FOR THIS BLOG, YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO POST ONE PASSAGE AND DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING:
a) What is the primary significance of the passage?
b) Identify the literary techniques used by Hawthorne. Relate them to the content.
c) Which techniques are typical of Hawthorne in his novel and his short story, "Dr. Heidegger's Experiment"?
d) What are the effects of the dominant images used in this passage?
e) What do you think the important theme is expressed?
-Each blog should be include the specific passage with page number. Select one long enough so that your analysis has more opportunities for providing specific evidence. Each topic area should include four to five sentences.
-The following website has the text of The Scarlet Letter by chapter: http://www.eldritchpress.org/nh/sl.html
NOTE: You cannot use passages that have been posted by your peers. You are also expected to respond to at least 2 peers. Make sure everyone gets a response, rather than one person receiving all the comments.
“The stigma gone, Hester heaved a long, deep sigh, in which the burden of shame and anguish departed from her spirit. O exquisite relief! She had not known the weight, until she felt the freedom! By another impulse, she took off the formal cap that confined her hair; and down it fell upon her shoulders, dark and rich, with at once a shadow and a light in its abundance, and imparting the charm of softness to her features. There played around her mouth, and beamed out of her eyes, a radiant and tender smile, that seemed gushing from the very heart of womanhood. A crimson flush was glowing on her cheek, that had been long so pale. Her sex, her youth, and the whole richness of her beauty, came back from what men call the irrevocable past, and clustered themselves, with her maiden hope, and a happiness before unknown, within the magic circle of this hour. And, as if the gloom of the earth and sky had been but the effluence of these two mortal hearts, it vanished with their sorrow. All at once, as with a sudden smile of heaven, forth burst the sunshine, pouring a very flood into the obscure forest, gladdening each green leaf, transmuting the yellow fallen ones to gold, and gleaming adown the gray trunks of the solemn trees. The objects that had made a shadow hitherto, embodied the brightness now. The course of the little brook might be traced by its merry gleam afar into the wood's heart of mystery, which had become a mystery of joy” (139).
ReplyDeletea) The primary significance of this passage is to make the reader understand the freedom that Hester felt after being liberated from the letter. Hester came alive again after she did not have the weight of her sin on her soul anymore. The purpose is also to show the connection between nature and the souls of the characters. The passage says that her beauty and happiness came back and at that moment nature was happy, too.
b) The literary techniques used by Hawthorne in this passage are symbolism and personification. He uses symbolism when he talks about how the A is a symbol of her sin, and it is freeing to have taken the letter off. Hawthorne uses personification when he talks about heaven smiling when Hester became happy again because he used nature as a reflection of how she was feeling. For example, when it is sunny in the text that means that there is happiness or when it is gloomy it means there is a somber mood.
c) Hawthorne typically lets the reader decide if things are really happening or the character is just imagining it all. He does this in “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment” when he lets the reader decide if the guests were actually young again or if they only felt younger. In this novel, he lets the reader decide if the effects that Hester feels from wearing the A are just imagined or are actually weighing down and burning on her. Hawthorne also uses imagery in his stories to reflect what is happening inside of the characters, just as the change in scenery shows in this passage.
d) The dominant images in this passage are the A and the natural setting in which Hester is sitting with Dimmesdale. The A has a powerful effect because it is the focal point of the story. It conveys the weight that Hester’s sin has on her as she transforms from dreary to beautiful. The natural setting, such as the “obscure forest,” “gray trunks,” and “the solemn trees” were all dark and dull before, just as Hester and Dimmesdale had been, but now the effect their relationship had changed them to become lively and prosperous.
e) The most important theme in this passage is the power of the scarlet letter. Hawthorne creates power for the letter when he says that it had “the burden of shame and anguish.” It’s power was lifted off of Hester when she removed it and her hat. This made her feel womanly, just as she had before she fell into sin. The change in the natural world around the couple symbolized the change that happened in each of their souls.
You picked a very good passage and thought out your response very well. I felt the same way about the connections between the two story's that Hawthorne wrote. Very nice job finding the literary devices used by Hawthorne in the passage and talking about how the "A" was so important. You had a really great response and tied it all back to the passage very well.
DeleteYou picked a passage that was very important to the story and the understanding of the effects of the scarlet letter. You did a very good job explaining how Hester was burdened by the "A" and how those burdens were lifted from her when she took it off. Your answers were supported well and well thought out. Nice job!
Delete“Thus conversing, they entered sufficiently deep into the wood to secure themselves from the observation of any casual passenger along the forest-track. Here they sat down on a luxuriant heap of moss; which, at some epoch of the preceding century, had been a gigantic pine, with its roots and trunk in the darksome shade, and its head aloft in the upper atmosphere. It was a little dell where they had seated themselves, with a leaf-strewn bank rising gently on either side, and a brook flowing through the midst, over a bed of fallen and drowned leaves. The trees impending over it had flung down great branches, from time to time, which choked up the current, and compelled it to form eddies and black depths at some points; while, in its swifter and livelier passages, there appeared a channel-way of pebbles, and brown, sparkling sand. Letting the eyes follow along the course of the stream, they could catch the reflected light from its water, at some short distance within the forest, but soon lost all traces of it amid the bewilderment of tree-trunks and underbrush, and here and there a huge rock, covered over with gray lichens. All these giant trees and boulders of granite seemed intent on making a mystery of the course of this small brook; fearing, perhaps, that, with its never-ceasing loquacity, it should whisper tales out of the heart of the old forest whence it flowed, or mirror its revelations on the smooth surface of a pool. Continually, indeed, as it stole onward, the streamlet kept up a babble, kind, quiet, soothing, but melancholy, like the voice of a young child that was spending its infancy without playfulness, and knew not how to be merry among sad acquaintance and events of sombre hue” (127-128).
ReplyDeletea) What is the primary significance of the passage?
ReplyDeleteThis passage provides a detailed description of the setting in the forest as Hester and Pearl walk along the path. Nathanial Hawthorne paints, with vivid imagery, the scene for the reader and its deeper connection to the characters. The description of the brook is a central point of the paragraph and a large symbol of the moral path of Hester’s life. Hawthorne describes the winding and mysterious path of the brook with Hester’s realization that it represents the path she has taken in life.
b) Identify the literary techniques used by Hawthorne. Relate them to the content.
Nathanial Hawthorne uses a great amount of personification in this passage. The trees are personified to compel the stream, having a human quality. The trees, rocks, and other obstructions in the river have the symbolic meaning of being the sins and authorities in Puritan society that affected Hester. The setting is permeated with imagery, depicting an expressive mental image to the reader.
c) Which techniques are typical of Hawthorne in his novel and his short story, "Dr. Heidegger's Experiment"?
Hawthorne’s style, being from the romanticism period, is incorporated in both his novel and short story. In this passage, Hawthorne explains the symbolism of the brook to the moral life that Hester has led, filled with obstructions and shrouded in mystery. In line with the themes of romanticism, the setting is emphasized strongly and nature is often used to convey the mood. In “Dr. Heidegger's Experiment," Hawthorne also makes use of a strong and descriptive setting to convey meaning and mood.
d) What are the effects of the dominant images used in this passage?
The dominant images in this passage are the images of the winding and secretive brook and its obstructions. Here, the brook is given qualities of speaking a message through personification. The focal point of the setting along the forest path is the creek, as Hester realizes the symbolic quality it has of representing her life path. The obstructions in the river accentuate the message, as they “seemed intent on making a mystery of the course of this small brook” just as the difficulties Hester faced in her life obstructed her path.
e) What do you think the important theme is expressed?
