- interesting that book begins in these particular places without any action occurring.
Why has the author done this?
- give us an image of society
Puritans: group of people who left England and migrated to U.S where they established colonies in U.S. area in order to practice religious freedom. Inside this practice of religious freedom there are still problems:
- Every society (including this one) has two things that define its imperfections which are a prison and a cemetery. A society MUST have these imperfections from a biblical point of view, because we are only men and are not immortal (sin in garden of Eden cost us our immortality)
- Puritans believe strongly in original sin and predestination (which is contradictory if they are creating Utopia).
- This society is clearly one of non-acceptance: one of the first things they did was persecute others such as Native Americans.
- Nathaniel Hawthorne carries burden of sin from his forefathers
- Guilt is not the same as shame: shame is not necessary associated with your direct fault, even though it's something that one can carry. Guilt is conscience (internal) whereas shame is more of a conscience from society's point of view (external). Shame goes hand in hand with acceptance from the rest of society.
- The narrator wants us to have this image of society: gives us a broad stroke and slows down in order to truly introduce the reader to the society.
- Omniscient (omni = all ; scient = seeing) narrator: he sees everything and is the voice of all characters meaning that he can put himself in the mind of all characters. This type of narrator is above or removed from the story, not part of it. He plays the role of a God in the story since he has the capability of bringing forward all emotions and perspectives of the different characters.
- Can this type of narrator have his own point of view? Is he neutral?
- Yes; in fiction, the narrator can have his own voice and can carry judgment on some of the things that he tells the reader. He has the capability of interpreting what characters say and think.
- In prison door, the fact that he offers us a rose because he has a point of view of the tale he is about to tell. Is also optimistic because he will guide the reader through the story with some "rose" that the reader can pull away with.
- He may be writing tale as a criticism of this community.
- Not imposing his view, though the way he presents society is negative (similarly to Victor Hugo in Les Miserables): he describes different "types" of people and illustrates their flaws.
- Characters represent and are personifications of ideas, like an allegory.
Why is Hester of the scaffold?
- She has committed adultery and has a scarlet letter of her chest: an "A" for "adulterer"
- She was married, had a baby out of wedlock and is being punished: she is imprisoned AND must stand on scaffold for three hours for all of society to see.
- They have chosen to give her a life of shame; they were "merciful" by not putting her to death.
Good wives are introduced in this chapter:
- their title is ironic as they would love to have Hester Prynne put to death.
- They are more critical of Hester Prynne than are the men.
- She is threatening the Puritan way, and not committing adultery is part of commandments.
- Described as "coarse" and unattractive, except the woman who has a child of her own.
Why do they behave this way?
- Putting all of their guilt and shame on another (scapegoat). Makes them feel safe.
- Form of jealousy as Hester is described as a beautiful and graceful woman.
- Narrator even goes to say that she is a "Divine Maternity". Not only is she shameless, she is sacred.
- Almost as if this form of sin were contagious.
- They are living in very strict conditions that men have imposed on them.
- These women don't have a "choice" of life, though Herster decided for herself. They are resentful towards her for not entirely bearing the consequences of her actions. She has acted in a way that women have been asked to refrain from.
- Maybe these women have their own sins and are struggling to keep these thoughts inside of them. Ex on page 49: "the pang of it will be always in her heart" -> this woman knows a little something about feeling sinful; sin must not always be exposed publicly but will always be carried as a burden in somebody's heart.
- The young woman has this same feeling of guilt, therefore she can relate.
- 2 classes of women: young one who may have sinned and others who wanted to commit a sin but haven't ("why have these women sacrificed their own desires when Hester has gotten away with it?"). The actions of these women are pure, though their thoughts are not.
Where is the father of the child?
- Hester refuses to reveal his identity: bears both their burdens.
- The woman adulterer is the only one who cannot hide her sin and is being punished publicly.
- She knows she is strong enough to handle the shame of two people: strongest person in this community / strength of character that is remarkable.
7 Deadly Sins: Pride, Envy, Anger, Lust, Sloth, Gluttony, Greed
--> we all have sins, we'll we unburden ourselves?
