NOTE: Free essay sample provided on this page should be used for references or sample purposes only. The sample essay is available to anyone, so any direct quoting without mentioning the source will be considered plagiarism by schools, colleges and universities that use plagiarism detection software. To get a completely brand-new, plagiarism-free essay, please use our essay writing service.
One click instant price quote
Aug. 25 2001 Chapter 1 Pages 49 - 50 1. Chapter one thoroughly describes the Jailhouse and the surrounding landscape. Tells of the huge wooden edifices whose threshold is timbered and iron barred. Gives the description of the peoples clothing who were congregating outside of the prison. It also describes the necessity of a new colony first building a prison and graveyard. In the last paragraph it tells of a rose bush outside of the oaken doors.
The author describes the awkwardness of having such a beautiful plant surrounded by weeds and shrubs. 2. (Page 50) The rose-bush, by a strange chance, has been kept alive in history; but whether it had merely survived out of the stern old wilderness, so long after the fall of the gigantic pines and oaks that originally overshadowed it, -- or whether, as there is fair authority for believing, it had sprung up under the footsteps of the sainted Anne Hutchinson, -- we shall not take upon us to determine. I believe these lines are important because they illustrate some of the mythology of the times in which this book was set. The author also goes on to describe how this rose bush could symbolize two different things depending on the readers perspective; A tale of morals blossoming; or a tale of human frailty and sorrow. 3. I think chapter one should have been more obvious to the setting and time frame in which the story takes place.
By text one assumes it is set in a new colony in early American history, however it should give a precise time in my opinion. Hawthorne does an excellent job of helping the reader visualize the story and is able to present a question of opinion in the first chapter, which shows great writing skills. 4. The first chapter reminds me of Where The Red Fern Grows. The rose bush that is mentioned briefly has much to do with the story even though there is little reference to it.
In WTRFG the fern is actually not so much part of the story as an idea represented through a physical inanimate object, as I believe the rose bush to be. Later in the novel Pearl says she came from the rose bush by the prison door, that shows her beauty and resilience as a comparison to an object unable to show emotion. Aug. 25, 2001 Chapter 2 Pages 51 to 61 1. This chapter gives a little more setting of the town describing the short journey from the jail to the scaffold and town center.
This is also where Hester's crime is commented on by the towns people whom think that her punishment is too lenient for her crime. Hester is led to the scaffold by the town beadle and placed upon it with her crying infant and elegant gown embroidered in the bosom with a scarlet letter A. 2. (Page 59) The witnesses of Hester Prynne's disgrace had not yet passed beyond their simplicity. They were stern enough to look upon her death, had that been the sentence, without a murmur at it s severity, but had none of the heartlessness of another social state, which would find only a theme for jest in an exhibition like the present. I find these lines to be of great importance because it illustrates the towns seriousness on the issue of moral, religion, and law. They would look at her being hanged had that been the sentence but noon were heartless enough to ridicule her as she stood upon the scaffold with her infant, the shame of her crime, in her arms.
That shows that the townspeople do care and have the morals not to insult a person that is already marked for life with shame in the form of an A. 3. It would be interesting to witness one of these town humiliations or any other town punishments, as now it is not customary for a persons crimes to be announced to the public unless he or she has the misfortune of being famous. It makes me wonder why we ever strayed from that form of law. People would not so quickly commit crimes especially juveniles if they were to be marked for life and publicly humiliated for it. 8. The people standing outside of the jail in the first chapter who were arguing over if her punishment fit the crime only looked on in a stern silence as Hester was brought to the scaffold.
Whether it was in respect for the people of high rank who were attending, the childs well being, or that they were actually decent people is for the reader to decide. If the crowd had reacted differently Hester would have put up a shield and reflect the negative thoughts instead of feel the full bluntness of their pain. Aug. 25, 2001 Chapter 3 Pages 62 - 72 1. This chapter contains the whole of Hester's punishment from the time she stands upon the scaffold. The stranger on the outskirts who takes her attention and thoughts from her surroundings for a brief moment. When the stranger inquires to a towns person as to the reason of Hester's current blight.
This chapter also illustrates Hester's bold defiance and stubbornness when the Reverend Dimmesdale questions her as to the identity of her lover. 2. (Page 71) Never! replied Hester Prynne, looking, not at Mr. Wilson, but into the deep and troubled eyes of the younger clergyman. It is too deeply branded. Ye cannot take it off. And would that I might endure his agony, as well as mine!
This once again shows Hester's strong willed defiance even in her given position when any lesser person would have choose to suffer not alone, but by the side of their lover. When she looks not at Mr. Wilson and instead fixes her hard, lonesome gaze upon Dimmesdale, it makes the reader ponder if their was a previous relationship between Hester and Dimmesdale, or if it was merely the only place she could look and stay sure of what she was saying. 3. The governor and clergymen tried to get the truth out of Hester by a barrage of questioning in a demeaning manner, however she never responded with an answer only reasons as to why she wouldnt answer. This chapter rises more questions about new topics such as; who was the stranger on the outskirts of the town; why did Hester look at Dimmesdale instead of Reverend Wilson; and will she ever disclose the identity of her lover. I hope that Hawthorne will answer some of his questions before he creates even more.
I think that under the circumstances Hester's lover should have stepped forward had he been any kind of man. If that means his reputation and career is destroyed then so be it, but to leave the mother of the child and the woman whom you loved to suffer alone is a cold thing to do. 7. Hawthorne's writing here in my opinion resembles that of Quentin Tarentino. Tarentino was the director of movies like Pulp Fiction, and Reservoir Dogs.