The most important theme that is expressed within this passage is the connection between the winding brook and Hester Prynne’s moral path through life. The determining events and people that shaped her life are represented by the symbols of rocks, trees, and branches. The path of the river is hidden, just as parts of Hester’s past are hidden from the public eye. The symbolic nature of the setting in this passage runs deep with the events within the novel.
I think this passage is very important to the story. It shows how hard it was for both of the two and what it was like for them. You answered the questions very well and connected them back to the passage all in a way that made sense to me as a reader. Your analysis put ideas in my head that I had not thought of otherwise, I think that they were all correctly answered and very well thought out. I think you covered all the information that you needed to and even a little more that helped understand the purpose of the passage. Great job!
DeleteYou picked a good passage with lots of imagery that was significant to the story. I liked how you said that the trees were compelling the stream to flow and that all the obstructions were sins and other hardships that Hester endured because it is not something that I would have thought of reading this passage the first time. Your responses to the questions were well thought out and supported by the text.
Delete"When her elf-child had departed, Hester Prynne made a step or two towards the track that led through the forest, but still remained under the deep shadow of the trees. She beheld the minister advancing along the path, entirely alone, and leaning on a staff which he had cut by the way-side. He looked haggard and feeble, and betrayed a nerveless despondency in his air, which had never so remarkably characterized him in his walks about the settlement, nor in any other situation where he deemed himself liable to notice. Here it was woefully visible, in this intense seclusion of the forest, which of itself would have been a heavy trial to the spirits. There was a listlessness in his gait; as if he saw no reason for taking one step farther, nor felt any desire to do so, but would have been glad, could he be glad of any thing, to fling himself down at the root of the nearest tree, and lie there passive for evermore. The leaves might bestrew him, and the soil gradually accumulate and form a little hillock over his frame, no matter whether there were life in it or no. Death was too definite an object to be wished for, or avoided." (129).
ReplyDeletea) The main purpose of this passage is to talk about how the sin has affected Dimmesdale, how through the seven years that he has kept his identity hidden the sin has eaten away at his soul and his body and now he can hardly live with it. The other purpose is to show the readers that Hester and the Reverend do not get tine alone and this is the first time they have met alone because Dimmesdale is hiding that he is the father.
b) Hawthorne uses elevated language to talk about how Dimmesdale has changed over the seven years. He uses very high vocabulary and talks of how the man has grown old in looks and can barley hold himself up. This is because of the guilt of hiding the sin and it is shown through Hawthorne's language. He also uses foreshadowing when he talks about the fact that death is inevitable, he hints that it will come soon for him because of what the minister has done.
c) Hawthorne uses the idea that the reader has the decision of what is happening to the character and how the character is reacting to a certain action or situation. He shows this in the scarlet letter when talking about Pearl and how she is doing with the situation and what she does later in the story. He also does this in "Dr. Heideggers Experiment" when the people felt young, he gave the reader the choice if they were actually young or just feeling it.
d) The dominant image in this passage is the image of Dimmesdale himself, the fact that he looks the way he does. This image effects the story because it truly shows how hiding the sin and child has changed him and taxed his body. The image of his change is very important to the story and the fact that Dimmesdale will eventually break, share his sin, and die.
e) The main theme of this passage is that guilt will eventually catch up to the person. In this instance guilt is catching up to Dimmesdale and it is showing how he is acting differently. Another main theme is that Hester and Dimmesdale are still trying to work through the sin and get to a place where they can be together. This is important because it shows the effect not being together has both on Hester and the minister.
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DeleteThis passage is a good example of how the character;s guilt effected them, especially Dimmesdale. Your responses to the questions were well supported. I liked how you talked about how the way Dimmesdale looks is a image of his guilt. I liked how you talked about the elevated language that Hawthorne used. Really great job!
DeleteI like this passage that you chose because it greatly describes Dimmesdale's demeanor. I agree with your ideas about techniques used in Hawthorne's works that the reader gets to decide what is happening. Your discussion about the imagery and purpose of this section is well written. These answers are very well written.
DeleteThe passage you chose was very good and the way that you described Dimmesdale and his personality was thought out. Your examples of literary techniques were good and overall it was well written. Nice Job!
Delete“Mother,” said little Pearl, “the sunshine does not love you. It runs away and hides itself, because it is afraid of something on your bosom. . . . It will not flee from me, for I wear nothing on my bosom yet!” “Nor ever will, my child, I hope,” said Hester. “And why not, mother?” asked Pearl, stopping short. . . . “Will it not come of its own accord, when I am a woman grown?” Run away, child” answered her mother, “and catch the sunshine! It will soon be gone.” Pearl set forth, at a great place, and as Hester smiled to perceive did actually catch the sunshine, and stood laughing in the midst of it, all brightened by its splendor, and scintillating with the vivacity excited by rapid motion. The light lingered about the lonely child, as if glad of such a playmate, until her mother had drawn almost nigh enough to step into the magic circle too” (126).
ReplyDeletea) The primary significance of this passage is to show the symbolism of the letter and how its sin affects Hester. Also this passage shows the little knowledge that Pearl knew about the purpose of the scarlet letter. Pearl learns that the scarlet letter is something she doesn’t want when she grows up. This symbolism connects to a big theme is this book which is the relationship between sin and human nature.
b) The literary techniques used by Hawthorne in this passage are personification. This is used by giving the sun human abilities; for example, “it runs away and hides itself.” Another device is foreshadowing because the last question is making readers wonder what will be the fate for Pearl and if she will also have the same effects of sin as her mother does. These devices make this passage an important one to the theme and to the outcome to the story.
c) Techniques that are typical of Hawthorne in his novel and his short story “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment are the Gothic style, and how characters are affected by sin. His novel and short story prove that sin and guilt can change human nature’s mental state. The characters in both works focused on how the actions and feelings they felt and how they thought they were right or wrong. They also showed guilt in the short story for not living their young years the way that they wanted, and in the novel the guilt took over their souls and caused anguish.
d) The effects of the dominant images used in this passage are the image of the sun and the bosom of both Hester and Pearl. These images give the reader a visual picture of what Hawthorne means by the sun running away from Hester. This picture reveals that the scarlet letter is what the sun doesn’t shine on because it contains only darkness. Hester wants the opposite of this for her child Pearl and the image of the sun not gazing upon her mother is showing how little Pearl knows about the Scarlet Letter’s significance.
e) The important theme that is bring expressed is that the sin that Hester has committed is never going to leave her and will doom her in many ways including the sun not shining on her. This passage also reveals the little knowledge that Pearl has regarding the scarlet letter. Pearl wants to be like her mother and Hester wants her daughter to not have to go through the same situation when she is a woman. The way that Hester does not tell the complete truth to Pearl shows that she is ashamed of what she has to wear at this point in the novel.
I agree with your analysis of this passage, and you did a good job in identifying the theme and significance of this passage. this passage was a good choice as it is at an important point in the story. Your answers were written clearly and made sense to me. Good job!
DeleteI really like this and the quote that you chose. You did a very good job on analyzing through these questions and making it more understandable by breaking it down in your response to the quote.
DeleteI really enjoyed your analysis. I found your answer to Hawthorne's literary technique confusing because I thought that Gothic was a style and not a technique. However, I do think that you were on the right track and there was really nothing else to complain about.
