The Scarlet Letter - Thesis on the theme of Sin and Guilt.

One main theme present in the work The Scarlet Lette is that of sin and guilt. Nathaniel Hawthorne attempts to show how guilt can be a form of everlasting punishment. The book represents sin and guilt through symbolism and character development. In his novel, The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne explains how the punishment of guilt causes the most suffering among those affected. As with any piece, symbolism plays an important role in representing the main ideas of a novel. The plot in The Scarlet Letter revolves around three significant events that describe the development of the story. As both starting point and ending point of the novel, the scaffold scenes hold symbolic meaning. The first scaffold scene introduces the reader†¦show more content†¦As the book opens, Hester is brought forth from the jail and walked to the scaffold. For the first time being seen in public named an adulterer, Hester shies from the public as they mock her. However, She never battled with the public, but submitted uncomplainingly to its worst usage; she made no claim upon it, in requital for what she suffered; she did not weight upon its sympathies. (Hawthorne 140). Soon, it did not matter what other people thought of Hester because of her sin. She chose not to live with the humiliation, but she did have to live with herself. Having to deal with her daughter Pearl day in and day out is a punishment in itself as well. Most people, including Hester, view Peal as a demon child. However, Hester hesitates to punish Pearl for being so. She feels guilty as it is, placing a burden on Pearls life, for Peal is branded as the child of an adulterer, all of this resulting from Hesters passionate sin. (Guilt as Reparation for Sin, paragraph 14). The minister Dimmesdale is greatly affected by the weight of guilt he carries with him everyday of his proceeding life. Since his sin is unknown to society, there is not a public crowd to look down upon him, but one Roger Chillingworth who lives just to torture Dimmesdale. He wishes and prays most often that the public know of his wrong, rather than hold it secret, as it would be less painful. Happy are you,Show MoreRelatedScarlet Letter : A Dark Gloom Hung1105 Words   |  5 PagesGeorge Mallinos Mrs. Costigan AP English III 16 February 2015 The Scarlet Letter A dark gloom hung over Nathaniel Hawthorne’s head for most of his life causing his writings to be intoxicated with his everlasting thrust for darkness. In The Scarlet Letter he plants his trade mark of sin, redemption, and guilt into history’s abiding collection of remarkable writings. Throughout this piece, it is easy to notice the hardship Hester must endure every day while living with the reputation of committingRead MoreThe Scarlet Letter : The Puritan Time Period1283 Words   |  6 PagesThe Scarlet Letter The Puritan time period is considered one of the holiest time periods of all time since they live a godly life. Nathaniel Hawthorne proves this statement wrong by telling the story of Hester Prynne, Arthur Dimmesdale, and Roger Chillingworth. â€Å"She never battled with the public, but submitted, uncomplainingly, to its worst usage; she made no claim upon it, in requital for what she suffered; she did not weigh upon its sympathies.† (123) (This quote has no bearing on the openingRead MoreEssay The Power of Secret Sin in The Scarlet Letter1509 Words   |  7 PagesPower of Secret Sin in The Scarlet Letter    One of the main themes in The Scarlet Letter is that of the secret.   The plot of the book is centered on Hester Prynne’s secret sin of adultery.   Nathaniel Hawthorne draws striking parallelism between secrets held and the physical and mental states of those who hold them.   The Scarlet Letter demonstrates that a secret or feeling kept within slowly engulfs and destroys the soul such as Dimmesdale’s sin of hypocrisy and Chillingworth’s sin of vengeanceRead More A Comparison of The Scarlet Letter and The House of the Seven Gables3606 Words   |  15 PagesA Comparison of The Scarlet Letter and The House of the Seven Gables    Nathaniel Hawthorne, one of Americas most renowned authors, demonstrates his extraordinary talents in two of his most famed novels, The Scarlet Letter and The House of the Seven Gables. To compare these two books seems bizarre, as their plots are distinctly different. Though the books are quite seemingly different, the central themes and Hawthornes style are closely related (Carey, p. 62). American novelist NathanielRead More Transformation of Rev. Arthur Dimmesdale in Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter992 Words   |  4 PagesThe Scarlet Letter:   The Transformation of Rev. Dimmesdale Life is hard, but accepting that fact makes it easier. This common phrase clearly states a harsh fact that Rev. Dimmesdale, a character in Nathaniel Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter, had to face. In this story of deception and adultery set in the Puritan era, Hawthorne introduces Dimmesdale as a weak and cowardly man who refuses to take responsibility for his actions.   The Rev. Dimmesdale is a transitional character in that he is, atRead MoreDark Romanticism By Edgar Allen Poe1625 Words   |  7 Pagesknown as dark romanticism. This kind of literature comes from the darkness inside of a person. Many people who like this style are know to be obsessed with gothic nature. Dark Romanticism is also know to come from darkness in the human soul, original sin, and a dark outlook on society. Dark Romanticism is the complete opposite of romanticism. According to what is dark romanticism â€Å" Dark Romanticism is. A sort of genre threat combines traditional love objects, like visually heart shapes, cute CostumesRead MoreThe Ministers Black Veil By Nathaniel Hawthorne1846 Words   |  8 Pagesthen is buried in it. Before he dies the only person who is not afraid to question Mr. Hooper about the veil is his fiancà ©. He does not give Elizabeth a clear answer to wearing the veil, which forces Elizabeth to believe he’s covering up a committed sin by wearing the veil. Throughout Hawthorne’s work there were different actions that his characters portray. These characters are identified as puritans who fought inner demons between lies and their sanity. In other opinions one may refute that Hawthorne’sRead More William Faulkners Use of Shakespeare Essay5388 Words   |  22 Pagesdrama. Both had extramarital affairs that were reflected in some of their writings. Each wrote both tragedies and comedies, and in each case their final work was a comedy, Shakespeare’s The Tempest and Faulkner’s The Reivers. A number of dominant themes and emphases are common to both writers, including the imaginative use of historical materials, the incorporation of both tragic and comic views of life, and the paradoxical tension between fate (in Faulkner’s case, determinism) and free will. MoreoverRead MoreANALIZ TEXT INTERPRETATION AND ANALYSIS28843 Words   |  116 Pagesprovide essential clues that aid in characterization. Some characters are given names that suggest their dominant or controlling traits, as, for example, Edward Murdstone (in Dickens’ David Copperfield) and Roger Chillingsworth (in Hawthorneâ₠¬â„¢s The Scarlet Letter). Both men are cold-hearted villains their names suggest. Other characters are given names that reinforce (or sometimes are in contrast to) their physical appearance, much in the way that Ichabod Crane, the gangling schoolmaster in Irving’s The

