Interpreting Morality in The Scarlet Letter

In Hidden in plain sight: The orange tree red garner and American Legibility, Gil more(prenominal) argues that the fates of characters in The Scarlet Letter advance directly from their decisions to keep or not to keep secrets. He cites Hesters psychic liberation as a fix for her open admission and acceptance of her adulterous affair. In contrast, he notes that Dimmesdale is incapacitated by the guilt and self-loathing that follows from his reticence and secrecy. Gilmore surmises from these interpretations of the characters choices and consequences that Hawthorne disapproves of hiding integritys secrets. However, Gilmore fails to sufficiently analyze the motivations behind the secrets that these characters hold. By lacking these motivations, Gilmore overlooks Hawthornes actual goal: to judge his characters ground on the motivations underlying their actions. While Hester is forced to reveal herself as an adulterer, Gilmores analysis ignores her choice to selflessly keep Dimmesd ales identity a secret in order to cheer him. not only must she live [with] this burning disconcert [of the red-faced letter] upon [her] bosom, (52) but as well as she must endure alone the psychometric test of living in disgrace. In fact, she chooses to do so.

With Hester upon the scaffold, Dimmesdale onwarders her a take a chance to help herself, saying, If one thousand feelest it to be for thy souls peace, and that thy worldly penalty exit thereby be made more effectual to salvation, I charge thee to speak out the call down of thy fellow-sinner and thy repentance, whitethorn avail to take the scarlet letter of f thy booby (49). Hester rejects the offer! resolutely. Never! It is too deeply brand and would that I might endure this agony, as well as tap! (49). Hester generously chooses to protect Dimmesdales identity and wherefore his unexclusive image, at the expense of her own. The seven years of punishment Hester endures also destroy her physically. Once a young woman whose looker shone out, and made a halo in which she was enveloped,...If you call for to beget a full essay, order it on our website: OrderCustomPaper.com

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