Am I the only one who wrote "scarlet" with two T's? Ah, well.
The Scarlet Letter is Nathaniel Hawthorne's criticism of intolerance and judgment that the Puritans are known to have. The story centers on Hester Prynne, a woman condemned by her community for committing adultery in the town of Boston, a place where the line between privacy and public news mesh together.
I see that we are addressing a similar theme as when we read The Crucible; the topic of honor and legacy.
However, I am going to address a different topic, one that requires a bit more in-depth analysis and observation.
Creepiness.
The best example, obviously, is Chillingworth, the vengeful and resentful ex-husband of Hester's.Well, to be exact, how vengeance and jealously lead to a more ugly character.
The reader discovers his past situation, in which he was once a quiet and calm physician who was captured by Indians and held captive for several years. After his release and Hester's crime, he has transformed into a man with an unsatiable desire to find revenge.
I think that Chillingworth's want for revenge is more indicative of the possibility that his own honor has been hurt. His pride has been damaged and he feels betrayed by Hester for taking that away from him. This festering want for pride and respect boil up inside him, until his personality takes a more physiological form on his body and face.
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