Delete"These men deceive themselves," said Roger Chillingworth, with somewhat more emphasis than usual, and making a slight gesture with his forefinger. "They fear to take up the shame that rightfully belongs to them. Their love for man, their zeal for God's service,--these holy impulses may or may not coexist in their hearts with the evil inmates to which their guilt has unbarred the door, and which must needs propagate a hellish breed within them. But, if they seek to glorify God, let them not lift heavenward their unclean hands! If they would serve their fellow-men, let them do it by making manifest the power and reality of conscience, in constraining them to penitential self-abasement! 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 own truth? Trust me, such men deceive themselves!"
ReplyDeletea.The primary significance of this passage is to show how Chillingworth, suspecting the Dimmesdale was Pearl's father, tortured him psychologically. Chillingworth goes on about sinners, condemning them and saying that they deceive themselves. He does all of this knowing that Dimmesdale is a sinner, and that this talk is torturous to him. This is Chillingworth's way of getting revenge on Dimmesdale.
b.The literary techniques that Hawthorn uses in this passage include personification by saying that evil and sin “unbarred the door” to their “evil inmates”. In saying this the intensity of sinning is emphasized, contributing to the effectiveness of Chillingworth's torture. This puts more pressure and guilt on Dimmesdale. It also shows that sin and evil are seen as very powerful forces in this story.
c.One major technique that hawthorn commonly uses in his works is giving the decision to decide if supernatural things are happening or not to the reader. This can be seen multiple times throughout The Scarlet Letter, like when the reader can decide if Hester has the power to see peoples sins, or if it is all in her head. This choice is also given in Hawthorns other work, Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment. In that story the reader is given the choice to decide if the narrator is supernatural, being the doctors dead wife, or not, being a servant.
d.The effects of the dominant images of this passage are that they create vivid images of sin and evil, as well as show Chillingworth's views on them. Through the image of the door, it can be seen that Chillingworth has little mercy for sinners who hide their guilt, and condemns them. He does this so dramatically as to pressure Dimmesdale even more into confessing his sins. This is all part of Chillingworth’s method to torture Dimmesdale.
e.The important theme expressed in this passage largely pertains to the whole book, and is the theme of guilt and sin and their effects. In this passage Chillingworth is trying to get Dimmesdale to confess his sin, and at the same time torturing him. Dimmesdale is keeping his sins secretive, and in doing this the guilt is eating away at him. This shows the difference in how you bear your sins, if you hide them away or confess them makes a difference.
Grtat Job!!! This is a great quote you chose and you connected the questions to the passage very well and thoroughly. You had a great connection to the story with this quote when answering the questions.
DeleteI like your passage choice because it connects to the main theme of guilt and how it effected the characters. Your answer to letter c was a good point about the supernatural effects that both of Hawthrone's works contained. This analysis was very well written. Good Job!
DeleteI like how you used specific examples when talking about the literary terms used. I also thought it was well-written when you talked about the theme because it was a general theme that was found throughout the whole book, but you connected to your passage specifically. Great response!
Delete“But Hester Prynne, with a mind of native courage and activity, and for so long a period not merely estranged, but outlawed, from society, had habituated herself to such latitude of speculation as was altogether foreign to the clergyman. She had wandered, without rule or guidance, in a moral wilderness; as vast, as intricate and shadowy, as the untamed forest, amid the gloom of which they were now holding a colloquy that was to decide their fate. Her intellect and heart had their home, as it were, in desert places, where she roamed as freely as the wild Indian in his woods. For years past she had looked from this estranged point of view at human institutions, and whatever priests or legislators had established; criticizing all with hardly more reverence than the Indian would feel for the clerical band, the judicial robe, the pillory, the gallows, the fireside, or the church. The tendency of her fate and fortunes had been to set her free. The scarlet letter was her passport into regions where other women dared not tread. Shame, Despair, Solitude! These had been her teachers,--stern and wild ones,--and they had made her strong, but taught her much amiss,” (136-137).
ReplyDeletea). The primary significance of this passage is to illustrate the solitude that Hester has endured since her shaming on the scaffold. The narrator explains how Hester has been outlawed from society because she did something that no one else had done. People shamed her for sinning against God, herself, and her husband. The whole story revolved around her sin, and this passage describes her life of isolation.
ReplyDeleteb). The literary techniques used by Hawthorne in this passage are metaphor and personification. He uses metaphor to compare her mind to the wilderness; he says that Hester has had an estranged life and her thoughts that ran all over the place showed the wild side of her mind. Another metaphor that Hawthorne includes in the passage is comparing Hester’s scarlet letter to a passport. He says that the letter allows Hester into places that no woman would ever want to go: places of shame, despair, and solitude. Hawthorne also uses personification to describe shame, despair, and solitude as Hester’s teachers because they taught her how to be a stronger woman than she was before the affair, which was the theme of the story.
c). Some things that are common in Hawthorne’s stories are symbolism and giving the reader the choice to decide whether they think something has actually happened or not. A common symbol that Hawthorne uses is a rose or rose bush. In “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment,” the rose was a symbol of youth, beauty, and new life because it foreshadowed what would “happen” to the adults if they drank the elixir, which was that they would become youthful again. Likewise, in the novel, the rose, or rose bush, symbolized hope in times of despair because it was stationed outside of the prison when Hester emerged, which was a time of darkness for her. In “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment,” Hawthorne lets the readers decide if the people are actually young again or if they are imagining it, and in the novel, one thing he let’s the readers decide for themselves is if Pearl is really evil because of the letter, or if she just has a wild personality because she is a child.
d). The effect of the dominant image in this passage is to describe that Hester has had a difficult life and her mind is flooded with crazy thoughts. With Pearl being the wild child that she is, Hester has had difficulty controlling her child through life like an “untamed forest.” It is also describing how Hester’s thought roam around in her mind. Hester feels the sin and guilt eating at her conscience because she wants to tell Dimmesdale Chillingworth’s identity and she wants to avoid giving away Dimmesdale’s identity. The intricate, shadowy, untamed forest shows that her mind has been clouded with the thoughts of everything that her life has consisted of since Pearl and the shaming.
e). The most important theme in this passage is sometimes a bad experience or decision can be good for the person. This is shown when Hawthorne says that shame, despair, and solitude had made her strong, but taught her wrongly. He is saying that being isolated from society had made Hester a stronger person, emotionally and mentally, than she would have been if she had never had an affair with Dimmesdale and had to endure the shaming on the scaffold. Hester learned how to take care of herself in solitude and how to hold herself up in times of trouble and ridicule, even though she had to endure the troubled thoughts of her own mind as well.
You did a very nice job relating the questions back to the quote. You also expanded with more detail. Overall, a nice job on answering the questions. Your analyzation was very well thought out.
DeleteI think that you did quite well in answering the questions about your chosen passage. Your identification of the common symbol of the rose shows that you were very meticulous in that answer. The analysis of the passage is thorough and has unique details.
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ReplyDelete"Hester Prynne," said he, fixing his naturally stern regard on the wearer of the scarlet letter, "there hath been much question concerning thee, of late. The point hath been weightily discussed, whether we, that are of authority and influence, do well discharge our consciences by trusting an immortal soul, such as there is in yonder child, to the guidance of one who hath stumbled and fallen, amid the pitfalls of this world. Speak thou, the child's own mother! Were it not, thinkest thou, for thy little one's temporal and eternal welfare, that she be taken out of thy charge, and clad soberly, and disciplined strictly, and instructed in the truths of heaven and earth? What canst thou do for the child, in this kind?"
"I can teach my little Pearl what I have learned from this!" answered Hester Prynne, laying her finger on the red token.
