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Tuesday, October 14, 2008
PUNISHMENT IN THE SCARLET LETTER
In the first eight chapters Hester faces various forms of punishment. Which punishment is most affectual on her character? Explain.
Hester's worse form of punishment is others telling her that what she did was wrong. Hester, herself, believes that what she did was not an evil deed. The exile she faces from others causes her to leave the town to a secluded area, but she does not leave Boston. She eventually overcomes this punishment, further strengthening her character. IH
Hester's worse form of punishment is not having the father of her child (Dimmesdale) confess to society like she did. Although she believes that she did not do anything wrong, she had to face others telling her what she commited was wrong by herself. She only has her daughter to console with while living in isolation; Dimmesdale continues living in the high ranks. Living in isolation allows Hester to become an individual in the Puritan society.
Keeping secrets that should not be burdened upon her is her worst for of punishment. Although it is not a punishment given to her by the Puritan society, it is psycologically a harsh penance. Besides her own secrets,she is keeping Dimmesdale's secret and Chillingworth's secret. She is not keeping the secrets because she is worried of her own well-being, but because she cares about what would happen to Dimmesdale's reputation as well as what he would do if he really knew who Chillingworth was. These do not have to be her burden to bare, but she does anyway. As well as lying to herself and trying to convince herself that she deserves the punishments she has recieved.
Although Hester Prynne is faced with public ridicule, the vengeance of an obsessed Roger Chillingworth, and alienation, it is the resulting despair that is most affectual on her character. Her significant actions in the novel are compelled by it. To deter despair, Hester defies Chillingworth's threats and reveals his identity to her paramour, Reverend Dimmesdale. She imposes herself at the governor's home to defend her ownership of Pearl, her daughter. Without despair, Prynne would have no such courage.
4 comments:
Hester's worse form of punishment is others telling her that what she did was wrong. Hester, herself, believes that what she did was not an evil deed. The exile she faces from others causes her to leave the town to a secluded area, but she does not leave Boston. She eventually overcomes this punishment, further strengthening her character. IH
Hester's worse form of punishment is not having the father of her child (Dimmesdale) confess to society like she did. Although she believes that she did not do anything wrong, she had to face others telling her what she commited was wrong by herself. She only has her daughter to console with while living in isolation; Dimmesdale continues living in the high ranks. Living in isolation allows Hester to become an individual in the Puritan society.
Keeping secrets that should not be burdened upon her is her worst for of punishment. Although it is not a punishment given to her by the Puritan society, it is psycologically a harsh penance. Besides her own secrets,she is keeping Dimmesdale's secret and Chillingworth's secret. She is not keeping the secrets because she is worried of her own well-being, but because she cares about what would happen to Dimmesdale's reputation as well as what he would do if he really knew who Chillingworth was. These do not have to be her burden to bare, but she does anyway. As well as lying to herself and trying to convince herself that she deserves the punishments she has recieved.
Although Hester Prynne is faced with public ridicule, the vengeance of an obsessed Roger Chillingworth, and alienation, it is the resulting despair that is most affectual on her character. Her significant actions in the novel are compelled by it. To deter despair, Hester defies Chillingworth's threats and reveals his identity to her paramour, Reverend Dimmesdale. She imposes herself at the governor's home to defend her ownership of Pearl, her daughter. Without despair, Prynne would have no such courage.
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