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Post by Cody Hausdorf on Aug 3, 2014 16:44:20 GMT
In the beginning of the book "The Scarlet letter", Hester Prynne comes out of a prison and onto a scaffold. She is wearing the letter "A" on her chest. At this point in the book, the letter "A" stands for adultery, which is what Hester is in prison for. You can see that she is owning up to her crime because she wears the letter on her chest. As she stands on the scaffold, an audience of people watch and make fun of her. The crowed of mostly women are clearly extremely upset with Hester's crime. They are all shouting viscous insults at her. One woman shouted, "if the hussy stood up for judgment before us five, that are now here in knot together, would she come off with such a sentence as the worshipful magistrates have awarded?" this woman clearly is upset with Hester and wants her to have a brutal sentencing. so do most women in the crowed.
As the story goes on, the letter "A" is changed into a human form. Hester's child is said to be a "demand child." Since Hester had her daughter, Pearl with a man she was not married to, Pearl is now considered the human symbol of adultery. The original symbol of adultery, the letter "A" is now in the form of a human, Hester's daughter Pearl.
The symbol for adultery changes one last time. In the beginning, All the townspeople focused on the negative things about Hester. They never talked about how brave she was to wear the scarlet letter out in public and get gossiped about everywhere she went. Or how she chose to stay in Boston even though nobody liked her. In the end they all realize how strong and brave she was and they changed the way they thought about her.
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Post by welchb17 on Aug 5, 2014 19:11:38 GMT
In this novel the letter A at first stands for its literal meaning, Adultery. Hester sews this "elaborate embroidery" onto her clothing to symbolize what she has done. To the public this big "A" is looked at as negative and frowned apon. But Hester wears he "A" proudly. latter in the novel the symbolizim and meaning of the "A" changes. its meaning changes from what ist was meant to be at the beginning of the novel, Adultery, to "Angel" or "Able". The letter itself throughout the novel symbolized the lifestyle and choices of the main character, Hester Prynne. She was always proud of wearing that letter, she never looked at herself as an immoral or bad person for doing what she did. she also never cared what the people around her were saying or thinking about her, which at first was that she was a bad and immoral person but in the end the people changed their perspective of Hester into a more postive way.
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Post by Kassi Potter on Aug 5, 2014 19:56:45 GMT
In the novel, the main character, Hester Prynne, wears a scarlet "A" on her chest. This "A" signifies adultery because she had an affair with reverend Dimmesdale. The "A" acts as punishment for Hester and people say "this woman has brought shame upon us all, and ought to die." From the affair, Hester had a daughter named Pearl who also acts as a living punishment for the crime. The public humiliation that Hester receives is a warning to everyone in the town.
Reverend Dimmesdale has a guilty conscience about the crime since the public does not know the he was the partner of Hester and sees the "A" in the different places like on a meteor. Over time, the letter gains new meaning. Instead of representing adultery, it represents 'able'. By chapter 13, the novel says "Hester's nature showed itself warm and rich." and that "many people refused to interpret the scarlet A by its original signification."
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Post by laurentaylor25 on Aug 6, 2014 1:11:17 GMT
The symbol in the Scarlet Letter is the letter "A". The symbol signifies adultery, the act that Hester Prynne commits in the novel which causes all of the people in her town to shun her. Hester's daughter, Pearl, is living proof that the "A" is real. Although, over time, Hester's reputation turns into something that is no longer shameful. After seven long years of wearing the scarlet letter on her chest, Hester learns to repent from her sins and finally learns how to make herself a better person. Through her mistakes, Hester realizes her past faults. Soon enough, Hester's "A" no longer stands for adultery, but now for able.
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Post by Amanda Magee on Aug 7, 2014 21:18:47 GMT
The literal meaning of the Scarlet Letter “A” means adultery. Hester Prynne wears this letter on her chest as a punishment of committing adultery with Dimmesdale. Dimmesdale, also has a scarlet letter, but burned into his skin. This causes him pain throughout the novel. The “A” on Hester’s chest makes her an outcast. However, the meaning of the letter “A” changes. When Hester began charity work, making fine garments, and raising her daughter Pearl on her own; people saw her differently. “Many people refused to interpret the scarlet A by its original signification. They said it meant Able; so strong was Hester Prynne, with a woman's strength.” Therefore, instead of others looking down upon Hester just as a sinner, they saw her strength and knew that the scarlet letter should be looked at with respect and also sympathy.
