Identity and History in The Scarlet Letter

Everything we have ever done or said makes up our history; this is what it means to be human. It helps define and shape our identity. At the beginning of The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne illustrates how one’s history can be seen as a burden affecting one’s life and sometimes these burdens can be passed down to future generations (i.e. Pearl). However, by the middle of the novel, we can also see how Hester’s character is not exactly tied to her past; instead, she has transformed the symbol of the letter A from “adulterous” to “able,” securing her position as a valued member of her community. Nevertheless, her transformation would not have happened without her downfall at the beginning of the novel. Write an essay in which you explain how one’s identity is shaped. Consider the relationship between one's history and current actions. Use appropriate evidence from The Scarlet Letter and your own experience, or historical/current observations to support your argument.