Serial Killers And The Serial Killer - 1566 Words

Although the prevalence of the serial killer is ultimately unknown, many researchers agree about â€Å"one-half of 1%† of homicides are determined to be the product of serial killers (Homant Kennedy, 2014). In order to prevent future victims, improve the ability of law enforcement to detect and apprehend, potentially incorporate treatment for current serial killers, and increase the ability to detect potential future serial killers it is important to identify characteristics that may cause one to become a serial killer. The question researchers have strived to answer is are serial killers born or are there explicit factors that contribute to someone ultimately becoming a serial killer? Researchers have potentially exposed several factors that potentially contribute to one becoming a serial killer. These conditions are notably greater in prevalence in known serial killers compared to the general population. These factors consist of family dynamics/parental characteristics , experienced child abuse (physical, sexual, and neglect), and psychological disorders. Serial Killers: Born or Created Dependent Variable A serial killer is an individual who has killed three or more people during separate incidents and at possibly different geographic locations where there is a cooling off period between each homicide (Homant Kennedy, 2014). Researchers have identified several typologies of serial killers, however most of the research has been done on the serial sexual sadistShow MoreRelatedSerial Killer : Serial Killers939 Words   |  4 PagesWhat is a serial killer? Serial killers are very sick and distraught compared to others. As indicated by the Vancouver Sun, a serial killer is characterized as somebody who is responsible for more than three killings over a period that than traverses over one month.In 2005 the fbi changed it to at least two killings with no reference to intention or time span. Generally, serial killers murder for some kind of mental benefit. Serial Killers can come in all shapes and sizes: don t be tricked byRead MoreSerial Killers And The Serial Killer1101 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"The serial killer ‘is an entirely different criminal,’ †The term serial killer is misleading on the ground that each murder is intended to be the last.† We see them as a figure of â€Å"the dark side of human potential,† but they believe they’re â€Å"on a heroic quest for the biggest score possible† They believe they are â€Å"the archetypal figure of impurity, the representative of a world which needs cleansing.† However, society knows that serial killers are not heroes, and they’re not cleansing the worldRead MoreSerial Killer And Serial Killers Essay1171 Words   |  5 PagesAmerica has some of the most infamous serial killers who marked history, serial killers who once didn’t even think to harm any human being. Many people grow up differently from others, some people grow up in a safe environment surrounded with caring people and others grow up in a completely different environment being misse d treated by others, therefore are serial killers made or born? A serial killer is defined as â€Å"a person who commits more than three murders over a period that spans more thanRead MoreSerial Killer And Serial Killers1644 Words   |  7 PagesSerial Killer A serial killer is someone who has killed three or more people on separate occasions with enough time between, allowing them to calm down or reflect on what they did. There are separate categories for serial killers. The types of serial killers are organized killers, unorganized killers, and medical killers (Crime museum, 2015, para. 1, 2, 3). Beverley Allitt was considered to be under the medical killer category. Allitt killed a total of 4 children in less than a year span (McCrystalRead MoreSerial Killers And The Serial Killer2026 Words   |  9 Pagesneurological differences and biological disparities contribute to them becoming a serial killer, such as whether a person is a male or female. Also, people who suffer from neurological disabilities such as psychopathy are at more of a risk. People who live in the United States of America (USA) are statistically more likely to become a serial killer. There are many factors that can drive a person to become a serial killer and not ev eryone turns into one.. It takes a specific type of person to commitRead MoreSerial Killers : A Serial Killer1820 Words   |  8 Pagesunderstand a serial killers background to get an understanding of how childhood trauma could lead to their need to kill. Although there are no exact factors that would absolutely cause a child to grow up into a serial killer, research found by Laurence Miller in â€Å"Serial killers: II. Development, Dynamics, and Forensics,† suggest that there are several common factors found in multiple serial killers’ childhoods. For example, some of the leading childhood characteristics found among serial killers includeRead MoreSerial Killer : Serial Killers909 Words   |  4 PagesAccording to an FBI study, â€Å"there have been approximately 400 serial killers in the United States in the past century, with anywhere from 2,526 to 3,860 victims (Hickey). No one really understands serial killers. It is actually quite difficult to comprehend how t he mind of a serial killer works. Some believe that a serial killer feels