Wednesday, October 3, 2007
The Scarlet Scandal- I mean Letter- Reader's [B]Log
Post a response to chapters 13-19 here in the typical reader's log fashion. You may post your responses, questions, predictions, interpretations, and insights, etc. You may choose to address themes, symbols, characterization, or issues that you've been thinking about as you read the novel. As you've noticed, the text teems with symbolism, moral dilemmas, and irony, so those are always fair game also. You may also discuss Hawthorne's style, and/or the structure of the novel. Do you like the technique of withholding information from the reader and slowly revealing it through foreshadowing and discovery? What do you think will happen next? How will the characters extricate themselves from this complicated love triangle (which is perhaps more of a square/rectangle if Pearl is included)? What do you think would be a good ending for The Scarlet Letter? Write your own if you're feeling creative. If you're feeling really creative, write it like a modern day soap opera using Hawthorne's dialect.
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In chapter 16 Hester meets with Dimmesdale in the forest. The forest is a good place for them to meet because it represents a place of balance between the strict Puritan society and the wild society of the Indians that Dimmesdale is returning from. Pearl notices that the sunlight moves away from Hester. This is symbolic because the sun stands for truth and honesty, which shows that Hester is avoiding telling Dimmesdale the truth about her and Chillingworth's past.
I was sooo happy to find out that Dimmesdale and Hester finally talk. I hope they make it to Europe but kind of doubt they will make it. I was also glad that Dimmesdale knows that Chillingworth is Hesters husband and has been draining him and making him suffer. Dimmesdale has done much penance. One example is the constant strength being drained from him. I am anxious to see what happens next and if the three family members can make it to happiness.
I have not read past chapter 16 at the time of this post yet because I needed a break from the book. Nathaniel Hawthorne goes to far in depth with his descriptions and seems to drag-on with his descriptions of rather short events. The book is easy enough to read and the dialect is understandable, it is just that it is a very slow read. One such example is of chapter 15 where the narrator tells of useless details about Pearl playing in the sand. Pearl then continues on to constantly re-ask what the scarlet letter represents. I am glad that Hester has decided not to reveal something to Pearl, showing that she has a spine when dealing with the child. I also believe that Hester has become a person of overall good character and that she may face a tragedy in the near future in the form of Dimmesdale's murder.
Hester's transformation when she casts off the scarlet letter shows that the letter has truly masked her potential appearance and character for the past seven years. The results of Hester's sin have had a significant effect on her, and I think a reason she has not deteriorated is because she has Pearl to raise and care for. When Hester throws the letter, it lingers near the water without falling in, foreshadowing that Hester is not completely free of the letter and its misery; her escape plan is unlikely to succeed.
I also think Pearl's failure to bond with the minister in the scene by the brook foreshadows that the three will not be fortunate in escaping and living as a peaceful, happy family. Dimmesdale disappointed Pearl when he denied her request to stand on the scaffold. In this refusal, Dimmesdale seems to have lost acceptance from Pearl as having any significance to the girl other than as a troubled minister.
I was also glad that Hester and Dimmesdale talk. I have just finished chapter 17, and I think that Dimmesdale should take Hester's advice and go to a differnet country and start a new life. I think the leaves may be symbolic but I have not quite figured out what they might mean.
I also feel sad for Hester because she is no longer looked upon as the adulterer amongst the society. It seems as if time goes on the society begins to accept her more, but Hester cannot accept herself and is discontent with her life. I think her sin has had an extreme effect on her and that inside of her the sin grows bigger and deeper in her heart. I do believe however that she may make it through the tough times and that Dimmesdale might be around more often.
I am making an interpretation....I think that Dimmesdale may commit suicide because he talks of death and says he should just die so he doesn't have to live with the pain of his sin. So, I thought that he may end up killing himself trying to relieve pain and protect himself and Hester from CHillingworth's wrath.
I knew Hester would finally tell Dimmesdale that Chillingworth is her Husband! At first, I was suprised to see that Dimmesdale actually condemned and blamed his problems on Hester. Dimmesdale later forgives Hester and he, pearl, and Hester decide to move away to Europe, leaving their troubles behind. I thought the scene where Hester lets down her hair and takes off the "A" was cool because it shows the she is starting a "new life." I agree with Shea that the sun coming out symolizes Hester's coming to the truth.
