The Scarlet Letter Group

Question:


i2ain
Student
High School - 12th Grade

In The Scarlet Letter, does the letter do its job of isolating Hester and bringing attention to her sin?

Thanks for any help in advance. :]

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Posted by i2ain on Monday February 23, 2009 at 5:53 AM and tagged with characters, hester, isolation, sin, the scarlet letter, themes.

Answers:

  1. writergal06
    writergal06 Teacher

    eNotes Editor

    The letter does accomplish its purpose in a number of ways. For the first several years that Hester wears the letter, the townspeople regard her in a fearful manner, almost as if they are afraid that her sin will rub off on them. It even affects her livelihood, because they won't hire Hester to make wedding clothing. As time goes on, the town starts to relabel Hester and the letter, making its meaning "Able." They even start discussing allowing her to stop wearing it, because the town feels that she has redeemed herself. Hester's refusal to remove the letter, and her later return to the town to continue bearing the penalty for her sin, shows that even after the town forgives her, Hester chooses to let the letter continue to isolate her from the world around her.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/scarlet
    http://www.enotes.com/scarlet/themes

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    Posted by writergal06 on Monday February 23, 2009 at 6:34 AM