"Woman, it is thy badge of shame!" replied the stern magistrate. "It is because of the stain which that letter indicates, that we would transfer thy child to other hands."
"Nevertheless," said the mother calmly, though growing more pale, "this badge hath taught me,--it daily teaches me,--it is teaching me at this moment,--lessons whereof my child may be the wiser and better, albeit they can profit nothing to myself." (75-76)
a.The primary significance of the passage is that the Governor, Governor bellingham, is trying to take Pearl away from Hester because of her sin. The passage helps reveal that Hester is very protective of her child and believes she is teaching Pearl life lessons through what she did. The Scarlet Letter helps her teach Pearl because it is the symbol of her sin and guilt and Pearl loves the Scarlet A, so it is easy for her to learn about her mother’s sin. Pearl can learn from what Hester did and that it shouldn’t be a “badge of shame” as the people say in this passage it is a badge that can teach from experience.
b.The literary technique used in this passage is symbolism. The scarlet letter A is symbolized as a source of teaching and learning. Hester says in this passage that she learns from it everyday and that she continues to learn and teach about it. Hester believes the letter gives Pearl lessons to learn from and become a better and smarter child.
c.Symbolism is one of the major literary techniques used in Hawthorne’s story of “Dr. Heidegger’s experiment”. The potient in the story is a symbol of youthfulness and it symbolizes what every grown up wishes they could regain once again. This potient symbolizes the thirst that is in people to become young once again and it comes from the fountain of the youth which is a very important symbol in the story as well.The patients in the story want to go back and fix their mistakes and when they get the chance to they end up making the same mistakes over again.
d.The effects of the dominant images used in this text are greatly impacting on many of the characters and the reader. The image of the scarlet letter is the main image that impacts Hester and Pearl the most because Hester wears it because of her committed sin, and Pearl is just a living symbol of the letter itself. Pearl was born from sin and is a symbol of sin and guilt in her normal life. It impacts all the characters around Hester and Pearl as well as effecting the reader by thinking why Hester wears the badge proudly and without any shame at all.
e.The Important theme that is expressed is to never give up. This is a the important theme because Hester doesn’t give up when she is put into jail for her sin, she gets the scarlet letter A and then wears it with pride and with no shame at all. She makes the best out of what has happened to her even though everybody is bringing her down. She always fights through the shame and guilt with a high attitude and she knows what she did and is sorry for what she did, but she still never gives up.
Your passage is great because it reveals Hester's motherly instinct and shows how much she loves Pearl despite her occasional devilish acts. Yo u explained the theme very well and i agree that Hester wore the letter "A" with pride and accepted her sin and grew as a character.
DeleteI thought it was very smart that you pointed out that Pearl was like the living letter through symbolism. I completley agree with your point that Hawthorne uses the actions of youth to show that as people grow older they take responsibility and learn to control their actions much better.
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ReplyDelete“Hester Prynne did not now occupy precisely the same position in which we beheld her during the earlier periods of her ignominy. Years had come, and gone. Pearl was now seven years old. Her mother, with the scarlet letter on her breast, glittering in its fantastic embroidery, had long been familiar object to the townspeople. As is apt to be the case when a person stands out in any prominence before the community, and, at the same time, interferes neither with public nor individual interests and convenience, a species of general regard had ultimately grown up in reference to Hester Prynne.” (109-110.)
a.) The primary significance of this passage is that since seven years had gone by since Hester confessed her sins, she was not looked at the same way she used to be. People used to stare at her and mock her and Pearl. Now she is just another face in the crowd, and people saw the letter and did not think as much of it anymore because what else could they really say to her? She just seemed like another townspeople. Hawthorne showed how big of a deal it was, but describes how it later becomes the norm. The spotlight would not be on Hester forever.
b.) The literary techniques used by Hawthorne are symbolism, elevated language, and metaphor. He discusses how the A once used to define Hester and people used to look at her only for that. Hester has been wearing the letter for so long that people just realized her as someone who wore a letter on their chest. He also uses elevated language in talking about how Pearl has grown up, and the people of her town have as well. Hawthorne also uses metaphor in this passage; he is describing that Hester is like any other person in the town. Hester is not seen as the worst person in the town anymore, more concerning things have happened since she committed her sin.
c.) In The Scarlet Letter and “Dr.Heidegger’s Experiment”, Hawthorne usually lets readers think in two different directions: are the characters actually acting in this way? Or is the character just imagining this or dreaming of it. Also, in “Dr.Heidegger's Experiment”, when the four subjects think they are young again, they look into the mirror and see that they are still old. Hawthorne also used this way of writing in The Scarlet Letter. When Dimmesdale is standing on the scaffold, Hawthorne mentions that Dimmesdale is sleep walking. For readers, they could question if it is actually happening or if the character is just dreaming it.
d.) The dominant images used in this passage are the A and how the townspeople look at her seven years later. The A is a dominant image in the whole story, but in this passage it is showing how Hester is still wearing the letter seven years later and how it has just become a normal sight for all of the townspeople. The townspeople do not think of the letter as much as they used to. It is just like seeing a familiar face now.
e.) The important theme that I think is expressed in this passage is the fact that people are so used to seeing Hester Prynne with the A on her bosom, that she is treated like an ordinary person now. She used to be ridiculed for it because it expressed her sin. Overall, Hawthorne is showing the readers that not all things will last forever. They will pass over eventually and people will move onto to other things. Hester Prynne was no longer someone who people were worried about. They were focusing on the future.
I liked how your passage has a huge significance with how seven years have passed and Hester's sin had slowly had become normal to society. The theme also expresses the same idea and it has a neutral feel as to how mistakes eventually blow over and people go back to their everyday lives.
DeleteI thought that your analysis for the passage you chose answered the questions given very well. I think that the ending point you made about Hawthorne's message could have been worded differently. However, the overall response to the passage is done well.
Delete“But there is a fatality, a feeling so irresistible and inevitable that it has the force of doom, which almost invariably compels human beings to linger around and haunt, ghost-like, the spot where some great and marked event has given the color to their lifetime; and still the more irresistibly, the darker the tinge that saddens it” (54-55).
ReplyDeleteA)The primary significance of the passage is towards Hester Prynne and how she had a choice to leave her community, but stayed anyway. She didn’t leave her community because she feels rooted in her home town and would rather face her peers than hide from her society. There isn’t a direct accusation of why Hester chose to stay, but there are assumptions that she stayed for Pearl and the love she had for Arthur Dimmesdale. Hester knew if she stayed in her hometown much longer that she would need to get used to being looked down upon and degraded on a daily basis. The passage is significant to Hester’s will power to stand amongst her congregation and declare her sin with dignity and to not back down to the evils of society.
B)The literary techniques used by Hawthorne in this passage are imagery and symbolism. Hawthorne uses imagery when he describes the ghost-like spirits that linger amongst the land, which has a connection with Hester’s spirit. Hester is the ghost-like spirit that will linger amongst the land and its people because she has a strong relationship with her homeland. Hawthorne uses symbolism in this passage when he said, “darker tinge that saddens it.” He’s relating the dark shading that saddens the people to Hester because she caused corruption in her society by the sin she committed. Hester is the dim figure that roams her society with her head hanging because she’s considered an outcast and a sinner.
