Irony In The Scarlet Letter
Irony in the Scarlet Letter
There are many ironic occurrences in the novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter. One example of irony is when Hester implies that Reverend Dimmesdale knows her best since he is her pastor, while we later understand that Dimmesdale knows her because they committed adultery together. Hester Prynne says to the Reverend Mr. Dimmesdale, ?[t]hou wast my pastor, and hadst charge of my soul, and knowest me better than these men can?(Hawthorne 104; ch.8). Another ironic conversation is that of Dimmesdale and Chillingworth speaking about another sinner. Chillingworth is indirectly placing blame on Dimmesdale, while Dimmesdale is busy defending his silence about his sin. Neither man actually acknowledges switching the conversation from merely hypothetical to speaking of
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