Ch 1-4 Leader Discussion

               My initial reaction to Nathaniel Hawthorne’s writing in The Scarlet Letter was a bit uneasy.  It took me a little while to get used to his writing style, but I actually really like it.  He uses very beautiful language and develops extremely detailed images.  Reverend Dimmesdale’s plea and Hester Prynne’s reaction was very interesting.  Dimmesdale told Hester that she needed to reveal the name of the man who fathered her child.  He even said that if she confessed the name, her punishment would be lessened and she could take the scarlet letter off her chest.  Everyone in the crowd felt certain that she would reveal the name but she responds by shouting, “’Never! […] It is too deeply branded.  Ye cannot take it off.  And would that I might endure his agony, as well as mine!’” (Hawthorne 64).  Her reaction serves as character development.  She disobeys the reverend in a time where “religion and law were almost identical” (Hawthorne 47), showing her independence.  At this time in history, women really had no rights so her disobedience was very unexpected, revealing the strong independent character she really is.  Another interesting part was when Robert Chillingworth was treating Hester Prynne and her daughter.  He based his medicines off his study of Alchemy, a science we now know does not exist.  His remedies seem a little less than trustworthy.  It reminded me of a scene in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.  Harry is injured during a quidditch match and Gilderoy Lockeheart, the arrogant man that he is, believes he can fix it.  When he does a spell to mend the broken bone, he really makes all the bones in Harry’s arm disappear.  I thought Roger Chillingworth was a little like Lockheart, since they both think they are very knowledgeable and can help fix their situation.  Except, Chillingworth actually did help unlike Lockheart.

The Scarlet Letter Chapters 1-4: Hester Prynne and Sin

This portion of the reading introduces the reader to the setting of the novel and sets the stage with picturesque descriptions of Hester Prynne, the female protagonist.  My first impression of the chapters was that the language was very long winded and initially rather difficult to understand.  As I kept reading however, Hawthorne's beautiful, and at times disturbing, descriptions became more and more lucid.  One of my favorite images was when Hester had her daughter Pearl clutched against her bosom as she walked onto the scaffold while the town people judge her: "Measured by the prisoner's experience, however, it might be reckoned a journey of some length; for, haughty as her demeanor was, she perchance underwent an agony from every footstep of those that thronged to see her, as if her heart had been flung into the street for them all to spurn and trample upon" (Hawthorne 52).  Instead of Hawthorne taking the perspective of the commoner standing in the grounds, he explains Hester's thoughts, making her appear more human.  I saw her as a person who had made a mistake instead of a taboo figure.
Initially I was rather confused why the governing men had decided not to execute Hester.  After reading the reasoning provided in the novel however, it made a lot more sense.  According to the governing men, she is still rather young and therefore more prone to give into temptation.  Also, it is completely possible that her husband may even be dead!  The Puritan women watching Hester on the scaffold say that they would have branded her if given the power.  Some of them even go far enough to say that Hester deserves to die.
Does that mean that the young have closer ties with the devil though?  I thought this went completely against what F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote in his novel The Great Gatsby.  In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald describes Daisy's youth as the time of innocence and purity.  Here in The Scarlet Letter, we are being introduced to the opposite concept.  Perhaps regardless of one's age, we are bound to commit sin and become 'fallen angels'.  Perhaps that is what makes us human.

I feel as if this composition perfectly depicts these few chapters: Primavera by Ludovico Einaudi.

The Scarlet Letter Discussion Leader Assignment

Greetings G Block Students.

Over the course of the next 2-3 weeks we will be reading Nathaniel Hawthorne's acclaimed novel, The Scarlet Letter. Your mission will be be to work with your peers to present the nightly reading assignments to the class. The goal is to analyze the work of fiction for literary elements, thematic development, and connections (gossamer threads) to our lives.  Each group member is expected to lead discussion on the nightly reading assignment.  You must work with your fellow group members in order to avoid redundancy and confusion.  Every group member must also be prepared to defend their analysis and answer questions from the rest of the class.

Blog Post Requirements:

• Write a detailed and well-developed paragraph response based on your impression of the chapter.  What did you find interesting?  What questions do you have?
• Answer your assigned question.
• Reference specific evidence from the novel in support of your commentary.
• Cite direct quotations from the novel.
• Provide an outside connection to the text.  This connection can come from popular culture, literature, politics, current affairs, music, etc.

Suggested Topics:
1.  Character and Conflict Development.  How does Hawthorne develop particular characters and for what greater purpose.  What do they represent?  Characters are often symbols.  What are their internal and external conflicts?  How do their actions in relation to these conflicts help to develop central themes?

2.  Use of imagery and symbolism:  How does Hawthorne use imagery to develop characters, settings, and themes.  Identify particular descriptions and symbols, make reference to particular passages, and analyze Hawthorne's word pictures or "enchanted objects" for the deeper meaning.

3.  Development of Motifs:  Hawthorne develops a number of intriguing motifs throughout the course of the novel.  A theme is a recurring symbol, object, phrase, or theme.  Some to consider and take note of are:  the scarlet letter, sea imagery, nature imagery, Hesster's daughter, Pearl, and the use of light and darkness.  These a are general ideas but you should seek to develop them in greater detail.

4.  Development of Hawthorne's social criticism regarding Puritan regulations, society, culture, and religion.  Identify social customs, laws, and practices identified in the novel and how Hawthorne develops his criticism.

5.  Development of the Concept of Secret Sin, Guilt and The Ultimate Effect Upon the Individual.