How Does Nathaniel Hawthorne Use Biblical Allusions In The Scarlet Letter

Throughout chapter twenty of The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne utilizes biblical allusions of Paradise and the New Jerusalem through a direct narrator statement and a character’s speech, highlighting the contrast between ideal Christian characteristics and sinful characteristics of men in order to shape the message of his novel. Hawthorne uses Paradise to refer to the perfection of the Garden of Eden and describes the New Jerusalem to refer to the new Heaven and new Earth. In the beginning of chapter twenty, while Arthur Dimmesdale undergoes sinful thoughts, Hawthorne describes the characteristics of a maiden newly won to the church saying, “She was fair and pure as a lily that had bloomed in Paradise” (Hawthorne 150). Describing the

Biblical allusion is the final device used to attack Hester Prynne and her sin. Using these, Lawrence is able to illustrate his beliefs and connect Hester’s wrongdoings to other literary works. He first takes on the character of Pearl, remarking on how as an infant she was “to redeem the world” and on how “It will be a startling redemption the world will get from [this] American infant” (Lawrence). While this quote does attack Pearl, it also shames her mother. Being the living example of Hester’s sin, Pearl is compared to the holy being of Jesus

Secondly, Hawthorne uses the Hester’s daughter Pearl to contribute to the theme of imperfection. Pearl is the product of sin, she is a rather odd and wild child. Even though she is a constant reminder of imperfection, she is her mother’s only treasure. Just like an actual pearl, Hester had to pay a great deal for her daughter. Pearl’s father Reverend Dimmesdale says, “…to keep the mother’s soul alive, and to preserve her from blacker depths of sin… If she bring the child to heaven, the child will also bring the parent thither.” (Hawthorne 111). Dimmesdale is trying to convince the Governor of the town to let Hester keep Pear. The Governor thinks Hester is unfit but

Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel, The Scarlet Letter, is a compassionate yet riveting piece of English literature that supports the movement for equality of suppressed women during a most tumultuous time during the 1800’s. Hawthorne’s use of emotional diction and imagery throughout his novel employs a deplorable tone upon the story. It serves as a stark representation of an imaginative yet realistic example of the indifference of men and women during these changing times. Deeply held Puritanical beliefs led countless of people to believe that individuals, especially women, who committed sins of any type would never reach heaven upon their passing. Men, on the other hand, were judged less severely if accused of a crime. Hester Prynne, the

In passage 1, the Hawthorne employs an allusion when he explains that Hester names her child Pearl because “Hester purchased her with all she had.” This is a reference to the bible when Jesus calls heaven a “pearl of great price” and declares that when someone comes across a pearl, he shall sell all he has to buy it. The author includes this allusion to convey how important Pearl is to Hester and to connect the meaning of Pearl’s name to religion, for religion presides over all in Puritan society. Hawthorne also uses exclamations to show how valuable Pearl is to her mother. But, at the same time, he points out that Pearl is Hester’s source of shame and torture. The function of the child parallels the function of the scarlet letter. They are both a reminder of Hester’s wrongdoing but become a huge part of her identity that she cannot live without. Hawthorne creates a sense of situational irony when he introduces the idea that in creating Pearl, Hester loses everything, her pride, her reputation and her social life, but at the same time she gains

Pearl’s specific function in the novel is to be a living reminder of Hester’s sin. Pearl is considered as

Hester found love with the town’s minister, Dimmesdale. Hester later became pregnant, by Dimmesdale and gave birth to Pearl. The town’s people treated Hester and Pearl harshly dismissing them from the community. Judging others doesn’t defined who they are but it defines the person who is doing the judging, counting others sins doesn’t make us saints. We have to come to the understanding that all fall short, this means no one is immaculate, making it challenging not to judge others when their sin is placed on them.

Pearl is often accused of being a witch child, but Hester tries her best not to believe it. Hester does her best to be there for her daughter, even when she was faced with her own burdens. Even though she’s been through so much in her, Hester gives out all her love whenever she can. That proves that she’s become a pure and loyal person.

