5. The escape from his father reflects the theme of FREEDOM. He is free now, illegally. (so is Jim: he is a slave, property of Miss Watson while Huck belongs to his father according to laws.) So the escape is breaking rules that keep him linked to his father, but rules that make him actually a prisoner, that's why he becomes free escaping.
6. Huck's wish is itself ironic: he wanted to be proud of himself,and he would have obtained this feeling by showing Tom his work, alhtough he consider Tom to be better than him, but the plan wouldn't have been successuful, because Tom would have put some irrealistic details. So Huck's wish is ironic because if Tom would have been there, he wouldn't have been able to escape safely.
7. The ironic fact is that the bread arrives actually to Huck, and he is considered dead. So the believes of the superstition actually happen. Huck does not believe that prayer is linked to have concrete things anymore, after his discussion about the prayer. But here it seems that the spiritual gifts become actually real gifts. We can see the theme of rebirth, cause he is returning to life, a new life.
8. Jim is scared when he finds Huck because he is escaping too against the law, so he is also reluctant to tell Huck his story because he didn't know yet if he was a "man of word" or not. If Huck would have come back to the shore and told everyone Jim's story, this would have meant death for the slave.
9. The ribirth is given by the new situation: they both are free from their past and have a new life ahead of them. Although Huck has the chance to begin everything from the beginning, he knows the implications of his actions: he is breaking the law because he is helping a slave to escape.
10. Huck does know that what he is doing his wrong, against the society, but his honesty is too strong to betray his partner.
11. Jim sees different events and links circumstances with consequences in that paricular case, applying those to every condition similar to the one he has lived. So what actually happened is applied to general cases.
12. The trick is typical from Huck: he wants to play, and does not understand the consequences of his actions in first place. The result of this one trick is Huck's beginning of a period in which he will believe in superstitions and he is ashamed of himself at the moment, although he doesn't admit it: Huck is still a little child that will moral-develop through the book
13. Huck's trip to shore shows us another side of Huck: he is actually foxy if in the need. In fact his stratagems help him in reaching his goals.
14. The common human trait that emerges is exaggeration: he exaggerates to get people's attention, as we already saw in the previous chapters also Jim did with the witches' story.
15. The satire is something that is used to.. "change the society" making fun of it. In this case, there is a paradox: the reward is greater for the person who would find Jim who is a slave, instead of the reward for catching a (possible) murderer: pap. So here the satire is used to tell people the absurdity of the valuing: a murderer of course is a "worse" person than a slave, he should be put in prison, but the greater reward is given for a slave that works.
HERE WE GO WITH PAAAAAAAAAAART TWO!
1. Huck's distort logic makes him think that borrowing and stealing is the same think because of the different precepts heard over the years from different people. Nevertheless, he has good moral values, so he decides that he won't steal if not needed.
2. We can understand something from Huck's insistence: he is an adventurous kid and he wants to be like Tom Sawyer, or like one of the characters of his books.
3. The name of the boat is an irony: Walter Scott is a romantic writer. His novels included fantastic epiphanies and characters. Twain's story is, in contrast, very realistic and "normal" since his licterature wanted facts more similar to reality.
4. Huck does try to be a good person. He tries to imagine himself in the same condition, as a grown up. He does his best to help people, showing his kind side. Besides, he thinks of the murderers as his "friends", as his partners in a future life because he thinks he might end up being a murderer someday.
5. The satire is in the man's response to Huck's quest for help. Huck uses a trick to get help: he pretends that the lady in danger is a relative on a rich man mentioned previously by the boatman himself. We can see how smart he is here. The man is not moved by good feelings: his reason to help the man is because of money, not of real care. This is a criticism to the society: people does not act because of values but because of money.
6. Jim thinks he is trapped anyway because he doesn't see any solutions for a safe life after anything that could have happened, in any case it would have been a bad situation: either his death if he died or slavrey again and punishments if he got caught again
7. Huck relies his knowledge on a romantic and non precise idea of the kings. He doesn't actually know about them because of lack of education
8. Jim's understaning of kings' role is as messed up as Huck's.
Jim associates the knowledge of a small legend (of King S., who is said to have chopped a baby in a half) to all the kings' duties. (Almost like superstition, from a small single case he applies this concept to everyone) but although he doesn't understand the exact point, he does take a side against them thanks to Huck's not exact but rooted-in-thruth stories. His vehemency anyway is probably due to the allegory because the same situation of all the people dependent from one man is the same situation that happened in the fields where slaves (Jim) worked. So he is actually against the type of society because he is the one who is dominated.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Our new friend Huck!
1. The widow she cried over me, and called me a poor lost lamb, and she called me a lot of other names, too, but she never meant no harm by it. She put me in them new clothes again, and I couldn't do nothing but sweat and sweat, and feel all cramped up. [...] The widow rung a bell for supper, and you had to come to time. When you got to the table you couldn't go right to
eating, but you had to wait for the widow to tuck down her head and grumble a little over the victuals, though there warn't really anything the matter with them"
The widow Douglas seems to be truly interested in saving Huck's condition. Although she reflects a common personality of her age, she is actually a good woman: the widow tries to make Huck a respectable teen, even though Huck does not like or is interested society's etiquette.
Huck doesn't care about Moses story. This shows us how realistic the main character is: he doesn't see the connection with the present ("Moses had been dead a considerable long time; so
then I didn't care no more about him")
2. superstition is a motif. We see more than one example over the first chapters already. It is something that is compared and constrasted with Christianity, that might symbolize the society that criticizes superstition, although it seems that also christianity is a series of superistitious rituals (according to Twain's view). Here are a couple of examples in the first chapter of Huck's superstition. Ghosts
(I heard that kind of a sound that a ghost makes when itwants to tell about something that's on its mind and can't make itself understood, and so can't rest easy in its grave, and has to go about that way every night grieving." and then "Pretty soon a spider went crawling up my shoulder. [...] I didn't need anybody to tell me that that was an awful bad sign and would fetch me some bad luck."
3. Huck's view of afterlife is different from christians (and the widow). He sees death and afterlife as a change, as something different to do - he wants to have adventures. Death is mentioned because it is a motif and it helps us to understand Huck's personality.
4. Tom and Huck play a joke on him just to have fun and -especially Tom- make fun of him
5. Huck is talking. He views Jim as a "ruined servant" since with the attention of people, and people listening and coming to him, he wouldn't have worked much any more since he would have felt important, so he was kinda useless as servant.
6. appearance vs reality. ...?
we're talking about Tom, that, knowing that he's doing something wrong, leaves the cents. He does that only because he wants to while Huck would have stolen the candles without paying cause he'd really need them.
7. Tom is a really shrewd guy, educated, he knows what he does, the consequences of his actions, he's got imagination, understands the difference between good and bad. On the other hand, Huck is really ingenuous, uneducated and innocent. He does not know what is true and what is not, but tries to be as realistic as possible.
8. Tom wants to be and feel more noble and important
9. To Huck, pray is requested to get what you what, intended as things. We can see how materialistic he is and attached to reality, while the widow sees the prayer gifts as spiritual gifts.
10. Tom calls Huck a numskull.. because he actually is. He doesn't understand the difference between reality and fantasy.