Merchant of Venice Rhetorical Analysis - 1055 Words

Religious discrimination has been present for centuries. It was present at the time of Shakespeare, just as it is present today, centuries later. In Shakespeares time, Jews were a typical target of discrimination by Christians. As a result of constant Christian torment and humiliation, many Jews spurned the Christians. If given the opportunity, many Jews would retaliate against Christians with the same treatment Christians submitted them to. In William Shakespeares play, The Merchant of Venice, this opportunity arises for one particular Jew, Shylock. Shylock stirs up a range of emotions in the audience, when giving a speech to support his claim that he is entitled to regard the Christians with the same ill-treatment they have shown†¦show more content†¦Revenge! If a Christian wrong a Jew, what should his sufferance be by Christian example? Why, revenge! The villainy you teach me I will execute, and it shall go hard but I will better the instruction. (I.i:65-72) Once Shylock concludes his speech with theses lines, the audience has come to understand Shylocks motivation of revenge for wanting his bond, but in the process Shylock reveals flaws in people of the Christian faith. This revelation of Shylocks motivation most likely would have turned the Christians feelings of compassion into feelings of contempt. Although his audience may not empathize with him any longer, Shylock was wise and included rhetorical questions throughout his speech, which made his listeners reflect on the comparisons he was making between the Christians and the Jews. By using asyndeton to avoid conjunctions in each of his rhetorical questions, Shylock was able to make his questions more forceful and dramatic. However, Shylocks speech is not as effective when delivered to a Christian audience as it would have been had his audience been Jewish. Shylock claims that since the Christians had treated Jews so appallingly, Jews are justified to follow Christian example and return that sam e treatment to the Christians. Although the Christians now recognize why Shylock wants revenge, they will most likely never approve of his reasoning. At the start of his speech, Shylock had addressed his audience effectivelyShow MoreRelatedThe Dangers Of Blaxploitation Films Essay1520 Words   |  7 Pagesand Breakpoints, 1970-1975, â€Å"The Poitier persona was obviously unable and incapable of addressing the growing desires and expectations for a liberated and empowered Black male able to reflect, articulate and represent the changing times.† In this analysis of Sydney Portier, it is expressed that black audiences were disappointed in him because he appeared to assimilate into white society and did not satisfy the liberated and empowered black males. Even after the civil right movement, which was a movementRead MoreAp European History Outline Chapter 10 Essay example5639 Words   |  23 Pagescentralization, an urban economy based on organized commerce and capitalism, and growing lay control of secular thought and culture * The Italian City State * Growth of City-States * When commerce revived in the eleventh century, Italian merchants mastered the organizational skills needed for trade: book-keeping, scouting new markets, securing new markets, and banking * During the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, trade-rich cities became powerful city-states, dominating the politicalRead More Francis Petrarch: Leader of the Humanistic Movement and Father of the Renaissance2215 Words   |  9 Pagesthe dawn of a new Roman Empire way of thinking.. Humanism is the intellectual, literary and scientific movement of the 14th to the 16th centuries without which the Renaissance would never have evolved. Humanism is a rediscovery and reevaluation (analysis) of classical civilization and the application of the aspects of this civilization to intellectual and social culture in the current time. It is a blend of concern for the history and actions of human beings, mainly the ancient Greeks and Romans