strongly attracted by a specific physical characteristic in the victim. It could be his or her appearance: facial features, clothes, or even personality. On the otherRead MoreSerial Killers And The Serial Killer1080 Words   |  5 Pageshelp? This was the technique one of the most infamous serial killer Ted Bundy used to approach his victims and ultimately murder them. B. Background and Audience Relevance: Today, I will be speaking to you about serial killers. C. Speaker Credibility: I decided to do my topic on serial killers because, criminology is something I’m genuinely interested in and would like to learn more about it myself. D. Thesis: By learning about serial killers, hopefully in the future they can be captured fasterRead MoreSerial Killers : A Serial Killer Essay1003 Words   |  5 PagesCrimes and criminals define not only places, but certain time periods. Serial killers are usually the ones that individuals tend to remember the most. An individual is considered a serial killer when they murder three or more individuals during a period of time with a cooling off period between each crime (Frailing Harper, 2016). The purpose of this paper is to discuss one of the most controversial and yet famous serial killer, Theodore Robert Bundy. Something interesting that attracts the attentionRead MoreSerial Killers : The Serial Killer Essay2076 Words   |  9 PagesThis serial killer was chosen because this serial killing pair is the most infamous English serial killers duo in the 1990s. Fred and Rosemary West were not convicted of all the murders they participated in; however, they were sentenced to life im prisonment. Also, this case is interesting because Rosemary West, to this day, does not claim to know anything about the murders even though she has victims that survived her attacks and have spoken against her in court. These serial killers have been covered

Critical Thinking Questions - 1284 Words

CRITICAL THINKING QUESTIONS Describe a situation in which critical and creative thought could have been used for a better outcome. Describe why it is important to think critically and creative in similar situations. On February 1, 2003, the Space Shuttle Discovery disintegrated on re-entry to the earths atmosphere, killing all seven astronauts. In retrospect, the disaster could have been prevented rather easily by a relatively simple procedure that was implemented on all subsequent shuttle missions (Burke, 2011). With better critical thinking and creativity, NASA Mission Control could have ordered the Shuttle commander Rick Husband to proceed to the International Space Station and to perform a backflip before rendezvousing with it so that the cameras on the Space Station could have performed a visual inspection of the thermal protective tiles to confirm that they were intact. That is precisely how NASA guarded against a recurrence of the disaster in the remaining Shuttle missions before the programs conclusion in 2012 (Burke, 2012). It should be relatively obvious why it was important to think more critically in that situation, given the magnitude of the tragedy that NASA always knew would resul t from any significant damage to the thermal tiles. During the post-accident investigation process, NASA recreated the strike of a piece of foam at the velocity of the impact that was filmed on the Columbias last takeoff (Burke, 2012). That reflected creative thinking but,Show MoreRelatedQuestions On Critical Thinking Activity1384 Words   |  6 PagesCRITICAL THINKING ACTIVITY Candidates are asked to provide a considered response to the Critical Thinking Questions. There is no minimum word number; however the total response should not exceed 1500 words. This exercise is taken from R. Kramar, T. Bertram, H. Di Cieri, RA Noe, JR Hollenback, B. Gerhart, PM Wright Human Resources Management Strategy, People Performance,McGraw-Hill Education 2014 p.81 Measuring the value of HR For a number of years, HR has been concerned with how it can grab theRead MoreEssay on review and critical thinking questions 08.06707 Words   |  3 Pagesï » ¿Review questions 08.06 How are fire scenes different than regular crime scenes for investigators? They are different than regular crime scenes because fire scenes have a different procedure. Plus, most fires scenes don’t require a search warrant. This is because it can take a long time to get a search warrant but with fire scenes it is crucial to get the evidence as soon as possible because causes of the fire, like petroleum, can evaporate within days, or even hours of the fire. Also, they needRead MoreQuestions for Critical Thinking1690 Words   |  7 PagesQuestions for Critical Thinking A Good Man Is Hard to Find by Flannery O’Connor 1) What is the grandmother’s attitude toward the South as opposed to the rest of her family’s attitude, particularly her grandson’s? How do you account for the difference? In the short story â€Å"A Good Man is Hard to Find,† the grandmother’s attitude toward the South is that the â€Å"old South† was better than the current South. For example, in paragraph 14, John Wesley, the grandson, states â€Å"Let’s go through GeorgiaRead MoreBrowne, M. N., Keeley, S.M. (2010). Asking the right questions: A guide to critical thinking (10th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall.2426 Words   |  10 Pagesthe right questions: A guide to critical thinking (10th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall. Asking the Right Questions-11 Step Analysis Introduction â€Å"I know it’s good to be a critical thinker and to be able to ask lots of good questions, but I don’t know what questions to ask or how to ask them.