-Nathaniel Hawthorn believes that everyone is a sinner
-->condition of man = condition of sinner
Chapters 6-10
-Hester lives on the outskirts of town, she has embroidery skills
-we don't want virgins to wear her clothes
-Hester decided to stay in community, she has a choice,
-she accepts rules of society, accepts punishment
-Dimmesdale having trouble burying his sin, diseased over it --> physician helping him with his sin
-Chillingworth has used the dark arts --> partnership with devil?
-town interprets relationship between Dimmesdale and Chillingworth : Chillingworth trying to tempt Dimmesdale
-Chillingworth, in moral allegory, represents the devil
-devil omnipresent
-->Governor's own sister, Mistress Hibbins
p. 103 : "Hist, Hist[...] with mine own blood!"
-->Puritans believed in meetings with Black man in forest
-->In Hester test of sin, she feel, but now the product of what made her fall (Pearl) is saving her
=>devil omnipresent, sin everywhere, will they overcome sin?
p. 112: "To sum up the matter [...] but secure!
-->battle for his soul
-Chillingworth and Dimmesdale talk about secret sin
-->weak people keep secret sins to themselves -> punishment, eats them up inside, doubled your sin = hypocrisy
p.114 : "the weeds grew out of his heart"
- can't keep sin inside
if sin destined how is sin fair?
-just because have sin, doesn't mean act on sin yourself
-it is your choice how you choose to deal with sin
end of Chapter 10
-Chillingworth waits until Dimmesdale is sleeping and finds out secret sin
-a little full of himself
-Chillingworth referred to as "The Leech"
--> physician used to blood let you or use leeches (blood suckers)
--> medicine wasn't science until 18th c.
->Chillingworth sucking out Dimmesdale's soul - finds out Dimmesdale's sin => proud
Pearl : demon child
-people fear her
-she gives impression that she is older because of her attitude
--> she is only three, very precautious for her age
-she is ostracized, bullied
--> laughs about it
why is she considered a demon child?
-she is sadistic, a little like Chillingworth
-> with Hester, she plays with the Scarlet Letter
-> entertainment for her to play with situation
->reminds mother of her sin
-->Pearl embodies reminder of sin, product of sin, mocks sin
-->enjoys teasing mother about letter, throws flower at it
-> loves bringing things back in a teasing way
-born with no moral compass, but she knows what sin is and the consequences, nonetheless she won't follow it
p. 81 : "the child could not be amenable to rules. In giving her existence, a great law had been broken"
How do you think Hester feels about her role as Pearl's mother?
p. 92 : "thou must gather thine own sunshine. I have none to give thee!"
-Hester scared of Pearl, and feels guilt for the fear
Hester loves and needs Pear to stay away form sin, but in uncomfortable with her own child
-child makes her feel guilty
-Child is her own saving grace
-Feels guilty because Pearl can't live normal life because of Hester's sin
-Pearl very affectionate towards Dimmesdale
-Pearl beloved by nature, born naturally, not socially --> elf-child
- the only time Hester feels secure is when Pearl is sleeping, can't relax when Pearl is around
--> more fearing than guilty
- "Pearl"- Hester paid a very high price for it => reputation and shame
-> often associated with color red like ruby and color, but also rose
--> she is a living Scarlet Letter
· Here the author spends a lot of time on point of view, it shows us that in this new society next to Boston, that is supposed to be a Utopia. However it is not and every society there are two things that contradict and defy the Utopia: a prison, and a cemetery.
à The cemetery goes back to the fruit that cost us our immortality.
à Before people believed in Predestination.
· Burden of shame à Important concept for Hawthorn. One of the judges of the Salem witch trials passed this on in his family.
· Shame vs. Guilt
· The narrator wants a us to get a panorama, a certain image of the society he is in. He gives us a broad image though so we have a lot to think about.
· Omniscient: Omni=All Scient=Seeing, knowing. The Narrator is here omniscient he not only tells us the story but also knows and tells us about how the characters feel and think. He is kind of like the God of the story.
· He offers us a symbol of hope because he carries us through the tale with a rose, and so he hopes that we can pull away from the darkness of the tale.
· Lots of different types of people in the same story. The characters are like allegories, personifications of things in society.
· Adultery is punishable by death. The jury was merciful and let her live, but she has to wear a Scarlet Letter and stand in front of people for hours to expose her crime. She must live a life of Shame.
