"[Pearl] is my happiness!- she is my torture, none the less! Pearl keeps me here in life! Pearl punishes me too! See ye not, she is the scarlet letter" (103).
The scarlet letter is beautifully embroidered upon Hester's chest, but is meant to be a form of punishment. Likewise, Pearl is a stunning little girl, but represents a token of Hester's shame. A rose also has the same effect, where it is pleasing to the eye, but the thorns lose the rose's delicacy. All three have an enchanting appearance, yet come with some negative attribute. The scarlet letter "hath taught [Hester] [...] lessons whereof [Pearl] may be wiser and better, albeit they can profit nothing to [her]" (101). Hester has learned from her mistakes, but she cannot go back and fix them. Thus, she will use her new knowledge to the best of her ability and make Pearl a better person. The scarlet letter was meant to give shame to its wearer. Once the person has shame, they regret their misdeed. Hester has learned her lesson, making her a wiser woman, so it would not make sense to "transfer [Pearl] to other hands" (101). Pearl may be the scarlet letter, but she is also the red rose that "had been plucked by her mother off the bush of wild roses that grew by the prison-door" (102). The rose "symbolize[s] some sweet moral blossom, that may be found along the track, or relieve the close of a tale of human frailty and sorrow" (46). Pearl fits this description, revealing what her purpose is in the book. Pearl is Hester's torture, but keeps her alive. The rose's thorns can be seen as Pearl's torture, but the rose relieves Hester's "frailty and sorrow" (46) at the same time.
'"You speak, my friend, with a strange eagerness," said old Roger Chillingworth, smiling at [Dimmesdale]" (105).
Being the intelligent scholar that he is, Roger Chillingworth has found his victim. Chillingworth sees the restlessness of Dimmesdale, "whose health had severely suffered, of late" (99). When Hester pleaded to Dimmesdale to keep Pearl, he held "his hand over his heart" (103). In defending Hester, Dimmesdale mentioned Pearl's "father's guilt" (104) and how having Pearl present makes the "sinful mother happier than the sinful father" (105). The audience can infer that Dimmesdale is in distress and greatly suffering by keeping his secret. When Pearl "stole swiftly towards him, and [...] laid her cheek against his [hand]" (105), Dimmesdale must have felt his guilt rise to a new level and hate himself for not returning the tenderness his daughter deserved. Pearl "had been softened by such gentleness " (106) only twice in her lifetime, which reveals the special bond between the father and daughter.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Friday, January 29, 2010
The Scarlet Letter #3
"And over [Hester's] grave, the infamy that she must carry tither would be her only monument" (73).
No matter where Hester goes, she will always be burdened by the sin she committed and the scarlet letter, weighing down her chest: "The chain that bound her here was of iron link, and galling to her inmost soul, but could never be broken" (74). Even after the day Hester dies, she will always be known as "the general symbol [...] of woman's frailty and sinful passion" (73). Hester does not fight this. She continues to take on this punishment every day because she knows she committed a sin and deserves to face the consequences. Unfortunately, Pearl is also facing these consequences. When Pearl dies, she will be known as the daughter of an adulteress; a token of her mother's shame. Pearl is already labeled as an outcast even before she is able to talk. It is not fair to her because she will grow up having difficulty "adapt[ing] to the world into which she was born" (83), which is all her mother's fault. Pearl will suffer because of her mother's wrongdoings.
"Hester was ultimately compelled to stand aside, and permit the child to be swayed by her own impulses" (84).