† (Browne Keeley, 2011) In our text â€Å"Asking the Right Questions: A Guide to Critical Thinking (10th Ed.) The authors explore the benefits and necessity for critical thinking as it relatesRead MoreQuestions On Critical Thinking Assignment Questions951 Words   |  4 PagesCritical Thinking Assignment Questions You will choose 4 out of the 7 questions to complete throughout the semester. I suggest to pick one that is easiest for you and complete it first. Each question will be completed in APA format. This means you will need a title page, abstract, citations, and references. Remember, citations helps support your argument. You may only use the online research school database for your resources. If you use a reference that is not part of the online database, I willRead MoreQuestions For Critical Thinking 72133 Words   |  9 Pagesï » ¿ Questions For Critical Thinking 7 BUSI 620 Salvatores Chapter 14: a. Discussion Questions: 12 and 15. b. Problems: spreadsheet problems 1 and 2. Note: 1. Spreadsheet problem 1: Use table 14-4 as reference. 2. Spreadsheet problem 2: Use tables 14-5 and 14-6 as reference. Discussion Question 12: What is the rationale behind the minimax regret rule? What are some less formal and precise methods of dealing with uncertainty? When are these useful? The rationale behind the minimaxRead MoreQuestions For Critical Thinking 42059 Words   |  9 Pagesï » ¿Questions for Critical Thinking 4 Salvatore’s Chapter 8: a. Discussion Questions: 2 and 10. 2. (a) What is the distinction between marginal cost and incremental cost? (b) How are sunk costs treated in managerial decision making? Why? (a) Maringal cost is the change in total costs or in total variable costs per unit change in output (Salvatore, 2012, pg. 718). The main reason to determine marginal cost is to gain understanding and knowledge of when a company reaches economics of scale. HoweverRead MoreQuestions About A Critical Thinking Exercise1441 Words   |  6 PagesIn this paper I will be answering specific questions about a critical thinking exercise located in the assigned text book. The questions that will be answered include: discussing the problem of the scenario, who the problem belongs to, the actions nurse Witte should take and the mode of communication she should use. Then I will discuss how she can provide a clear message, and to whom the message should be send to first, as well as, all the people that should informed. Lastly, I will explain the typeRead MoreCritical Thinking Questions : Strategic Planning1160 Words   |  5 PagesHannah Boyd 9-3-17 MRK-120 Chapter 2 Critical Thinking Questions: 1. Strategic planning is the process a company uses to develop and maintain a strategic fit between their goals as an organization and their capabilities of meeting demands in a fast-changing market. Strategic planning helps companies take advantage and adapt to the opportunities that it’s ever changing environment throws at them. There are four steps to strategic planning. Marketing plays a large role in the strategic planningRead MoreEssay on Questions for Critical Thinking 11553 Words   |  7 Pagesa. Discussion Questions: 9 b. Problems: 6, 9, and spreadsheet problem (p.37) 9) How Is The Concept Of A Normal Return On Investment Related To The Distinction Between Business And Economic Profit? The difference between the business and economic profit is that in economic profit, profit or loss is calculated by subtracting opportunity cost of the inputs used from the revenue of sales. On the other hand, accounting or business profit is the difference between the total revenue and

Shakespeare The Merchant of Venice Essay Example For Students

Shakespeare The Merchant of Venice Essay I have chosen to direct Act IV Scene I because it is very much a climatic scene. It has lots of potential to produce an excellent piece of theatre due to the emotional pace of the scene, and the extremely passionate language used. May different characters display different views, which can be portrayed to good effect on stage. Shylock should be made to appear like the villain throughout the scene, and I would want my audience to be glad that Shylock loses his bond at the end of the scene. He should come across as an evil, greedy man, who has no emotions, and is not sensitive to the pain of others. Sadistic is a word the audience should think of. Antonio should remain a heroic figure through the scene, with the audience feeling love towards him. He should gain more respect and admiration by accepting death gracefully and should make it clear that he is quite prepared to die. Gratiano should also be another favourite of the audience. His character should come across as a courageous man who is vehement in his defence of Antonia and his detrimental attacks on Shylock towards Shylock. Antonio, Bassanio Gratiano and Solerio (including any other friends of Antonio) should enter in a line from stage right on a diagonal. They should then remove their hats and bow low to the Duke who should be seated in a throne like chair accompanied by an advisor/servant. This reflects the Dukes position in society. The Duke