The Scarlet Letter is a compelling story of betrayal, revenge, sin, and forgiveness that still resonates with students today. Many students find themselves appalled with the community’s treatment of Hester Prynne, and intrigued by the boundaries she and her little Pearl push in a puritanical society.
Physiognomy, the physical features and characteristics of a person that indicate personality, intentions, or other internal trait. plays an important role in literature by allowing the audience or reader to identify characters who have hidden intentions or motives.
• “Every gesture, every word, and even the silence of those with whom she came in contact, implied, and often expressed, that she was banished…”
• Young; with a figure of perfect elegance; tall; dark and abundant hair; black eyes; has a feminine gentility that is lady-like & sets her apart from other women of her time.
• Quiet and humble • Isolated • Dutiful and penitent