A Scarlet Letter by Nathanial Hawthorne: Essay on Identity and Society

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they stayed true to their character were Hester, Chillingworth and Dimmesdale. Whether or not these characters allowed society to form their personalities, the author showed us through their actions how important it is to stay true to your identity. Hester stayed true to her identity no matter how much society embarrassed and humiliated her. She was forced to wear a scarlet A as a symbol of the sin she committed, which was adultery. She was to wear this A to show everyone what she had done and to label her as an outcast of society. However, Hester wore this A with pride. She didn't let society take control over her and ruin her, because she knew that what she had done wasn't something to be ashamed of, but instead something that she should handle with confidence and pride. As Hester said in the book, her actions were a part of her, and to deny her actions was like denying who she was. Even when Chillingworth told Hester that the town fathers were considering letting her remove her ...

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been essential to keep her a woman." (pg. 158) If Hester hadn't stayed true to her identity and had let society take control over her, who knew the woman she would have been today.

Another example of a character that stayed true to his identity was Dimmesdale. Dimmesdale was the minister of the town, and therefore was someone regarded as holy and religious. Even though he holds a respectful role in society, he suffers anguish throughout his life. However, he is a man who takes responsibility for his actions, and so because Hester was shunned out of society for an action both of them committed together, he cuts an A on his chest in response to his guilt. Society believes this to be ...

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