This is a place for us to discuss openly and honestly the literature we are reading. Here we are all just communicating our thoughts on what we are reading. There are no right and wrong answers. However, you are expected to be polite, mature, and on topic.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
The Wearer of the Letter
The first eight chapters focus primarily on Hester Prynne. Based upon these chapters, characterize Hester. Who is she? What do you think about her? Why?(This post closes at midnight on March 2, 2010.)
5 comments:
Anonymous
said...
In A Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Hester Prynne is characterized as a "malefactress". I agree with Hester's characterization because she is an adultress. I think Hester was wrong for her actions because she was not confident whether her husband was deceased or not. Hester Prynne, in a Scarlet Letter, should be condemned for her actions and be forced to face her mistakes daily.
In THE SCARLET LETTER by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Hester Prynne is characterized multiple ways. By the Puritan community of Boston, Hester is a "hussy" and a very unclean, bad person. However, she is a very good person to those around her despite their foul treatment. For example, she makes clothing for the impoverished people even though they sneer at her and call her hurtful things. Initially, Hester was extremely defiant as she displayed her "haughty smile," but as the novel progresses, she is beaten down by society and conforms to their ways.
In THE SCARLET LETTER, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Hester Prynne is a woman that committed the sin of adultery. Although the novel does not dwell on much of Hester’s past, it is obvious that she was previously rebellious and stubborn. In the beginning, she acts defiant, with her ‘haughty’ smile. When she begins to walk the plank in front of the townspeople, she attempts to cover the ‘A’ embroidered upon her bosom with the infant. Then, she realizes that she must confront the town with bravery and displays her ‘Scarlet Letter.’ After she is released from the prison, she is no longer strong-willed; she excludes herself from society. I believe that Hester did commit a sin, but it is not the town’s responsibility to judge her. She is also treated too harshly; the letter embroidered on her clothing hinders her personality. I believe that everyone commits sin, and it is all the same in God’s eyes. Therefore, I believe that Hester is on the same level as the town ‘gossips.’ GG-0
In the opening chapters of THE SCARLET LETTER, Nathaniel Hawthorne introduces Hester Prynne with very dynamic, contradictory characterization. For example, he explains that she is "hussy" through the vantage point of the town. However, Hester does not carry herself like a piece of trash. Instead, she is young, beautiful, and radiant. In addition, the townspeople liken her to the devil because she committed adultery, a crime punishable by death. On the other hand, Hawthorne provides subtle hints to prove her innocent nature by alluding to many religious symbols. He not only compares her to the "Divine Maternity" and refers to her as a martyr, but he also mentions, "Those who had before known her, and had expected to behold her dimmed and obscured by a disastrous cloud, were astonished, and even startled, to perceive how her beauty shone out, and made a halo of misfortune and ignominy in which she was enveloped"(49). Because Hester focuses on helping the impoverished though she is condemned by everyone, even the impoverished, she suffers for her crime. Thus, I find Hester to be resilient, independent, and defiant because she continues to do what she thinks fit despite the town's cruelty and abuse. By creating such a dynamic character as Hester Prynne, Nathaniel Hawthorne inspires deep conflict as I try to determine whether to condemn or pity Hester in THE SCARLET LETTER.
Hester Prynne is a strong yet realistic lady. She was rebellious and independent when townspeople called her a “hussy” and “malefactress,” yet she is deeply hurt by others’ thoughts and reactions to her scarlet letter. She does not let it show, however; she even gives back to the community that scorns her by making clothes for the poor. She has a kind heart, and it shows itself often while Hester singularly raises her daughter. Though trial after trial has tested her will, Hester has remained true to herself—this is why I like her. She stands up for what she believes in, and while she knows the weight of the sin she has committed, she is strong enough to display her scarlet letter to the world.
The first eight chapters focus primarily on Hester Prynne. Based upon these chapters, characterize Hester. Who is she? What do you think about her? Why? (This post closes at midnight on March 2, 2010.)
5 comments:
In A Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Hester Prynne is characterized as a "malefactress". I agree with Hester's characterization because she is an adultress. I think Hester was wrong for her actions because she was not confident whether her husband was deceased or not. Hester Prynne, in a Scarlet Letter, should be condemned for her actions and be forced to face her mistakes daily.
AL-O
In THE SCARLET LETTER by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Hester Prynne is characterized multiple ways. By the Puritan community of Boston, Hester is a "hussy" and a very unclean, bad person. However, she is a very good person to those around her despite their foul treatment. For example, she makes clothing for the impoverished people even though they sneer at her and call her hurtful things. Initially, Hester was extremely defiant as she displayed her "haughty smile," but as the novel progresses, she is beaten down by society and conforms to their ways.
BK-0
In THE SCARLET LETTER, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Hester Prynne is a woman that committed the sin of adultery. Although the novel does not dwell on much of Hester’s past, it is obvious that she was previously rebellious and stubborn. In the beginning, she acts defiant, with her ‘haughty’ smile. When she begins to walk the plank in front of the townspeople, she attempts to cover the ‘A’ embroidered upon her bosom with the infant. Then, she realizes that she must confront the town with bravery and displays her ‘Scarlet Letter.’ After she is released from the prison, she is no longer strong-willed; she excludes herself from society. I believe that Hester did commit a sin, but it is not the town’s responsibility to judge her. She is also treated too harshly; the letter embroidered on her clothing hinders her personality. I believe that everyone commits sin, and it is all the same in God’s eyes. Therefore, I believe that Hester is on the same level as the town ‘gossips.’
GG-0
In the opening chapters of THE SCARLET LETTER, Nathaniel Hawthorne introduces Hester Prynne with very dynamic, contradictory characterization. For example, he explains that she is "hussy" through the vantage point of the town. However, Hester does not carry herself like a piece of trash. Instead, she is young, beautiful, and radiant. In addition, the townspeople liken her to the devil because she committed adultery, a crime punishable by death. On the other hand, Hawthorne provides subtle hints to prove her innocent nature by alluding to many religious symbols. He not only compares her to the "Divine Maternity" and refers to her as a martyr, but he also mentions, "Those who had before known her, and had expected to behold her dimmed and obscured by a disastrous cloud, were astonished, and even startled, to perceive how her beauty shone out, and made a halo of misfortune and ignominy in which she was enveloped"(49). Because Hester focuses on helping the impoverished though she is condemned by everyone, even the impoverished, she suffers for her crime. Thus, I find Hester to be resilient, independent, and defiant because she continues to do what she thinks fit despite the town's cruelty and abuse. By creating such a dynamic character as Hester Prynne, Nathaniel Hawthorne inspires deep conflict as I try to determine whether to condemn or pity Hester in THE SCARLET LETTER.
BS-0
Hester Prynne is a strong yet realistic lady. She was rebellious and independent when townspeople called her a “hussy” and “malefactress,” yet she is deeply hurt by others’ thoughts and reactions to her scarlet letter. She does not let it show, however; she even gives back to the community that scorns her by making clothes for the poor. She has a kind heart, and it shows itself often while Hester singularly raises her daughter. Though trial after trial has tested her will, Hester has remained true to herself—this is why I like her. She stands up for what she believes in, and while she knows the weight of the sin she has committed, she is strong enough to display her scarlet letter to the world.
JJ-0
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