Monday, June 30, 2014

How does Hawthorne present the complexity of identity in the Scarlet Letter?I'm trying to write an oral presentation explaining how Hawthorne...

I don't have a hard copy of the book, but here are some
ideas that I would run with. Hopefully, this will be enough to get you
started:


  • Internal vs. External
    identity.
    By this I mean who these characters really are vs. how they
    display themselves to others. Dimmsdale is supposed to be someone who displays spiritual
    leadership and fortitude in the community, but who is he really?

  • Spiritual Identity vs. Natural
    Identity.
    The Puritans were a community that wanted people to focus on
    becoming enlightened and disciplined Christians rather than people who gave into
    temptation (i.e., their desires, particularly those of a sexual nature).

  • Individual vs. Group. How
    does the Puritan community manipulate the identity of individuals within the group? How
    is it encouraged and/or reinforced? What are the consequences?

Hope this helps, good
luck.

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