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The Scarlet Letter
Scarlet Letter
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Katie
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Jun 02, 2014 09:10AM
Discuss the relationship between the scarlet letter and Hester’s identity. Why does she repeatedly refuse to stop wearing the letter? What is the difference between the identity she creates for herself and the identity society assigns to her?
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She tries to be proud of the letter at first. I think she refuses to stop wearing it because it has become a part of her and the way she identifies herself, like how Pearl doesn't believe it is her mother without the letter. The society tells her she is a bad person in sin, and she mostly adapts this, but she still keeps her dignity. I think one part of the book that relates to this question is how, after a while, people think the letter stands for 'able.'
I like your in sight, although I have not finish reading. Not only is the letter and Pearl are the place as equals, but it shows Hester's persona. She treasures it as her most beloved pearl, yet her hell in society. Also, it is a way of her not being part of someone else's but of her own. Even Hester says it is was God gave her to learn and nurture.
This is me going out on a whim here, but maybe the reason why she refuses to take it off is because to her, it represents Pearl. Hester says that the letter is from God to help her learn and mature, and Pearl was definitely a handful. Maybe she feels like if she casts off the letter, she is casting off Pearl.
Payten wrote: "This is me going out on a whim here, but maybe the reason why she refuses to take it off is because to her, it represents Pearl. Hester says that the letter is from God to help her learn and mature..."I really like this idea! That really could be it, especially seeing how much she loved Pearl.
I think that Hester excepted her punishment & felt that the scarlet letter was something that she had to wear in this life to atone for her sin & by doing that she may avoid punishment in the next life. When she does remove it in the wood her daughter rejects her it felt to me like if she did try to discard the letter she would lose her daughter's love.