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Post by Bailey Wagner on Aug 8, 2014 15:26:13 GMT
The highly charged symbol is the scarlet letter "A", which was a prominent sign of an adulterer, which is sex between a married person and someone who is not that person's wife or husband. The main character, Hester Prynne, had committed adultery with the town's pastor, Arthur Dimmesdale, and later bore his child, Pearl, later known as the "devil's child". Because she had no spouse, Hester was then was accused and convicted of this crime. Her punishment was to wear the letter "A" everyday for the rest of her life, so everyone would know the shame she possessed. But the thing was, she never let her burden cause her grief, she wore her punishment proudly and confidently everyday, ignoring any rude slurs from her neighbors. She even outlined her "A" in golden threading. But because of the mistake Hester had made, her child Pearl had to suffer as well. The town children never accepted her, and neither did the adults. Pearl is also somewhat of a symbol in the novel. She is a constant reminder of the sin committed by her mother. But at the same time, she is a rather complicated symbol of love and passion. She is described as basically the perfect child, she was a very beautiful child with a good soul. She kept the light shining in Hester's life.
But now, in the end of the story, when Arthur admits to his sin in front of the entire town and reveals his own branded "A" on his chest, the scarlet letter's meaning was transformed from a person of sin, to a person of grace. "A" for Angel.
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Post by Hunter Tuazon on Aug 8, 2014 18:18:43 GMT
In the beginning of the book the "A" which is sown onto her clothing represents Adultery which was a horribly sin to commit in the Puritan time period. throughout the book she is shunned, punished, looked down upon, and insulted every where she goes. near the end of the novel Hester starts to regain respect from the townspeople for doing good deeds such as helping the poor and caring for the sick. The red "A" transforms from Adultery to Angel,Able. Governer Bellingham's servant suggest that the letter symbolizes Hester's upper-class, saying it means "Aristocrat" or "Authoritarian". The letter was also compared to having the same "effect of the cross on a nun's bosom. "It imparted to the wearer a kind of sacredness, which enabled her to walk securely amid all peril." With all of the cruel talk and doubtful glances Hester had received, she endured it all and shone through her mistakes. However, she was still not happy with herself and was "determined to redeem her error" later on. The meaning of the symbol was originally negative, but transformed into a positive sign as the mistakes in the story were recognized and dealt with.
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Post by melodies01 on Aug 8, 2014 22:41:52 GMT
1. The highly charged symbolism of The Scarlet Letter is one of its most distinctive features. Discuss the central symbol of the story- the scarlet letter itself. What does it signify? How does it function in the novel? How does its meaning change over time? Cite specific examples from the text to support your answer. In the novel "The Scarlet Letter", Hester Prynne wears a scarlet letter "A" upon her bosom. In the beginning of the novel the scarlet letter stood for adultery; which was the sin Hester committed. Hester "was the wife of a certain learned man," "the doctor they call Roger Chillingworth." Roger sent Hester to Massachusetts and was said to be lost; however he was captured by Native Americans who taught him how to heal people using natural herbs and substances from the earth. Hester went about her life and had an affair with the Boston's minister, Arthur Dimmesdale. However, Hester had a baby girl, Pearl, so they're secret couldn't be kept. The scarlet letter is meant to be a symbol of shame, but instead it becomes a symbol of identity to Hester. Society is able to see through to who Hester is even though she tries to cover up the scarlet letter. Throughout the story the meaning of the letter changed and eventually came to stand for "Able." Even though the letter is a reminder of Hester's sin, the letter also seems insignificant which points out the inconsequential activities of the societies punishment and judgement values. Eventually the town came to respect Hester. Hester helped the poor and cared for the sick and before long the significance of the letter was viewed differently by the society. Hester owned up to her mistakes and went about life even though she's not happy with the mistakes. The scarlet letter both showed a symbol of negativity and positivity as the story progressed and the issues/mistakes were dealt with. |
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Post by Erin Dean on Aug 9, 2014 16:42:56 GMT
The Scarlet letter symbolizes sin, which can be expressed to all people or it can be burning in your heart. Hester Prynne is an adulteress and has to wear a scarlet "A" on her chest for her punishment. This punishment is extremely hard for Hester and separates her from society. Hester's child Pearl is more evidence of the sin that was committed; " She is the scarlet letter... so edowed with a million-fold power of retribution for my sin". Hester is not the only person in the novel to be effected by the Scarlet letter. Reverend Aurthur Dimmesdale feels it engraved in his heart. His sin plays a heavy toll on his body and he is often seen walking with his hand on his heart. Pearl sees the Scarlet letter as something to be proud of and to admire, as do the foreigners that come into the village. Though most people in the village frown upon the letter , Hester uses the it to remind her of her sin . At the beginning of the novel the Scarlet letter stands for Hester Prynne's adultery. Then it becomes a burden that Hester and Mr. Dimmesdale " had not know the weight, until <they> felt the freedom". But in the end it t brought the two together and is " sorrowed over and looked upon with awe".