Hester may think she is doing the right thing by stepping aside, but letting Pearl have the power to dictate will cause problems when she grows older. Scriptural authority is used as a "wholesome regimen for the growth and promotion of all childish virtues" (84) and since Pearl is not being taught under these virtues, people will consider her even more of an outcast. As it is, Pearl "could not be made amenable to rules" (83), which makes stepping aside an even worse idea. Pearl is already accustomed to doing as she pleases, so what makes her think she needs to follow the law when she grows up? Nothing, because she was not taught to value it. Not only will Hester hurt Pearl by allowing her to do whatever she likes, but she will also be hurting her own reputation. People will look at Hester in disgust at how poorly she raised her child. Any flaw of Pearl's will be Hester's fault and the result of ill- parenting. While Hester is the reality of sin, Pearl is the result of this reality. When Pearl grows older and faces people giving her disdainful looks, she will only become frustrated. Pearl will suffer and have difficulty in finding happiness. Hester also continues to compare Pearl to the Devil, doubting that God "had given her a lovely child" (81).
No matter where Hester goes, she will always be burdened by the sin she committed and the scarlet letter, weighing down her chest: "The chain that bound her here was of iron link, and galling to her inmost soul, but could never be broken" (74). Even after the day Hester dies, she will always be known as "the general symbol [...] of woman's frailty and sinful passion" (73). Hester does not fight this. She continues to take on this punishment every day because she knows she committed a sin and deserves to face the consequences. Unfortunately, Pearl is also facing these consequences. When Pearl dies, she will be known as the daughter of an adulteress; a token of her mother's shame. Pearl is already labeled as an outcast even before she is able to talk. It is not fair to her because she will grow up having difficulty "adapt[ing] to the world into which she was born" (83), which is all her mother's fault. Pearl will suffer because of her mother's wrongdoings.
"Hester was ultimately compelled to stand aside, and permit the child to be swayed by her own impulses" (84).
Hester may think she is doing the right thing by stepping aside, but letting Pearl have the power to dictate will cause problems when she grows older. Scriptural authority is used as a "wholesome regimen for the growth and promotion of all childish virtues" (84) and since Pearl is not being taught under these virtues, people will consider her even more of an outcast. As it is, Pearl "could not be made amenable to rules" (83), which makes stepping aside an even worse idea. Pearl is already accustomed to doing as she pleases, so what makes her think she needs to follow the law when she grows up? Nothing, because she was not taught to value it. Not only will Hester hurt Pearl by allowing her to do whatever she likes, but she will also be hurting her own reputation. People will look at Hester in disgust at how poorly she raised her child. Any flaw of Pearl's will be Hester's fault and the result of ill- parenting. While Hester is the reality of sin, Pearl is the result of this reality. When Pearl grows older and faces people giving her disdainful looks, she will only become frustrated. Pearl will suffer and have difficulty in finding happiness. Hester also continues to compare Pearl to the Devil, doubting that God "had given her a lovely child" (81).
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
The Scarlet Letter #2
"His face darkened with some powerful emotion, which, nevertheless, he so instantaneously controlled by an effort of his will, that, [...] his expression may have passed for calmness" (57).
This stranger sounds like Hester's husband in disguise. In the previous reading, the scholar Hester saw in her flashback has a "slightly deformed [...] left shoulder [that is] a trifle higher than the right" (55). The stranger also has "one of [his] shoulders [...] higher than the other" (57). This deformity is not common among many people, but it is interesting to note that the stranger "endeavored to conceal [...] the peculiarity" (56). Another similarity between the two men is the unusual skill of "read[ing] the human soul" (55) that her husband has and the stranger's ability to control his expression. If one knows how to read a person, then they would know how to hide their own countenance. This stranger is also eager in knowing "the partner of [Hester's] iniquity" (59). As a husband of an adulteress, it would be assumed that he would be curious to know who Hester cheated on him with. It is plausible that her husband returned to see the consequences that Hester is facing. He would find some satisfaction in knowing his wife was punished for her betrayal. The stranger also "calmly raised his finger [...] and laid it on his lips" (57), making it clear he knew who Hester was.
"Peradventure the guilty one stands looking on at this sad spectacle, unknown of man, and forgetting that God sees him" (58).
