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Scarlet and Black by Stendhal is, on the surface a love story. It is, however, raised to the status of a classic by virtue of the author's talent in providing the reader with sharp insights into the multifaceted aspects of his characters and thereby human nature, and secondly the manner in which the political and social conditions of France are used during the period in which the novel is set.
It is the very nature of Stendhal's highlighting of the multifaceted aspects of his characters' personalities that results in hypocrisy being such a strong central theme in Scarlet and Black. This is probably why that many critics have interpreted the title itself as an indication of the two sides of the hero's character - scarlet for passion and black for evil, or, at least, manipulative and scheming.
Julien Sorel, the novel's central protagonist, is born in rather humble circumstances as a carpenter's son, but is ambitious and restless enough to want to elevate his position in society. Realistic enough to realize that though his heart yearned for the romance and passion of a soldier's life, he would...
He adopts the mantle of priesthood, yet seduces the mayor's wife, Mme de Renal in an attempt to raise his social position. It can be even argued that Sorel was hypocritical with himself as well considering that he genuinely sometimes feels that he is in love with Mme de Renal, but when he is forced to leave town, he uses seduction again to win over his next employer's daughter - the aristocratic Mathilde de la Mole.
While there are many overt examples of human hypocrisy in Scarlet and Black, the importance and the significance of the theme really lies in Stendhal's highlighting of the fact that often individuals are sadly hypocritical with themselves. On a rational level, humanity may acknowledge the role of the ego in influencing thinking and choices but nevertheless continue to deceive themselves that beliefs, opinions, principles are the…
" The Aftermath Uncle Tom characters were common in both white and black productions of the time, yet no director before Micheaux had so much as dared to shine a light on the psychology that ravages such characters. By essentially bowing to the two white men, Micheaux implied that Old Ned was less than a man; an individual whittled down to nothing more than yes-man and wholly deprived of self-worth. At this
That's a very sad thing and it again shows that lack of forgiveness in the Puritan society of 16th century. Pearl thus stands for innocence in the novel- innocence that is tainted by someone else's sins. Dimmesdale represents the psychological damage that wrong teachings of the Church could produce. He is also symbolizing the weakness in the structure of the Church. He is a minister who preaches people against adultery
The darkness and fire of Hester stands in contrast with Roger Chillingworth, a harsh, cold judgmental man. His quest for the truth and illumination of Hester's condition becomes an evil quest. When the reader is fully introduced to him in Chapter 10, the perversion of light is seen as Hawthorne writes of his gaze: "Sometimes a light glimmered out of the physician's eyes, burning blue and ominous, like the reflection
Scarlet Letter. There are three references used for this paper. The novel "The Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne has been a classic for many years. It is important to examine the theme Hawthorne develops and how he exhibits it through the lives of his characters. Sin and Guilt Hawthorne carries the theme of sin and guilt throughout his novel. This theme is noticeable in the plot line and is illustrated through the
Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel The Scarlet Letter is secrecy. Each of the book's central characters: Hester Prynne, Roger Chillingworth, and Arthur Dimmesdale, possess a secret related to his or her identity. Hester hides the truth behind her adulterous affair and shrouds the identity of Pearl's father. However, Hester lives with public scorn, as she has to wear the titular scarlet letter on her breast. Hester's husband Chillingworth directly hides his
Scarlet Letter and "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl" Traditionally, the society presented women as objects of submission to men. Women suffered significantly in the arms of men, as they appeared as objects of desire and mere satisfaction of the will of men, in addition to respecting and bowing, to their every wish. The set in 'The Scarlet Letter' and "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl" have