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Conflicts and Themes of The Scarlet Letter

The Scarlet Letter provide us with an interesting set of conflicts to discuss. Many of these conflicts are present in other stories we’ve read so far. As you read my descriptions of these conflicts, see if you can recall similar conflicts in other stories we’ve read in this class. Conflicts in The Scarlet Letter Hester versus society Hester is an outcast because of her sin. As modern readers, it’s tricky to imagine anyone being exiled for an out-of-wedlock pregnancy, but for the Puritans, this is serious offense. At her trial, her neighbors call for her execution. She remains strong and resolute, however, and her reputation for good works and beautiful craftsmanship eventually quells the scorn of her neighbors. Even after her term is up, she continues to wear her scarlet “A,” suggesting that even if her society will welcome her back, she has no desire to rejoin them. Dimmesdale versus Chillingworth Hester’s affair with Dimmesdale is made more shocking by the fa...
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The Scarlet Letter Quote Reflection

"She had wandered, without rule or guidance, into a moral wilderness. Her intellect and heart had their home, as it were, in desert places, where she roamed as freely as the wild Indian in his woods. The scarlet letter was her passport into regions where other women dared not tread. Shame, Despair, Solitude! These had been her teachers - stern and wild ones - and they had made her strong, but taught her much amiss."            Chapter XVIII, 'A Flood of Sunshine' In this quote, we gain some insight into Hester's mind. While the scarlet letter has in many ways ruined her reputation, it is only when she is social pariah that she able to live a free life.  In many ways, most of the people in this class are victims of a culture that expects us to act a particular way. Since you all are delightful young people with bright futures ahead of you, few of you would do anything to jeopardize your future. You are all well aware that goo...
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Connecting The Scarlet Letter to Today's Readers

Hawthorne's masterpiece The Scarlett Letter  admittedly has some flowery and challenging language. However, in spite of its difficulty, The Scarlett Letter remains an enduring classic and a seminal work of American literature. Students may find this book more difficult to get into than other, but I believe it will open the door to some fruitful discussions. One of the most important themes of The Scarlett Letter is the theme of stigma. While we enjoy in a more accepting society than the Puritans had, many people make decisions based on what others expect of them. Sometimes, this is a good thing. We need to uphold certain standards of politeness in order to function as a culture. If no one yields at a traffic circle or if we berate a waiter for botching our order, we aren't creating a safe and respectful culture. However, abiding by social expectations is not always beneficial. For instance, some people attend a more prestigious school than they can afford or drive a new car...
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Technology connection for The Things They Carried

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What Do YOU Carry? "They carried their reputations." The Things They Carried Tim discusses at length the idea carrying intangibles, like expectations, pride, and reputation. He also describes the carrying of material objects that have sentimental value. Both of these have a weight to the soldier who bear them. What we carry, our baggage, can slow us down. This got me thinking -- what do I carry?  Well, at the moment, I feel like I'm carrying an awful lot. I'm a teacher and a full-time graduate student, so I don't have much time to myself. I'm a relatively new mom and wife, so whenever I'm not in my classroom or doing homework, I feel obligated to spend all of my time with my family. I'm a cradle Catholic, and sometimes I struggle with the guilt of not cultivating as rich a spiritual life as I'd like. As a former college athlete, I consider myself a somewhat serious runner. I also am woman, and societal pressures about my appearan...
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Traditional Lesson on The Iliad and The Things They Carried

Lesson: Heroism in The Things They Carried and T he Iliad Intended Audience: 12th graders Objective: Students will discuss the differences between pre and post Christian understandings of war and heroism. Opening quotes and questions: Please discuss these quote quietly with the people at your table. “War is hell, but that's not the half of it, because war is also mystery and terror and adventure and courage and discovery and holiness and pity and despair and longing and love. War is nasty; war is fun. War is thrilling; war is drudgery. War makes you a man; war makes you dead.”  The Things They Carried “He who among you finds by spear thrown or spear thrust his death and destiny, let him die. He has no dishonour when he dies defending his country, for then his wife shall be saved and his children afterwards, and his house and property shall not be damaged, if the Achaians must go away with their ships to the beloved land of their fathers.” The Ilia...
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