11. Huck is just showing his traits: he's a pure realist. While Tom sees things that are only in his mind, and he is so creative to be able to invent these things, Huck is apparently too realistic to figure it.
12. Huck knows that Pap is going to try to get money from Huck, since he's become famous thanks to the money he's made.
SECOND PART:
1. Pap is being an anti-dad. He's doing the exact opposite of what he should be doing. This is an example of situational irony.
2. criticism. The society does not want to break familiar bonds, they don't care about what best, but just what they're expected to do.
3. Freedom from the society which seems kind of unfair (see Huck entrusted to the drunk father). He likes to live without the society rules that he was forced to follow when he was with the widow.
4. Twain is sending a message opposite to Pap's words. What we get from the speech are the thoughts of an extremely racist man... and he wants to point out the fact that the success is gained only from the ones who deserve it.
5. we haven't read this part ye
6. Huck wants Tom to show him how good and clever he seems now. The plan would have more elaborated and maybe not successful because too elaborated.
eating, but you had to wait for the widow to tuck down her head and grumble a little over the victuals, though there warn't really anything the matter with them"
The widow Douglas seems to be truly interested in saving Huck's condition. Although she reflects a common personality of her age, she is actually a good woman: the widow tries to make Huck a respectable teen, even though Huck does not like or is interested society's etiquette.
Huck doesn't care about Moses story. This shows us how realistic the main character is: he doesn't see the connection with the present ("Moses had been dead a considerable long time; so
then I didn't care no more about him")
2. superstition is a motif. We see more than one example over the first chapters already. It is something that is compared and constrasted with Christianity, that might symbolize the society that criticizes superstition, although it seems that also christianity is a series of superistitious rituals (according to Twain's view). Here are a couple of examples in the first chapter of Huck's superstition. Ghosts
(I heard that kind of a sound that a ghost makes when itwants to tell about something that's on its mind and can't make itself understood, and so can't rest easy in its grave, and has to go about that way every night grieving." and then "Pretty soon a spider went crawling up my shoulder. [...] I didn't need anybody to tell me that that was an awful bad sign and would fetch me some bad luck."
3. Huck's view of afterlife is different from christians (and the widow). He sees death and afterlife as a change, as something different to do - he wants to have adventures. Death is mentioned because it is a motif and it helps us to understand Huck's personality.
4. Tom and Huck play a joke on him just to have fun and -especially Tom- make fun of him
5. Huck is talking. He views Jim as a "ruined servant" since with the attention of people, and people listening and coming to him, he wouldn't have worked much any more since he would have felt important, so he was kinda useless as servant.
6. appearance vs reality. ...?
we're talking about Tom, that, knowing that he's doing something wrong, leaves the cents. He does that only because he wants to while Huck would have stolen the candles without paying cause he'd really need them.
7. Tom is a really shrewd guy, educated, he knows what he does, the consequences of his actions, he's got imagination, understands the difference between good and bad. On the other hand, Huck is really ingenuous, uneducated and innocent. He does not know what is true and what is not, but tries to be as realistic as possible.
8. Tom wants to be and feel more noble and important
9. To Huck, pray is requested to get what you what, intended as things. We can see how materialistic he is and attached to reality, while the widow sees the prayer gifts as spiritual gifts.
10. Tom calls Huck a numskull.. because he actually is. He doesn't understand the difference between reality and fantasy.
11. Huck is just showing his traits: he's a pure realist. While Tom sees things that are only in his mind, and he is so creative to be able to invent these things, Huck is apparently too realistic to figure it.
12. Huck knows that Pap is going to try to get money from Huck, since he's become famous thanks to the money he's made.
SECOND PART:
1. Pap is being an anti-dad. He's doing the exact opposite of what he should be doing. This is an example of situational irony.
2. criticism. The society does not want to break familiar bonds, they don't care about what best, but just what they're expected to do.
3. Freedom from the society which seems kind of unfair (see Huck entrusted to the drunk father). He likes to live without the society rules that he was forced to follow when he was with the widow.
4. Twain is sending a message opposite to Pap's words. What we get from the speech are the thoughts of an extremely racist man... and he wants to point out the fact that the success is gained only from the ones who deserve it.
5. we haven't read this part ye
6. Huck wants Tom to show him how good and clever he seems now. The plan would have more elaborated and maybe not successful because too elaborated.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Monday, November 8, 2010
magnate and malleable
magnate: the shy guy became a magnate of Coca Cola's society
malleable: Gold is a malleable material
malleable: Gold is a malleable material
Sunday, November 7, 2010
58 DJ
"Nothing was more remarkable than the change which took place, almost immediately after Mr. Dimmesdale's death, in the appearance and demeanour of the old man known as Roger Chillingworth. All his strength and energy, all his vital and intellectual force, seemed at once to desert him, insomuch that he positively withered up, shrivelled away and almost vanished from mortal sight, like an uprooted weed that lies wilting in the sun."
R.C. lived with the torture. He is the devil, and his life was based upon being mean to D. Now that his victim his gone, nothing can keep him alive. And the comparison with the sun shows us how C. IS the darkness. the sun kills him. he's a vampireeeeee!!!
R.C. lived with the torture. He is the devil, and his life was based upon being mean to D. Now that his victim his gone, nothing can keep him alive. And the comparison with the sun shows us how C. IS the darkness. the sun kills him. he's a vampireeeeee!!!
57 DJ
"It is singular, nevertheless, that certain persons, who were spectators of the whole scene, and professed never once to have removed their eyes from the Reverend Mr. Dimmesdale, denied that there was any mark whatever on his breast, more than on a new-born infant's."
these people, who "were spectators of the WHOLE scene" (we can understand here scene as deal, they followed the affair from the beginning) understand that actually Dimmesdale was not a sinner, because as we said his sin was not real. (infant=purity)
or, we can look at it with another point of view: after Dimmesdale confessed his sin, the symbol of the sin disappeared.
these people, who "were spectators of the WHOLE scene" (we can understand here scene as deal, they followed the affair from the beginning) understand that actually Dimmesdale was not a sinner, because as we said his sin was not real. (infant=purity)
or, we can look at it with another point of view: after Dimmesdale confessed his sin, the symbol of the sin disappeared.
56 DJ
chapter 24
"Some affirmed that the Reverend Mr. Dimmesdale, on the very day when Hester Prynne first wore her ignominious badge, had begun a course of penance, which he afterwards, in so many futile methods, followed out, by inflicting a hideous torture on himself. Others contended that the stigma had not been produced until a long time subsequent, when old Roger Chillingworth, being a potent necromancer, had caused it to appear, through the agency of magic and poisonous drugs."
we can see here two different views of evil: the human law, for which Hester was guilty, and the natural law, where R.C. was the meanest and the cause of the pain. after D.'s death, appearently C. loses his good fama of being a good doctor, but instead he is considered a NECROMANCER and related to dark magic.
"Some affirmed that the Reverend Mr. Dimmesdale, on the very day when Hester Prynne first wore her ignominious badge, had begun a course of penance, which he afterwards, in so many futile methods, followed out, by inflicting a hideous torture on himself. Others contended that the stigma had not been produced until a long time subsequent, when old Roger Chillingworth, being a potent necromancer, had caused it to appear, through the agency of magic and poisonous drugs."
we can see here two different views of evil: the human law, for which Hester was guilty, and the natural law, where R.C. was the meanest and the cause of the pain. after D.'s death, appearently C. loses his good fama of being a good doctor, but instead he is considered a NECROMANCER and related to dark magic.
