Read the excerpt relating to Reverend Mr. Wilson from Chapter 3 of The Scarlet Letter.
'He looked like the darkly engraved portraits which we see prefixed to old volumes of sermons; and had no more right than one of those portraits would have, to step forth, as he now did, and meddle with a question of human guilt, passion, and anguish.'
Which trait of Reverend Mr. Wilson does Hawthorne develop in this excerpt from the chapter?
A. courage
B. arrogance
C. remorsefulness
D. humility
Answer (2)
In the excerpt, Reverend Mr. Wilson is depicted as having a strong sense of arrogance as he attempts to engage in matters of human guilt and passion without the necessary understanding. His portrayal likens him to a mere portrait, emphasizing his superficial authority. This characterization highlights his failure to truly comprehend the complexities of human emotion. ;
In the excerpt, Reverend Mr. Wilson embodies arrogance as his superficial understanding of human emotions leads to a misguided engagement with deep moral questions. Hawthorne critiques this detachment by likening Wilson to a mere portrait, suggesting he lacks genuine insight. Therefore, the best answer is B. arrogance.
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