C)A technique that is typical in Hawthorne’s novel and in his short story, “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment” is giving the reader a decision on whether or not something is truly happening or is a supernatural being. In “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment,” Hawthorne lets the reader make an assumption whether or not the four individuals will benefit from transforming young. In Hawthorne’s novel he makes the reader think about Pearl’s character in the story and if she truly has evil inside of her. Hawthorne’s writing interacts with the reader and has them create their own point of view in the storyline with the characters in the story. Also, Hawthorne has his own style of writing that melds the feelings of the Romantic Period with that of the everyday language of a particular group of people, such as the Puritan people in “The Scarlet Letter.”
D)The dominant image in this passage is how Hester fits in with her community now that she has committed adultery, which is a sin in the Puritan culture. The image it conveys is how Hester had been a well-cared for and beautiful character to becoming a shadow in the midst of all her peers. The effect of Hester being a degraded character in the society’s eyes makes her a threat. Hester has become the focal point in “The Scarlet Letter” and it has a huge negative effect on Hester reclaiming her dignity.
E)The most important theme in this passage is that no matter what crime you commit and or mistake an individual makes, there will always be other people’s opinions. Face your mistakes and accept the consequences open heartedly because in the long run it will benefit the way others look at you. Most importantly its best to not take to heart what society thinks of your actions and to have the will power to overcome any obstacle. When Hester confessed her sin to the rest of society she eventually accepted her mistake and knew that it was now a part of her.
I really enjoyed reading about how you broke down the main theme and showed that even though some people may always look down upon you, you have to just move on.
DeleteGreat passage choice. I like how you were able to separate the main image and the main theme of the passage.
Delete“Calm, gentle, passionless, as he appeared, there was yet, we fear, a quiet depth of malice, hitherto latent, but active now, in this unfortunate old man, which led him to imagine a more intimate revenge than any mortal had ever wreaked upon an enemy. To make himself the one trusted friend, to whom should be confided all the fear, the remorse, the agony, the ineffectual repentance, the backward rush of sinful thoughts, expelled in vain! All that guilty sorrow, hidden from the world, whose great heart would have pitied and forgiven, to be revealed to him, the Pitiless, to him, the Unforgiving! All that dark treasure to be lavished on the very man, to whom nothing else could so adequately pay the debt of vengeance!” (96)
ReplyDeletea) The primary significance of this passage is to show the reader that though Roger Chillingworth comes off as a kind, composed man that deep down inside the effects of Hester’s adultery brought him much guilt and shame that is slowly changing him as a person. It is making him dark hearted and in need of vengeance, he has become an angered man who needs to right this mistake with a personal, tortuous revenge. It also explains how Chillingworth wanted to get close to Dimmesdale to make him hurt more than anyone else could have possibly done. Chillingworth wanted to shed his pain onto him.
b) In this passage, Hawthorne uses the technique of analogy when he explains that guilt is “the dark treasure” and that it was all “lavished” on Chillingworth alone. It then leads on to say that nothing, but revenge on his one personal enemy could ever pay this vengeance. Hawthorne also does very well to use word choice in this passage saying Chillingworth now imagines a “intimate revenge”, then saying he needed his guilt to be “adequately” paid, and using a word like “malice” to show his inner feelings.
c) Hawthorne writes in a certain profound way that is filled with symbolism and takes advantage of it. It seems that at some times an entire idea is symbolizes something that is part of the bigger picture. In this particular case it’s the effect that guilt and shame put on Chillingworth and how it was able to change a kind, gentle man into a man filled will hateful evil. The effects of the guilt and sin went deep into her internal thought process and was given all the guilt or “dark treasure” in the world.
d) This does not paint many dominant images to be displayed, but gives the reader an idea of Chillingworth’s actions and thoughts so that the reader can get an internal image of what is going on deep in Chillingworth’s thought process breaking up his internal psyche. This passage also paints a picture in the last sentence, “All that dark treasure to be lavished on the very man, to whom nothing else could so adequately pay the debt of vengeance!”. This quotes shows lets the reader image Chillingworth surrounded by his overwhelming guilt using that guilt to pay the vengeance that he so strongly feels.
e) Hawthorne writes this passage for the purpose to show how the guilt and shame from Hester’s adultery in his absence has affected him on a deeper level. it shows that even such a warm and good-hearted man can fall from such a high place to just be a dark, angry, evil man who blames himself for his wife having a child with another man. Even more than the blame he puts on himself he wants to right it by getting revenge on the man that did this put himself down the wrong path.
The passage you chose is a good one. I like how you quoted on how guilt was placed upon Chillingworth.
DeleteI liked how you said that Chillingworth wanted to shed his pain onto Dimmesdale. Your responses were very well thought through, and I could tell that you really understood what this quote meant to the overall story.
DeletePearl, without responding in any manner to these honey-sweet expressions, remained on the other side of the brook. Now she fixed her bright, wild eyes on her mother, now on the minister, and now included them both in the same glance; as if to detect and explain to herself the relation which they bore to one another. For some unaccountable reason, as Arthur Dimmesdale felt the child's eyes upon himself, his hand--with that gesture so habitual as to have become involuntary--stole over his heart. At length, assuming a singular air of authority, Pearl stretched out her hand, with the small forefinger extended, and pointing evidently towards her mother's breast. And beneath, in the mirror of the brook, there was the flower-girdled and sunny image of little Pearl, pointing her small forefinger too.
ReplyDeleteThe primary significance of this passage is to show that Pearl sees that Dimmesdale might have the same marking that she is so used to seeing on her mother, the scarlet A. This shows that Pearl is learning who her father might actually be. It is significant also because it foreshadows what happens in the second to last chapter. Dimmesdale’s marking under his shirt is revealed.
In this selection, Hawthorne uses the literary techniques of contrast and appeals to logos. He contrasts Dimmesdale to Hester from Pearls point of view. He shows that Pearl can see that Dimmesdale is going through the same things that her mother is. Hawthorne appeals to logos here because he shows that even children have common sense and can see things like tension.
Hawthorne loves to give readers different options of what is actually happening. He does this in this passage by giving readers the option of believing that Pearl knows that Dimmesdale has an A on his chest or that she is just being a silly child. He did this “Dr, Heidegger’s Experiment” as well. He offered readers the option of believing that the water actually worked or that is was just a delusion of the elderly people.
The dominant image of this passage is one of choice. Pearl has a choice between Hester and Dimmesdale and she points out that they both are the same. The effect of this is Dimmesdale’s hand stretched across his chest. Another effect is Pearl’s reflection in the water.
The important theme in this selection is recognition. Pearl recognizes that Dimmesdale has a mark on his chest before anyone. Even before Chillingworth. She finds is before Dimmesdale confesses on the night of his death.
I think that your responses were very well worded. I like how you said that the passage was significant to the story's ending, and in a way foreshadowed it. I also thought that it was a good idea to connect the rhetorical triangle ideas to your response. I think you could have explained the main theme better though.
DeleteYour responses connected well and ultimately related to the passage. I liked how you used recognition as the theme because that is not usually used as a theme, but it most definitely works for this. How you used contrast as one of the literary terms made your response very different and I am glad you highlighted that in it.