55 DJ
chapter 23
"Ha, tempter! Methinks thou art too late!" answered the minister, encountering his eye, fearfully, but firmly. "Thy power is not what it was! With God's help, I shall escape thee now!"
obvious comparison with the devil... as the snake, he tempts A.D. Although he looks at him "firmly" because of his convinction, he's still frightned by him, of course, being him the devil. He even invokes God's help to defeat him. So, as we ve seen before, God=Jesus ->(close link to) Angel=Pearl
pearl is the angel sent to save and help him!!
"Ha, tempter! Methinks thou art too late!" answered the minister, encountering his eye, fearfully, but firmly. "Thy power is not what it was! With God's help, I shall escape thee now!"
obvious comparison with the devil... as the snake, he tempts A.D. Although he looks at him "firmly" because of his convinction, he's still frightned by him, of course, being him the devil. He even invokes God's help to defeat him. So, as we ve seen before, God=Jesus ->(close link to) Angel=Pearl
pearl is the angel sent to save and help him!!
54 DJ
chapter 22:
"Pearl immediately twined it around her neck and waist with such happy skill, that, once seen there, it became a part of her, and it was difficult to imagine her without it."
the golden thread is something that will link Pearl to Hester? The embellishment of the A is gold.
as P. always said that wanted to have the A on her bosom, now that the secret is revealed, and the A, let's say, disappears, the gold is what remains. And that gold is Hester's work, her strenght, not the society's judgment. Pearl will have something that will link her to her mother's determination, as Hester had her link with Arthur in the same way (a symbol).
I wonder why this family can't live happily without any symbols on them...
"Pearl immediately twined it around her neck and waist with such happy skill, that, once seen there, it became a part of her, and it was difficult to imagine her without it."
the golden thread is something that will link Pearl to Hester? The embellishment of the A is gold.
as P. always said that wanted to have the A on her bosom, now that the secret is revealed, and the A, let's say, disappears, the gold is what remains. And that gold is Hester's work, her strenght, not the society's judgment. Pearl will have something that will link her to her mother's determination, as Hester had her link with Arthur in the same way (a symbol).
I wonder why this family can't live happily without any symbols on them...
53 DJ
chapter 22
"The Puritans looked on, and, if they smiled, were none the less inclined to pronounce the child a demon offspring, from the indescribable charm of beauty and eccentricity that shone through her little figure, and sparkled with its activity."
the puritans like Pearl only aesthetically, they think she is a "monster" anyway. They are just attracted from her outside beauty (symptom of being superificial: they don't know the real pearl and why and how she acts towards specific things)
"She ran and looked the wild Indian in the face, and he grew conscious of a nature wilder than his own. Thence, with native audacity, but still with a reserve as characteristic, she flew into the midst of a group of mariners, the swarthy-cheeked wild men of the ocean, as the Indians were of the land; and they gazed wonderingly and admiringly at Pearl, as if a flake of the sea-foam had taken the shape of a little maid, and were gifted with a soul of the sea-fire, that flashes beneath the prow in the night-time."
all the outsiders instead recognize the value of Pearl, they appreciate her, because, not vitiated by the society, have objectivity to judge. Besides that, the comparison with the nature make us see her as result of the perfect nature (N.H.'s view).
"The Puritans looked on, and, if they smiled, were none the less inclined to pronounce the child a demon offspring, from the indescribable charm of beauty and eccentricity that shone through her little figure, and sparkled with its activity."
the puritans like Pearl only aesthetically, they think she is a "monster" anyway. They are just attracted from her outside beauty (symptom of being superificial: they don't know the real pearl and why and how she acts towards specific things)
"She ran and looked the wild Indian in the face, and he grew conscious of a nature wilder than his own. Thence, with native audacity, but still with a reserve as characteristic, she flew into the midst of a group of mariners, the swarthy-cheeked wild men of the ocean, as the Indians were of the land; and they gazed wonderingly and admiringly at Pearl, as if a flake of the sea-foam had taken the shape of a little maid, and were gifted with a soul of the sea-fire, that flashes beneath the prow in the night-time."
all the outsiders instead recognize the value of Pearl, they appreciate her, because, not vitiated by the society, have objectivity to judge. Besides that, the comparison with the nature make us see her as result of the perfect nature (N.H.'s view).
52 DJ
chapter 22:
this is not actually a symbol, just something interesting:
"Men of uncommon intellect, who have grown morbid, possess this occasional power of mighty effort, into which they throw the life of many days and then are lifeless for as many more."
first, Nate H. gives a general aphorism, but in the very following line he links this to his character:
"Hester Prynne, gazing steadfastly at the clergyman, felt a dreary influence come over her, but wherefore or whence she knew not, unless that he seemed so remote from her own sphere, and utterly beyond her reach"
He's telling us that he's going to die.
this is not actually a symbol, just something interesting:
"Men of uncommon intellect, who have grown morbid, possess this occasional power of mighty effort, into which they throw the life of many days and then are lifeless for as many more."
first, Nate H. gives a general aphorism, but in the very following line he links this to his character:
"Hester Prynne, gazing steadfastly at the clergyman, felt a dreary influence come over her, but wherefore or whence she knew not, unless that he seemed so remote from her own sphere, and utterly beyond her reach"
He's telling us that he's going to die.
51 DJ
Chapter 22
"There was no feebleness of step as at other times; his frame was not bent, nor did his hand rest ominously upon his heart. Yet, if the clergyman were rightly viewed, his strength seemed not of the body. It might be spiritual and imparted to him by angelical ministrations. [...] Nevertheless, so abstracted was his look, it might be questioned whether Mr. Dimmesdale even heard the music."
Of course, "it might be" means it is. A.D. of course is relieved: first of all, he finally decided not to feel guilty in secret, but declare it. This means that his pain has not reason to be, and the symbol of his pain is the gesture he made wih the hand. Besides, I do remember that Pearl asked one if, after they held their hands at mid-day, the hand on his heart would have been yet. Well, we see her that now that D. decided to do this, his pain disappeared.
Angelical strenght? of course we're talking about Pearl! (and Hester). She has more than once been compared to the angelical world because of her "skills", and here we see the effects of her power. Pearl is an angel sent to help A. and H., and we see here that she actually saves her father giving him the strenght.
"There was no feebleness of step as at other times; his frame was not bent, nor did his hand rest ominously upon his heart. Yet, if the clergyman were rightly viewed, his strength seemed not of the body. It might be spiritual and imparted to him by angelical ministrations. [...] Nevertheless, so abstracted was his look, it might be questioned whether Mr. Dimmesdale even heard the music."
Of course, "it might be" means it is. A.D. of course is relieved: first of all, he finally decided not to feel guilty in secret, but declare it. This means that his pain has not reason to be, and the symbol of his pain is the gesture he made wih the hand. Besides, I do remember that Pearl asked one if, after they held their hands at mid-day, the hand on his heart would have been yet. Well, we see her that now that D. decided to do this, his pain disappeared.
