Essay Database

Hawthorne’s human nature Purity and evil is the duality that exists within human nature, but who is to judge the degrees of good and bad that are present within human actions? In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, the author, a rebellious Puritan, sets before the reader the consequences of sin, which later develop into a tragic love story. Hester, an adulterer, matures into what the town’s people interpret as “Able” or “Angel”. …

…Pearl, a symbol of truth, is the most direct connection between the author’s views of human nature. Hawthorne uses Pearl to expose the faults within the society as well as human nature. Pearl also serves as a savior to her parents, Hester and Dimmesdale. Even though Hawthorne did not create an antagonist character to represent the town, the contrast within the characters illustrates a clear picture of Hawthorne’s rebellious views towards the Puritans.