Hester raises Pearl all by herself. Yes, without a father and no one else's help Hester cares and provides for Pearl all by herself. This signifies that Pearl doesn't need her baby daddy and no child support she takes all responsibilities like a rightful woman would do. She, knows that she already looks bad because she committed adultery and has the letter on her and that's

     As she stood on the scaffold, Hester held her newborn Pearl. pearl was the outcome of her unfaithfulness. Pearl had been adequately named, for she was of extreme value to her mother. Hester’s subjection to the crowd of Puritan onlookers is excruciating

Nathaniel Hawthorne portrays the ideology of Puritan society in the novel the Scarlet Letter; however reader also get to witness his characters being an illustration of hypocrisy and victims to their own guilt. In the Scarlet Letter, as in many of Hawthorne’s shorter works, he makes profuse use of the Puritan past: its odd exclusionary belief, its harsh code of ruling, its concern with sex and witchcraft. The Scarlet Letter is a story that is embellished but yet simple. Many readers may view this novel as a soap opera due to the way Hawthorne conveys this Puritan society’s sense of strictness and inability to express true emotion along with the secrecy and how deceiving the characters are being. As the story unfolds the main character Hester Prynne is bounded in marriage at an early age. She engages in an adulterous affair with an unknown member of their small village. Hester soon becomes pregnant and with her husband’s absence the chances of this child belonging to her husband are slim. The towns’ people know that she has committed a sin and imprisons her for her crime.

The child, resulting from Hester 's abomination, was named Pearl. Hester named her “as being of great price” proving her love and care for this precious child. Pearl, “a lovely and immortal flower, out of the rank luxuriance of a guilty passion” grew more beautiful every day. A creature that came as a product of such a disgraceful act was almost predicted to be hideous both inside and out. Even Hester herself “looked

Hester’s battle with herself can only be understood by taking a glimpse into her daily life with her beloved daughter, Pearl. Pearl is the physical manifestation of her sin, of the adultery that Hester committed with her secret lover; with every waking hour, Pearl is always alongside Hester, constantly reminding Hester of her transgression. Whenever Hester sees Pearl, she sees a young and energetic girl, who also possesses the same attributes that she loathes about herself, the difficult and wild side of herself that would never give up. Hawthorne writes that Pearl, “lacked reference and adaptation to the world into which she was born. [Pearl] could not be made amenable to rules” (Hawthorne

In page 100, after Mistress Hibbins, the governor’s sister asks Hester to partner with her to a party at the forest where she promises the devil that Hester will go; Hester replies, “Make my excuse to him,so please you! I must tarry at home, and keep watch over my little Pearl. Had they taken her from me, I would willingly have gone with thee into the forest, and signed my name in the Black Man’s book too, and that with mine own blood.” If Pearl is taken away from Hester, The Devil will take advantage of it and drag Hester deep into sin that she’ll end up in hell. This connection between Hester and her daughter cannot be broken. Hester treasures her young one, and sees her as the light of her life. If Hester wouldn't be a quality mother for Pearl, she would have not cared about the naming of her daughter. Hester wouldn't have thought about "Pearl", she would have just named her with any insignificant name. However she did contemplate over Pearls naming, she wanted her daughter to have a significant name that would show how much she means to her. Hester has proven once more that she does worship her daughter and deserves to have her stay in her safe-keeping.

The novel “The Scarlet Letter” by Nathaniel Hawthorne was published in the 1850s, and takes place in the Boston, Massachusetts area during the 17th Century when Puritans were the main population. Hester Prynne, is accused of committing adultery and is forced to wear a scarlet A against her chest and care for Pearl, Her daughter who is born from the tryst. In the beginning of the novel, both Pearl and the Letter are introduced at the same time aspressed against Hester’s chest. Though she chooses to hold the child close to her and the Letter is thrust upon her, Hawthorne shows the reader how determined she is to take these symbols of sin and integrate them into her life and create her own identity.