Angelical strenght? of course we're talking about Pearl! (and Hester). She has more than once been compared to the angelical world because of her "skills", and here we see the effects of her power. Pearl is an angel sent to help A. and H., and we see here that she actually saves her father giving him the strenght.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
sentences
esoteric- the disciples of Platon were part of his esoteric group.
vitiate- the puritan society was vitiated by immoral habits
vitiate- the puritan society was vitiated by immoral habits
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
50 DJ
chapter 21
"The dress, so proper was it to little Pearl, seemed an effluence, or inevitable development and outward manifestation of her character, no more to be separated from her than the many-hued brilliancy from a butterfly's wing, or the painted glory from the leaf of a bright flower."
VS
"Not more by its hue than by some indescribable peculiarity in its fashion, it had the effect of making her fade personally out of sight and outline; while again the scarlet letter brought her back from this twilight indistinctness, and revealed her under the moral aspect of its own illumination."
It seems here that Hester has been contaminated by the society: their sadness make her sad to, or at least her clothing: it's sad like the society. While her letter shines: that letter is Pearl, that letter is the sin committed without being moralistic guilty. So, although Hester has been changed by the society, still somthing keeps her true and soulfully pure.
On the other side, Pearl shows her difference with her clothing: she is pure, she is different in a good way from the societ, that's why all her energy and happiness and color sing off-key compared to the puritans.
VS
"Not more by its hue than by some indescribable peculiarity in its fashion, it had the effect of making her fade personally out of sight and outline; while again the scarlet letter brought her back from this twilight indistinctness, and revealed her under the moral aspect of its own illumination."
It seems here that Hester has been contaminated by the society: their sadness make her sad to, or at least her clothing: it's sad like the society. While her letter shines: that letter is Pearl, that letter is the sin committed without being moralistic guilty. So, although Hester has been changed by the society, still somthing keeps her true and soulfully pure.
On the other side, Pearl shows her difference with her clothing: she is pure, she is different in a good way from the societ, that's why all her energy and happiness and color sing off-key compared to the puritans.
49 DJ
chapter 21
"In the DARK nighttime he calls us to him, and holds thy hand and mine, as when we stood with him on the scaffold yonder! And in the deep forest, where only the old trees can hear, and the strip of sky see it, he talks with thee, sitting on a heap of moss! And he kisses my forehead, too, so that the little brook would hardly wash it off! But, here, in the SUNNY day, and among all the people, he knows us not; nor must we know him! A strange, sad man is he, with his hand always over his heart!"
evident here:
dark/no people = D. reveals himself
sun/crowded = D. denies his status
D. does not want to reveal his secret, afraid of people's reaction, as we said more than once.
Besides, it seems here that the dark (forest=dark for puritan society) comes when they are together, because they commit sin. and sin is evil, so it's dark...
"In the DARK nighttime he calls us to him, and holds thy hand and mine, as when we stood with him on the scaffold yonder! And in the deep forest, where only the old trees can hear, and the strip of sky see it, he talks with thee, sitting on a heap of moss! And he kisses my forehead, too, so that the little brook would hardly wash it off! But, here, in the SUNNY day, and among all the people, he knows us not; nor must we know him! A strange, sad man is he, with his hand always over his heart!"
evident here:
dark/no people = D. reveals himself
sun/crowded = D. denies his status
D. does not want to reveal his secret, afraid of people's reaction, as we said more than once.
Besides, it seems here that the dark (forest=dark for puritan society) comes when they are together, because they commit sin. and sin is evil, so it's dark...
48 DJ
chapter 21
Children have always a sympathy in the agitations of those connected with them: always, especially, a sense of any trouble or impending revolution, of whatever kind, in domestic circumstances; and therefore Pearl, who was the gem on her mother's unquiet bosom, betrayed, by the very dance of her spirits, the emotions which none could detect in the marble passiveness of Hester's brow.
Pearl reflects her mother's thoughts and feelings. She is the purity, she is not hypocritic and shows her real emotions, like Hester would like to do, but she can't. Hester is so excited for the upcoming leave that she can not refrain herself. But since she knows what effects her behavior would have, she just stays still, leaving to Pearl the duty of shaking out her emotions.
Children have always a sympathy in the agitations of those connected with them: always, especially, a sense of any trouble or impending revolution, of whatever kind, in domestic circumstances; and therefore Pearl, who was the gem on her mother's unquiet bosom, betrayed, by the very dance of her spirits, the emotions which none could detect in the marble passiveness of Hester's brow.
Pearl reflects her mother's thoughts and feelings. She is the purity, she is not hypocritic and shows her real emotions, like Hester would like to do, but she can't. Hester is so excited for the upcoming leave that she can not refrain herself. But since she knows what effects her behavior would have, she just stays still, leaving to Pearl the duty of shaking out her emotions.
47 DJ
chapter 20
"Again, another incident of the same nature. Hurrying along the street, the Reverend Mr. Dimmesdale encountered the eldest female member of his church, a most pious and exemplary old dame, poor, widowed, lonely, and with a heart as full of reminiscences about her dead husband and children, and her dead friends of long ago, as a burial-ground is full of storied gravestones."
What happens to D. is seeing a dame, Hester-alike (?) when this one would have been old, without the minister revealing the truth. He doesn't even remember some kind of prayers, but what he says makes the woman happy.
"The wretched minister! He had made a bargain very like it! Tempted by a dream of happiness, he had yielded himself with deliberate choice, as he had never done before, to what he knew was deadly sin."
It seems that A.D. regrets his decision! He thinks that what he committed now, deciding his future, was an even worse sin? ("And his encounter with old Mistress Hibbins, if it were a real incident, did but show its sympathy and fellowship with wicked mortals, and the world of perverted spirits.") this shows us even more how D. dissaproves his own choise...
"Again, another incident of the same nature. Hurrying along the street, the Reverend Mr. Dimmesdale encountered the eldest female member of his church, a most pious and exemplary old dame, poor, widowed, lonely, and with a heart as full of reminiscences about her dead husband and children, and her dead friends of long ago, as a burial-ground is full of storied gravestones."
What happens to D. is seeing a dame, Hester-alike (?) when this one would have been old, without the minister revealing the truth. He doesn't even remember some kind of prayers, but what he says makes the woman happy.
"The wretched minister! He had made a bargain very like it! Tempted by a dream of happiness, he had yielded himself with deliberate choice, as he had never done before, to what he knew was deadly sin."
It seems that A.D. regrets his decision! He thinks that what he committed now, deciding his future, was an even worse sin? ("And his encounter with old Mistress Hibbins, if it were a real incident, did but show its sympathy and fellowship with wicked mortals, and the world of perverted spirits.") this shows us even more how D. dissaproves his own choise...
46 DJ
chapter 20
"The pathway among the woods seemed wilder, more uncouth with its rude natural obstacles, and less trodden by the foot of man, than he remembered it on his outward journey. But he leaped across the plashy places, thrust himself through the clinging underbrush, climbed the ascent, plunged into the hollow, and overcame, in short, all the difficulties of the track, with an unweariable activity that astonished him."
Although D. thinks of having made the right choise, the Nature is warning him. His decision is right, but his cowardness tells him to escape right after the speech, so he will be safe. D's choise, anyway, gives him the pysichal strenght that he hadn't before, without his family to help him and the Devil torturing him. Now, having decided what to do (the right thing, admitting it), his condition gets better.
