Tuesday, October 30, 2007

The Scarlet Letter

Having read the Scarlet Letter once prior in high school, reading it today sheds a whole new light on the story. I dont remember much of the story from high school, but slowly it came back to me as I read it now. To begin, I am still completely infuriated by the punishment and public display of humiliation that is portrayed in this novel. Even though the story was written in a different time period, and the view of the people has drastically changed, it still aggrivates me to know that women were still put on "display" in this manner. Hester Prynne was ridiculed and humiliated, while the man who contributed to this crime was living care free. Although his freedom was dependent on Hester Prynne's refusal to speak, his cowardness and fear of admitting to his mistake makes me see him as less of a man. I am also intrigued by the relationship between the Minister Dimmesdale and Roger Chillingworth. Roger Chillingworth has to be the most deceitful, contradicting, manipulative man that exsists. He acts as a friend to Dimmesdale and confides in him, yet he is hiding this secret of adultry from the most holy man of the town. I feel like this relationship is completely superficial and will only benefit Chillingworth. It seems as though he is trying to redeem himself from his sins.
Another interesting point that i found in Chillingworth was his comparison and refrences to Satan, the same way the narrator notes these characteristics in Pearl. The two of them are so much alike, almost superfically sweet, but pure destruction inside. Pearl is this innocent child who at times is angel like, but is also able to dance on the graves of dead people. In her defense, she is a child, but the guidelines of right and wrong should be instilled upon a child. I find Pearl to be the most interesting and fun character of the whole story. It is interesting to note her reactions to physical contact, being that she has been isolated for so long. At one point she reaches out to touch the ministers hand, but she runs from Bellingham. It makes the reader wonder if she can sense a difference between "good" and "evil". I also wonder how accurate of a dipiction this is?

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