Delete“But there was a more real life for Hester Prynne, here, in New England, than in that unknown region where Pearl had found a home. Here had been her sin; here, her sorrow; and here was yet to be her penitence. She had returned, therefore, and resumed,- of her own free will, for not the sternest magistrate of that iron period would have imposed it, - resumed the symbol of which we have related so dark a tale. Never afterwards did it quit her bosom. But, in the lapse of the toilsome, thoughtful, and self-devoted years that made up Hester’s life, the scarlet letter ceased to be a stigma which attracted the world’s scorn and bitterness, and because a type of something to be sorrowed over, and looked upon with awe, yet with reverence too.” (179)
ReplyDeletea. The primary significance of this passage is to show how Hester eventually moved backed to New England and kept the scarlet letter on her bosom. The letter had become a part of her and was a symbol of her past. She felt as though it was a part of her identity and helped her realize what all she had overcome. Hester decided to keep moving forward in life after she returned to New England, and wants to look back on what happened more as a lesson than something to be ashamed of. She became almost like a role model for other people in the community and started doing good deeds to help make up for her sins. Ultimately, in this passage, Hawthorne is showing the readers how Hester eventually moved past what she did, but still remembered it as something she overcame.
b. The literary terms used by Hawthorne in this passage are elevated language and symbolism. The elevated language he uses is words like “penitence”, “sternest”, “magistrate”, “imposed”, “stigma”, “scorn”,and “reverence”. This helps distinguish Hawthorne’s tone and the message he is trying to convey. Symbolism is also found in this passage when discussing Hester’s return to home in New England. It symbolizes how far she had come and how the scarlet letter was a part of her identity now.
c. Techniques that are typical in Hawthorne’s novel and “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment” are his use of symbolism and letting the reader decide. In, “The Scarlet Letter”, he uses the Pearl as the living symbol of the scarlet letter. In “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment” he uses the rose to symbolize what will happen to the patients. Also, at the end of both, Hawthorne gives freedom to the readers and let’s them decide what the final fate of the character’s is.
d. The effects of the dominant images in this passage are Hester’s life after she returns to New England and the A. However, the scarlet letter is now painted in a better light as it represents all that Hester has overcome rather than her mistakes. The imagery in this also shows a hope in the future for Hester Prynne and Pearl as they live the rest of their lives together, being able to rely on each other. It paints a light at the end of the tunnel for both of them and hope in their future. Overall, this passage has a much different image than the rest of the novel because it it has a happier and hopeful tone rather than dark and dreary.
e.The most important theme that is expressed is hope. This passage is at the end of the novel and shows hope for Hester and Pearl’s future life together, without the worry of Dimmesdale and Chillingworth. This shows how Hester overcame everything she dealt with and how she learned from her mistakes. The scarlet letter overall became a symbol of her strengths rather than weaknesses. The passage shows hope for the future and hope for Hester as a person and for Pearl.
I really enjoyed your analysis and found it to be intresting. I liked it when you said that Hester had learned from her mistakes which is something that I had not though of. Overall, well done.
DeleteI thought that the analysis was really good. The part where hope was the main theme was very intelligent and it is something that I didn't really catch. In general, very well done.
Delete“This rose-bush, by a strange chance, has been kept alive in history; but whether it had merely survived out of the stern old wilderness, so long after the fall of the gigantic pines and oaks that originally overshadowed it, or whether, as there is far authority for believing, it had sprung up under the footsteps of the sainted Ann Hutchinson as she entered the prison-door, we shall not take upon us to determine. Finding it so directly on the threshold of our narrative, which is now about to issue from that inauspicious portal, we could hardly do otherwise than pluck one of its flowers, and present it to the reader. It may serve, let us hope, to symbolise some sweet moral blossom that may be found along the track, or relieve the darkening close of a tale of human frailty and sorrow.” (Pg. 34)
ReplyDeleteA.) The significance of this passage can be seen in the rose bush, and the way that this rose bush comes to symbolize compassion and sympathy. This so happens to counteract the depressing and oppressing puritan setting. Likewise, an example of Hawthorne using this symbol for compassion and sympathy can be seen when he says, “It may serve, let us hope, to symbolize some sweet moral blossom… or relieve the darkening close”. This line supports the use of the symbol in the way it says that it provides a break from the dark world that the story is set in.
B.) The literary technique used by Hawthorne in this quote is allegory. Allegory can be seen in this passage when the rose bush has an extended hidden meaning behind it. This idea is supported in the way that the rose bush came to symbolize a “sweet moral blossom” rather than being just a regular old rose bush that would normally be overlooked. Also the placement of this bush in front of the prison adds further to the idea that this is more than just a bush.
C.) The techniques that are typical of Hawthorne in both “The Scarlet Letter” and “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment” are allegory. This can be seen in “The Scarlet Letter” in the way that Hawthorne uses deep symbolism with the scarlet letter. Hawthorne also uses deep symbolism in “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment” through the use of the mirror in order to show the true nature of the guests he has over. Both of these examples provide sound evidence of Hawthorne carrying over a literary technique from one story to another.
D.) The dominant image used in this passage is the rose bush. This rose bush in turn creates an effect of sympathy for poor Hester, and this also creates contrast between the gloomy setting of the story. Both of these combined help develop Hester as a character and implant a sense of hope in the reader. These element combined help to show the true effects of the dominant image used in this passage.
E.) The important theme expressed in this passage is hope. This can be seen in the way that Hawthorne says that the rose bush survived everything and the test of time. This idea can be seen when Hawthorne says, “has been kept alive in history; but whether it had merely survived out of the stern old wilderness, so long after the fall of the gigantic pines and oaks”. This in turn supports the idea the the theme of this passage is hope in a dark world.
I thought that the quote you chose was an excellent one and the analysis was well done and thorough. Good job.
DeleteGood analysis of the rose bush and how there is a much deeper meaning to it and its placement by the prison. Nice work
DeleteWith a convulsive motion he tore away the ministerial band from before his breast. It was revealed! But it were irreverent to describe that revelation. For an instant the gaze of the horror-stricken was concentrated on the ghastly miracle; while the minister stood with a flush of triumph in his face, as one who, in the crisis of acutest pain, had won a victory. Then, down he sank upon the scaffold! Hester partly raised him, and supported his head against her bosom. Old Roger Chillingworth knelt down beside him, with a blank, dull countenance, out of which the life seemed to have departed. "Thou hast escaped me!" he repeated more than once. "Thou hast escaped me!" "May God forgive thee!" said the minister. "Thou, too, hast deeply sinned!" He withdrew his dying eyes from the old man, and fixed them on the woman and the child. "My little Pearl," said he feebly,--and there was a sweet and gentle smile over his face, as of a spirit sinking into deep repose; nay, now that the burden was removed, it seemed almost as if he would be sportive with the child,--"dear little Pearl, wilt thou kiss me now? Thou wouldst not yonder, in the forest! But now thou wilt?" Pearl kissed his lips. A spell was broken. (175)
ReplyDeletea) The primary purpose of this passage was to show that Dimmesdale had carried the guilt of his actions with him not only in his mind, but also physically. This is found based on the scarlet “A” he had given himself to be like Hester. Along with this, it showed that when Dimmesdale had revealed himself, Pearl had accepted him finally, based on the kiss. It broke a spell, as said at the end, where Pearl would not accept anyone as her father because she didn’t really know who it was.
b) Literary techniques used in this passage are symbolism and imagery. The symbolism is shown in the scarlet “A” like it has been the whole novel, but in this case it is on Dimmesdale and not Hester. The meaning on the other hand, showing that they had committed adultery, still remained the same. Imagery was used quite effectively in this to show the shock, horror, and awe the crowd had felt when Dimmesdale had revealed his dark secret.
c) Techniques that are typical in Hawthorne’s novel and short story “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment” is for the reader to have the ability to choose if the writing has a supernatural element. In the passage it is if there really was a “spell” that was present or if it was just made up. In the short story it was if the fountain actually was able to make people younger. Another technique is symbolism. In the passage it is of the scarlet “A” and in the short story, there are many such as the rose that became young after the water was poured on it.
d) In the passage, the effects of the dominant images are mainly from the A and Dimmesdale. The main effects from the images are that sin and guilt have major effects and also that with time, problems only get worse if no action is taken place. If Dimmesdale revealed his actions in the first place, none of this would have happened. He and Hester would have been through the punishment together and it wouldn’t have been that bad.
e) The most important theme from the passage is that in the end, the best thing to do is to come out and reveal your wrongdoings. In the passage, Dimmesdale kept his sin hidden and it ate at him so badly that he had gone insane. In the end he revealed the sin and everything was great for all. That was until he had died at the end, but he was still able to reconcile.