"The pathway among the woods seemed wilder, more uncouth with its rude natural obstacles, and less trodden by the foot of man, than he remembered it on his outward journey. But he leaped across the plashy places, thrust himself through the clinging underbrush, climbed the ascent, plunged into the hollow, and overcame, in short, all the difficulties of the track, with an unweariable activity that astonished him."
Although D. thinks of having made the right choise, the Nature is warning him. His decision is right, but his cowardness tells him to escape right after the speech, so he will be safe. D's choise, anyway, gives him the pysichal strenght that he hadn't before, without his family to help him and the Devil torturing him. Now, having decided what to do (the right thing, admitting it), his condition gets better.
45 DJ
chapter 20
"The minister had inquired of Hester [... ]the precise time at which the vessel might be expected to depart. It would probably be on the fourth day from the present. «This is most fortunate!».[...] because on the third day from the present, he was to preach the Election Sermon; and, as such an occasion formed an honourable epoch in the life of a New England Clergyman, he could not have chanced upon a more suitable mode and time of terminating his professional career. «At least, they shall say of me*,» thought this exemplary man, «that I leave no public duty unperformed or ill-performed!»"
Probably Pearl and Hester gave D. the streght that he couldn't find by himself. Finally, he decides to become strong and say the truth. The punishment received actually spurs him toward a better behavior, as the letter A helped Hester to become a better person. Nevertheless, A.D. seems more concerned about people's reputation - it seems that he does what he does because of people's opinion*- unlike Hester, that suffered for the society's thoughts but never did anything to change them.
"The minister had inquired of Hester [... ]the precise time at which the vessel might be expected to depart. It would probably be on the fourth day from the present. «This is most fortunate!».[...] because on the third day from the present, he was to preach the Election Sermon; and, as such an occasion formed an honourable epoch in the life of a New England Clergyman, he could not have chanced upon a more suitable mode and time of terminating his professional career. «At least, they shall say of me*,» thought this exemplary man, «that I leave no public duty unperformed or ill-performed!»"
Probably Pearl and Hester gave D. the streght that he couldn't find by himself. Finally, he decides to become strong and say the truth. The punishment received actually spurs him toward a better behavior, as the letter A helped Hester to become a better person. Nevertheless, A.D. seems more concerned about people's reputation - it seems that he does what he does because of people's opinion*- unlike Hester, that suffered for the society's thoughts but never did anything to change them.
44 DJ
chapter 19
"But, whether influenced by the jealousy that seems instinctive with every petted child towards a dangerous rival, or from whatever caprice of her freakish nature, Pearl would show no favour to the clergyman."
Pearl's reaction is not just a childish capirice, but a punishment for D. for not having said the truth. Pearl's love will arrive only in the moment in which he will confess his sin (in fact, she runs and kisses him when he reveals it) but now what A.D. is looking for is a familiar love, and he can't find it: Pearl does not grant it: this is the cruel punishment for not having said the truth.
"But, whether influenced by the jealousy that seems instinctive with every petted child towards a dangerous rival, or from whatever caprice of her freakish nature, Pearl would show no favour to the clergyman."
Pearl's reaction is not just a childish capirice, but a punishment for D. for not having said the truth. Pearl's love will arrive only in the moment in which he will confess his sin (in fact, she runs and kisses him when he reveals it) but now what A.D. is looking for is a familiar love, and he can't find it: Pearl does not grant it: this is the cruel punishment for not having said the truth.
43 DJ
chapter 19:
" "And will he always keep his hand over his heart?" inquired Pearl. "Foolish child, what a question is that!" exclaimed her mother. "Come, and ask his blessing!" "
of couse Pearl's question is not foolish. She reflects her mother's feelings, and probably is what Hester wonders about. A.D.'s gesture. Hawt. is pointing out that actually, when they three will be together, recognized by the society, his pain will disappear. His touching his heart is both the thought of his family (touching his heart he can feel his love for the family) and the A. What Pearl says is the explicit form of A.D's pain, finally.
" "And will he always keep his hand over his heart?" inquired Pearl. "Foolish child, what a question is that!" exclaimed her mother. "Come, and ask his blessing!" "
of couse Pearl's question is not foolish. She reflects her mother's feelings, and probably is what Hester wonders about. A.D.'s gesture. Hawt. is pointing out that actually, when they three will be together, recognized by the society, his pain will disappear. His touching his heart is both the thought of his family (touching his heart he can feel his love for the family) and the A. What Pearl says is the explicit form of A.D's pain, finally.
42 DJ
chapter 19
"And beneath, in the mirror of the brook, there was the flower-girdled and sunny image of little Pearl, pointing her small forefinger too. [...] In the brook, again, was the fantastic beauty of the image, with its reflected frown, its pointed finger, and imperious gesture, giving emphasis to the aspect of little Pearl.[...]Seen in the brook once more was the shadowy wrath of Pearl's image, crowned and girdled with flowers, but stamping its foot, wildly gesticulating, and, in the midst of all, still pointing its small forefinger at Hester's bosom."
Once again, a lot of emphasis is given to the reflection of Pearl. Now she makes it clear that maybe she couldn't come become she was actually not esisting: she is the A. Having Hester thrown away the A, Pearl was thrown away too. To every Pearl's action, Hawt. remarks what happens in the brook. As soon as Hester takes back the letter, Pearl goes over the pond and the reflection disappears.
"And beneath, in the mirror of the brook, there was the flower-girdled and sunny image of little Pearl, pointing her small forefinger too. [...] In the brook, again, was the fantastic beauty of the image, with its reflected frown, its pointed finger, and imperious gesture, giving emphasis to the aspect of little Pearl.[...]Seen in the brook once more was the shadowy wrath of Pearl's image, crowned and girdled with flowers, but stamping its foot, wildly gesticulating, and, in the midst of all, still pointing its small forefinger at Hester's bosom."
Once again, a lot of emphasis is given to the reflection of Pearl. Now she makes it clear that maybe she couldn't come become she was actually not esisting: she is the A. Having Hester thrown away the A, Pearl was thrown away too. To every Pearl's action, Hawt. remarks what happens in the brook. As soon as Hester takes back the letter, Pearl goes over the pond and the reflection disappears.
41 DJ
"Just where she had paused, the brook chanced to form a pool so smooth and quiet that it reflected a perfect image of her little figure, with all the brilliant picturesqueness of her beauty, in its adornment of flowers and wreathed foliage, but more refined and spiritualized than the reality. This image, so nearly identical with the living Pearl, seemed to communicate somewhat of its own shadowy and intangible quality to the child herself.
Again the reflection. In this moment it appears perfec: the letter A and Pearl both represent A.D and Hester's link, that had never been in the previous years.Now that they are together, that symbol, the A, does not have to be there, to remind Hester her love. As well as the A, Pearl, who is the living link, the living A, now seems to be just a reflection, something that does not exist: the impossible event (the couple staying together) has now been won: no symbols need to stand for what they miss, cause they aren't missing anything anymore.