should then walk towards Antonio and place a hand on his shoulder on the line: I am sorry for thee. This shows the audience how admired Antonia is in Venice, even the person with the most authority in Venice, who should be impartial, shows pity and sympathy for Antonio. To further emphasise the fact that the Duke is on Antonios side, and that Shylock is despised by all in Venice, the Duke can say the word Jew in line 14 with contempt, as if spitting the name out of his mouth. When responding to the Dukes speech asking for mercy (lines 16-34) Shylock should be aiming to tease and anger the Christians. He can do this by smiling and shrugging his shoulders on the line But say it is my humour. Effectively he is saying, I am going to kill Antonio, just because I want to. Because I feel like it. This would be sure to enrage characters like Gratiano, and would make the audiences loathing for Shylock even greater. Gratiano could stand with his fists clenched and in a threatening position, i. e. chest out and leaning slightly forward. This reflects the fact that he Christians have no legal power over Shylock, that he is the one in charge, a d that all they could resort to would be physical violence. After Bassanio verbally attacks Shylock, calling him an unfeeling man, Antonio should be standing behind and slightly to the right of Bassanio (not directly behind, or he would be masked) He can then place his hand on Bassanios shoulder, pulling him back a little on line 70. Antonios speech starting on line 70 is quite important, as it is the first sign of how Antonio is reacting to the situation in this scene. You may as well use question with the wolf, Why he hath made the ewe bleat for the lamb; This means that Antonio thinks Bassanio is wasting his time, and translated into a modern English phrase Talking to a brick wall. He doesnt expect Shylock to change his mind. At the end of this speech, he says, let me have a judgement, and the Jew his will. He should say these lines slowly but confidently, with an expression of calm on his face. This shows that he is unafraid, and accepts his sentence with few or no qualms. This heightens respect and admiration for him from the audience. Later on in the scene, a messenger comes with news. Bassanio is slightly encouraged by this, and should deliver his line 111 with an encouraging smile and with both hands on the upper half of Antonios arms, to signify support. .ua4ab9900f8f5f136b60f175ebb3205f1 , .ua4ab9900f8f5f136b60f175ebb3205f1 .postImageUrl , .ua4ab9900f8f5f136b60f175ebb3205f1 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ua4ab9900f8f5f136b60f175ebb3205f1 , .ua4ab9900f8f5f136b60f175ebb3205f1:hover , .ua4ab9900f8f5f136b60f175ebb3205f1:visited , .ua4ab9900f8f5f136b60f175ebb3205f1:active { border:0!important; } .ua4ab9900f8f5f136b60f175ebb3205f1 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ua4ab9900f8f5f136b60f175ebb3205f1 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ua4ab9900f8f5f136b60f175ebb3205f1:active , .ua4ab9900f8f5f136b60f175ebb3205f1:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ua4ab9900f8f5f136b60f175ebb3205f1 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ua4ab9900f8f5f136b60f175ebb3205f1 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ua4ab9900f8f5f136b60f175ebb3205f1 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ua4ab9900f8f5f136b60f175ebb3205f1 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ua4ab9900f8f5f136b60f175ebb3205f1:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ua4ab9900f8f5f136b60f175ebb3205f1 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ua4ab9900f8f5f136b60f175ebb3205f1 .ua4ab9900f8f5f136b60f175ebb3205f1-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ua4ab9900f8f5f136b60f175ebb3205f1:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: How does Shakespeare portray the theme of identity in Twelfth Night EssayHe can then lower his voice, and make it more heartfelt and meaningful on the lines 112 and 113. These are important lines, as it highlights once more the close friendship between Antonio and Bassanio. Antonio should then hold onto Bassanios upper arms, so that they are both holding each other. Antonios voice should be low but heartfelt for lines 117 to 118, and he should look deeply into Bassanios eyes. All of these actions make it a more poignant moment, and stimulates the emotions of the audience. Gratianos rage should be demonstrated clearly lines 128-138. O, be thou damnd, inexecrable dog! His voice should be loud and filled with venom, his face contorting with an expression of pure hate. Gratiano, in effect should be the voice of the audience. He should be their representative, reflecting their views. Shylock then uses the power of the law he has to further anger and provoke the Christians by saying Thou but offendst thy lungs to speak so loud: He is telling Gratiano not to waste his breath. This line should be delivered in an uncaring way and with a smirk on his face. The uncaring nature shows that Gratianos words cant hurt him, and the smirk further angers the Christians. After Portia enters and discovers who Shylock is, she attempts to persuade him to show mercy. Just before she delivers line 181, Portia should take three brisk steps towards Shylock so she is closer to him, and she should stand up at full height to demonstrate authority. The next few