Identity In The Scarlet Letter
Truth in Identity
The truth may not always be beautiful, but it is a part of a person’s identity. Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel, The Scarlet Letter, illustrates how denying the truth affects one’s mental and physical wellness. It is better to be true to one’s identity rather than put up a false identity to please society. Hester and Dimmesdale both bare a scarlet letter “A”. Yet, Hester’s is a symbol of beauty in truth and the Dimmesdale's a symbol for the ugliness of one's character when one is untrue and ashamed.
Hester Prynne's scarlet letter is a symbol of the beauty in being true to one’s self. Her “A” is a badge she must to wear to shame her for her sin. One would think that removing the badge would come as a blessing to Hester. However, in chapter 14, Chillingworth tells Hester, “It was debated whether or not with safety to common weal, yonder scarlet letter might be taken off your bosom,” to which Hester calmly replies, “It lies not in the pleasure of magistrates to take off this badge…” (122; Ch 14). Hester wants to decide her own identity rather than allow others to choose it for her. Removing the letter would show that the letter was a symbol of shame to her and would exemplify society's power over her. Hester is shameful of her scarlet letter but would never let society know. Because the wears the …show more content…
The scarlet letter on Hester's breast embodies passion truth, and sin. Hester wears her identity proudly and accepts herself for who she is in her entirety. Dimmesdale's mark embodies truth, sin, and shame. Hiding the truth only makes the consequence worse and in Dimmesdale's case his mark is punishment for not being true to his whole identity. One should make the best of who they truly are and also whom society views them as. One should not deny any of their flaws because they are a part of whom they are. One should make their greatest flaw their greatest
The truth may not always be beautiful, but it is a part of a person’s identity. Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel, The Scarlet Letter, illustrates how denying the truth affects one’s mental and physical wellness. It is better to be true to one’s identity rather than put up a false identity to please society. Hester and Dimmesdale both bare a scarlet letter “A”. Yet, Hester’s is a symbol of beauty in truth and the Dimmesdale's a symbol for the ugliness of one's character when one is untrue and ashamed.
Hester Prynne's scarlet letter is a symbol of the beauty in being true to one’s self. Her “A” is a badge she must to wear to shame her for her sin. One would think that removing the badge would come as a blessing to Hester. However, in chapter 14, Chillingworth tells Hester, “It was debated whether or not with safety to common weal, yonder scarlet letter might be taken off your bosom,” to which Hester calmly replies, “It lies not in the pleasure of magistrates to take off this badge…” (122; Ch 14). Hester wants to decide her own identity rather than allow others to choose it for her. Removing the letter would show that the letter was a symbol of shame to her and would exemplify society's power over her. Hester is shameful of her scarlet letter but would never let society know. Because the wears the …show more content…
The scarlet letter on Hester's breast embodies passion truth, and sin. Hester wears her identity proudly and accepts herself for who she is in her entirety. Dimmesdale's mark embodies truth, sin, and shame. Hiding the truth only makes the consequence worse and in Dimmesdale's case his mark is punishment for not being true to his whole identity. One should make the best of who they truly are and also whom society views them as. One should not deny any of their flaws because they are a part of whom they are. One should make their greatest flaw their greatest