Again the reflection. In this moment it appears perfec: the letter A and Pearl both represent A.D and Hester's link, that had never been in the previous years.Now that they are together, that symbol, the A, does not have to be there, to remind Hester her love. As well as the A, Pearl, who is the living link, the living A, now seems to be just a reflection, something that does not exist: the impossible event (the couple staying together) has now been won: no symbols need to stand for what they miss, cause they aren't missing anything anymore.
40 DJ
chapter 18
"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. Such was the sympathy of Nature, that wild, heathen Nature of the forest, never subjugated by human law, nor illumined by higher truth, with the bliss of these two spirits! Love, whether newly-born, or aroused from a death-like slumber, must always create a sunshine, filling the heart so full of radiance, that it overflows upon the outward world."
here, once again, Hawt. is reversing the puritan believes. The Nature is not seen as evil, and especially now that the two souls are again together, the forest becomes a paradise. A BRIGHT paradise ("brighness") compared to the dark and hypocritic society. "never subjugated by human law" -- reminds to A.D., who doesn't want to be subjugated by law, so this is actually a place in which he can feel safe - cause he's with his woman, and admitting his sin in that moment.
"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. Such was the sympathy of Nature, that wild, heathen Nature of the forest, never subjugated by human law, nor illumined by higher truth, with the bliss of these two spirits! Love, whether newly-born, or aroused from a death-like slumber, must always create a sunshine, filling the heart so full of radiance, that it overflows upon the outward world."
here, once again, Hawt. is reversing the puritan believes. The Nature is not seen as evil, and especially now that the two souls are again together, the forest becomes a paradise. A BRIGHT paradise ("brighness") compared to the dark and hypocritic society. "never subjugated by human law" -- reminds to A.D., who doesn't want to be subjugated by law, so this is actually a place in which he can feel safe - cause he's with his woman, and admitting his sin in that moment.
39 DJ
"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."
what happens here!!! Hester changes her image, unties her hair and takes off the A. This very last gesture probably means that, symbolizing the A also her relationship with D., now that she's with D. is not that important. She kept the letter to keep A.D. with her, and her very holiness is due to that letter, due to the exile from the society. Now that Arthur is with her, the symbol of that A becomes alive and is next to her, so she doesn't need to have it on her bosom.
Does A stand also for Arthur???
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."
what happens here!!! Hester changes her image, unties her hair and takes off the A. This very last gesture probably means that, symbolizing the A also her relationship with D., now that she's with D. is not that important. She kept the letter to keep A.D. with her, and her very holiness is due to that letter, due to the exile from the society. Now that Arthur is with her, the symbol of that A becomes alive and is next to her, so she doesn't need to have it on her bosom.
Does A stand also for Arthur???
38 DJ
chapter 18
"It was the exhilarating effect, upon a prisoner just escaped from the dungeon of his own heart, of breathing the wild, free atmosphere of an unredeemed, unchristianised, lawless region."
we can see again the link to the jail: it is not only the jail of the society, but also of his heart. The admittance of his sin is not something seen as bad, he doesn't have a punishment right away (cause he was already dying, i don't think this is the punishment, instead he has the chance to save himself), but instead the truth will make him be free. The wild is again the recall to nature, as well as free. "lawless" makes us think that D. likes this new condition cause his greatest fear is actually law... and "unchristianised" is not seen bad either, while in that period it was the most important thing. Here it seems to me that Hawt. is talking about the ipocrisy of the puritan (christian) society.
"It was the exhilarating effect, upon a prisoner just escaped from the dungeon of his own heart, of breathing the wild, free atmosphere of an unredeemed, unchristianised, lawless region."
we can see again the link to the jail: it is not only the jail of the society, but also of his heart. The admittance of his sin is not something seen as bad, he doesn't have a punishment right away (cause he was already dying, i don't think this is the punishment, instead he has the chance to save himself), but instead the truth will make him be free. The wild is again the recall to nature, as well as free. "lawless" makes us think that D. likes this new condition cause his greatest fear is actually law... and "unchristianised" is not seen bad either, while in that period it was the most important thing. Here it seems to me that Hawt. is talking about the ipocrisy of the puritan (christian) society.
37 DJ
chapter 18
"But this had been a sin of passion, not of principle, nor even purpose. "
in this line Hawt. makes clear that the sin, as well as the kid Pearl (before being recognized by his father*) does not exist- is unreal (ex. the reflection of pearl in the water) because committed with love. He forgives D, as we have seen more than once. "nor even purpose" on the other hand makes me think that he didn't love Hester, but actually his "purpose" was not to go against the sociey, against the law. (weak!!)
*After that, Pearl will become real, and will not have to be next to the mother to have a life.
"But this had been a sin of passion, not of principle, nor even purpose. "
in this line Hawt. makes clear that the sin, as well as the kid Pearl (before being recognized by his father*) does not exist- is unreal (ex. the reflection of pearl in the water) because committed with love. He forgives D, as we have seen more than once. "nor even purpose" on the other hand makes me think that he didn't love Hester, but actually his "purpose" was not to go against the sociey, against the law. (weak!!)
*After that, Pearl will become real, and will not have to be next to the mother to have a life.
36 DJ
chapter 18
"The minister, on the other hand, had never gone through an experience calculated to lead him beyond the scope of generally received laws; although, in a single instance, he had so fearfully transgressed one of the most sacred of them."
The minister, besides being weak, is also a fake. His weakness doesn't allow him to trasgress law and reveal his sin, but at the same time, he actually is a big liar and guilty.
Therefore, we can read through lines that A.D. exiled himself from the society because he feels guilty and because of his weakness.
"The minister, on the other hand, had never gone through an experience calculated to lead him beyond the scope of generally received laws; although, in a single instance, he had so fearfully transgressed one of the most sacred of them."
The minister, besides being weak, is also a fake. His weakness doesn't allow him to trasgress law and reveal his sin, but at the same time, he actually is a big liar and guilty.
Therefore, we can read through lines that A.D. exiled himself from the society because he feels guilty and because of his weakness.
35 DJ
chapter 18
"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."
the letter now adopts the symbol of a passaport that allows Hester to escape from the jail (the society in which she is in). As well as before, the A becomes not the symbol of infamy, but the emblem of a holy and wise woman. The very A makes her special: always exiliated because different from the other women, but in a good way.
"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."
the letter now adopts the symbol of a passaport that allows Hester to escape from the jail (the society in which she is in). As well as before, the A becomes not the symbol of infamy, but the emblem of a holy and wise woman. The very A makes her special: always exiliated because different from the other women, but in a good way.
essay /
Exile is seen as a dramatic experience, where a person is ripped out from his or her “home” intended as a birthplace, family, homeland.
Cicero and Napoleon are two famous personalities that, separated by centuries, felt the same way about their exile: the feeling of not being home, not feeling safe, loving something that they couldn’t be in touch with- changed their lives and their point of view.
Nathaniel Hawthorne writes about two kinds of exile in his book –The Scarlet Letter. Hester Prynne is subjected to the pitfalls of a place new and different from the one in which she has always lived. A second type of exile, less concrete, is the exile caused by alienation from society: his main character remains physically in the society itself, but is any longer part of it. This makes Hester’s condition even more difficult, and hard to live and deal with.
