The Scarlet Letter Group

Question:

drkrozofdanite
drkrozofdanite
Student
High School - 11th Grade

What are some examples of irony in "The Scarlet Letter"?

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Posted by drkrozofdanite on Tuesday August 12, 2008 at 1:22 PM and tagged with examples, irony, the scarlet letter.

Answers:


  1. podunc Teacher
    College - Sophomore

    eNotes Editor

    The most obvious example of irony is the fact that Reverend Dimmesdale is the man who committed adultery with Hester Prynne. The "goodwives" of the community remark in the second chapter about how "grieved" their "godly pastor" must be about Hester's scandalous behavior.

    Some more minor examples of irony: Hester's letter A, which is meant as a punishment, is mesmerizingly beautiful. It also eventually comes to designate Hester as "Able" rather than its original negative meaning. Finally, the narrator informs us that Pearl is an ironic character: we are told that "God, as a direct consequence of the sin which man thus punished, had given [Hester] a lovely child" in return for her actions.

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

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    Posted by podunc on Tuesday August 12, 2008 at 2:48 PM

  2. charmello
    charmello Teacher
    Middle School

    eNotes Editor

    The most commonly noted occurrence of irony is when Hester refers to Reverend Dimmesdale as knowing her because he is her pastor, but in deed the reader learns that he knows her much more intimately than that!

    I believe the most understated, yet most powerful occurrence of irony is when society begins to reference the "Scarlet Letter" <i>(A)<i> as being a symbol of her dedication and hard work, as in "Able". The very letter used to brand her as an adulteress is that which notes her in lofty, respectable regards!

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    Posted by charmello on Tuesday August 12, 2008 at 3:00 PM