Hester Prynne's sinful act of adultery has changed her emotions and state of mentality drastically in that she no longer feels to be the same person anymore. Prynne is now beginning to think to herself that she may not be the only person to have committed such sinful act. In other words, this passage could be foreshadowing future events to take place in the novel; furthermore, there could be other 'sinners' beside Prynne and the father of her daughter. Prynne is also beginning to believe that this society in which she lives is unfair and cruel. This passage is significant because of the revelations that Prynne has unfolded about the other sinners that are walking around in New England as well, and this passage reveals some new details about Hester Prynne's character as a woman who is brave enough to withstand the burning pain of beholding the scarlet letter, even though, to her knowledge, there are others who "had kept cold snow within [their] bosom throughout [their] life..." (pg. 80). Moreover, she could argue this fact with the magisters and magistrates, or find the man who wronged her and prove that she is at least not the only one damned to hell.
In this specific passage, there are implied revelations that unfold themselves to Prynne. The way in which the author reveals it makes it meaningful. For example, instead of the omniscient narrator bringing forward his ideas about other sinners in town, he uses Hester as a method of communicating such ideas. And, Hawthorne is now strongly beginning to use evidence, or at least foreshadowing evidence, to demonstrate the support he has for Hester Prynne. Through his comparisons of Prynne and other women who might behold the scarlet letter upon their bosom, or upon their sinned hearts, Hawthorne believes that Prynne may be scorned by the townspeople, but she is brave enough to carry the humiliating spot on her chest, and the women who hide from it will be the ones who will suffer the most in the end, in their minds, in their own hearts.
The language in this passage is not complex in length or use of syntactical structure, but in the ideas comprehensive ideas conveyed about specific ideas in the novel. Why would Hawthorne reveal through Hester Prynne that there are other sinners in town? The language is succinct yet implied, and it is used to show emotions that are boiling in Prynne as she realizes that she is not the only sinner. There is an allusion in this passage to the devil referred to as "the bad angel" who persuaded Prynne that outside images are not what matter, it is what's inside a person that matters most. That's something a mother would tell her a child, why would Hawthorne use the devil to tell such an motivational phrase?
Questions:
- Why doesn't Hester Prynne escape the New England town in which she lives? In other words, why does she choose to stay?
- What connections can be drawn between Prynne and the "small thatched cottage" that becomes her new home? Consider the context given.
- Based on previous details, syntactical structure, and rhetorical strategies, what does Hawthorne reveal about the old Hester and this new, sinful Hester? Give an example.
#1
ReplyDeleteHester doesnt escape from the New England town because this was during the colozination of the New World during the 1600s. If Hester left the village she would probably have died in the forest or attacked by Indians like Anne Hutchinson who left the purtian society and was unfortunately killed by Indians. So the only way to survive was to face the consequences and ridcule from her Puritan society.
#2
The connections that can be drawn between Prynne and the "small thatche cottage" is that she would not be part of any social gatherings, she would be considered an outcast, she would have to be avoided by the people, a walking sin. Her life would be surrounded by her child and her little home. She would not live the life of much happiness but loneliness.
why is this chapters 4 and 5!
ReplyDelete#1 Hester cannot escape! She is set in this “house” far away from the people. However, if she leaves they probably have people to secure her every move. Also, she has too much pride and she has no other choice but to stay and be the ridicule in town.
P.S-Adeline I never made a connection with Anne Hutchinson. NICE ONE!
#2 Hester’s new home is alone in the middle of nowhere just like her; she has no one to support her. She is a “sin” to everyone and cannot even be seen, as she goes to the market no one even looks at her in the eyes. Therefore, it is just Hester and her child-Pearl, now in this small home.
#1 Hester Prynne decides to remain in Boston, New England because she believes that since this was the place she was punished and "discovered" (discover her purpose to stay alive and remain there)then she will stay, as stated, "Her sin, her ignominy, were the roots which she had struck into the soil. It was as if a new birth, with a stronger assimilations than first, had converted the forest land...into Hester Pyrnne's wild and dreary, but life-long home "(Hawthorne, pg.74). It is the only place she knows well and where she has started her life despite the "sin" she committed. Also, she decides to stay because "and so, perchance, the torture of hr daily shame would at length purge her soul, and work out another purity than that which she had lost; more saint-like, because the result of martyrdom."(pg. 74),she did not want to flee her crime and believed that if she stayed there, she might purify her soul and teach the Puritan society a lesson of "morals".
ReplyDelete#3 Based on previous details, syntactical structure, and rhetorical strategies,Hawthorne reveals that the new Hester didn't believe that the people in Boston, Puritans, were completed purified and all to "good" to god. For example, "the insidious whispers of the bad angel...that the outward guise of purity was but a lie, and that, if truth were to be shown, a scarlet letter would blaze forth on many a bosom besides Hester Prynne's?", it implies that they are all sinners and that purity is all but a lie, just so the Puritans could control there society in a "Godly" manner. Hawthorne uses rhetorical questions to make the reader wander of what he is trying to demonstrate or tell. On the other hand, the old Hester believed that the "sin" she committed was a terrible one and that she should stay in Boston to "purify" herself. So the new Hester reveals that everyone, including the most "purified" individuals such as priest, are SINNERS!
I'm enjoying your blog and the discussion all you ladies are having here. Some small things about your post, Yanel... 1) Language itself cannot be "implied"; you can impy ideas through the language used. What was your intent?
ReplyDeleteI love the quote you selected, too. :)
Response to #1
ReplyDeleteIt's extremely likely that Hester's lover lives in the Puritan community, which I see as one of the reasons for staying in the area. Hester can be near her father, even if she is unaware of who he is. Also, it would be difficult for Hester o adjust to a different setting after all the problems she has gone through and might feel as if she is is safe nowhere, every second feeling as if someone will expose her secret.
Response to #3
The Old Hester, the beautiful, talented, individualistic young woman with a modest home and past no longer exists in the New Hester. Yes, she is still beautiful, talented, and an individual (or else she would not be able to survive in her world), but emotionally she is completely different. She has been broken by the Puritan system but rebuilt into a stronger, more durable woman, able to persist through difficulties. Sure it's hard for her to handle, but she will never let those "pure" people know it.