
In fact, Hester is found to stand in “an inviolable circle”. Hawthorne uses
this metaphor to convey her complete isolation to the reader, and this is a
recurring image throughout the novel. Towards the novel's conclusion, she
stands in another “circle of ignominy” as Dimmesdale confesses, and the
parallel metaphors show how her punishment (and, therefore, the judgement
of those around her) extends throughout the years portraying them as
unforgiving Whilst a modern audience is more likely to view Hester as
innocent, even a contemporary audience of the nineteenth century would have
empathised with Hawthone’s sympathetic portrayal of his protagonist.
Ultimately, despite the fact that the Puritan elders express a desire to purify
Hester, she is left “without a clue in a dark labyrinth”. Hawthorne employs the
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller jessiebolton06. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $5.50. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
