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Essay Galaxy - The Scarlet Letter: The Symbol of the Scarlet Letter
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....
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