"The Scarlet Letter"

Paper Summary:

This paper analyzes and criticizes the personage of Hester Prynne in "The Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne. It illustrates both good and bad qualities of her character including, but not limited to her values, weaknesses, religious beliefs and whether she was a strong or rebellious woman for that time period. Finally, the paper examines the lessons that a woman might learn from this story and whether the story carries a positive or negative message for women.

Table of Contents:
Outline
Objective
Introduction
The Torment of Sins Not Confessed
Hester Prynne: An Unfit Mother?
Analysis and Critique of the Character Hester Prynne
Summary and Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Hester Prynne is a character who is courageous and who because of her guilt and adjudication of being guilty by her townspeople finds even more courage and wisdom than had been readily available to her prior to her punishment of wearing the scarlet letter. In her state of sinfulness she is able to reflect upon sin and its' causation and with a freedom unknown to those harboring inside themselves their unknown sins that marred them although publicly their sins were unknown Hester Prynne was able to achieve a strength and pureness of heart that others carrying hidden sin could never hope to access."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Hawthorne, Nathaniel (1906) The Scarlet Letter. J. M. Dent & Sons. Place of Publication: London. Publication Year: 1906.
• Nathaniel Hawthorn: The Scarlet Letter (nd) The Classic Text: Traditions and Interpretations. Online available at: http://www.uwm.edu/Library/special/exhibits/clastext/clspg143.htm.
• Baym, Nina. "Plot in Hawthorne's Romances." In Ruined Eden of the Present, edited by G. R. Thompson and Virgil L. Lokke. Purdue University Press, 1981, pp. 49-70.
• Coxe, Arthur Cleveland. "The Writings of Hawthorne." In Church Review, January, 1851, pp. 489-511.

More papers on "The Scarlet Letter":

• Analytical Essay # 142408 : "Hawthorne's "The Scarlet Letter"
• Analytical Essay # 124563 : "Characters in "The Scarlet Letter"
• Analytical Essay # 124489 : "Perspectives on "The Scarlet Letter"
• Analytical Essay # 120733 : "Adultery in "The Scarlet Letter"

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