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Post by Rachel Boone on Aug 9, 2014 17:24:31 GMT
In The Scarlet Letter, the main character is Hester Prynne a woman who was convicted of adultery and was found pregnant as proof. After she gives birth to her daughter, Pearl, she is released from the jail and forced to get publicly humiliated by standing on a scaffold for several hours. As punishment she must wear a scarlet letter "A" on her for the rest of her life. The literal meaning behind the letter is that it stands for adulterer, so when anyone saw her they would know the crime she committed. At first she was shunned by the town and had to live in a secluded cottage far away from everyone, but as time passed and as Pearl grew the towns people lighted up and learned not to be as harsh. Hester did many good deeds for the community and her place in the town became more visible. Some people talked of maybe letting Hester remove the scarlet letter, but Hester did no longer mind its place on her and she became more proud to wear it. The letter was no longer viewed in a negative manner to symbolize a person of sin, but soon progressed to have a more positive meaning for her ability to overcome and her angel like heart full of love and kindness. This is all shown and proven when in chapter 18 the narrator reflects and says: "The scarlet letter was her passport into regions where other women dared not tread. Shame, Despair, Solitude! These had been her teachers,—stern and wild ones,—and they had made her strong, but taught her much amiss".
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Post by kelseylindblom on Aug 9, 2014 21:16:08 GMT
The most prominent symbol from the novel, “The Scarlet Letter” by Nathaniel Hawthorne is the letter A, embroidered on Hester Prynne’s dress. The scarlet letter symbolizes the adultery committed by Hester Prynne. The letter is a reminder to the townspeople as well as Hester of the sinful deed she committed. The meaning of the letter changes throughout the book as the initial reference to the letter is about the adultery committed, the letter later takes a different meaning, a significant amount of the townspeople think the embroidered A stands for able. To people who are not familiar to the sinful deed committed by Hester they look to the letter as a form of superiority. On the contrary, the true meaning of the letter stays with Hester along with Arthur Dimmesdale. The letter, elaborately embroidered on Hester’s dress is a token that stays with her forever, Arthur, has the letter seared into his chest, which he thinks was Gods work.
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Post by Jillian Heuman on Aug 10, 2014 2:27:26 GMT
The largest symbol in the "Scarlet Letter" is the letter "A". The A represents adultery that was committed by the main female character Hester Prynne. In the time period adultery was an abominable sin. Prynne is forced to wear this "A" on her everyday, which she does with pride, and the male she committed the sin with (Arthur Dimmesdale) has the letter burned into his skin. They produce a child by the name of pearl which serves as a reminder of the misdeeds they have done. The meaning of the letter changed as the book went on and some towns people misinterpret the letter on Prynne to mean "able". Also some foreigners believe it to be a symbol to mean that she is of higher importance. Over time some people think Hester starts to change (like the meaning of the letter does) and becomes a "hash outline of herself".
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Post by rihabella03 on Aug 10, 2014 14:13:49 GMT
1. The highly charged symbolism of The Scarlet Letter is one of its most distinctive features. Discuss the central symbol of the story- the scarlet letter itself. What does it signify? How does it function in the novel? How does its meaning change over time? Cite specific examples from the text to support your answer. The scarlet letter is an pinned scarlet A which resides upon Hester Prynne's bosom throughout the whole of the book. The scarlet letter at the beginning of the book represented adultery, the sin that Hester had committed. The scarlet A became a consistent reminder to Hester throughout the whole book of her mistake and sinful actions of adultery. The letter also reminds the people of the market place and the homes around her, that she is a person of sinful actions who is to be avoided and sneered at, or so it may seem at the beginning. Towards the end, people began to wonder as to why Hester Prynne, the wearer of the scarlet letter, gave so much to the people around her and didn't seem to become the pawn of " the Black Man" throughout the book. When Hester began to show the townsmen through her work of aiding the poor and healing the sick, that there was more to the scarlet letter than seen through the eye itself. The towns people began to see the symbol of adultery as Able, or womanly strength through times of despair and hatred. The symbol which had a meaning of strong direct hatred and scorn, became a symbol of strength and posterity for Hester Prynne and the Puritans. The change proved to the people of the town that human nature can even change the sinful and broken, to people of strength and courage. |
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Post by Jared McFadden on Aug 10, 2014 15:02:22 GMT
In this novel the Scarlet Letter "A" signifies adultery and is used as an embarassment since she committed a sin in the Christian religion. The Scarlet letter changes over time because in the beginning, it was meant to be an embarrassment but in the end she decides to embrace her actions and own up to what she did. The novel says this because she was originally embarrassed by the letter but in the end the town women felt comfortable asking questions and telling Hester things.
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Post by tonychao on Aug 11, 2014 1:43:33 GMT
The scarlet letter was meant to be a symbol of disgrace towards Hester, yet she carries it on as a powerful symbol of identity to herself. The letter itself acts as a physical reminder of Hester’s affair with Mr. Dimmesdale. The meaning changes as you read on. First, intended to mark Hester as an adulterer, the “A” on the scarlet letter eventually changes to stand for “Able” and also “Angel.” Later, it transforms into indeterminate: the Native Americans who came to see the Election Day pageant think it marks Hester as a person of importance and status.
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