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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
A paper which looks at some of the main themes in Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, including the story of Adam and Eve, the concept of evil as exemplified by The Black Man, and the function of society as civilisation in the wilderness. Bibliography lists 5 sources.
Page Count:
3 pages (~225 words per page)
File: JL5_JLscarlett.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
interaction between Hester and Dimmesdale and the eventual outcome of their association. In Christian theology, the concepts of sin and knowledge are combined in the fable of Adam and
Eve, in which the two human beings are forced out of their idyllic Garden of Eden after they have sinned by eating the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge. This
theme is replayed through the story of Hester and Dimmesdale: they have sinned according to the precepts of the Puritan community in which they live, and therefore they must be
ostracised. It is the social conventions of their community which dictates
their behaviour - in other words, ones individual identity is dictated by what society says is right and moral - and in their refusal to conform, they are no longer
allowed to be part of their supposedly idyllic community. However, Hawthorne also continually reiterates the idea that as a result of their sin, like Adam and Eve, they have gained
knowledge which is denied to others. Dimmesdale gains a
much fuller understanding of the feelings and motivations of his fellow men, which is reflected in his sermons. As noted by Eaton and Pennell (2003) Hester, castigated for her sexuality,
tacitly celebrates it by embroidering the shameful letter "A" with a border of celebratory, triumphant gold. In much the same way, she deliberately distances Pearl from the plainness and uniform
monotony of Puritanism by clothing her in bright colours. Just as Adam and Eve abandoned the pleasant but protected environment of Eden to undertake human toil, pain and independence,
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