FREE ESSAY ON THE SCARLET LETTER

THE SCARLET LETTER

The Scarlet Letter
Some stories contain one main theme and/or symbol, whereas others may contain
many themes and/or symbols. There were many themes and symbols found throughout
The Scarlet Letter. The main symbol in the story was the letter A which identified
Hester as an adulterer. This symbol directly correlates with one of the themes in the
story.
The theme was: Be true to yourself and deny not the chance to bear the burden and
recognition for your sins. 
Hester Prynne was a Puritan woman who committed adultery. Because she
admitted her guilt, she was made to stand upon a scaffold daily and be ridiculed by the
townspeople. Also, she was made to wear a scarlet A which she had sewn for herself.
Wearing the A, there was no escaping or denying her sin. 
Be true to yourself and deny not the chance to bear the burden and recognition of
your sins was a theme in the story. Her actions directly correlate to this theme. She did
not
deny the fact that she had a child outside of her marriage. She admitted it to herself
and to
the people of her village. Also, she wore her letter proudly. She was not ashamed that
she
had loved another because her love was real. She was not ashamed that she had this child
out of wedlock because the child was created in love and her love for the child was also
real. She allowed others to see her for who she was, an adulterer. She recognized her
sins
and dealt with the consequences. Her recognition, not the fact that she stood on the
scaffold and dealt with others opinions, was really her redemption. If she had not been
able
to recognize her sin and carry the burden for it, she may have punished herself far more
than the people would ever be able to. If you are not able to look at yourself and be
content, the positive words of others are meaningless. Because she was able to evaluate
the situation and deal with it within herself, she was able to accept and move on.
It is clear to see how Hester wearing her A directly relates to the theme of the
story. Wearing her A, Hester was able to be true to herself and bear her burden which
allowed her to began to come to peace with herself.