lines of her speech should be delivered slowly and clearly to make sure Shylock and the audience hear every last word. Portia should be aiming to persuade Shylock by elevating the virtue of mercy, making it sound a saintly quality. Portia should demonstrate this by inflexion, making sure that her voice is appealing to Shylock and not threatening him. Line 192 is especially important, as she mentions God. She should emphasise the word God and pause after the line is complete. On the second sentence of line 199, Portia should take a step back from Shylock, as the emotive and poignant part of the speech is over. She should then walk around the back of Shylock so that she is stage right on the same side as Antonio. This symbolises that she doesnt want him to die, and is on his side. When Portia is looking through the bond she should find out halfway through that the bond is void. Her expression should be one of surprise and delight so that the audience knows that she has found something. When Portia asks whether or not there are scales ready to weigh Antonios flesh, Shylock should answer immediately with a smile I have them ready. This shows his eagerness to kill Antonio. Antonios response to Portias question asking whether he had anything to say should be delivered in a calm and peaceful way. Antonio does not want to hive Shylock the satisfaction of seeing him grovel. He should take Bassanios hand and hold on to it on line 262 to show his affection. During His speech from line 261 to 278, Bassanio should have a tear in his eye to show how sad he is at the prospect of losing his best friend. Bassanio should then show his devotion to his friend in return by offering the life of his wife in exchange for Antonios, as if that would solve the problem. This is a man willing to give the ultimate sacrifice for his friend. He should embrace him at the end of line 284 to demonstrate this. Gratiano and Bassanio both say they would sooner condemn their wives to death before seeing Antonio die. They do not, of course, realise that their wives are in fact in the same room disguised as a Barrister and a Clerk. When Portia says: Your wife would give you little thanks for that, If she were by to hear you make the offer. .uff3112f8a6e39d242c694ef93fe244c5 , .uff3112f8a6e39d242c694ef93fe244c5 .postImageUrl , .uff3112f8a6e39d242c694ef93fe244c5 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .uff3112f8a6e39d242c694ef93fe244c5 , .uff3112f8a6e39d242c694ef93fe244c5:hover , .uff3112f8a6e39d242c694ef93fe244c5:visited , .uff3112f8a6e39d242c694ef93fe244c5:active { border:0!important; } .uff3112f8a6e39d242c694ef93fe244c5 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .uff3112f8a6e39d242c694ef93fe244c5 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .uff3112f8a6e39d242c694ef93fe244c5:active , .uff3112f8a6e39d242c694ef93fe244c5:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .uff3112f8a6e39d242c694ef93fe244c5 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .uff3112f8a6e39d242c694ef93fe244c5 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .uff3112f8a6e39d242c694ef93fe244c5 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .uff3112f8a6e39d242c694ef93fe244c5 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .uff3112f8a6e39d242c694ef93fe244c5:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .uff3112f8a6e39d242c694ef93fe244c5 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .uff3112f8a6e39d242c694ef93fe244c5 .uff3112f8a6e39d242c694ef93fe244c5-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .uff3112f8a6e39d242c694ef93fe244c5:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Nancy and Oliver EssayShe can say this in a mildly offended and sarcastic voice, to increase the humour. She could also raise her eyebrows at Nerissa to further the humour, as this would show the audience the communication between the real Portia and Nerissa even while they are Barrister and Clerk. It would give the audience the feeling that they were in on the joke too. On line 302, Portia should become passionate in her speeches. She has given Shylock the chance to show mercy and he has refused it, so she wants to bring him down from his high. She can do this by having a victorious smile on her face, and by proclaiming the laws of Venice in a formal way, as if addressing a court. Gratiano can be so happy and vindictive, that he should deliver his line 310 with glee, and also irony towards Shylock because he uses words very similar to the ones Shylock uses when talking to Portia earlier. His emotions and feelings should mirror that of the audience if the scene has been successful up to now. Shylock, sensing that things are not going his way, should be stifling anger, and wanting to leave quickly. Therefore he should say his lines I takes this offer then: pay the bond thrice, And let the Christian go, In an angry voice, with a quick pace. When Portia announces that Shylock must give his wealth to the state, Shylock should be a broken man. He should hold himself with less dignity, and seem slightly disorientated, as he should be in shock. That audience should not feel sorry for Shylock at the end of the scene, but they should not want him dead either, as they will have taken into account Shylocks speech lines 371 to 374 with an great air of self pity, but they should not forget his eagerness to murder Antonio either.