After having reached the New World, having lost therefore her own family and birthplace, Hester has to deal all by herself a series of problems, such as integration in the society that will kick her out, settling a place to live and how to earn bread. Although this might be a main point, the real pain is cause by Hester’s sin and her life after that.
Hester Prynne is left alone to fight the difficulties of her new life, and her husband is not there to help her. Guilty of love, her love itself will cause seclusion from society. The punishment of carrying an ‘A’ on her bosom seems a too merciful one: people say that she should have been marked on the forehead with an iron, but to Hester it burns as if she had been scarred.
The letter seems to be a cruel mark that will never help Hester, but remind her how evil she is. Maybe this is what makes Hester do her best to improve her condition: the ‘A’ is a constant reminder to Hester to help others and be kind in response to others’ offences. Therefore, the letter becomes not anymore a symbol of shame and infamy, but even its meaning changes to the society’s eyes: A stands for Angel.
The exile that the society tried to punish Hester with, actually helped her to become a better, almost holy person.
If she hadn’t been exiled, or if she had stayed among her relatives, protected with familiar love, her life would have been different, her character wouldn’t have become sweeter and kinder, but Hester would have remained a normal woman who once committed a sin. But the fact that her alienation and punishment changed her soul in good, changes her figure from sinner to saint.
Cicero and Napoleon are two famous personalities that, separated by centuries, felt the same way about their exile: the feeling of not being home, not feeling safe, loving something that they couldn’t be in touch with- changed their lives and their point of view.
Nathaniel Hawthorne writes about two kinds of exile in his book –The Scarlet Letter. Hester Prynne is subjected to the pitfalls of a place new and different from the one in which she has always lived. A second type of exile, less concrete, is the exile caused by alienation from society: his main character remains physically in the society itself, but is any longer part of it. This makes Hester’s condition even more difficult, and hard to live and deal with.
After having reached the New World, having lost therefore her own family and birthplace, Hester has to deal all by herself a series of problems, such as integration in the society that will kick her out, settling a place to live and how to earn bread. Although this might be a main point, the real pain is cause by Hester’s sin and her life after that.
Hester Prynne is left alone to fight the difficulties of her new life, and her husband is not there to help her. Guilty of love, her love itself will cause seclusion from society. The punishment of carrying an ‘A’ on her bosom seems a too merciful one: people say that she should have been marked on the forehead with an iron, but to Hester it burns as if she had been scarred.
The letter seems to be a cruel mark that will never help Hester, but remind her how evil she is. Maybe this is what makes Hester do her best to improve her condition: the ‘A’ is a constant reminder to Hester to help others and be kind in response to others’ offences. Therefore, the letter becomes not anymore a symbol of shame and infamy, but even its meaning changes to the society’s eyes: A stands for Angel.
The exile that the society tried to punish Hester with, actually helped her to become a better, almost holy person.
If she hadn’t been exiled, or if she had stayed among her relatives, protected with familiar love, her life would have been different, her character wouldn’t have become sweeter and kinder, but Hester would have remained a normal woman who once committed a sin. But the fact that her alienation and punishment changed her soul in good, changes her figure from sinner to saint.
sentences!
Opaque- the opaque glass didn't allow Sally to see what was going on beyond the window.
Propensity- one of the main trait of Chillingworth's character was the propensity to the evil
Propensity- one of the main trait of Chillingworth's character was the propensity to the evil
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Vocabulary
1) opaque - adj. not clear; not transmitting or reflecting light or radiant energy;
2) Propensity - noun a disposition to behave in a certain way;
3) Esoteric - adj intended to be understood by only a small number of people with a specialized knowledge or interest
4) Vitiated - adj
5) Magnate - noun
6) Malleable - adj capable of being shaped or bent or drawn out/ easily influenced
7) Dearth - noun (paucity) an insufficient quantity or number
8) Florid - adj elaborately or excessively ornamented;
9) Evanescent - adj
10) Veneration - noun religious zeal; willingness to serve
2) Propensity - noun a disposition to behave in a certain way;
3) Esoteric - adj intended to be understood by only a small number of people with a specialized knowledge or interest
4) Vitiated - adj
| ruined in character or quality |
| a very wealthy or powerful businessman; |
7) Dearth - noun (paucity) an insufficient quantity or number
8) Florid - adj elaborately or excessively ornamented;
9) Evanescent - adj
| tending to vanish like vapo |
Monday, November 1, 2010
34 DJ
17 chapter
"Dost thou not see what I would say? That old man!... the physician!... he whom they call Roger Chillingworth!... he was my husband!"
the fact that Hester has the strenght to tell A. that R.C. is her husband is another demonstration of how Hester is stronger compared to her lover. She didn't have to tell A.D. that he was her husband, but she's pure and honest and her soul is actually "clean" cause she has no secrets now.
"Dost thou not see what I would say? That old man!... the physician!... he whom they call Roger Chillingworth!... he was my husband!"
the fact that Hester has the strenght to tell A. that R.C. is her husband is another demonstration of how Hester is stronger compared to her lover. She didn't have to tell A.D. that he was her husband, but she's pure and honest and her soul is actually "clean" cause she has no secrets now.
33 DJ
17 c
"More misery, Hester!... Only the more misery!" answered the clergyman with a bitter smile. " As concerns the good which I may appear to do, I have no faith in it. It must needs be a delusion. What can a ruined soul like mine effect towards the redemption of other souls?... or a polluted soul towards their purification? And as for the people's reverence, would that it were turned to scorn and hatred!" [...]
"Happy are you, Hester, that wear the scarlet letter openly upon your bosom! Mine burns in secret!"
A.D. must be a good man, because his pain is evident, and his whole sould is exploding with regret. But at the same time, this very line (happy..) tells us that Dimm. is not strong enough to tell people what happened, although he had the chance. And her being strong is shown also when the people wanted to take the A out of her bosom, and she didn't want to, to show that she had actually cheated on her husband, but also to "keep" dimm. with her all the time.
"More misery, Hester!... Only the more misery!" answered the clergyman with a bitter smile. " As concerns the good which I may appear to do, I have no faith in it. It must needs be a delusion. What can a ruined soul like mine effect towards the redemption of other souls?... or a polluted soul towards their purification? And as for the people's reverence, would that it were turned to scorn and hatred!" [...]
"Happy are you, Hester, that wear the scarlet letter openly upon your bosom! Mine burns in secret!"
A.D. must be a good man, because his pain is evident, and his whole sould is exploding with regret. But at the same time, this very line (happy..) tells us that Dimm. is not strong enough to tell people what happened, although he had the chance. And her being strong is shown also when the people wanted to take the A out of her bosom, and she didn't want to, to show that she had actually cheated on her husband, but also to "keep" dimm. with her all the time.
32 DJ
17 c
"It was no wonder that they thus questioned one another's actual and bodily existence, and even doubted of their own. So strangely did they meet in the dim wood that it was like the first encounter in the world beyond the grave of two spirits who had been intimately connected in their former life, but now stood coldly shuddering in mutual dread, as not yet familiar with their state, nor wonted to the companionship of disembodied beings."
The two "spirits" are both alienated by society and they hadn’t talked openly to each other in maybe 7 years. This relationship has got colder because of their non-talking, but at the same time they feel the strong love that they have felt for each other and that didn't fade.
