Character Analysis of The Scarlet Letter
by Barry Wright
Essay: Character Analysis of The Scarlet Letter
Pages: 10
Rating: 3 stars
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Emotions instigate actions throughout a person’s life. Whether a person chooses to act upon their feelings reflects
their true character. In the novel The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne explains the qualities of human emotions
through his characters. Each of his characters represents a moral quality in which people can relate to through
their own lives. Throughout the novel, Hawthorne reveals his character's conflicting emotions and hearts.
Hester Prynne masks her shame and attempts to resume her normal life. After being publicly humiliated for
committing the transgression of adultery, Hester continues her life with a stronger personality. At first, Hester is
ashamed of herself and of the direct proof of her sin, Pearl. However, after coping with her sin and allowing herself
time to realize her mistake, she believes the “badge of shame” (Hawthorne 58) will teach her daughter and benefit
her. She embraces her punishment in order to purify herself. Hester grows stronger from her transgression by
learning to endure the humiliation and move on with a bigger purpose: raising her daughter. To Hester, Pearl “is
[her] happiness--[her] torture” (60) and continues to be her only anchor. Hawthorne describes Hester as “selfordained a Sister of Mercy” (104) where her scarlet letter is no longer perceived as an icon for her sin, but rather a
“symbol of her calling” (104). After conquering her shame, she learns to help others--those who had fallen -recover from their own conflicts. Hester still lives with the shame of her sin every time she looks at her daughter,
but manages to beat the pain and guilt that tries to overwhelm her.
Roger Chillingworth is consumed by rage and driven by an evil vengeance. Upon returning to his wife aft...
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