"The Scarlet Letter"

Throughout this passage from The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne used persuasive syntax to convince the reader of Hester’s good will and to show how she lived in a non-cynical manner. Hawthorne used antagonistic diction to persuade the reader of the Puritans’ troublesome way of life and the problems they caused in New England society.

Descriptive syntax was used to show that Hester was a better person than what people might have taken her to be from the letter she wore upon her chest. As Hawthorne summarized the life of Hester, he used well organized syntax to show the progression she had made as a person; “Here had been her sin; here her sorrow; and here was yet to be her penitence.” In this sentence Hawthorne shows that New England was where Hester had sinned, and had suffered for her sin. By saying that it has yet to be her penitence, Hawthorne was implying that New England was yet to be the place of her regret. Hester did feel guilty, but this guilt was self-i...