· The meanest people in the story are the Goodwives, which is very ironic.
à They wish Esther was put to death for a couple possible reasons: They could be struggling to not do what Esther did and so they kind of take her as a scapegoat. They also good be jealous of Esther’s beauty and do not want to see a beautiful sinner live. p.52 and p.48
· Weird that the man are more merciful than the woman since for example her husband has been cuckolded and so they should be ashamed and not pity her.
· p.49 a young woman does not agree with the rest of the women. She might have sinned too.
à There are a couple different kinds of women in the crowd: The older women who have never sinned but wanted to know and kept themselves from doing it. And the younger women who may or may not have sinned which is why they might be more merciful of Esther.
Nathaniel Hawthorne
· Romance à Moral Allegory.
· The Scarlet letter is a “Classic”
· There is always evil and sin in the world. The puritan work ethic is very present in the American work ethic, but it causes repression.
· Hawthorne uses a psychological analysis
· Themes: Alienation, initiation, guilt, shame, sin, pride, faith etc…
Characters in the book
· 3 main characters in the beginning:
à Roger Chillingworth
à Hester Prynne
à Reverend Arthur Dimmsdale
· Hester:
à Biblical name, harsh name.
à She has a strong character: She accepts her burden alone, this shown in her name. She could give her adulter’s name but she does not. She is a very selfless person. She doesn’t want the other person to suffer like she does.
à p.62, she is asked to give the name of the man she committed adultery with, but she does not give the name and does not.
à She doesn’t give in to the pressure of the whole crowd.
à She is very human. “passionate and impulsive nature”
à She is presenting herself in a very moral and respectful way, but however everyone else believes she is Immoral because of what she has done.
à Speaks about society because the town is getting involved in something that is not their business and it reflects society.
à She turns her shame into pride. She doesn’t let people get to her even though it really does, she doesn’t want to seem weak and that shows
à She turns the letter of shame “A” in an ornament, a beautiful thing à irony.
à When she is proposed to take the letter off if she denounces the sinner she says no because it is engraved in her heart: everyone already knows who she is and what she did, so it wouldn’t make a difference.
· Dimmsdale:
à He is soft, he talks to her nicely.
à He appreciates her generosity and his selflessness.
à He respects her as a woman even with her sins.
à He feels deeply.
· Roger Chillingworth:
à He wants revenge on the father of Hester’s child.
à He is Hester’s ex husband who changed his name
à He left and Hester might have thought he was dead since he wasn’t coming back.
à He accepts the fact that what happen is partially his fault.
à He is the serpent (symbol, represents of the Devil)
Sin – Chapters 6-10
· Dimmsdale is having trouble with his secret sin à Conflicted, diseased.
· Chillingworth has practiced dark arts so the townspeople think he might be in collaboration with the Devil.
· Devil is omnipresent (p.103)
· Weak people keep their secret sins to themselves. Since it is predestined you have to admit it otherwise it will grow inside you. (p.114) “save these ugly weeds …”
· Hester is not confident with her own child. The child is her own saving grace. But she feels guilty that she forced her into this world and can’t give her what she needs to be happy and normal.
· Pearl:
à Devil Child
à We think she is older because of all the mayhem she causes. (she is only 3 and could be 10 with her attitude) She is also very violent.
à No one wants to plan with her, she is ostracized.
à She is a bit sadistic: Whenever when she is with Hester and Hester is sad Pearl laughs at her and plays with the Scarlet Letter.
à Pearl likes to play with the situation and to tease her mother with the Letter and remind her about the sin she has committed.
à She knows what sin is but she doesn’t understand what it means to the puritans. She is the product of a broken rule. (p.81)
à She knows right from wrong but won’t follow it.
à Can’t live a normal child’s life.
à Pearl is associated to other color especially to red (ruby, coral, rosebush)
à She is all embroidered, she is the Scarlet Letter in Person.
On Jan 15, 2012, at 10:06 AM, Reilly, Joelle wrote:
What are Hester, Dimmesdale and Chillingworth's sins?
- To find sins we haven't thought about yet
- Revenge = justice for yourself, partial vs. justice = objective, "blind"
Chillingworth
- Digging away at Dimmesdale
- Revenge, wrath
- Using his doctoral position to get at Dimmesdale = dishonest, cowardly. Secretly torturing another person.
