“Such a spiritual seer might have conceived, that, after sustaining the gaze of the multitude through seven miserable years as a necessity, a penance, and something which it was a stern religion to endure, she now, for the last time more, encountered it freely and voluntarily, in order to convert what had song been agony into a kind of triumph.” Two things brought my attention to this sentence. The first thing that caught my attention was that it shows Hester’s victory over her pain. Hester had been dealing with affliction for so many years and now she finally had found a way to be free herself from the misery. Hester did not necessarily free herself from the consequences, but she found a way to stand up in spite of them. The second thing that caught my eye about this sentence was that Hester had been in misery for seven years. It talked earlier in the book about what Hester had to do as a result of having adultery, but to think about being humiliated and alone for 7 years is a depressing thought. If I am fighting with my parents for even just a few days I start to feel depressed like no one cares for me. I cannot imagine feeling that way for such a long period of time.
The Scarlet Letter is notorious for run-on sentences. This sentence is a perfect example. I have acquired a new appreciation for correct writing. This sentence is very confusing because it is so long without commas to help emphasize. Although I cannot promise that I will never write another run-on sentence, I now have a better grasp for how annoying it can be!
Saturday, April 24, 2010
The Scarlet Letter Blog 5
The preacher, Roger Chillingworth, in The Scarlet Letter stated “Wouldst thou have me to believe, O wise and pious friend, that a false show can be better – can be more for God’s glory, or man’s welfare – than God’s won truth? Trust me, such men deceive themselves!” This sentence talks about the inner battle between doing what is right in God’s eyes and doing what is right in the eyes of the World. In this statement, Roger Chillingworth was talking about the choices that people make, especially the choice that Hester was facing. Everyone has a choice to do what is right or not to. Often times instead of doing things that are right people choose to do things that only help themselves. In the story, Hester had a choice to make about whether or not she was going to keep her daughter. This choice is a good example of how Hester wanted to do what seemed best to her, not what was best for her daughter.
This is also a very good example of the kind of confusing language that Hawthorne used when describing his story. This language also sets the picture for the setting. If people today said words like “woulst” or “thou” everyone would look at them funny! Although we don’t use words like that today, when we other people use such elegant words we are reminded of the culture of our history, such as that of the 1850s. The Scarlet Letter does a very good job of the getting its readers into the mindset of the book.
This is also a very good example of the kind of confusing language that Hawthorne used when describing his story. This language also sets the picture for the setting. If people today said words like “woulst” or “thou” everyone would look at them funny! Although we don’t use words like that today, when we other people use such elegant words we are reminded of the culture of our history, such as that of the 1850s. The Scarlet Letter does a very good job of the getting its readers into the mindset of the book.
Monday, April 12, 2010
The Scarlet Letter Blog 4
“’I have thought of death,’ said she, -- ‘have wished for it, -- would even have prayed for it, were it fit that such as I should pray for anything.’” This shows the amount of affliction was placed on Hester after her trial. She was the disgrace of the whole town and because of that she was shunned. Hester spent her life alone from that day onward. Hester had her daughter Pearl’s company but that was all. Pearl, Hester’s daughter, would face much affliction because she was the result of Hester’s poor decision. Hester was afraid for her daughter because she knew that Pearl would be made fun of and rejected. Hester wanted nothing more than to be with her daughter for the rest of her life, but Hester also knew that she could not expect her daughter to stay with her forever. As much as Hester needed her daughters love, she loved her daughter and wanted the very best for her. As you can see by the quote above, Hester’s life was very depressing. I don’t think that this is the kind of life that Hester wanted for her daughter, or anyone else. The affliction that Hester received from her decision to have sex with a man that was not her husband, even though she had not heard from her husband in over 2 years, was very hard on her. Everyone in the community looked down upon her as being among the lowest. She was the symbol of a bad woman in her community and time period.
The Scarlet Letter Blog 3
“Throughout them all, giving up her individuality, she would become the general symbol at which the preacher and the moralist might point, and in which they might vivify and embody their images of woman’s frailty and sinful passion.” In order to fully understand “throughout them all” some background information is needed. In the sentence leading in to this one, Hawthorn talks about the toil, burden, misery, and shame that Hester is dealing with as a result of her consequences. In The Scarlet Letter, Hester, the main character, is put on trial for having a baby with someone that she is not married to. Although this action is frowned upon in today’s culture, having sex with someone who is not your husband was treated very harshly in the 1850’s. Hester’s actions became a disgrace to the whole community. The members of the church and community shunned Hester for her poor decisions. As a result Hester had a scarlet letter placed on her chest announcing that she had participated in sex outside of her marriage. The sentence, “throughout them all...,” comes from Hester’s perspective which talks about the disgrace, separation, and shame that Hester feels. The consequences and effects of Hester’s punishment, to have a scarlet letter on her chest, has scared Hester for life.
