The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne [Honors English]

Louis’ Impression

Louis T recommended this book to me insisting that I would enjoy reading it. In the departing year Louis was a student who took honors English, and very much enjoyed the skills and lessons learned through the class. Throughout the book Louis found an attraction to the themes conveyed in the story. When Louis and I conversed, Louis reluctantly told me about the story “A puritan colony deems love between a married woman and an unknown man taboo. Because of this taboo, there were many times were I had to question if their love was worth it.” After saying this he continued to explain how the main character was ridiculed, and portrayed as pariah to the other colonists. Due to the depiction Louis described, Louis recognized the theme of the book to be about society’s role in the life of the main character. From there Louis explained how the theme could connect to issues modern people experiences daily; Clarifying how many of us seek companionship with others although due to society’s opinions, and thoughts are restricted from doing so. My conversation with Louis was both informative and enjoyable; I would like to express my thanks toward Louis for his cooperation in my assignment.

My Impression

With Louis’ strong avocations for the book I immersed my self into the world of Hester Prynne (The Main Character) with no hesitation. Whilst reading, my first impression of this classic novel was the language, an American writer named Nathaniel Hawthorne first wrote the book in the early 1800s, and although in his era his “Old English” writing was of the most modern of text, I found the slang, and vocabulary to be somewhat of a challenge. In relations to the story I found the intricacies of the storyline to be of the most interest.

This Puritan based story took place in Boston beginning with a certain Hester Prynne, (convicted of the crime of adultery) being forced to stand upon a scaffold as but one of the punishments for her sin, the other punishment being the scarlet letter itself. Hester Prynne was a beautiful young woman who prior to being doomed to wearing the scarlet letter (An “A” used to symbolize the word adultery) for a lifetime, was married to an older man who in Boston identified himself with the name of Roger Chillingworth (His real name was never mentioned). Roger had prior to the situation in Boston had sent Hester ahead of him to America while he settled affairs in Europe, although Roger never showed up. The reason for his nonattendance to Boston was that, whilst traveling, was captured by Indians, resulting in the delay of arrival to Hester; the total time away summing to many years of absence. Due to Roger’s extended absence Hester unfortunately was led into a relationship with a clergyman named Mr. Dimmisdale whom you later find out is the father of Pearl; the infant Hester carried on the scaffold. Mr Dimmisdale was a Minister within the puritan colony who gave very sermons explaining Godly morals to the citizen; the reason for his more than exceptional sermons was his familiarity with sin itself (the love child conceived with Hester), as a repercussion of his sin, Dimmisdale found it appropriate to beat himself physically and mentally when nobody was within his presence. As earlier mentioned Roger Chillingworth was Hester’s first husband, whom you find out has the ultimate goal of seeking revenge for the man who impregnated his Ex-wife. Roger being a well-educated man with his college degree, and study of Indian remedies, grew a reputation of a gift sent from the creator himself, although that reputation changes when he and the Clergyman Dimmisdale begin to continuously “Hang,” as Chillingworth is portrayed as a bad influence on the Godly Clergyman. With the Rogers own goal in mind, he finds out that the clergyman was Hester’s lover, and commits to the torture of Dimmisdale’s life.

A character I failed to mention in more detail is Pearl, who as mentioned earlier was the daughter of Hester and Mr. Dimmisdale. Pearl was a child whom was conveyed as a little off, she continuously proved this by acting similar to that of an “Imp.” You would find her always dancing around, scaring other children away, and at times leading Hester to believe she was evil. To Hester Pearl was everything, within the book Pearl was nearly taken from Hester do to the thought that Hester wasn’t a good mother, although due to the demanding efforts of Hester she was able to keep her child.

The end of the book contained the ultimate exposure of Dimmisdale and Hester’s sin. Prior to the exposure Dimmisdale and Hester spoke to each other, whilst conversing they came to the conclusion run away together confessing they’re love for each other. Dimmisdale chooses to expose his secret so he can repent before his what is now portrayed as imminent death (knowing he was going to die because of beating himself). On the day of the revelation Dimmisdale gave the greatest sermon he ever gave, and immediately following the speech he exposed his chest which contained an A similar that of Hester’s scarlet letter, revealing the townspeople who the other sinner within Hester’s trial was. Although the book did not end there, after the exposure of the lover of Hester, Dimmisdale abruptly died on the scaffold (annoying) due to the weakness of his physical strength, on top Chillingworth soon died because his one goal in life had been to wreak revenge on Dimmesdale, and now that Dimmesdale is dead, he no longer had a purpose in life. Later the book explains how Hester died and was buried next to Dimmesdale although not to near. They would share a plaque with the Scarlet “A” on it.

I really enjoyed reading this book because on top of it being a great story, it made me reflect upon myself, and think about the type person I want to be. In the book Hester was a pariah, although she never denied nor did she fight the other colonist, instead she was neighborly by attending other peoples deathbeds, helping the poor, and being kind to others. When Hester was emotionally slapped she turned her cheek and loved the hand that slapped her, and as result of her actions the A in which she doomed to wear symbolized the word Able with a more positive connotation. I give this an A…for awesome.