- Selfish, going against God for his own benefit, hypocritical
- Link to the women who have been judging Hester: Chillingworth taking joy in Dimmesdale's suffering, sadistic pleasure.
- Letting himself become consumed by his desire for revenge. Instead of saving himself, he's dragging Dimmesdale to Hell with him.
- Sin can transform you, as we've seen with Chillingworth p. 148 "enjoyment, analysis, gloating"
- Sin traps us, takes on a life of its own
// Victor OR Darth Vader: giving in to their sin, but Chillingworth doesn't even try to escape it or go back
Dimmesdale
- adultery with Hester
- made her take all the blame publicly
- continuing to keep his secret sin, living in hypocrisy
- his sin is constantly tormenting him: stuck between telling everyone (morals) and keeping it in (social status)
- paradox: the more he puts himself down as a sinner, the more his reputation gets better p. 125
// Macbeth: eaten up by guilt, difference between public and private persona
- townspeaople think Dimmesdale's carrying all their sins, see him as a Saint
- making attempts to tell, but always indirectly so nobody listens/hears [except Mistress Hibbins]
- still very moral, but a huge coward compared to Hester
- ironic that the help he's getting is from Chillingworth
- since Dimmesdale has morals, he's forced to live with his sin, the letter A branded on his skin
-transformative power of sin. Sin can change people in dramatic ways=> Dimmesdale
Hester's sin transforms because she changes. People start to accept her. Whereas Dimmesdale lies about his sin...committing hence a double sin. He's being corrupted by his sin. He branded an A on his skin however he becomes more and more popular in the town. Hester was at the lowest point in the beginning of the novel so we can anticipate that the only way she'll go as we read on is up. Hester has not continued to manifest any symptoms of her first sin. She could give in to her dark side, she's not immune to committing another sin. What has she's been doing other than carrying the burden of her sin? she has been transformed by the sin. Being an outcast, being isolated gives her time to look back on what she did and think about who she was and place of women in society. She helps the sick, she sits by people's bed and keep them company. "Taper"=> symbol metonymy of
She's become a very helpful and her passion was transformed and became a source of hope, of comfort, of warmth and mercy (things that only a sinner can understand and hence procure). Some townspeople start to interpret the A on her chest as "Able".
-Consequences of being open about one's sin: allowing the sin to transform the sinner into a better person but at the same time sinner will never be able to rehabilitate his/her place in society. Hester was a newcomer when she committed the sin of adultery and they judged her pitilessly but if she did not commit a sin could she have been cooperative with the society. She was a strong will, free woman=> society saw such women as sinners (P.144). Hester could have had it much worse since she would have been a rebel.
She's still in a place of questioning and she's not immune to sin. She could go in the forest and be free. She puts her luxurious and shining hair in a hat, conditioning herself, constraining herself. She's not happy.
- Pearl figures out a lot about the situation. She sees there's a tension between the adults. She knows the letter is has a pejorative connotation. She feels like Dimmesdale should stand on the scaffold with them at noontime. Hence she wants him to acknowledge his community with her mother and her in front of the town. Its in Dimmesdale nature to feel guilt for what he did but still cannot be opened about his sin. Irony: Pear is more lucid than the townspeople as she realizes that there is an actual connection between Hester and Dimmesdale heart condition
- Pearl is a child of nature. Shift in the way nature interact with sin.
- Townspeople saw an A in the sky and interpret it as "Angel" in honor of the governor who died that morning. On the other hand Dimmesdale thinks its an A that has been sent by the divine power to show he has been condemned. Irony because the people thinks the A is for "Angel" while there is a reunion of the sinners on the scaffold. Townspeople see whatever they want to see, they see what fits them most in a situation.
-Now that we know what Dimmesdale sin is, we understands that his speech in the beginning is a plea.
Dimmesdale and Hester meet again on the scaffold, yet the circumstances are different. He offers Hester to reveal his sin in order to ease her burden's.
Hester's selflessness, ironically, hurt's Dimmesdale by letting his suffering continue.
Clues that Dimmesdale is the fellow adulterer:
At the governor's manor, Hester ask's him directly to make sure Pearl isn't taken away.