Everybody is looking at Hester in disgrace, but what about the man she committed adultery with? He could have also been married. Although the man is unknown, the town cannot take their anger out solely on Hester. The unknown man should fess up to his sin. He should also be grateful that Hester refused to reveal his identity. Hester is trying to take the punishment with whatever dignity she has left, while the father of the baby is too afraid to turn himself in. It is only just "that the partner of [Hester's] iniquity [...] stand on the scaffold by her side" (59). The quote presented above recalls a line Proctor said in The Crucible: "A man may think God sleeps, but God sees everything" (Miller 110). Even if the unknown man is not punished for his sin and nobody knows about it, God will know. He has the ultimate power to decide one's fate and the unknown man should be aware of this. He is digging a deeper hole for himself, carrying on a burden that can easily be lifted.
This stranger sounds like Hester's husband in disguise. In the previous reading, the scholar Hester saw in her flashback has a "slightly deformed [...] left shoulder [that is] a trifle higher than the right" (55). The stranger also has "one of [his] shoulders [...] higher than the other" (57). This deformity is not common among many people, but it is interesting to note that the stranger "endeavored to conceal [...] the peculiarity" (56). Another similarity between the two men is the unusual skill of "read[ing] the human soul" (55) that her husband has and the stranger's ability to control his expression. If one knows how to read a person, then they would know how to hide their own countenance. This stranger is also eager in knowing "the partner of [Hester's] iniquity" (59). As a husband of an adulteress, it would be assumed that he would be curious to know who Hester cheated on him with. It is plausible that her husband returned to see the consequences that Hester is facing. He would find some satisfaction in knowing his wife was punished for her betrayal. The stranger also "calmly raised his finger [...] and laid it on his lips" (57), making it clear he knew who Hester was.
"Peradventure the guilty one stands looking on at this sad spectacle, unknown of man, and forgetting that God sees him" (58).
Everybody is looking at Hester in disgrace, but what about the man she committed adultery with? He could have also been married. Although the man is unknown, the town cannot take their anger out solely on Hester. The unknown man should fess up to his sin. He should also be grateful that Hester refused to reveal his identity. Hester is trying to take the punishment with whatever dignity she has left, while the father of the baby is too afraid to turn himself in. It is only just "that the partner of [Hester's] iniquity [...] stand on the scaffold by her side" (59). The quote presented above recalls a line Proctor said in The Crucible: "A man may think God sleeps, but God sees everything" (Miller 110). Even if the unknown man is not punished for his sin and nobody knows about it, God will know. He has the ultimate power to decide one's fate and the unknown man should be aware of this. He is digging a deeper hole for himself, carrying on a burden that can easily be lifted.
Monday, January 25, 2010
The Scarlet Letter #1
"[The] rose-bush [was] imagined to offer [its] fragrance and fragile beauty to the prisoner as he went in, and to the condemned criminal as he went forth to his doom" (46).
When Hester walked out of the prison door, "those who had before known her, and had expected to behold her dimmed and obscured by a disastrous cloud, were astonished [...] to perceive how her beauty shone out" (51). Hester's beauty can symbolize the work of Nature and the rosebush. Nobody was expecting Hester to look as elegant as she did. The only reason that can justify this is the mysterious rosebush that sits next to the prison door. Hester looked shameless and haughty to the townspeople, but "she [...] felt it in her heart" (51). Spending countless hours in a dark and dismal room would give any person time to mull over their wrongdoings.
'"People say," said another, "that the Reverend Master Dimmesdale, her godly pastor, takes it very grievously to heart that such a scandal should have come upon his congregation"' (48-49).
Reverend Master Dimmesdale sounds like Parris from The Crucible. Parris did not want to look bad, knowing Abigail was at fault for dancing in the woods. Not only is Hester putting shame to Dimmesdale, but she is also putting shame on her "infant [who] was to redeem the world" (53). Her baby will grow up, knowing that the only reason he was born was because of his mother's infidelity. He is merely "one token of [Hester's] shame" (50). Hester ruined her father's name by standing on the podium, wearing the scarlet letter. She also angered the old women, who believed she "brought shame upon [them] all, and ought to die" (49). Now that Hester has ruined her reputation, will there be a chance of forgiveness?