One of the things that struck me about this sentence was the fact that Hester became the symbol of “woman’s frailty and sinful passion.” This is really hard on Hester. I can’t imagine having all of that weight put on me. The guilt that Hester had placed on her was constantly brought to her attention. I am glad that things have changed throughout the years. Today we are given another chance. If I were punished for every little thing that I did wrong, with the intensity of the 1850’s, I would struggle greatly.
One of the things that struck me about this sentence was the fact that Hester became the symbol of “woman’s frailty and sinful passion.” This is really hard on Hester. I can’t imagine having all of that weight put on me. The guilt that Hester had placed on her was constantly brought to her attention. I am glad that things have changed throughout the years. Today we are given another chance. If I were punished for every little thing that I did wrong, with the intensity of the 1850’s, I would struggle greatly.
“Throughout them all, giving up her individuality, she would become the general symbol at which the preacher and the moralist might point, and in which they might vivify and embody their images of woman’s frailty and sinful passion.” In order to fully understand “throughout them all” some background information is needed. In the sentence leading in to this one, Hawthorn talks about the toil, burden, misery, and shame that Hester is dealing with as a result of her consequences. In The Scarlet Letter, Hester, the main character, is put on trial for having a baby with someone that she is not married to. Although this action is frowned upon in today’s culture, having sex with someone who is not your husband was treated very harshly in the 1850’s. Hester’s actions became a disgrace to the whole community. The members of the church and community shunned Hester for her poor decisions. As a result Hester had a scarlet letter placed on her chest announcing that she had participated in sex outside of her marriage. The sentence, “throughout them all...,” comes from Hester’s perspective which talks about the disgrace, separation, and shame that Hester feels. The consequences and effects of Hester’s punishment, to have a scarlet letter on her chest, has scared Hester for life.
One of the things that struck me about this sentence was the fact that Hester became the symbol of “woman’s frailty and sinful passion.” This is really hard on Hester. I can’t imagine having all of that weight put on me. The guilt that Hester had placed on her was constantly brought to her attention. I am glad that things have changed throughout the years. Today we are given another chance. If I were punished for every little thing that I did wrong, with the intensity of the 1850’s, I would struggle greatly.
One of the things that struck me about this sentence was the fact that Hester became the symbol of “woman’s frailty and sinful passion.” This is really hard on Hester. I can’t imagine having all of that weight put on me. The guilt that Hester had placed on her was constantly brought to her attention. I am glad that things have changed throughout the years. Today we are given another chance. If I were punished for every little thing that I did wrong, with the intensity of the 1850’s, I would struggle greatly.
The Scarlet Letter Blog 2
In the article found on pages 246 to 253 of The Scarlet Letter talk mostly about women’s rights and how they have changed throughout the years. Women’s rights have been a leading factor in the changing social environment between early America and America today. Women were given nearly no rights in the 1600s, during the time period that the scarlet letter was written in. Women now have nearly equal rights as men. The laws that have been written and implied throughout society, concerning women’s rights, have changed as a result of women demanding more and more rights throughout the years. In the articles it talked about the rights that men have over their wives, the rights that were given women at the Woman’s Rights Convention at Seneca Falls in New York, and the roles of a woman.
The rights that husbands had over their wives are that “the husbands also might give his wife moderate correction. For, as he is to answer for her misbehavior, the law thought it reasonable to intrust him with this power of restraining her.” This must put a lot of pressure on the husband and wife to honor each other. Women in this culture may not have been so passionate for each other but they had a lot more potential to respect each other. Women a lot of time did everything they could to please and honor their husband, where today it is a constant battle about who is in control of the relationship.
The Rights Convention at Seneca Falls was a convention to determine the rights of women in the United States. This convention was held on July 19, 1848 in New York. During this convention the rights of women in the 19th Century were determined to be as followed: “the denial of the right to vote, deprivation of earnings if married, exclusion from colleges, and the state of coverture, which made married women “civilly dead.” All of these things have changed throughout time. For example, Hillary Clinton would never had been able to run for president in the 19th Century. Women were not even allowed to receive a college education or vote; running for president would never have been allowed.
