About Scarlet Letter Book
This is a novel that explores themes of legalism, sin, and guilt. This work of historical fiction was originally titled The Scarlet Letter: A Romance and was published in 1850 by Nathaniel Hawthorne.
Nathaniel was an American novelist, short story, and dark romantic writer. Most of his works are inspired by Puritan New England and are based on historical romance combined with morality and religion. He specialised in novels and short stories; he also wrote a biography of his friend Franklin Pierce, the 14th President of the United States.
The Scarlet Letter he wrote in 1850 is set in Puritan Massachusetts Bay Colony between 1642 to 1649. A Scarlet Letter essay must tell the story of a young lady Hester Prynne, who bears a daughter with a man out of wedlock and then strives to create a new life of remorse and honour.
Scarlet Letter Book Summary
The story starts with a woman named Hester Prynne in Puritan Boston, Massachusetts, where a large crowd gathers to witness her punishment for giving birth to a baby of an unknown father. She was led to the town from the prison with her baby in her arms and the Scarlet letter “A” on her chest. Hester was punished for committing adultery while her husband was abroad.
Hester is led to the town by the town’s fathers, the scarlet letter on her chest, and the public shaming is her punishment for her sin and secrecy. She refuses to reveal the identity of her child’s father. An essay on Scarlet Letter must further narrate her life after she was released from prison and shunned from the community and how she settles in a cottage with her daughter at the edge of town and earns a meager living as a seamstress.
Scarlet Letter Quotes
In this novel, there are some noted words of the author. Popular quotes in the novel include:
- “No man, for any considerable period, can wear one face to himself and another to the multitude without finally getting bewildered as to which may be the true.”
- “It is to the credit of human nature that, except where its selfishness is brought into play, it loves more readily than it hates. By a gradual and quiet process, Hatred will even be transformed to love, unless the change be impeded by a continually new irritation of the original feeling of hostility.”
- “We men of study, whose heads are in our books, have need to be straightly looked after! We dream in our waking moments and walk in our sleep.”
- “Let men tremble to win the hand of woman unless they win along with it the utmost passion of her heart!”
Essay Structure on Scarlet Letter
An essay should be written in a flowing manner, with each sentence following logically from the previous one. Each paragraph of your essay must carry a uniquely valuable point and be related to the essay prompt. Also, you’ve taken into account your word limit. This review of Scarlet Letter will provide some guidelines on how essays can be structured.
Introduction
This is the first paragraph with the sole purpose of simply introducing the subject to the reader, explaining how you understand and interpret the question, and describing your preferred approach to dealing with it. Begin your introduction with an opening hook by defining essential terms, providing a brief historical or personal context, and explaining the significance of the subject. Keep it brief and succinct; it can be one or two paragraphs.
Body
This is the stage of issue development. These are the paragraphs where you express your ideas. Essays are generally a blend of researched evidence and; a combination of different resources. Essays can be derived from factual data or summaries of other people’s thoughts or points of view, while some essays express a writer’s personal opinion. Discuss your understanding of the novel and how you interpret it. Your essay must be written in a flowing manner; your paragraphs must follow each other logically.
Conclusion
At the end of your essay, you should put a short conclusion in the last paragraph; this will summarise your argument. The conclusion is also a place to mention the open questions or issues you recognise that do not come within the scope of your essay, but it must be in a closing manner. In this paragraph, also indicate what has been learned or accomplished. Your conclusion should not summarise your whole idea; it should only give a short recap.
Tips to Consider While Writing An essay about Scarlet Letter
An essay is writing that simply informs the reader about a particular idea. To convince the reader, some important components must be included in the essay. Writing a profound essay must include the introduction, body, and conclusion. Excellent writing skill is very important. However, some tips or strategies will guide your steps to writing a compelling essay.
Read The Book Thoroughly
The key feature of successful paperwork is understanding. This is the first stage of a writing assignment. A student writing an essay on Scarlet Letter must first understand what the novel is about. Read the book thoroughly to clearly understand the writer’s message and viewpoint. There are various sources where you can get the book. You can either get it from a library or download the pdf format. You can also read summaries for easy and fast interpretation.
Find a Compelling Topic
This is the general heading of your argument. This is a short representation of your work. Your topic should be created from the themes in the novel. The title of your essay will determine the aspect of the novel you are focusing on. Also, your topic must be able to analyse your arguments.
Create The Outline
An outline is a chronological arrangement of points and ideas. This must be done before the writing process. Ascertain the number of points your essay will have. Then arrange the points each paragraph will discuss. Your outline will serve as a guide to writing a profound essay. It will keep you on track.
Write The Thesis Statement
This is the main idea of your essay. It consists of the topic of the essay and your idea of the topic that will be argued throughout the essay. It usually appears in the concluding part of the introduction. It gives the reader an idea of what to expect. This statement holds your work together; on it, your work is built.
Include A Lesson Or Moral
Do you want the reader to know your take on the novel? A moral is what you learn from the book, the value you derive from the novel. A lesson or moral should be included in the closing paragraph of your essay. After every point has been discussed, include a lesson in your essay to let the reader know that you understand the author’s message and it is of great value to you.
Conclusion: Proofread Your Work
At the end of your writing, don’t be in haste to submit. It is a relief to finish writing your essay finally, and you can’t wait to finish it. However, it doesn’t end there; you must take a second look at your work. Proofreading is a way of correcting any form of error. If you want your essay to be error-free, read it again. You can also give it to your friend for a different opinion. Ensure your essay aligns with the essay instructions given in the prompt. If you need help with an on The Scarlet Letter, we’re here to help you out with that.
FAQs
Q: What is the main message of The Scarlet Letter?
A: The major theme of The Scarlet Letter is public shaming and stigma. These are seen both in Prynne’s public humiliation and in Dimmesdale’s private shame and fear of exposure due to their adultery.
Q: What does The Scarlet Letter symbolize in the essay?
A: The letter “A” symbolizes the adulterer. Hester is punished for having a child with a man she is not married to. As her punishment, she is forced to wear a scarlet A on her clothing, and she becomes an outcast and ridiculed by the town.
Q: What should I write my scarlet letter essay about?
A: A scarlet letter essay must contain a story of a young lady Hester Prynne, who bears a daughter with a man out of wedlock and then strives to create a new life of remorse and honour.
