After reading chapters five through eight of Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel, I started to feel frustration towards Hester Prynne. I specifically don't sympathize with her decision to stay in the Mass-Bay Colony. She committed a sin in the eyes of the God fearing inhabitants of society which causes them to shun and ostracize her. Even so, she still remains in their society in hopes that she might eventually be accepted back into society. In my opinion, this is purely wishful thinking. The Puritans were a people whose sole purpose in life was to do everything they can to increase their chances of being accepted into Heaven. This meant dissociating one's self from all that was associated with sin. Unfortunately for Hester, her punishment was to wear the letter'A' on her chest for the rest of her life. This was the equivalent of a prisoner having to wear a sign for the rest of his life that told everyone that he was a convicted felon. So long as she wears the letter and people remember who she is and the fact that she is a sinner, she can never be welcomed back into the Puritan society that she was once a part of.
Now for the truly sad part. Hester takes up the occupation of a tailor, making ornate clothing for the people of the town including the governor. Here, Hawthorne shows the extent of Hester's desperation to be accepted. After being branded and ostracized by society, she ends up serving even the leader of the society that treated her like dirt. She tries doing charity work, mending the clothes of beggars and is treated terribly even by them.
Hester's reluctance in these chapters reminded me of the Green Day song "Road to Acceptance". Several of the lines from the song address this concept of someone changing himself to be accepted by society such as "I'll sculpt my life for your acceptance".
I was frustrated with Hester in these chapters as well. I agree, and think that she would have been better off leaving the Massachusetts Bay Colony and starting a new life. She was already shunned by everyone in the town, which seems useless to stay there and be known as a disgrace in my opinion.
I also agree that after going against society and being punished for it, she should've expected nothing short of what she received from society. She now carried a reputation associated with adultery and sin, therefore she should have expected to be ostracized. I think she should have been more realistic and considerate towards Pearl because by staying in the Colony she risked losing Pearl and Pearl is being raised with a tarnished reputation because people know of her mother's sinful acts.
I am totally on your side. Every person has the power to make a change in their lives, and when stubbornness leads to misery there's no one to blame but themselves. No matter the situation she was in she had total control over whether she stayed there, but her desire to stay with Dimmesdale coupled with her fear of the outside world trapped her in a facade of happiness. She could have left made not only herself happy, but everyone in the colony. Kudos to her for sticking it out, but it seems like shes cutting her nose to spite her face.
I am not sure whether I entirely agree with you on one point, Alex. I can see why you would say that you were frustrated with her though! In my opinion, I believe Hester wants to be herself while being accepted into the Puritan society. While Hester was standing on the scaffold clutching little Pearl to her bosom, being ridiculed by the entire Puritan society, neither Chilingworth nor Dimmsdale would acknowledge their relation to her. The only person who has never forsaken her has been her daughter: Pearl, the result of her 'heinous' adulterous act.
However, I love the point you made about her desperation to be accepted into Puritan society. At times Hester seems rather divided on whether she wants to completely give into her own temptations and pursue her own individuality absolutely. This constant internal conflict may make her to be a frustrating figure, but I believe it makes her appear more human.
I was frustrated with Hester in these chapters as well. I agree, and think that she would have been better off leaving the Massachusetts Bay Colony and starting a new life. She was already shunned by everyone in the town, which seems useless to stay there and be known as a disgrace in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that after going against society and being punished for it, she should've expected nothing short of what she received from society. She now carried a reputation associated with adultery and sin, therefore she should have expected to be ostracized. I think she should have been more realistic and considerate towards Pearl because by staying in the Colony she risked losing Pearl and Pearl is being raised with a tarnished reputation because people know of her mother's sinful acts.
ReplyDeleteI am totally on your side. Every person has the power to make a change in their lives, and when stubbornness leads to misery there's no one to blame but themselves. No matter the situation she was in she had total control over whether she stayed there, but her desire to stay with Dimmesdale coupled with her fear of the outside world trapped her in a facade of happiness. She could have left made not only herself happy, but everyone in the colony. Kudos to her for sticking it out, but it seems like shes cutting her nose to spite her face.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure whether I entirely agree with you on one point, Alex. I can see why you would say that you were frustrated with her though! In my opinion, I believe Hester wants to be herself while being accepted into the Puritan society. While Hester was standing on the scaffold clutching little Pearl to her bosom, being ridiculed by the entire Puritan society, neither Chilingworth nor Dimmsdale would acknowledge their relation to her. The only person who has never forsaken her has been her daughter: Pearl, the result of her 'heinous' adulterous act.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I love the point you made about her desperation to be accepted into Puritan society. At times Hester seems rather divided on whether she wants to completely give into her own temptations and pursue her own individuality absolutely. This constant internal conflict may make her to be a frustrating figure, but I believe it makes her appear more human.