Is the scarlet letter A motif?
Nathaniel Hawthorne brilliantly employs some common motifs in The Scarlet Letter to illustrate his beliefs about Puritan society and the damaging effects it had on people. Hester and Dimmesdale sinned and suffer because of their sin. The motif of darkness and light is revealed in the contrast between Hester and Pearl.
What does Pearl say about the sunshine?
“Mother,” said little Pearl, “the sunshine does not love you. It runs away and hides itself, because it is afraid of something on your bosom. . . . It will not flee from me, for I wear nothing on my bosom yet!”
What does the sunshine symbolize?
The sun has been a symbol of power, growth, health, passion and the cycle of life in many cultures and religions throughout time. Some believe it is a representation of the higher self, while others see the sun as a god to be worshiped.
Why does Hester marry Chillingworth?
In The Scarlet Letter, Chillingworth married Hester because he hoped to find some happiness in married life, and she was young and beautiful. He had lived a pretty lonely and solitary existence for most of his years, and he longed for the happiness that he saw so many others enjoy.
What is the message of the scarlet letter?
The major theme of The Scarlet Letter is shaming and social stigmatizing, both Hester’s public humiliation and Dimmesdale’s private shame and fear of exposure.
What happens to Pearl at the end of the scarlet letter?
In a rather ironic ending, Pearl, the “elf-child” becomes the most human in the final scaffold scene. Having inherited property from Chillingworth, she has become the “richest heiress of her day, in the New World.” With such riches, she may have married well, but her mother has taken her away to Europe.
Why does Hester lie to Pearl about the scarlet letter?
Hester is tempted to tell her because she has no one else in whom she can confide. Despite her pity for Chillingworth in Chapter 14, Hester reveals her deep hatred for him in this chapter. She realizes that he set off a chain of events beginning with an unnatural, loveless marriage.