Interpreting Morality in The Scarlet Letter

In Hidden in plain sight: The orangish red letter and American Legibility, Gil more(prenominal) argues that the fates of characters in The Scarlet Letter go on 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 concealment 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 base on the motivations underlying their actions. While Hester is forced to reveal herself as an adulterer, Gilmores analysis ignores her choice to selflessly keep Dimmesda les identity a secret in order to comfort him. not only must she live [with] this burning compassion [of the red-faced letter] upon [her] bosom, (52) but as well as she must endure only 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 pace feelest it to be for thy souls peace, and that thy worldly penalty result 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 off thy heart (49). Hester rejects the of! fer resolutely. Never! It is too deeply brand and would that I might endure this agony, as well as exploit! (49). Hester generously chooses to protect Dimmesdales identity and wherefore his overt image, at the expense of her own. The seven years of punishment Hester endures also destroy her physically. Once a young woman whose apricot shone out, and made a halo in which she was enveloped,...If you call for to get under ones skin a full essay, order it on our website: BestEssayCheap.com

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