Canales 1

Mikayla Canales

Mr. Price

AP English, Period 6

02 March 2017

The Scarlet Letter: The Sinful Scandal

Sin is defined as an immoral act considered to be a transgression against divine law. In

the novel The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne tells the story of one womans sin and the

impact it made on Boston during the seventeenth century. The town decided to punish Hester

Prynne for her act of adultery by forcing her to bear a scarlet A on her bosom. Furthermore the

novel takes readers through the ups and downs of Hesters punishment and tells the suspenseful

story of Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, the man whom Prynne had an affair with. The component

that makes The Scarlet Letter one of the most popular books to this day is the engrossing

message that one is able to take away. Hawthorne assures readers that all people sin, whether

they are holy or unholy; what really matters is if they acknowledge their sin. The Scarlet Letter

eloquently conveyed this message through the letter A, which symbolized sin; isolation; and

pride.

The letter A in The Scarlet Letter symbolizes sin. For example, a scarlet A is used as a

punishment for Hester Prynnes transgression against divine law, ... They have doomed Mistress

Prynne to stand only a space of three hours on the platform of the pillory, and then and thereafter,

for the remainder of her natural life, to wear a mark of shame upon her bosom (Hawthorne 59).

The letter was created for the sole purpose of being able to identify Hesters sin for the rest of her

life; the town of Boston wanted all people to see the scarlet A on Hesters chest and instantly be

informed of the act of adultery she committed. Having a bright mark upon her chest was the
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ultimate acknowledgement of sin for Hester; she was constantly reminded of her act of adultery

and easily accepted her consequences. In addition, Hesters sin can be seen through the

townspeople denying her the right to sew brides clothing, But it is not recorded that, in a single

instance, her skill was called in aid to embroider the white veil which was to cover the pure

blushes of a bride. The exception indicated the ever-relentless rigor with which society frowned

upon her sin (76). Since her act of adultery was forever showcased to the public, the

townspeople judged her at all times and would refuse her their business, even though she was the

most skilled seamstress in town. This forced Hester to forever feel the pang of her crime after her

three hours on the scaffold of shame. Lastly, readers are able to recognize Reverend

Dimmesdales sin when a meteor tore through the sky, revealing a scarlet letter meant for him,

We impute it, therefore, solely to the disease in his own eye and heart, that the minister, looking

upward to the zenith, beheld there the appearance of an immense letter, - the letter A, - marked

out in lines of dull red light (141). Dimmesdale hid his love affair with Hester from the town to

protect himself, but the natural world constantly reminded him of his sin and punished him for it;

after all, a holy man should have to pay for his actions. Since he refused to admit his

transgression, he was forced to suffer through illness and eternal guilt; he was spared the publics

judgment, but he ended up hurting more than Hester ever did. To conclude, one is able to

recognize how the scarlet letter symbolized sin through Hesters punishment, Prynnes inability

to sew for brides, and the meteor; the letter is also a symbol of isolation.

The scarlet A, which is essential to the novels message, is an excellent representation of

isolation. Firstly, Hester and her daughter, Pearl, lived away from the rest of Boston, On the

outskirts of town, within the verge of the peninsula, but not in close vicinity to any other

habitation, there was a small thatched cottage In this little, lonesome dwelling Hester
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established herself with her infant child (Hawthorne 75). Hester felt as if there were no place in

town for her and her daughter. Hester was constantly shunned by Boston since she was pregnant

with Pearl; living in a cabin in the woods was Hesters way of escaping the criticism. In addition,

one can notice how the scarlet letter represented isolation through the townspeople alienating

Hester in public, She stood apart from mortal interests, yet close beside them, like a ghost that

revisits the familiar fireside, and can no longer make itself seen or felt; no more smile with the

household joy, nor mourn with the kindred sorrow (78). Hester would walk in town and

complete the same tasks her fellow citizens did, but as she would walk, the people would turn to

her and gawk; none would ever think about simply smiling in her direction. This isolation was a

painful reminder to Hester that her scarlet letter reminded everyone of her adulterous actions,

confirming the only person she had in the world was Pearl. Lastly, Pearl was born an outcast,

Pearl was born an outcast of the infantile world. An imp of evil, emblem and product of sin, she

had no right among christened infants (85). Pearl was another reminder to the public that Hester

was a sinner; since she was born from sinful soil, she was deemed as unholy. Though Hester had

the chance, she didnt leave Boston; she acknowledged her sin and took her consequences,

meaning that her daughter also felt the wrath of the scarlet A. In the end, readers are able to see

that the scarlet A represents isolation through the Hester and Pearl living in a secluded cabin,

Hester being gawked at in public, and Pearl being born an outcast; the letter A is also a symbol of

honor.

The scarlet letter in Hawthornes novel symbolizes pride. For example, due to her elegant

sewing of her scarlet A on all of her garments, Hester gained recognition for her talent, Her

needlework was seen on the ruff of the Governor; military men wore it on their scarfs, and the

minister on his band; it decked the babys little cap; it was shut up to the mildewed and moulder
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away, in the coffins of the dead (Hawthorne 76). Hester felt fulfilled whenever she was sewing;

she acknowledged her sin and sewed elaborate scarlet letters to cope. Without having to sew her

scarlet letter onto her clothing, no one would have recognized her talent; she wouldnt have been

able to have the same pride in her work. In addition, she had great pride in her daughter, God

gave me this child! He gave me in requital of all things else, which he had taken from me. She is

my happiness! - she is my torture, none the less! Pearl keeps me here in life! (103). Although

Pearl was a product of her adultery, Hester loved her child deeply; Pearl was the only person she

knew would always be with her. Without her, Hester would have taken a dark path in life; Pearl

helped her mother overcome adversity and Hester wouldnt trade anything for her sweet

daughter. Also, over time, the A took on a new meaning, The letter was a symbol of her calling.

Such helpfulness was found in her They said that [the scarlet letter] meant Able; so strong was

Hester Prynne, with a womans strength (146). As Pearl got older, Hester started reaching out

more in her community; she would nurse the ill back to health, sew for the poor, and contribute

towards the good of her town. The people of Boston started to recognize her good deeds; the

scarlet A, which now stood for able, was something Hester could finally be proud of. To

conclude, readers can observe that the scarlet letter represented pride through Hesters skillful

sewing, Pearl, and the transformation of the meaning of the letter; the red A was also a symbol of

sin and isolation.

Through the letter A, which symbolized sin; isolation; and pride, The Scarlet Letter

eloquently conveyed Nathaniel Hawthornes message. The renowned novel has stood the test of

time; the 167 year-old book is still one of the most well known pieces of work to this day. The

connection between readers and the characters makes the meaning behind The Scarlet Letter

especially meaningful. For example, individuals are able to sympathize with Hester when she is
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facing the hardships of her sin and are particularly proud when she handles the pain that

accompanies her transgression. Readers can also see that Reverend Dimmesdales suffering was

caused by his refusal to confess his sin, showing one that it is best to acknowledge mistakes.

Therefore, individuals are able to recognize that both the holy and unholy sin; the truth is what

truly sets one free.