The Scarlet Letter By: Nathaniel Hawthorne (pg. 39-48)
The scene opens to a throng of people outside the jail waiting for one Hester Prynne to come out to face her punishment. Many of the townswomen and gossips believe the magistrates were not harsh enough in their punishment. The women believe Hester to be nothing more than an adulteress and feel the law needs to be carried out and the punishment for adultery should be death, as written. The magistrates have decided to punish Hester through public embarrassment and social isolation. She must wear a scarlet 'A' upon her bosom so that all may see it and know she is an adulteress. The townswomen are yet again disappointed when they see how beautifully Hester has embroidered the letter onto her garments. Ostentatious garments were not allowed in the community and one of the women would rather the letter be made of rags. Then as Hester exits the jail and is walked to the center of the town to stand on the platform so all can look upon her letter; Hawthorne allows the reader to have insight into what Hester is feeling. How at first she doesn't believe this humiliation to be reality and tries to escape it inside herself. But when she touches the letter her child lets out a cry and she is stricken with reality.
This is a very powerful way for Hawthorne to introduce the main character. The imagery and symbolism lets the reader feel the shame Hester is going through. The dialog allows the reader to relate to Hester and ask themselves how those word might make them feel. Just how the jail, a place for criminals and not holding any beauty, had roses outs side the rusted iron door, Hester though considered to deserve death by most of the town, Hawthorne describes her beauty.
The scene opens to a throng of people outside the jail waiting for one Hester Prynne to come out to face her punishment. Many of the townswomen and gossips believe the magistrates were not harsh enough in their punishment. The women believe Hester to be nothing more than an adulteress and feel the law needs to be carried out and the punishment for adultery should be death, as written. The magistrates have decided to punish Hester through public embarrassment and social isolation. She must wear a scarlet 'A' upon her bosom so that all may see it and know she is an adulteress. The townswomen are yet again disappointed when they see how beautifully Hester has embroidered the letter onto her garments. Ostentatious garments were not allowed in the community and one of the women would rather the letter be made of rags. Then as Hester exits the jail and is walked to the center of the town to stand on the platform so all can look upon her letter; Hawthorne allows the reader to have insight into what Hester is feeling. How at first she doesn't believe this humiliation to be reality and tries to escape it inside herself. But when she touches the letter her child lets out a cry and she is stricken with reality.
This is a very powerful way for Hawthorne to introduce the main character. The imagery and symbolism lets the reader feel the shame Hester is going through. The dialog allows the reader to relate to Hester and ask themselves how those word might make them feel. Just how the jail, a place for criminals and not holding any beauty, had roses outs side the rusted iron door, Hester though considered to deserve death by most of the town, Hawthorne describes her beauty.
No comments:
Post a Comment