When they were describing Dimmesdale as the "Black Man", it was because black represents evil or badness. Since the town's people didn't know who the culprit was that Hester cheated on her husband with, they had to give him that nickname because it was a horrible sin that he allowed Hester to have sex with a man other than her husband. This really contradicts his role in their society since he was the minister. Usually white would be associated with a minister because it represents purity.
Also he could have been seen as one of the elect since he could maybe have a closer connection with God in the Puritans eyes. Also having to do with the chest pains that he was having, anyone could easily predict that, he too, spiritually, had been stamped with the mark of an adulterer. When thinking of pain, someone may also think of the color red because of blood or the color skin can get from a dreadful occurrence. This links back to the scarlet letter that Hester wore which signified a connection between the two. The pains that he expressed could maybe represent Hester's inward pains as well, but that signifies that both of them should feel guilty about what they did and not just Hester.
Sunday, December 15, 2013
3rd response for the Scarlett letter
The Scarlett Letter on Hester's bosom is what is standing out
the most so far, hence the title. In the book it says wearing
it kind of tortures her day by day. Instead of people looking
at her as an individual, they would now look at her as the
scarlett letter because it seems as if it's consuming her as
an individual. Now I think for further generations in Boston
anyone would criticize people of Hester's descent. Also,
people would refer to her if another occurrence happened like
that of hers.
It was strange when the stranger kept looking her in her eye
and asking about her. Then I think he came to visit her in
jail; I'm not positive if that was actually the case, but
that's what I got from it. That made me wonder if that was
the person she had an affair with since she doesn't want to
tell who it is, although it does say he is even a stranger to
her. If it is indeed the person she had an affair with, then
it would take away the individuality from her and focus on
both of them as a couple of some sort that should be
condemned.
the most so far, hence the title. In the book it says wearing
it kind of tortures her day by day. Instead of people looking
at her as an individual, they would now look at her as the
scarlett letter because it seems as if it's consuming her as
an individual. Now I think for further generations in Boston
anyone would criticize people of Hester's descent. Also,
people would refer to her if another occurrence happened like
that of hers.
It was strange when the stranger kept looking her in her eye
and asking about her. Then I think he came to visit her in
jail; I'm not positive if that was actually the case, but
that's what I got from it. That made me wonder if that was
the person she had an affair with since she doesn't want to
tell who it is, although it does say he is even a stranger to
her. If it is indeed the person she had an affair with, then
it would take away the individuality from her and focus on
both of them as a couple of some sort that should be
condemned.
Monday, December 2, 2013
Beginning Chapters of The Scarlet Letter
In The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, there isn't much of an introduction for the main character in the beginning. Hester is introduced to the readers as a sinner right when the negative commentary is being said about her from some of the citizens. They are Puritans so they just immediately condemn her for adultery. Hawthorne describes her as really pretty with details of how she is dressed and her facial features. The puritan females in the book probably secretly envied her grace and angelic outlook. I'm sure if anyone dared to compliment her physical looks, they would be negatively looked at by others.
In the first chapter, there are some elements of Romanticism too. The jail is described as gloomy, but it is contrasted with scent and beauty of a rose bush. Nature is an element of romanticism along with dark, deep emotion/setting. Furthermore, a rose is red, and Hester had a red A on her bosom so that color is significant. When I think of red, I think of danger or urgency because of stop lights and signs.. I also think of passion and desire. Thinking of the devil also makes me think red could mean something with anger or a wrath. The rosebush could hint to people coming near the jail that their is danger nearby because the people in jail have done something bad enough for them to get in there, but the beauty of it makes a view attracted to it. This could be similar to when Hester is seen with the red A. The red alarms the people to turn away from her, but her beauty and the loudness of the color of the red of the A attracts them to her or makes them want to talk pessimistically about her.
In the first chapter, there are some elements of Romanticism too. The jail is described as gloomy, but it is contrasted with scent and beauty of a rose bush. Nature is an element of romanticism along with dark, deep emotion/setting. Furthermore, a rose is red, and Hester had a red A on her bosom so that color is significant. When I think of red, I think of danger or urgency because of stop lights and signs.. I also think of passion and desire. Thinking of the devil also makes me think red could mean something with anger or a wrath. The rosebush could hint to people coming near the jail that their is danger nearby because the people in jail have done something bad enough for them to get in there, but the beauty of it makes a view attracted to it. This could be similar to when Hester is seen with the red A. The red alarms the people to turn away from her, but her beauty and the loudness of the color of the red of the A attracts them to her or makes them want to talk pessimistically about her.
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