Blogpost #4!

Blogpost #4: Chapters 9-11

Chapter nine was mainly focused on the oh-so lovely Roger Chillingworth. (That was most definitely sarcasm). For me, Roger is one of those characters that could do absolutely nothing wrong for the rest of the book and I will still not like him. Everything he says and does irritates me to death. Anyways, we come to find out that Roger expected a heart-felt welcome home from his wife, Hester. HA. Men. What in his ever told him that he deserves a warm welcome home from his wife after he left her high and dry? Jeez. OF COURSE SHE CHEATED ON YOU. I really do not like this man. 

Anyway, Roger decides to get Dimmesdale as his spiritual mentor. But, Dimmesdale isn’t looking too hot. He’s thin, depressed, exhausted, and keeps holding his heart as if he’s getting pains there. Interesting. Roger decides to analyze him thoroughly and learns he has a secret. Hm. But he won’t say. Towards the end of the chapter, the townspeople notice something different about Roger. “At first, his expression had been calm, meditative, scholar-like. Now, there was something ugly and evil in his face which they had not previously noticed, and which grew still the more obvious to sight, the oftener they looked at him” (page 124). The way I interpreted Dimmesdale being “haunted by Satan” is that he has sinned and has yet to come forward about his sin. Therefore, Satan is haunting him until he does. 

In chapter ten there is a moment - a moment when all four characters face each other; Roger, Hester, Pearl, and Dimmesdale. It was really awkward. Then, it just got weird when Pearl started yelling, “Come away, Mother! Come away, or yonder old Black Man will catch up! He hath got hold of the minister already. Come away, Mother, or he will catch you! But he cannot catch little Pearl” (pg. 131). The significance of that part was too big to ignore. My theory is that Dimmesdale is actually the father of Pearl and THAT is the reason in which Satan is haunting him. Towards the end of the chapter, Roger theorizes that whatever is wrong with Dimmesdale started off as mental/ emotional pain, and has developed into physical pain as the time passes. Also, he sees something on his chest that makes him so happy... he kind of his this “Ah- ha!” moment. He then compares himself to Satan by saying, “But what distinguished the physicians ecstasy from Satan’s was the trait of wonder in it” (pg. 135). 

In chapter eleven, which I noticed is called “The Interior of a Heart”. We don’t find out what Roger found on Dimmesdale’s chest yet. But, Dimmesdale is acting extremely... guilty in this chapter which just brings me back to my theory on him being the father of Pearl. (Which, come to find out, I was right about). He is having visions of Hester and Pearl which is just adding to his already existing guilt. I believe that the title is referring the the inside of Dimmesdale’s heart because he finally see what is causing him to become so ill. 
In chapter twelve, you see what a true coward Dimmesdale is. He goes to the platform in which Hester Prynne was forced to stand in public in a pillory. He wouldn't dare do this in the daylight, when everyone is there. No, he does in at night, when no one is there to witness it. During this chapter, I am also thinking of what I said in my first blogpost.... even though they demanded to know who the father was in the first few chapters and CLAIMED he would be punished as well, is that really true? Would he be punished just as harshly and Hester? So, you sort of realize the pain in his chest that he's been feeling is where the scarlet letter was. (Was that was Roger had seen?) Then he talks to Hester and Pearl, who wanted them to all stand together the next day. He said no, but he will stand with them on judgement day. Then, a bright light comes to the horizon. I think this is a symbol of the light of the dark situation. (Maybe) they'll be a happy family. Then, Dimmesdale starts to notice how evil Roger looks. It's about time, am I right? Pearl and Dimmesdale argue, which results in her basically telling him he's a coward for not standing with them. (I love Pearl, honestly.) I sort of didn't understand the last part about the glove/sexton. 

Blogpost #3

Blogpost #3: Chapters 6-8

So, in chapter six, we finally find out the baby girl’s name. Pearl. Her mother’s only treasure. Very sweet, I must say. In the beginning of the story, she was just kind of the product of the sin. Hester is worried for Pearl. She views are sin as evil and worried that since Pearl is indeed a product of evil, she will be evil. (Does that make sense?) She dreaded her daughter would have darkness running the her veins; for evil would just be in her nature. But, alas, Pearl ends up being the opposite of Hester’s predictions. She’s beautiful, full of light, and, most of all, passionate. On the other hand, she’s feisty, wild, defiant, and hot tempered. Now, when I initially heard she was passionate I thought, “Uh oh.” Wasn’t passion what got her mother in trouble in the first place? Pearl is the actual product of passion, it’s not surprise she’s passionate herself. Pearl spends her days as an outcast. The girl who’s mother committed sin. Pearl starts to notice Hester’s A, and whenever she looks at it, Hester pictures her with devilish qualities. A little weird for a mother to picture, in my opinion. I sort of feel as though Hester’s a little paranoid, though. It’s natural for Pearl to become aware of the A. It’s normal for a child to be defiant. I think Hester is overreacting. It’s not that hard to do when the whole town thinks your child is the product of demons. When Pearl throws the flowers at the scarlet letter, it  wounds Hester. Hurts her so much she cries. Then, Hester’s asks her what she is and she answers, “You guess! Thy Heavenly Father sent thee!” Whoa. Creepy. Now, I think she’s no longer overreacting. 

In chapter seven, Pearl makes efforts to clear up the rumor that Pearl is being taken away from her by going right to the source: the Governor. On this little field trip, she brings Pearl, who’s wearing a scarlet colored dress. This obviously only reminds everybody of the scarlet letter on her chest. Not one of Hester’s smartest moves, clearly.  While waiting to speak to the Governor, Pearl discovers a mirror at his house that deforms the figures reflected in it. When Hester looks in the mirror, her letter is “the most prominent feature of her appearance”. This translates that’s that is what Hester has become - her sin. It consumes her life. Altered everyone’s opinion of her. Maybe even altered her opinion of herself. This mirror also has Hester believing her daughter is an “imp” or a devilish creature. Then, one of the red roses in the garden makes Pearl cry. Weird. Is it the fact that red roses represent love that make her cry? Because she is not a product of love, but one of lust? 