All of his movies jump from scene to scene so you have to watch the whole thing to under stand what happens first in the movie. Often characters will be new throughout his movie some characters may start in the movie but their role may not be explained until half way thorough it. It is like this book in the sense that questions keep arising and people do things that make you wonder why, and new characters arrive and you dont know who they truly are or what they intend to do until later in the chapter or maybe even the next chapter. Aug. 25, 2001 Chapter 4 Pages 73 - 80 1.
The man on the outskirts is described as being Hester's ex-husband Chillingworth. He is a doctor that is sent to give the infant some medicine to calm her down, and Hester some to tell the truth. He tells her his vow to find the man and asks her not to tell anyone of his own relationship with her. She refuses even to the man she was once married to reveal the secret of her lovers name.
He leaves after telling her he wishes to remain nameless and having her promise not to tell his secret to the public. 2. Thy acts are like mercy, said Hester, bewildered and appalled. But thy words interpret thee as a terror! One thing, thou that wast my wife, I would enjoin upon thee, continued the scholar. Thou hast kept the secret of thy paramour.
Keep, likewise, mine! These lines show the hypocrisy of Chillingworth when he wants to know who Hester's lover is but does not want anyone to know he had a relationship with her. The relationship between Hester and Chillingworth will develop the story more and waiting to see if he can keep his vow and unmask her secret. 3. Hester's ex-husband entering the scene is a shocker that was never expected.
She was already in enough trouble due to her current relationships with men now 6. Why dost thou smile so at me? Art thou like the Black Man that haunts the forest round about us? Hast thou enticed me into a bond that will prove the ruin of my soul?
Not thy soul, he answered, with another smile. No, not thine! This conversation shows the poetic side of the author and his ability to verbalize emotion and mental states as well as any other. It also does a great job to depict the relationship a divorced couple can show each other after many years. Aug. 25, 2001 Chapter 5 Pages 81 - 91 1.
Hester was free from prison and allowed to leave the town if she wanted but choose not to. She got a house on the outskirts with her daughter. Hawthorne tells of Hester's occupation of a seamstress. Hester makes garments for the wealthiest people for all different sorts of special occasions. The only event for which she is not permitted or wanted to make dress for is weddings. 2. (Page 84) Here, she said to herself, had been the scene of her guilt, and here should be the scene of her earthly punishment; and so, perchance, the torture of her daily shame would at length purge her soul, and work out another purity that that which she had lost; more saint-like, because the result of martyrdom. Hester Prynne, therefore, did not flee.
These lines are important as once again the author attempts to greatly emphasize Hester's moral courage, and tenacity. Hawthorne throughout this novel thus far has greatly put that strong emphasis on Hester's character traits. I think this novel, or in my point of view, is less about sin and evil as it is about the strength of a young single woman. A modern story set in the 16 th century, which demonstrates that problems have not changed over the years and we are yet to become the masters of our souls. 3. I am still at this point trying to figure out what the main point Hawthorne is trying to get across is.
I do enjoy reading such fine literature and being able to learn more about life in the 16 th century and the uncanny resemblance that it has to modern life with an odd twist. I would like to ask Hawthorne, had he not died in 1864, if his writing this story in such detail and ability to verbalize the emotion if it had happened to him or been part of his life. 4. Adultery is a major issue today as it was many years ago. In this book only Hester pays for the crime that two people committed. Today it is rare that two people will pay for the crime of adultery. More often than not one person will take the blunt of the punishment while even if their accomplice admits to it they will suffer little or no consequence for their crime.
Have we gotten to a place in our lives where it is no longer a serious offense to be unfaithful? When did we stray from punishing both members of a guilty party? Take the Senator Condit issue of even the previous Presidents unfaithfulness to his wife. One person is paying the price for what two did.
Chandra and Hillary are the ones being hurt not any body else. August 28, 2001 Chapter 6 Pages 93 - 102 1. Pearl is discussed about more thoroughly and in detail of her personality, spirituality, and behavior. Hawthorne often refers to Pearl in terms of magical items or spells rather than that of a person. She is referred to as a gift of god, a magical sprite, a fairy, an imp, elfish, and as coming from the rose bush, later in the story. Her names origin is told as having come not from the dull beauty of a pearl but rather from its expensive rarity.
In the end of the chapter when Hester says, Tell me, then, what thou art, and who sent thee hither. Pearl questions her mother as to where she came from and who is her father. 2. (Page 100) she fancied that she beheld, not her own miniature portrait, but another face, in the small black mirror of Pearls eye. It the semblance of features that she had known full well, though seldom with a smile, and never with malice in them. It was as if an evil spirit possessed the child, and had just then peeped forth in mockery. These lines help the read encompass the sheer magic that surrounds Pearl at any given moment. She is not seen so much as a person but as something more than any person on the earth could ever be.
It shows how her mother views her daughter as something foreign and has doubts to herself that she could have created something magical from her sins. 3. Pearl through the description provided by Hawthorne reminds me very much of one of my lovely little sisters. Isabella my sister has the same tendencies like she has something going on in her world that makes everything around her okay. She dances with happiness in a truly a way that she must have learned from the fairies. I find the resemblance remarkable, how the first time I read the chapter she was the only thing I could think of.
I envision not a separate character for Pearl, but when I think of Pearl I see my sister. They both are young, beautiful, unaware of the evils life holds, but are slightly sure that something is not right in the world unable to decide what it is. 4. Many of the descriptions Hawthorne uses to describe Pearls physical appearance and her emotional state are not that would usually be used to describe some one in that era. Elves, imps, and other mystical things were believed of in that time, however it was seldom that any person acquired these traits.
They really add a true understanding of the free spirit that Pearl held. She was a child created by sin but let to live her own life and learn from her own mistakes not the ones her mother made. It helps you get a more emotional understanding...
Free research essays on topics related to: 16 th century, hester prynne, first chapter, rose bush, hester lover
Research essay sample on 16 Th Century Hester Prynne