Todays Leadership Trends Free Essays

The leadership trends in today’s contemporary society is changing from the once egocentric, standoffish and unapproachable of leaders to a present humble, servant style leadership. Today’s leaders have got the adaptive capacity, which means they have the ability of find meaning by processing new and emerging experiences. This is considered a good thing because a capable leader should be one who responds to current critical issues through the use of his or her ability and past experiences to address the emerging. We will write a custom essay sample on Todays Leadership Trends or any similar topic only for you Order Now When we think of the attributes that bring out a good leader we often contemplate of the ever-changing global affairs in our society, which call each of us to follow or rather act, an optimistic leader is thereby suited. Also, this calls for dynamic people who are concerned about the well-being of their citizen and how they are impacted by these vigorous issues in their country. A good leader is, therefore, one who stands alone and no matter how much critics or oppositions threw to him or her, the matter of his followers always comes first. Characteristic good leadership is seen through the day to day actions of our leader’s life experience (Sosik et al 1-17). Matters of national concern are becoming increasingly important and the major decision taken have to be strategically assessed and evaluated. This is crucial before final judgments are made in order for leaders to ensure that people who are their nation’s citizens are not negatively impacted in the long run. The issues about Trade Unions, Tariffs, and customs are such matters that need careful critical thinking and because they have a heavy impact in a country. Indeed having visionary leaders who stand strong on their decisions for the interest of their nation is key. Taking on a prime example of Ms. Theresa May, the current Prime Minister of Britain. May is an epitome of leaders who have stood strong on the decision of national importance and integrity for as long as she is aware of what good it comes with and that the interest of her citizens of the UK is always the priority and is at heart. She has the values that any right-minded person is inspired and swayed to follow. Thinking deeply, it would be hard to in today’s society to find a leader with such vision and philosophy as that of Ms. May. Often, such leaders like her are reserved, quiet and embodying on important matters of concern and giving deaf ears to people of vested interests. Her leadership is evident from the decisions she makes and one such is the refusing to drop the custom plans for the post-Brexit-UK and European Union’s Custom Arrangements which raised the eyebrows of many who unfortunately had it rough because it really downed to them as a surprise since they were of the contrary opinion. Some of these opponents included some backbench members of her party. Agreeing to such an arrangement would mean that countries such as the Ireland and Netherland break their border. It would compromise the separation of the European Union and even much worse implications may result. When a leader stands up for his or her citizens, a responsibility is what comes in. He or she needs to confirm that he or she is on the same side as them and this sometimes calls for sacrifice and determination not forgetting dedication as well. In our case, might be agreeing to drop the custom plans would mean that May’s interest is taken care of but due to her honesty and integrity that would go against her principles and that is how leaders all over the world should be. Visionary and optimistic leaders are always shaped by experience in era and epiphany influence which is why they become adaptive to the dynamic ages. In encountering the deepest leadership demand Theresa May, has emerged a winner in the Brexit aftermath through her efforts in the renewal of the relationship of the UK and Europe as well as, with the rest of the world. Theresa May has shown commendable willingness and vision to take Britain to where it ought to be through providing the reassurance and the right direction in a time when there are much confusion and upheavals. She stands firm on her decision for the sake of her country which consequently makes her the right leader of Britain in guiding her Democratic will in times of the complexity of separation from the EU. Leaders of such a caliber do succeed in their endeavors (Dishman). May learns through listening and talks warmly and without any ego of her concerns for the disadvantaged and the disfranchised even in such a highly charges situation and stands firm on the well-being of this group which she is aware is the people who made her who she really is now. She has recently advocated for Health Service Programs that targets every citizen in her country. This ensures that the country moves forward as one. There exist so many other exemplary and influential leaders in the world who have shown leadership qualities that worth admiration. Xi Jinping has been the president for China for a very long time. This is attributed to the position he has put China to becoming the world’s number two largest economy and this takes a great leader of integrity and determination in order to move such a great economic country to its feet. He has made several bilateral relationships with countries like New Zealand, US and many others that facilitate free trade and on direct trading of currencies. This he believes are the pillar that makes a country stands in her feet and it takes great leaders to do this. Recently he committed to joining the US in the climate change programme that many had thought as a mere dream that his predecessors dismissed and thought it as a burden that belonged to other nations. Being a great leader, Xi Jinping was determined to make China even go further and made such dreams come through in the long run. Angela Merkel, Mu Sochua, Aung Saan Suu Kyi among few others are both women who have had the great impact in the society today by fighting for the right of their people including women and children. Angela Merkel serves as a German Chancellor and religious leader who happen to be the first woman to hold such position. She is known to have approved the gender quota bill in 2015, which required that women holding non-executive position form at least 30 percent at large companies. To conclude, when such great leaders like Theresa May and few others become the people to stand out for their countries, then we get to see prosperity in the society. It takes integrity and strong philosophy to stand out in issues concerning major decisions that are part of a great nation like the UK and any other in the world. For such issue likes relations, trade and other matters that shape a country’s development and growth, it is important to give a back or eliminate people would otherwise are concerned with their wellness and not that of their country as well as, or other citizens. These are people who bring down the efforts of the determined people and consequently lead to failures rather than success (Assange). Ms. May knew she was going to win no matter how other members of her party tried to bring her down. This is a good reason to have people like her as leaders of our countries. How to cite Todays Leadership Trends, Papers