Beginning of Essay
In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s, The Scarlet Letter, the author uses three scaffold scenes to mark the development of Hester Prynne. The image of Hester atop the scaffolding is a metaphor for her forced solitude; for her banishment from society; and for the futilit ....

Middle of Essay
.... her finger, to assure herself that the infant and shame were real. Yes!-these were her realities-all else had vanished” (page 41) From this quote the reader learns that Hester is just beginning to deal with the shame of her sin. It is evident from this quote that she has not yet come to grips with her actions. She is in an utter state of shock, and it seems as if she is trying to find a way to forget about her sins. What is also learned from this quote is that Hester, is a proud women. This quote symbolizes Hester’s pride because even though her life is at a low ebb, and, she faces the reality of the Scarlet Letter, she attempts to hold he ....