Value Of Truth In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter

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Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter Value of Truth within a Literary Classic In the opening of this novella, townspeople are gathered in front of a prison door waiting for the exit of Hester Prynne. Hester Prynne had been accused of committing adultery, and due to this action, she would soon be paraded through the town displaying the scarlet letter "A" that she's been forced to wear as evidence of her adultery placed on her bosom forever. Hester’s baby daughter, Pearl, was not only the child conceived during this sin, but an important symbol throughout the story as a child to be ashamed of. Despite all the shaming, Hester protects Pearl's father from punishment by refusing to give up his name. Chillingworth, Hester’s husband, shows up…show more content…
For example, Hester is “[to be] publically shamed and forced…to wear a badge of humiliation” (Hawthorne 53) . Throughout every scene in the story Hawthorne never forgets to mention the vivid embroidered scarlet letter across her bosom. I conclude that the author wrote this way to continually remind the reader of Hester’s filthy sin and her reputation in the city, reminding others to be aware of Hester’s poor decision and past. Likewise, in Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible, Procter confesses that he “knew her” (Abigail) to his wife Elizabeth and the court (Miller 69). He admits to have had sinned and failed their marriage because of sleeping with Abigail. Proctor is then convicted and the court wants to put him to shame. Proctor is looked down upon and filled with remorse throughout the play. Poor decisions can destroy a destiny, yet the truth goes hand in hand. Both the novel and play relate in various ways and continually display the same theme. Hester is able and willing to be put to shame for the truth and Proctor, likewise, owns up to the truth in the midst of all the chaos. Both characters convey strong and independent characteristics willing to take ownership for the
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