"It was no wonder that they thus questioned one another's actual and bodily existence, and even doubted of their own. So strangely did they meet in the dim wood that it was like the first encounter in the world beyond the grave of two spirits who had been intimately connected in their former life, but now stood coldly shuddering in mutual dread, as not yet familiar with their state, nor wonted to the companionship of disembodied beings."
The two "spirits" are both alienated by society and they hadn’t talked openly to each other in maybe 7 years. This relationship has got colder because of their non-talking, but at the same time they feel the strong love that they have felt for each other and that didn't fade.
31 DJ
16 chapter
To Hester's eye, the Reverend Mr. Dimmesdale exhibited no symptom of positive and vivacious suffering, except that, as little Pearl had remarked, he kept his hand over his heart.
A.D. is simply shattered, and Hester perhaps realizes that she should have helped him before.
And the fact that the only thing that stands out from his deathly life is the gesture-touching his heart. this might symbolize that the only thing that keeps him alive is the same love for Hester (and Pearl) symbolized by his letter.
-promemoria: from now on 3 per time
To Hester's eye, the Reverend Mr. Dimmesdale exhibited no symptom of positive and vivacious suffering, except that, as little Pearl had remarked, he kept his hand over his heart.
A.D. is simply shattered, and Hester perhaps realizes that she should have helped him before.
And the fact that the only thing that stands out from his deathly life is the gesture-touching his heart. this might symbolize that the only thing that keeps him alive is the same love for Hester (and Pearl) symbolized by his letter.
-promemoria: from now on 3 per time
30 DJ
chapter 16
"See!" answered Hester, smiling; "now I can stretch out my hand and grasp some of it." As she attempted to do so, the sunshine vanished.
As we said that the light is the good, and the dark is the evil, it seems that the sun, the good, avoids the sinner in this moment. Maybe it's not the sin itself, because pearl is always in the sun
("or, to judge from the bright expression that was dancing on Pearl's features, her mother could have fancied that the child had absorbed it into herself, and would give it forth again, with a gleam about her path, as they should plunge into some gloomier shade.")
but H. might be blaming the fact that the secret is being kept secret by hester, and this makes her a sinner.
"See!" answered Hester, smiling; "now I can stretch out my hand and grasp some of it." As she attempted to do so, the sunshine vanished.
As we said that the light is the good, and the dark is the evil, it seems that the sun, the good, avoids the sinner in this moment. Maybe it's not the sin itself, because pearl is always in the sun
("or, to judge from the bright expression that was dancing on Pearl's features, her mother could have fancied that the child had absorbed it into herself, and would give it forth again, with a gleam about her path, as they should plunge into some gloomier shade.")
but H. might be blaming the fact that the secret is being kept secret by hester, and this makes her a sinner.
29 DJ
chapter 16
the whole chapter describes a beautiful, magic place. Although the forest in the puritan society was seen as a dark, evil place, here it's completely reversed: the sun avoids only Hester, but it blesses the whole forest and the sin itself (the little evil Pearl) and the little river gives even a sense of peace and tranquillity.
the whole chapter describes a beautiful, magic place. Although the forest in the puritan society was seen as a dark, evil place, here it's completely reversed: the sun avoids only Hester, but it blesses the whole forest and the sin itself (the little evil Pearl) and the little river gives even a sense of peace and tranquillity.
28 DJ
chapter 15
"Truly do I!" answered Pearl, looking brightly into her mother's face. "It is for the same reason that the minister keeps his hand over his heart!" [...] "[...] But in good earnest now, mother dear, what does this scarlet letter mean?... and why dost thou wear it on thy bosom?... and why does the minister keep his hand over his heart?"
at the same time, Pearl gives a reason and almost denies it. Maybe she even knows what the secret is, but she wants her mother to say it in public, the same reason for which she keeps on asking the minister to walk with in public. She wants the secret to be revealed, as it should be. Maybe also to prevent some evil and cruel destiny that might happen if they don't say their sin?
"Truly do I!" answered Pearl, looking brightly into her mother's face. "It is for the same reason that the minister keeps his hand over his heart!" [...] "[...] But in good earnest now, mother dear, what does this scarlet letter mean?... and why dost thou wear it on thy bosom?... and why does the minister keep his hand over his heart?"
at the same time, Pearl gives a reason and almost denies it. Maybe she even knows what the secret is, but she wants her mother to say it in public, the same reason for which she keeps on asking the minister to walk with in public. She wants the secret to be revealed, as it should be. Maybe also to prevent some evil and cruel destiny that might happen if they don't say their sin?
27 DJ
chapter 15
"Soon finding, however, that either she or the image was unreal, she turned elsewhere for better pastime."
Here maybe, Hath. is trying to tell us that her, symbol of sin, was actually unreal, because committed with love.
I'm trying to say that Pearl is the symbol of the sin that Hester and Arthur committed. But if "either SHE or the image WAS UNREAL" it seems to me that the sin is therefore unreal as well, being her the sin, because H. and A. love each other.
"Soon finding, however, that either she or the image was unreal, she turned elsewhere for better pastime."
Here maybe, Hath. is trying to tell us that her, symbol of sin, was actually unreal, because committed with love.
I'm trying to say that Pearl is the symbol of the sin that Hester and Arthur committed. But if "either SHE or the image WAS UNREAL" it seems to me that the sin is therefore unreal as well, being her the sin, because H. and A. love each other.
26 DJ
chapter 15
"I hate the man!"
She upbraided herself for the sentiment, but could not overcome or lessen it. Attempting to do so, she thought of those long-past days in a distant land, when he used to emerge at eventide from the seclusion of his study and sit down in the firelight of their home, and in the light of her nuptial smile.
Hester tries not to hate "the man", because she knows that it's a bad feeling, that should not be proved for anyone, although the situation gives her reasons to hate her (former?) husband. This can just show us what a sweet and fair person Hester is.
"I hate the man!"
She upbraided herself for the sentiment, but could not overcome or lessen it. Attempting to do so, she thought of those long-past days in a distant land, when he used to emerge at eventide from the seclusion of his study and sit down in the firelight of their home, and in the light of her nuptial smile.
Hester tries not to hate "the man", because she knows that it's a bad feeling, that should not be proved for anyone, although the situation gives her reasons to hate her (former?) husband. This can just show us what a sweet and fair person Hester is.
25 DJ
chapter 15
"Did the sun, which shone so brightly everywhere else, really fall upon him? Or was there, as it rather seemed, a circle of ominous shadow moving along with his deformity whichever way he turned himself? And whither was he now going?"
R.C. seems to be the symbol of the evil, the dark opposed to the light. Even the sun avoids him, while a SHADOW is all around him, everytime. And his mishaping might be a link with the greek "kalokagathia" : his evil mentality is reflected on his body, while the beautiful and handsome Hester reveals a pure spirit.
"Did the sun, which shone so brightly everywhere else, really fall upon him? Or was there, as it rather seemed, a circle of ominous shadow moving along with his deformity whichever way he turned himself? And whither was he now going?"
R.C. seems to be the symbol of the evil, the dark opposed to the light. Even the sun avoids him, while a SHADOW is all around him, everytime. And his mishaping might be a link with the greek "kalokagathia" : his evil mentality is reflected on his body, while the beautiful and handsome Hester reveals a pure spirit.
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