"Heathen hath granted thee in open ignominy..."
Hester's sin having been exposed, she fell to an ultimate low. Therefore, just like after an injury, all she can do is heal. Hester, as opposed to Dimmesdale, doesn't have to carry her secret around, with the guilt eating her up. There is a short period of public humiliation following the exposition of a sin, which of course is hard to overcome. But it is a blessing in disguise, it has a cleansing characteristic.
Heaven granted her the exposition of her sin. Dimmesdale has a problem, he cannot admit his sin fault of courage. Hester had it imposed, getting her over it. Dimmesdale is building up guilt, leading him to his unavoidable downfall.
Symbols:
Hester's hat is a symbol for her metaphysical prison: her hair is her, it is wild and beautiful. Yet her hat guards that hair, hides it, and keeps it inside hidden far away for no one to see. Ironically her prison is her liberty: giving up her natural attributes allows her to integrate her puritan society.
Pearl is a symbol for the sin: She is a walking Scarlet letter. "pearl" -> high price. Her life cost her parents a high price.
The forest is a place of freedom, it is outside society-> outside of the "perimetre", no rules.
From the puritanical point of view, freedom manages to be a sin. -> associated with the devil.
Witches practice their black magic up in there.
The scaffold is kind if a symbol for ostracism.Its supposed to discourage sin, but if you turn gilt into shame then no one will want to come out with their sin.
For Hester it is a bad old memory, for Dimmesdale it is an impending peril.
Prison door: evil
Rosebush: hope/ Plea for forgiveness.
None of the chairs IS working
(none is singular)
Joining Dimmesdale on the scaffold the climax of the play?
Why is the scaffold scene pivotal?
Max: seeming is a very big theme, its seems like things are going to happen between HEster and Dimmesdale
Bob: Scene in the forest is when they actually talk
scaffold: in clear view, middle of the town (at night)
forest: away from the puritan society, it has laws of its own, the laws of nature which allows them to speak in a way the have not been able to speak before.
He is the pastor and she is the parishioner, yet they call each other by their names in this chapter.
Title of the chapter shows a border between Dimmesdale and Hester.
Brooks babble: telling stories of melancholy, talking to Pearl
Pearl is the reminder that Hester is a sinner, and only sees her as her mother while wearing the Scarlet letter
Pearl only wants truth, she is the product of puritan society, a child of nature as well. She is a twist, made by sin. Obsessed with truth, which will eventually doom her parents
Pearl thinks that it would be truth and justice for Dimmesdale and Hester to walk hand in hand to the town together.
Irony: the puritans ran away from the repression of Europe, but now Hester is running back to Europe to be "free".
Pearl is not free herself, constrained to being a symbol of sin. Flower child and sin both in one
quickly became more unjust than the community they ran away form.
Dimmesdale has to take responsibility from the actions he has committed. But if he does then he will be shunned. D does not know what part of him is real, if he is evil or good. Wants to sin, because he has never done what he has wanted and now he can so he goes a bit over the top wt the sins and mischief.
CHillingworth's sin is the worst because his one is evil.
Symbols: Brook, Forest, Scaffold
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What are Hester, Dimmesdale and Chillingworth's sins?
- To find sins we haven't thought about yet
- Revenge = justice for yourself, partial vs. justice = objective, "blind"
Chillingworth
- Digging away at Dimmesdale
- Revenge, wrath
- Using his doctoral position to get at Dimmesdale = dishonest, cowardly. Secretly torturing another person.
- Selfish, going against God for his own benefit, hypocritical
- Link to the women who have been judging Hester: Chillingworth taking joy in Dimmesdale's suffering, sadistic pleasure.
- Letting himself become consumed by his desire for revenge. Instead of saving himself, he's dragging Dimmesdale to Hell with him.
