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The Scarlet Letter: The Theme Of Punishment - Online Term Paper

The Scarlet Letter: The Theme Of Punishment

Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter deals with many themes, the most
powerful being punishment. In this novel, Hester Prynne becomes a highly
respected person in a Puritan society by overcoming one of the harshest
punishments, the scarlet letter. This object on "her bosom"; however, does
the exact opposite of that which it was meant for. Eventually, Hester
Prynne inverts all the odds against here due to her courage, pride and
effort. Hester went beyond the letter of the law and did everything asked
of here in order to prove that she is "able."

Hester became quite a popular seamstress, admired all over the town
of Boston for her work. Hester is modest in everything that she does.
Hester ...

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dignity. Hester knew that what was done in the past was wrong
and that the scarlet A was the right thing to do, therefor it is worn with
a sense of pride.

The child, Pearl, is "a blessing and as a reminder of her sin." As
if the scarlet A were not enough punishment there "was a brat of that
hellish breed" which would remind Hester of what happened in the past. The
"brat" could have been given away to Governor Bellingham yet Hester
proclaimed that Pearl "is my happiness!...Ye shall not take her! I will
die first!" Not a person in Boston, nor Hester herself thought highly of
the little child and Hester refused to let Pearl go. Hester carried the
kid around only because it was a direct reflection of her sin and to cast
away here sin as freely as that to give it away would be unjust and unfair
to Hester and Pearl. From now on Hester would continually and proudly be
near Pearl. Hester would go against the grain in everything she did. Very
rarely did she ever give up hope; never ...

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The Scarlet Letter: The Theme Of Punishment. (2007, March 18). Retrieved January 13, 2026, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/The-Scarlet-Letter-The-Theme-Punishment/61962

"The Scarlet Letter: The Theme Of Punishment." Essayworld.com. Essayworld.com, 18 Mar. 2007. Web. 13 Jan. 2026. <http://www.essayworld.com/essays/The-Scarlet-Letter-The-Theme-Punishment/61962>

"The Scarlet Letter: The Theme Of Punishment." Essayworld.com. March 18, 2007. Accessed January 13, 2026. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/The-Scarlet-Letter-The-Theme-Punishment/61962.

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PAPER DETAILS

Added: 3/18/2007 11:55:45 AM
Category: Book Reports
Type: Free Paper
Words: 572
Pages: 3

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