These chapters felt like a huge relief to me. Hester decides she must talk to Dimmesdale, but not in town. She would rather be away from everyone in a quiet seclusion like the forest which is perfect them. Dimmesdale and Hester talked freely of their emotions, fears, and truths. They plan on going to Europe, but I think Chillingworth is going to stop this because well, its the middle of the book for one, AND also Chillingworth and Dimmesdale have yet to duke it out in the end! Yeah! So I'm looking forward to Chillingworths downfall because I don't like him at all. I also think Pearl and Dimmesdale will have an akward relationship at first but it will get better because Dimmesdale will save Pearl when Chillingworht tries to kill her and Hester! It's going to get pretty intense soon. I'm excited. =]
I like this book! I'm so glad Arthur and Hester sort of get back together because they obviously loved each other enough at some point to have a baby. I love Hawthorne's depiction of Pearl, she seems so wild and feisty and beautiful. It's interesting that when she is sent to play by the brook that she finds fun in playing with her reflection in the water. She seems oblivious to the fact that she has no friends at 7 years old. I felt bad for Arthur when he tries to talk to Pearl once he and Hester were on good terms, he kisses her and she runs away and washes it off, I suppose its somewhat symbolic of someone washing away "sins". When Hester unpins her Scarlet "A" it's really symbolic of her coming to terms with her past, starting a new life, and accepting herself. This book seems to be getting easier and easier to read as I continue. I think it's pretty good and I'm interested to see what happens when Chillingworth realizes Arthur knows who he really is. I think it is weird and ironic that Pearl should notice Dimmesdale constantly holding his heart, like he has a Scarlet letter beneath his clothing, as if Pearl knows somehow Dimmesdale is involved with her mom.
I was glad that Hester and Dimmesdale finally got a chance to talk with each other in private. I think that Dimmesdale should just confess his sin to the public because he is causing himself more physical and emotional pain by not confessing than he could ever cause himself by confessing. I also don't think that the three of them will make it to Europe because I think Chillingworth has something evil in mind that will prevent them from living out a happy life.
It's really nice that Hester and Dimmesdale finally get some time together after all of those years, but the plans they make seem pretty unlikely to ever come about. Pearl doesn't seem to like the idea of Dimmesdale entering into her life. She picks up on so many things, that I'm sure she knows that Hester and Dimmesdale were planning something, and she definitely knows that there is something on Dimmesdale's chest that he is always clutching at. Before the possibility of him entering into her life, Pearl seemed to like him, but now she wants no part of him, running away to wash off his kiss, and not coming near him and Hester until Hester puts the scarlet letter back on. I feel bad for Dimmesdale, having hid his secret and now finally getting a chance to live his dreams and having Pearl stand in the way, not returning the love that he has hoped for.
I liked how when Hester and Dimmesdale finally had a chance to talk privatly in the forest, the reader had a chance to see Hester and Dimmesdale happy and actually excited for once, rather than depressed and hurt. Although their plans to flee to Europe and become a happy family may not happen, it was nice to see a different side to the characters. I thought that Pearl's reaction to Hester with her hair down and without the scarlet letter was interesting. I think Pearl reacted the way she did, not only because she didn't recognize her mother, but because she was scared. Pearl associates Hester's abandonment of the scarlet letter as a sign that Hester may also abandon her. Pearl may have thought of this because she is a very smart girl, and she defenitly realizes that somehow, her and the scarlet letter that her mother always wears are connected.
It amazed me that with just removing the Scarlet letter Hester's beauty rejoined her. It seems like the Scarlet letter is a shadow of uglieness over her and she cannot escape from it unless she takes the letter off. The sunshine symbolizes the pureness that emerges from Hester when she does remove the scarlet letter. The sunshine normally stays away from her due to fear of the letter. But as soon as Hester puts the letter back on her and puts her head-scarf on the ugliness comes out again and a shadow is casted on her. It was also strange how Pearl reacted to the removal of the letter. It just seems like she tortures Hester to the extreme in making her reattach the letter and causing her sadness. The scarlet letter is torture to Hester and when she finally takes it off it makes her beautiful and happy again, but the only way to have her daughter near her is to keep the scarlet letter back on.
I think that Pearl is one of the most complex characters in the novel. She is more intelligient than most other seven year olds and is observant for her age also. It was interesting when Pearl imitates Hester's scarlet letter using eelgrass and then asks if she will ever get one. She also asks if the reason that Hester wears the letter is the same reason that the minister keeps his hand over his heart. Pearl believes that the minister holds his hand over his heart because the Black Man set his mark there, an observation that proves to be eerily accurate.
