Read this excerpt from chapter 2 of The Scarlet Letter. Lastly, in lieu of these shifting scenes, came back the rude market-place of the Puritan settlement, with all the townspeople assembled and levelling their stern regards at Hester Prynne,—yes, at herself,—who stood on the scaffold of the pillory, an infant on her arm, and the letter A, in scarlet, fantastically embroidered with gold thread, upon her bosom! What is the effect of the underlined words in this excerpt?

The answer is that this particular excerpt from the Scarlett Letter, especially the emphasis on the events that are happening to the main character, Hester, makes you feel with her a sense of shamefulness, and maybe even sadness. But there is also a sense of inner strength, of inner rebelion towards those who are accusing her, and humiliating her, because even despite all, she still refuses to do what the authorities of her Puritan village want her to do.

Explanation:

"The Scarlett Letter" is a novel that was written by author Nathaniel Hawthorne, and it was published in 1850. It narrates the story of Hester Prynne, a Puritan woman who lives in the Massachussetts Bay Colony, and who must face the terrible consequences of having had an affair, and borne a child out of wedlock, by sporting a big golden letter A that is embossed into her clothes at her chest. The entire book shows the level of shame, and even sadness, that Hester has to go through at the hands of her peers and fellow villagers. Especially in this scene from chapter 2, when aside from being humiliated in front of the entire town, she must go through the shame of seeing all those who once shared with her, accuse her, point fingers, and judge her for her actions.