The Scarlet Letter: The Symbol of the Scarlet Letter


In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, Hester Prynne's scarlet
token liberates her more than it punishes her. First of all, Hester's soul is
freed by her admission of her crime; by enduring her earthly punishment, Hester
is assured of a place in the heavens. Also, though her appearance is much
hampered by the scarlet letter, her mind is freed by it, that an intellectual
passion rises from her isolation and suffering. Finally, it defines her
identity, for the letter makes Hester the woman that she is; it gives her roots,
character, and a uniqueness to her being that sets her apart from the other
Puritans. The scarlet letter is indeed a blessing to Hester Prynne, more than
the curse she believes it to be.
The scarlet symbol of ignominy may have defiled Hester's public image,
yet it has been a benefit rather than a bane to her soul, for by admitting her
crime to the crowd, her soul is freed from two hells:......

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Title: The Scarlet Letter: The Symbol Of The Scarlet Letter
Approximate Word Count: 1294
Approximate Pages: 6 (250 words per double-spaced page)

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