The Scarlett Letter Essays - English-language Films,

The Scarlett Letter The Effective Use of Symbolism The novel, The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne is an intriguing account of a Puritan community that experiences a breakdown in beliefs. The story deals with a woman, Hester, who commits adultery with a Calvinistic minister resulting in the birth of a child (Martin 110). As compensation for her crime of passion and her refusal to name her lover, Hester is sentenced to wear an embroidered scarlet letter on her bosom. It is this letter, or secret sin, that becomes the emphasis of the novel and assumes many different roles (Martin 111). Hawthorne starts the novel by portraying the literary reality associated with the different aspects of the letter (Martin 110). From the start, ?Hawthorne seems to say, this is a scarlet letter; because of that, it is capable of further meaning. The letter will have to carry the burden of the tale? (Martin 111). Hawthorne's use of symbolism is fully developed in the multi-meanings hidden in the scarlet letter through a variety of characters. The scarlet letter represents different ideals to different people and should be given the proper consideration (Martin 114). In the Puritan community, the letter is viewed as a moral obligation to inform others of Hester's sin, one that they feel should be ?dragged out into the sunshine? (Hawthorne 43). They believe the letter symbolizes psychological and religious truth. The Puritans are ? a people amongst whom religion and law were almost identical, and in whose character both were so thoroughly Foti 2 interfused, that her mildest and severest acts of public discipline were alike made venerable and awful? (Hawthorne 40). It is said that ?meager, indeed, and cold, was the sympathy that a transgressor might look for, from such bystanders at the scaffold? (Hawthorne 40). The Puritans are firmly against Hester's actions and feels that she has disgraced them along with herself. They feel that she must take responsibility for her actions. The effect of her punishment however is not what the Puritans had hoped to achieve. Hester's sin has grown from that of passion to one of purpose. Even with Hester's sympathetic attitude, she was not filled with regret and therefore the letter had not done its task (Martin 122). To the Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, the scarlet letter contains a whole new meaning. He views the letter as a constant reminder of his sin and cowardice. His guilt continues to grow as a result of his not being able to come forth in front of the community and take responsibility for his actions. His guilt and sin become magnified by his inability to stand beside Hester at the scaffold. Dimmesdale, also is ironically charged with questioning Hester and trying to convince her of the importance of identifying her fellow sinner (Hawthorne 52). He begins to feel more and more grief and it begins to affect his mental and physical state. He soon becomes weak; however, it is believed by the community to be because of his ?too unreserved self-sacrifice to the labors and duties of the pastoral relation? (Hawthorne 80). When Dimmesdale is believed to be near death, the community again believes it is because ?the world was not worthy to be any longer trodden by his feet? (Hawthorne 88). Dimmesdal e seems to be haunted by ?Satan's emissary, in the guise of old Roger Chillingworth. This diabolical Foti 3 agent had the Divine permission, for a season, to burrow into the clergyman's intimacy and plot against his soul? (Hawthorne 94). Chillingworth proposes to Dimmesdale that a ?sickness, a sore place, if we may so call it, in your spirit, hath immediately its appropriate manifestation in your bodily frame? (Hawthorne 99). However, Dimmesdale denies and refuses to discuss it with him. Dimmesdale becomes weaker and weaker because ?by the constitution of his nature, he loved the truth, and loathed the lie, as few men ever did. Therefore, above all things else, he loathed his miserable self! (Hawthorne 105). Before Dimmesdale's death, he finally confesses to his sin on the scaffold and frees his soul and conscience. Spectators have testified to seeing ?on the breast of the unhappy minister, a SCARLET LETTER?the very semblance of that worn by Hester Prynne?imprinted in the flesh? (Hawthorne