The role of a woman, as defined in the Scarlet Letter, is better known as the “cult of domesticity.” This means that a woman is “to serve in the domestic arena as wife, mother, and keeper of the home and hearth.” This area too has changed from early America to today. Although there are some wives that take care of their families and their homes, most wives are out working a second job.
All of these three examples show how women’s rights have evolved throughout the years. The more rights that women demand, the fewer things that women are being restrained from. Women of today should be thankful for the women in our past who have fought for the rights that we have today as women.
The rights that husbands had over their wives are that “the husbands also might give his wife moderate correction. For, as he is to answer for her misbehavior, the law thought it reasonable to intrust him with this power of restraining her.” This must put a lot of pressure on the husband and wife to honor each other. Women in this culture may not have been so passionate for each other but they had a lot more potential to respect each other. Women a lot of time did everything they could to please and honor their husband, where today it is a constant battle about who is in control of the relationship.
The Rights Convention at Seneca Falls was a convention to determine the rights of women in the United States. This convention was held on July 19, 1848 in New York. During this convention the rights of women in the 19th Century were determined to be as followed: “the denial of the right to vote, deprivation of earnings if married, exclusion from colleges, and the state of coverture, which made married women “civilly dead.” All of these things have changed throughout time. For example, Hillary Clinton would never had been able to run for president in the 19th Century. Women were not even allowed to receive a college education or vote; running for president would never have been allowed.
The role of a woman, as defined in the Scarlet Letter, is better known as the “cult of domesticity.” This means that a woman is “to serve in the domestic arena as wife, mother, and keeper of the home and hearth.” This area too has changed from early America to today. Although there are some wives that take care of their families and their homes, most wives are out working a second job.
All of these three examples show how women’s rights have evolved throughout the years. The more rights that women demand, the fewer things that women are being restrained from. Women of today should be thankful for the women in our past who have fought for the rights that we have today as women.
The Scarlet Letter Blog 1
Adultery has changed drastically over the years. As I read the consequences that the adulators had to face it amazed me how much the people cared about morals and relationships in the 1600s. Reading through the six laws of just the Massachusetts Bay Colony alone gives us a pretty good example of how seriously people in the 1600s handled adultery. In comparing the way that people respond to adultery, from the 1600s to now, it has become apparent that people have lowered their standards, become more lenient, and learned to be less judgmental, staying out of people’s lives. I think so many times in today’s society people don’t care enough about what is going on in other people’s lives. This is a dramatic change from that of the 1600s.
The Laws Addressing Adultery in Massachusetts Bay Colony are very strict saying “that if any man shall have carnall copulacon with another mans wife, they both shalbee punished by death” or “if any person commit ADULTERIE with a married, or espoused wife; the adulterer and adulteresse shal surely be put to death.” From these laws it is very clear to see that adultery was strictly prohibited in the 1600s. It is clear from the seriousness of issues that people in this time period took a lot of pride in having morals and doing what is right.
I wish I could say the same about today’s culture, but sadly I think I would be hard pressed to come up with a decent argument that supported this view. The very sad part is that I can think of a number of examples supporting the view that today’s culture does not hold moral values very highly. For an example, Tiger Woods, a pro golfer, has committed adultery recently. Because Tiger Woods is in the lime light his life has become very public. Tiger is not the only person, in the public eye, that has committed adultery. Although Tiger was given a lot of flak from the media, no one would ever even think about killing him for his actions.
The Laws Addressing Adultery in Massachusetts Bay Colony are very strict saying “that if any man shall have carnall copulacon with another mans wife, they both shalbee punished by death” or “if any person commit ADULTERIE with a married, or espoused wife; the adulterer and adulteresse shal surely be put to death.” From these laws it is very clear to see that adultery was strictly prohibited in the 1600s. It is clear from the seriousness of issues that people in this time period took a lot of pride in having morals and doing what is right.
I wish I could say the same about today’s culture, but sadly I think I would be hard pressed to come up with a decent argument that supported this view. The very sad part is that I can think of a number of examples supporting the view that today’s culture does not hold moral values very highly. For an example, Tiger Woods, a pro golfer, has committed adultery recently. Because Tiger Woods is in the lime light his life has become very public. Tiger is not the only person, in the public eye, that has committed adultery. Although Tiger was given a lot of flak from the media, no one would ever even think about killing him for his actions.
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