I really liked your passage choice and the theme you picked for it. Good ideas and well written.
DeleteI like that you chose to say for your theme of this passage is that coming out and revealing your wrongdoings is the best. It thoroughly describes Dimmesdale's character towards the end of the novel.
Delete“Hester Prynne was now fully sensible of the deep injury for which she was responsible to this unhappy man, in permitting him to lie for so many years, or, indeed, for a single moment, at the mercy of one, whose purposes could not be other than malevolent. The very contiguity of his enemy, beneath whatever mask the latter might conceal himself, was enough to disturb the magnetic sphere of a being so sensitive as Arthur Dimmesdale. There had been a period when Hester was less alive to this consideration; or, perhaps, in the misanthropy of her own trouble, she left the minister to bear what she might picture to herself as a more tolerable doom. But of late, since the night of his vigil, all her sympathies towards him had been both softened and invigorated. She now read his heart more accurately. She doubted not, that the continual presence of Roger Chillingworth,--the secret poison of his malignity, infecting all the air about him,--and his authorized interference, as a physician, with the minister's physical and spiritual infirmities,--that these bad opportunities had been turned to a cruel purpose. By means of them, the sufferer's conscience had been kept in an irritated state, the tendency of which was, not to cure by wholesome pain, but to disorganize and corrupt his spiritual being. Its result, on earth, could hardly fail to be insanity, and hereafter, that eternal alienation from the Good and True, of which madness is perhaps the earthly type.”(132)
ReplyDeletea.) The primary significance of this passage is that Hester fully realizes how hurt Dimmesdale is and how she let it happen. Hester had talked to Chillingworth and Dimmesdale separately and without them knowing she had talked to the other. By keeping Chillingworth's real identity a secret, it caused more pain for Dimmesdale because he didn't know the relationship between Hester and Chillingworth. Since Dimmesdale's vigil, Hester has started to feel sorry for him and care about him more.
b.) In this passage Hawthorne uses some imagery to describe what is taking place. Hester realized that by keeping Chillingworth a secret, he could torture Dimmesdale mentally without him suspecting anything.
c.) Techniques that are typical of Hawthorne in The Scarlet Letter and “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment” are symbolism, imagery, and giving the readers a choice. Hawthorne uses lots of symbolism. An example could be Hester’s daughter Pearl, who is actually the living sign of the letter “A” on her mother’s bosom. Hawthorne also uses very descriptive language to paint a picture for the reader. He describes the setting vividly, that way the reader can understand what is going on. Hawthorne also tends to give readers a choice throughout the novel or story. He usually leaves it up to the reader to decide if an event actually happened to a character or if it was a dream or supernatural.
d.) The dominant images used in this passage are Hester talking with Dimmesdale and how Hester feels about realizing what she has done to Dimmesdale. This image is important because it is right after Hester gives away who Chillingworth is which is a very crucial point in the novel.
e.) The main theme of this passage is the physical and mental states that Hester and Dimmesdale are in. Dimmesdale is in a very troubled mental state, especially with the news about Chillingworth. Hester is doing better than Dimmesdale, but is disappointed with how she let Chillingworth hurt Dimmesdale.
I enjoyed your view on Hester. I agree that she felt slightly guilty for allowing Dimmesdale to suffer for his sins. You could have used more examples in your explanations. The answers were spot on, but it may help someone if you list more examples from the text.
DeleteI enjoyed your view on Hester. I agree that she felt slightly guilty for allowing Dimmesdale to suffer for his sins. You could have used more examples in your explanations. The answers were spot on, but it may help someone if you list more examples from the text.
DeleteI agree that Hester felt guilty for allowing Dimmesdale to keep his sin a secret for seven years. I also liked how you pointed out that she was disappointed with herself for letting Chillingworth hurt Dimmesdale.
Delete"And thus, while standing on the scaffold, in this vain show of expiation, Mr. Dimmesdale was overcome with a great horror of mind, as if the universe were gazing at a scarlet token on his naked breast, right over his heart. On that spot, in very truth, there was, and there had long been, the gnawing and poisonous tooth of bodily pain. Without any effort of his will, or power to restrain himself, he shrieked aloud; an outcry that went pealing through the night, and was beaten back from one house to another, and reverberated from the hills in the background; as if a company of devils, detecting so much misery and terror in it, had made a plaything of the sound, and were bandying it to and fro." (102).
ReplyDeleteA) The primary significance of this passage from "The Scarlet Letter" is to show that as Mr. Dimmesdale relieves himself of his sin publicly, it causes him a great deal of pain. Mr. Dimmesdale is the man that impregnated Hester Prynne, and he refused to admit to his sin for seven years. While Hester Prynne gradually experienced and managed pain that came from the cruel and judgemental community, Mr. Dimmesdale kept his sin a secret. By him holding the guilt of his sin in he never fully learned to manage his feeling, and this led him into physical and mental agony. In the passage it states, “... as if the universe were gazing at a scarlet token on his naked breast, right over his heart…” It is told that Mr. Dimmesdale had an actual scarlet anomaly (in the shape of the letter “A”) on his chest, just like Hester Prynne had to wear a scarlet letter “A” on her chest.
B) One literary technique used by Nathaniel Hawthorne in this passage is the use of similes. Hawthorne uses similes in this passage so the readers can have a greater understanding of the pain and woe that Mr. Dimmesdale experienced while on the scaffold. Some examples of the similes used include, “... asif the universe were gazing at a scarlet token on his naked breast…” and “as if a company of devils, detecting so much misery and terror in [Mr. Dimmesdale’s scream], had made a plaything of the sound, and were bandying it to and fro.” These assist the reader in understanding that the shriek given off was full of pain, evil, and sin.
C) One typical technique used in “The Scarlet Letter” and “ Dr. Heidegger's Experiment” is that Hawthorne tests whether or not people have a good moral judgement. Hawthorne tests whether or not people have a good moral judgement in “The Scarlet Letter” by having Dimmesdale hide his secret. Through the seven years of Dimmesdale hiding his secret, he is willfully avoiding his responsibility as minister to be honest about his sins. In “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment”, Hawthorne tests whether people have good moral judgement by giving them a second chance at youth. Most of the people in the group that had the chance to redo their past that they regret redid the actions that they regretted in the first place.
D) The effect of the dominant image in this passage, which is painful realization, is that readers may feel that they need to admit to their wrong doings. Dimmesdale hid the guilt of his sin for seven years, and all of that guilt built up caused him physical and mental strains. His pain was all released at once, and it seemed like an unpleasant moment. Readers are likely to fear having that high level of pain being released at once, so it could urge them to face the consequences as soon as they can.
E) The most important theme expressed in this passage is overcoming fear. Dimmesdale overcomes his fear of releasing his sin to the public. Dimmesdale felt guilty for holding his sin in for seven years and letting Hester take the public humiliation and shunning alone, so he finally released it. By doing so, he felt a sense of relief, but pain at the same time.