- Sin can transform you, as we've seen with Chillingworth p. 148 "enjoyment, analysis, gloating"
- Sin traps us, takes on a life of its own
// Victor OR Darth Vader: giving in to their sin, but Chillingworth doesn't even try to escape it or go back
Dimmesdale
- adultery with Hester
- made her take all the blame publicly
- continuing to keep his secret sin, living in hypocrisy
- his sin is constantly tormenting him: stuck between telling everyone (morals) and keeping it in (social status)
- paradox: the more he puts himself down as a sinner, the more his reputation gets better p. 125
// Macbeth: eaten up by guilt, difference between public and private persona
- townspeaople think Dimmesdale's carrying all their sins, see him as a Saint
- making attempts to tell, but always indirectly so nobody listens/hears [except Mistress Hibbins]
- still very moral, but a huge coward compared to Hester
- ironic that the help he's getting is from Chillingworth
- since Dimmesdale has morals, he's forced to live with his sin, the letter A branded on his skin
-transformative power of sin. Sin can change people in dramatic ways=> Dimmesdale
Hester's sin transforms because she changes. People start to accept her. Whereas Dimmesdale lies about his sin...committing hence a double sin. He's being corrupted by his sin. He branded an A on his skin however he becomes more and more popular in the town. Hester was at the lowest point in the beginning of the novel so we can anticipate that the only way she'll go as we read on is up. Hester has not continued to manifest any symptoms of her first sin. She could give in to her dark side, she's not immune to committing another sin. What has she's been doing other than carrying the burden of her sin? she has been transformed by the sin. Being an outcast, being isolated gives her time to look back on what she did and think about who she was and place of women in society. She helps the sick, she sits by people's bed and keep them company. "Taper"=> symbol metonymy of
She's become a very helpful and her passion was transformed and became a source of hope, of comfort, of warmth and mercy (things that only a sinner can understand and hence procure). Some townspeople start to interpret the A on her chest as "Able".
-Consequences of being open about one's sin: allowing the sin to transform the sinner into a better person but at the same time sinner will never be able to rehabilitate his/her place in society. Hester was a newcomer when she committed the sin of adultery and they judged her pitilessly but if she did not commit a sin could she have been cooperative with the society. She was a strong will, free woman=> society saw such women as sinners (P.144). Hester could have had it much worse since she would have been a rebel.
She's still in a place of questioning and she's not immune to sin. She could go in the forest and be free. She puts her luxurious and shining hair in a hat, conditioning herself, constraining herself. She's not happy.
- Pearl figures out a lot about the situation. She sees there's a tension between the adults. She knows the letter is has a pejorative connotation. She feels like Dimmesdale should stand on the scaffold with them at noontime. Hence she wants him to acknowledge his community with her mother and her in front of the town. Its in Dimmesdale nature to feel guilt for what he did but still cannot be opened about his sin. Irony: Pear is more lucid than the townspeople as she realizes that there is an actual connection between Hester and Dimmesdale heart condition
- Pearl is a child of nature. Shift in the way nature interact with sin.
- Townspeople saw an A in the sky and interpret it as "Angel" in honor of the governor who died that morning. On the other hand Dimmesdale thinks its an A that has been sent by the divine power to show he has been condemned. Irony because the people thinks the A is for "Angel" while there is a reunion of the sinners on the scaffold. Townspeople see whatever they want to see, they see what fits them most in a situation.
-Now that we know what Dimmesdale sin is, we understands that his speech in the beginning is a plea.
Dimmesdale and Hester meet again on the scaffold, yet the circumstances are different. He offers Hester to reveal his sin in order to ease her burden's.
Hester's selflessness, ironically, hurt's Dimmesdale by letting his suffering continue.
Clues that Dimmesdale is the fellow adulterer:
At the governor's manor, Hester ask's him directly to make sure Pearl isn't taken away.
"Heathen hath granted thee in open ignominy..."
Hester's sin having been exposed, she fell to an ultimate low. Therefore, just like after an injury, all she can do is heal. Hester, as opposed to Dimmesdale, doesn't have to carry her secret around, with the guilt eating her up. There is a short period of public humiliation following the exposition of a sin, which of course is hard to overcome. But it is a blessing in disguise, it has a cleansing characteristic.
Heaven granted her the exposition of her sin. Dimmesdale has a problem, he cannot admit his sin fault of courage. Hester had it imposed, getting her over it. Dimmesdale is building up guilt, leading him to his unavoidable downfall.
Symbols:
Hester's hat is a symbol for her metaphysical prison: her hair is her, it is wild and beautiful. Yet her hat guards that hair, hides it, and keeps it inside hidden far away for no one to see. Ironically her prison is her liberty: giving up her natural attributes allows her to integrate her puritan society.