I think that it's really great that Dimmesdale and Hester finally got to talk. He deserved to know who Chillingworth really is. It was kind of sad that he got mad at Hester when she was trying to do the right thing by him, but it is good that he forgave her right away. I wish that they would end up all going away and being together, but I do not really think that will happen, at least not any time soon. I also think that it is really great that people are starting to see Hester's letter as meaning "Able" instead of "Adultress". I hope that Hester can eventually have the Scarlet Letter removed, and live a happy, normal life.
I HATE THIS BOOK!!! Hawthorne uses way too much symbolism, and I think everyone else would agree. The book would be so much better if u could read a page and not get lost about what is going on. The book does have some dull points at times and can be quite boring. I struggle to get through a few pages without zoning out because the information Hawthorne is trying to portray is stretched out and boring. Some of the symbolism he uses could have so many more meanings, leaving some things hard for readers to grasp. There are some things that I like about the book however, even though it is confusing with all of the puritan dialect. I like the scandal and controversy that Hawthorne creates throughout the novel. He leaves readers asking, "what is going to happen next?" The end of the book is FINALY getting interesting. Hester and Dimmesdale are getting together at last, despite the townspeople and want to leave the town. How romantic! Good for them! Why should they have to suffer just because Hester was married to a jerk. a.k.a. Chillingworth. Hester, Dimmesdale, and Pearl just need to get away from the town and leave the past behind them
I think its really great that Hester and Dimmesdale get to talk. I thin they both have held their secret too long and it as harmed them. I also am proud of Hester for telling him Chillingworth is her husban becuase he has been struggling with him. i think by telling him about her husban, they can start a new life together. I thinks its great that they can come together agter all these years and wanting to start a family with THEIR duagter. Another thing i liked about this passage is that the meaning of Hester A has changed to able, and that people in the community accept her bettter now. By taking off her letter it s hows she is ready to forget her past and the pesone she was, and become a new person.
I was glad that Hester and Dimmesdale finally talked about it because it seemed to be slowly killing both of them. Staying apart and pretending there was nothing was hurting them and both were starting to be in very bad shape. By being back together i think they will be happy again.
In chapters 18 and 19 Hester Prynne really makes me mad. She built up her reputation in her hometown and now thinks it ok just to pack up and leave! Then she removes the Scarlet Letter from her bosom and throws it into the woods. It just doesn't make sense that after seven years she can completely turn around and go against everything that had happened. Dimmesdale also makes me mad because at first he won't forgive Hester for Chillingworth being her husband. Then, he decides to leave with Hester to some far off country. Both characters are stopping their lives at a random point and leaving it all behind. This novel is very upsetting!!!
I'm not sure if we're supposed to put our ending blog comments on here but I can't figure out anywhere else. I actually liked the ending even though Dimmesdale died I think he was happy that he could finally confess to the whole town his sin and die with Hester and Pearl nearby. It's coincidential that Chillingworth died a year after Dimmesdale, as if the secret and his seeking revenge ate away at him so much that it killed him. I thought it was cool that Chillingworth gave all his money to Pearl, which is interesting since she called him the Black Man and he obviously didn't like her because it was the daughter of adultery. Hester's ending was a little weird but works out, I was a little disappointed she ends up living alone but that's what usually happens after a character's life love dies. It was also kind of cool that the spectators had mixed views as to what Dimmesdale acutally confessed, what was on his chest, etc., which shows the differing viewpoints the townspeople have on the adultery, Dimmesdale's illness, Hester, and Pearl. Overall I'll give this books scandal rating a 8.5
Somebody needs to punch Dimmesdale in the face. I understand that he had to live with that slime-ball Chillingworth, but there is no way that it's only Hester's fault for that. He should have known (and he kind of did) how bad Chillingworth's spirit was. Plus, he's the one that isn't even man enough to confess his adultery. At least he forgave Hester really quickly, and hooray for Pearl for not trusting that he'll go with her and her mom because I don't trust him either.
I thought that was sad that both Dimmesdale and Hester died in the end of the book. Although, I was glad to see that Chillingworth died, even though he kind of redeemed himself by giving Pearl an inheritance. I would have liked to have seen Pearl, Hester, and Dimmesdale make it to Europe and live out a normal rest of their lives.
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