In chapter eight, the Governor and his ministers ask why Pearl shouldn’t be taken away from Hester. She points to the scarlet letter, meaning that they’ve taken so much from her, she should be able to keep this. Which is honestly the dumbest thing to do. The whole reason they want to take her way is BECAUSE of the things she’s done. (DUH, HESTER.) Wilson wants to know if she’s teaching Pearl religion, so he asks her, “Who made thee?”, which is a basic answer asked of most children. To this, she tells them that Hester plucked her off one of the mysterious roses that grew on the prison door. (Hence, the feistiness). They take her away immediately. To this I say, “Come on girl, I know I love my witty characters, but there is a TIME and PLACE for sarcasm.” 

Scarlet Letter Blogpost 2!

Blogpost #2: Chapters 4-5

In the beginning of chapter four you realize that the baby is actually sentenced to prison with Hester. Somehow, this surprises me. I know it shouldn’t, given how cruel the Puritans are, but it does. A baby, the most innocent and naive creature, being sentence to prison for a sin she didn’t commit. The sin that led to her life. In efforts to help both her and the baby sleep (and to ease their pain) a doctor, Roger Chillingworth subscribes them medicine. Who is this Roger Chillingworth you ask? HER LONG LOST HUSBAND. Talk about a plot twist, huh? Not only did she sleep with a married man, but she is a married woman herself. I wonder if that’s why her punishment is so cruel. I begin to not trust this Roger guy. And what’s to stop him from accidentally giving her and her baby the wrong medication “by accident”, huh? Because of the mystery aspect to the story, I’ve started to question everyone’s role in Hester’s life and their motives. You never know who’s the liar. Anyway, he is going to tell everyone the identity of her lover, but he also wants her to keep his identity a secret. That’s asking for a bit too much, don’t you think? She agrees to do it. What I want to say to Hester is: “Come on, girl! Where is your will power? Stick it to the man!” I wonder if she agrees because she feels guilty about cheating on him. Again, mindset lens is vital in this story. 

In chapter five, Hester is released from prison on the condition that she must wear an “A” on her chest for the rest of her life. The “A” represents sinful passion and frailty, or weakness in morals. On page 76, the narrator go on a sort of rant in which GREAT POINTS are made. How can she still call this place of shame “home”. She is free to go anywhere, yet she choses to stay because it is her home. Where people will continue to talk about her and shame her for her ONE wrong doing forever. “But there is a fatality, a feeling so irresistible and inevitable that it has the force of doom, which almost invariably compels human being to linger around and haunt, ghostlike, the spot where some great and marked event has given color to their lifetime; and still the more irresistibly, the darker the tinge that saddens it” (pg. 76-77). I think this quote can be related to our society today. Magazines like People and OK! actually get paid to leak rumors (or personal events) of well-known humans. The darker and sadder the events are, the more magazines that sells. And we, as consumers, buy it! I’m guilty of it, too.  I mean, I remember when Tiger Woods cheated on his wife and that’s ALL I heard about for a long time. Or the big RPattz and Kristen Stewart affair. People like to read about other’s tragedies or misfortunes or scandals. It’s a fact. But, what does that say about us, as human beings? 

Blogpost 1!

Blogpost #1: Chapters 1-3

The first chapter sort of sets up the story to be darker. The town’s prison described as dark, gloomy, kind of sad (much like you would imagine a prison to be like). Except, there’s a wild rose bush growing along the side door that spontaneously grew when Anna Hutchinson entered the prison that the prisoners find joy in and consider a blessing. I can’t really blame them. “It may serve, let us hope, to symbolize some sweet moral blossom that may be found along the track, or relieve the darkening close of a tale of human frailty and sorrow” (pg. 46). In a place so dark and sad, it’s probably nice seeing color and beauty in one thing. I feel like that represents something huge in this story - that whatever she’s being accused of isn’t her fault and she doesn’t deserve to be incarcerated. From my prior knowledge of the story, I know a woman is accused of committing adultery. Maybe, Anna is that woman. Because the rose is a symbol for love, respect, courage, and passion. Passion and love are the probably causes to her sentence. 

In chapter two, it sets up the way this town deals with certain situations. Whipping was the most common form of punishment. I learned that Anna Hutchinson is in fact NOT the character being accused of adultery, it’s Hester. The town is full of gossips, much like every town in the world. People are always criticizing the rules and the people who make them. As if they can do better. No one is ever happy. Even if it doesn’t effect them at all. Most people think Hester should’ve been sentenced to death. Rash, much? I think so. I even believe having her wear A on her chest was overboard. I mean, it takes two to tango, right? Even though Hester refuses to name the man, I’m not sure they’d crucify him for it, even though they say they would. Her daughter, who’s a baby, is a living, breathing, representation of her sin. She’s holding onto her with her life. I think this means something, other than a mother holding her daughter. I think it means something way deeper. 

In chapter three, I think Hester finds comfort in the fact that the American Indian man is there to witness the events happening. Seeing with his own eyes what the Puritans are doing. I genuinely want to know what Pastor Dimmesdale would even do if she told them who the father was. I imagine that in this time period, men weren’t blamed for this sort of thing. It seems like the fair thing though, they both were participants in the sin. I also want to know if she’s doing it to protect him or their baby? If she is doing it to protect him, is it because she loves him or was the sin done purely out of lust? I have a feeling the mindset literary lens is going to come in handy a lot in this story in addition to gender.