Pearl is a symbol for the sin: She is a walking Scarlet letter. "pearl" -> high price. Her life cost her parents a high price.
The forest is a place of freedom, it is outside society-> outside of the "perimetre", no rules.
From the puritanical point of view, freedom manages to be a sin. -> associated with the devil.
Witches practice their black magic up in there.
The scaffold is kind if a symbol for ostracism.Its supposed to discourage sin, but if you turn gilt into shame then no one will want to come out with their sin.
For Hester it is a bad old memory, for Dimmesdale it is an impending peril.
Prison door: evil
Rosebush: hope/ Plea for forgiveness.
None of the chairs IS working
(none is singular)
Joining Dimmesdale on the scaffold the climax of the play?
Why is the scaffold scene pivotal?
Max: seeming is a very big theme, its seems like things are going to happen between HEster and Dimmesdale
Bob: Scene in the forest is when they actually talk
scaffold: in clear view, middle of the town (at night)
forest: away from the puritan society, it has laws of its own, the laws of nature which allows them to speak in a way the have not been able to speak before.
He is the pastor and she is the parishioner, yet they call each other by their names in this chapter.
Title of the chapter shows a border between Dimmesdale and Hester.
Brooks babble: telling stories of melancholy, talking to Pearl
Pearl is the reminder that Hester is a sinner, and only sees her as her mother while wearing the Scarlet letter
Pearl only wants truth, she is the product of puritan society, a child of nature as well. She is a twist, made by sin. Obsessed with truth, which will eventually doom her parents
Pearl thinks that it would be truth and justice for Dimmesdale and Hester to walk hand in hand to the town together.
Irony: the puritans ran away from the repression of Europe, but now Hester is running back to Europe to be "free".
Pearl is not free herself, constrained to being a symbol of sin. Flower child and sin both in one
quickly became more unjust than the community they ran away form.
Dimmesdale has to take responsibility from the actions he has committed. But if he does then he will be shunned. D does not know what part of him is real, if he is evil or good. Wants to sin, because he has never done what he has wanted and now he can so he goes a bit over the top wt the sins and mischief.
CHillingworth's sin is the worst because his one is evil.
Symbols: Brook, Forest, Scaffold
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27.01.12
Past always existent, but you may or may not let it be a burden – Scarlet Letter good example
- Hester doesn’t let it be a burden : becomes a better person though in the scene when she takes off the scarlet A, sunshine and joy online temporary because Pearl is a reminder. This is because of society
- Dimmesdale keeps past part of him : destroys him
Cycle of Hester going back to the scaffold, going back to the past after she was able to “redeem” herself.
In spite of her good works, Puritans can not let her release of her sin because of predestination
God is the only one who can give her grace.
Puritans believe to be the chosen ones (who will receive atonement) – that is why a good image is crucial, not for redeeming but to seem as the “chosen ones” because good work won’t help them anyway because of predestination
(Hortense) As minister dies physically while/from telling the truth, Hester dies morally/spiritually.
Remains in community immediately after sin in part because she is still attached to Dimmesdale.
Leaves then returns at end. Boston is her home, and the place where she sinned; she has a permanent tie to the town and its community.
Minister needed to admit his crime on the scaffold. There are 3 scaffold scenes: beginning, middle, end.
1. Hester and Pearl during daytime in front of community.
2. Hester, Pearl, and Dimmesdale during nighttime.
3. Hester, Pearl, and Dimmesdale, daytime, in front of community. Dimmesdale admits.
Inscription on tombstone:
“On a field, sable, the letter A. gules”
Bound to letter, such as a coat of arms.
Pearl evolves from being a ‘symbol of sin” to a more human figure.
“a spell was broken.” Dimmesdale transmits his grief and gives her the ‘gift’ of being human. Pearl is freed from her role of messenger of sin; she is not tethered to any community/society. Rebirth?
Dimmesdale has won a moral “victory” against sin, against damnation, against Chillinworth. However, he escapes with death and does not truly assume full responsibility. He separates himself from Hester by assuming the burden she previously assumed on herself. He leaves Hester broken as she is robbed of any possibility of happiness.