Your answers are very well written. I agree with you on the passage's primary significance. I also like the use of quotes in your responses, it provides good evidence for your reasoning.
Delete^^^ very well written and it was good that you did use quotes from your passage in your responses to keep them relevant to your quote
Delete“Hester sought not to acquire any thing beyond a subsistence, of the plainest and most ascetic description, for herself, and a simple abundance for her child. Her own dress was of the coarsest materials and the most sombre hue; with only that one ornament,--the scarlet letter,--which it was her doom to wear. The child's attire, on the other hand, was distinguished by a fanciful, or, we may rather say, a fantastic ingenuity, which served, indeed, to heighten the airy charm that early began to develop itself in the little girl, but which appeared to have also a deeper meaning. We may speak further of it hereafter. Except for that small expenditure in the decoration of her infant, Hester bestowed all her superfluous means in charity, on wretches less miserable than herself, and who not unfrequently insulted the hand that fed them. Much of the time, which she might readily have applied to the better efforts of her art, she employed in making coarse garments for the poor. It is probable that there was an idea of penance in this mode of occupation, and that she offered up a real sacrifice of enjoyment, in devoting so many hours to such rude handiwork. She had in her nature a rich, voluptuous,Oriental characteristic,--a taste for the gorgeously beautiful, which, save in the exquisite productions of her needle, found nothing else, in all the possibilities of her life, to exercise itself upon. Women derive a pleasure, incomprehensible to the other sex, from the delicate toil of the needle. To Hester Prynne it might have been a mode of expressing, and therefore soothing, the passion of her life. Like all other joys, she rejected it as sin. This morbid meddling of conscience with an immaterial matter betokened, it is to be feared, no genuine and steadfast penitence, but something doubtful, something that might be deeply wrong beneath”. pg 57
ReplyDeletea) The primary significance of this passage is to help the reader understand why Hester dresses herself plainly and Pearl extravagantly. Pearl is a sign and reminder of Hester’s sin but she is also Hester's treasure. She is the one thing Hester has that she treasures entirely throughout the book. By dressing Pearl so nicely she is almost mocking her punishment because it contradicts Puritan Beliefs. In the passage it explains that she “rejected it as sin” meaning that she believes Pearl’s extravagant garment is a sin but that she is glad to have have Pearl.
ReplyDeleteb) Literary techniques used by Hawthorne within the passage are symbolism and imagery. A symbol Hawthorne is using here is Pearl as well as her clothing. They represent the sinful side of Hester. Imagery that Hawthorne uses is his description of Pearl and Hester’s clothes, “coarsest materials’ and “distinguished”. These display the two sides to Hester, a more sinful side and the side of her that wants to repent and conform to the Puritan beliefs.
c) A technique used by Hawthorne in his novel and his short story, “Dr.Heidegger’s Experiment” is to give the story a very traditional moral lesson. Within “The Scarlet Letter” Hawthorne expresses that no one can be free of sin and that everyone makes mistakes. In his short story he expresses that youth is wasted on the young and that you can learn from your mistakes but that you will not always get a second chance. In both he discusses the effects of people’s sins or mistakes and the guilt and regret they deal with after.
d) The dominant image in the passage is Pearl and Hester’s clothing. The “aesthetic description” of Hester’s clothing and her scarlet letter serve to express her as a sinner. By using plain clothing and the “coarsest material” it helps to emphasize the scarlet letter. “Fantastic ingenuity” is used to describe Pearl’s clothing, this displays her as Hester’s sin but only treasure.
e) An important theme that is displayed in this passage is that even sinners can still be good people. Although Hester sinned and is marked as a sinner by the scarlet letter she continues to do charity work. She even does this when the poor insult her. Hawthorne wants the reader to decide if Hester is doing this out of the kindness of her heart or “an idea of penance”.
I agree with your answers; you are very thorough and answered them well! your passage choice was very interesting and i enjoy the fact that it talks about Hester
Deletea) What is the primary significance of this passage?
ReplyDeleteThe passage highlights the iniquity of the Puritan culture as well as the enmity which Hawthorne feels towards it. He describes the puritan people as all very similar in character, so that one of their greatest forms of entertainment was found in the profane punishments given to their transgressors, whom then bestow all of their dignity and self respect on a scaffold as Hester Prynne did in repentance for her sin.
b) Identify the literary techniques used by Hawthorne. Relate them to the content.
Hawthorne is known for giving the reader a chance to decide if the content which they are reading is real or of the supernatural. In both ,”The Scarlet letter”, and “Doctor Heidegger’s Experiment”, Hawthorne describes events, so eerie yet very possible, and does not verify whether or not they are of human delusion or reality. In his short story, he gives the reader an option to believe either that the doctor’s patients were magically turned youthful by a secret youth potion, or if the supposed water from the, “fountain of youth” was making them hallucinate so much that they believed that they had turned young. “The Scarlet letter”, also has a lot of instances like this in it, particularly relating to pearl. Throughout the story Hawthorne does not specify whether the little girl is somewhat possessed by the devil or simply being a child.
c)Which techniques are typical of Hawthorne in his novel and his short story, “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment”?
d) What are the effects of the dominant imaged used in this passage?
Hawthorne in this passage uses a lot of imagery of the puritan people in this passage, which creates the overall feel and setting for this novel as well as reveals his personal feelings towards them. He describes the people eagerly waiting to watch prisoners be punished outside of the prison doors and how they were all very similar in beliefs and lifestyles. Of course, Hawthorne looks down on these characteristics because he is embarrassed of the fact that his ancestors were of the puritan culture.
e) What do you think the important theme is expressed?
I think the important theme which is expressed here is the harsh punishments given to people in the puritan lifestyle and the heartless, unforgiving way in which puritan people handle such matters. In this passage, Puritan people are waiting outside of the prison door for somebody to come out and be punished; by means as bad as death. I also believe that Hawthorne is accentuating the hypocrisy of the Puritans as they call themselves religious people, yet are entertained at the sight of one’s suffering.
ReplyDelete“The grass-plot before the jail, in Prison Lane, on a certain summer morning, not less than two centuries ago, was occupied by a pretty large number of the inhabitants of Boston; all with their eyes intently fastened on the iron-clamped oaken door. Amongst any other population, or at a later period in the history of New England, the grim rigidity that petrified the bearded physiognomies of these good people would have augured some awful business in hand. It could have betokened nothing short of the anticipated execution of some noted culprit, on whom the sentence of a legal tribunal had but confirmed the verdict of public sentiment. But, in that early severity of the Puritan character, an inference of this kind could not so indubitably be drawn. It might be that a sluggish bond-servant, or an undutiful child, whom his parents had given over to the civil authority, was to be corrected at the whipping-post. It might be, that an Antinomian, a Quaker, or other heterodox religionist, was to be scourged out of the town, or an idle or vagrant Indian, whom the white man's fire-water had made riotous about the streets, was to be driven with stripes into the shadow of the forest. It might be, too, that a witch, like old Mistress Hibbins, the bitter-tempered widow of the magistrate, was to die upon the gallows. In either case, there was very much the same solemnity of demeanour on the part of the spectators; as befitted a people amongst whom religion and law were almost identical, and in whose character both were so thoroughly interfused, that the mildest and severest acts of public discipline were alike made venerable and awful. Meagre, indeed, and cold, was the sympathy that a transgressor might look for, from such bystanders at the scaffold. On the other hand, a penalty which, in our days, would infer a degree of mocking infamy and ridicule, might then be invested with almost as stern a dignity as the punishment of death itself.”