Scarlet Letter Revenge Quotes

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Revenge is universal, with many people from all walks of life coming into contact with this bitter occurrence. Many literary works have used revenge as a theme, and Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel The Scarlet Letter is to great effect. Nearly every character in the story is afflicted with revenge in some way, whether they are talking revenge on someone or something is taking revenge on them. Roger Chillingworth is Hawthorne’s example of revenge backfiring. For example, upon discovering that Dimmesdale was guilty of adultery with Hester, Chillingworth’s desire to get revenge increases to exact devotion on Dimmesdale. After Dimmesdale oasses away atop the scaffold, “old Roger Chillingworth’s decease took place within the year.” (page 178) Chillingworth’s …show more content…
Dimmesdale wants to give away his secret about their relationship but knows it will bring about the downfall of Hester and himself. Hester Prynne emerges from the prison, proud and beautiful wearing an elaborately embroidered scarlet letter A on her chest and carrying a three month old baby. While she is standing on the scaffold she becomes aware of the stern faces looking up at her. Hester painfully realizes her present position of shame and punishment. Hester's "A” is later not recognized as Adultery it is now seen as Able because she has been helping the poor and she considers herself a sister of mercy. This the people see as her way of repenting and do not exclude her anymore. As part of her punishment and revenge of the town Hester is forced to wear an A. They see that she really wants to go to heaven and is repenting. Revenge is one of the major themes in The Scarlet Letter. From Roger Chillingworth to Hester Prynne, many characters experience some form of revenge. Revenge is very prevalent as seen in examples from the book. Looking at Revenge in the book, Hawthorne seems to want to convey that revenge is a consuming emotion. Those who seek revenge seem to lose control of themselves and becomes their only
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