Scarlet Letter & Hester essays

Scarlet Letter & Hester essays It is adequate to begin a composition of this caliber with the quote, It (the scarlet letter) had the effect of a spell, taking her out of the ordinary relations with humanity, and enclosing her in a sphere by herself (56). This confinement, undoubtedly, keeps Hester closer to God than without the scarlet letter attached to her bosom. Throughout The Scarlet Letter, an extremely religious book, the letter A, which was impressed on Hester Prynnes bosom, did not completely shun her out of society. Even in a Puritan society, the letter actually brought Hester closer to God himself. A direct reference to the scarlet letter bringing Hester closer to God would be easily exemplified in Hawthornes continuous attempt to connect Pearl with the letter. It was most obviously seen when Hester stated, God gave me the child... See ye not, she is the scarlet letter (116). Pearl was an emblem and product of sin (97) because of Hester, yet God gave Hester the child. Clearly, the letter A, a symbol of sin, is constantly reminding Hester that she is directly tied to God. Another strong connection of Pearl to the scarlet letter is when Pearl actually makes a letter of her own to place on her bosom. Pearl took some eel-grass, and imitated... on her own bosom, the decoration with which she was so familiar on her mothers: A letter- the letter A (185). Hesters own gift from God, as she had stated before, then wore the same symbol as her mother did. Even more so, Hester would always have rather wore the scarlet letter on her bosom than announce Pearls father. In fact, Hest er once told the clergymen, my child must seek a heavenly Father; she shall never know an earthly one (71). At times, Pearl seemed to see the scarlet letter as a symbol of her father. When she was just a baby, Pearl would often ...