Scarlet Letter

Scarlet Letter

“Lying is done with words, also with silence,” famous quote by Adrienne Rich. Most people that sin are unknown, but others are known of because of public punishment. Back in the Puritan time the act of the scarlet letter was a wide known punishment. In the novel The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthore, the scarlet letter is used as a punishment to Hester Prynne for adultery. Though the letter was for one person’s punishment it affected others. Anyone involved with a sinner’s sin will feel pain, isolation, aguish, or human discomfort in their life.

Hester Prynne, the sinner of the novel has the worse life while wearing the symbol of sin- the scarlet letter “A”. Wearing the scarlet letter is changing Hester’s life. She no longer feels all her passion of a woman anymore. “It’s been a sad transformation,” (Page 160). Hester Prynne is changing so much. She’s being alienated for a long period; she can’t feel love or long for anyone. She doesn’t feel like she can ever love. She’s losing her inner beauty. Hester Prynne feels so low. She’s never felt this isolation so strongly. “Her whole life was moved by the shuddering terror,” (p. 156). Hester Prynne’s feelings of pain are obscure and hurtful. She no longer feels beautiful and just thinking of how people are treating her because of her makes her tremble. Hester’s life is turning upside down with the application of the scarlet letter. She has the worse feelings as being a sinner.

Little Pearl is the seed of the sinner’s, Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale. Pearl has never seen her mother without the scarlet letter “A” on her bosom. Since Hester has an abnormal life, so does Pearl. Pearl has never felt human reactions. “She doesn’t know love,” (pg. 208). Pearl has never felt human feelings or reactions. She behaves obnoxiously because Pearl doesn’t know what sympathies are and she’s not able to express them. Pearl throws temper tantrums when things aren’t orderly because she’s not use to change in her life or feelings. “Pearl kisses his lips. A spell was broken. The great scene of grief, in which the infant bore apart, had developed all her sympathies; and as her tears fell upon her father’s cheek,” (Pg.