When Hester walked out of the prison door, "those who had before known her, and had expected to behold her dimmed and obscured by a disastrous cloud, were astonished [...] to perceive how her beauty shone out" (51). Hester's beauty can symbolize the work of Nature and the rosebush. Nobody was expecting Hester to look as elegant as she did. The only reason that can justify this is the mysterious rosebush that sits next to the prison door. Hester looked shameless and haughty to the townspeople, but "she [...] felt it in her heart" (51). Spending countless hours in a dark and dismal room would give any person time to mull over their wrongdoings.
'"People say," said another, "that the Reverend Master Dimmesdale, her godly pastor, takes it very grievously to heart that such a scandal should have come upon his congregation"' (48-49).
Reverend Master Dimmesdale sounds like Parris from The Crucible. Parris did not want to look bad, knowing Abigail was at fault for dancing in the woods. Not only is Hester putting shame to Dimmesdale, but she is also putting shame on her "infant [who] was to redeem the world" (53). Her baby will grow up, knowing that the only reason he was born was because of his mother's infidelity. He is merely "one token of [Hester's] shame" (50). Hester ruined her father's name by standing on the podium, wearing the scarlet letter. She also angered the old women, who believed she "brought shame upon [them] all, and ought to die" (49). Now that Hester has ruined her reputation, will there be a chance of forgiveness?
Monday, January 4, 2010
Crucible Essay: Topic #1
Redemption
When one commits a sin or hurts another person, it is a human instinct to seek forgiveness and lift that burden, only being able to imagine the pain that was caused. If it is not lifted, then it weighs a person down, shadowing or tainting the goodness behind the soul that committed the sin. Thus, it is crucial for one to be forgiven. In The Crucible by Arthur Miller, John Proctor seeks the forgiveness that he hopes to clear his blemished soul and lift the burden of his lingering sin. In search for his redemption, John Proctor made numerous mistakes, but in the end, realized what he was looking for was always above him.
John Proctor committed adultery with Abigail. He sinned against his wife, breaking one of the Ten Commandments. Proctor knew what he did was unacceptable and confessed his wrongdoings to Elizabeth. Elizabeth was heartbroken, and the only thing Proctor could do was make the effort to show how much he cared for her. He ended up in frustration when Elizabeth did not cede in forgiving him: “I […] must have mistaken you for God that day. But you’re not, you’re not. […] Let you look for the goodness in me, and judge me not” (Miller 55). Proctor wanted Elizabeth to forgive him and forget the sin he committed, and for her to simply appreciate the goodness he had in telling her about his lechery. Proctor realized it would not be easy to seek the forgiveness he longed for. There had to be another way.
When Proctor was accused of witchcraft, he went to court defending himself, trying to prove he was a good man. After seeing his friends being accused, Proctor put aside his pride for the good of others. Unfortunately, Proctor stopped having faith in God because he saw the court, which was known to carry out “God’s law” (129), force innocent people to confess to sins they did not commit. John saw that the court did not hold fair judgment, even though it represented a form of authority. He concluded that even the court was not able to wash away his sins.
Proctor wanted his life back and his sins gone, but was running out of options to get rid of his pain. The only way Proctor believed it would be cleansed was if he confessed to a sin he did not commit. Proctor was ready to sign the paper, but it was not until he saw Rebecca Nurse that he realized the mistake he was making. By signing the paper, he was freeing himself, but condemning hundreds of Christians that believed in him. If he did not sign, he would be joining an illustrious group of Christian martyrs. After Proctor signed his name, he could not look at the paper without knowing he had just signed his name to a lie: “Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! […] I have given you my soul; leave me my name!” (143). Proctor realized he did not need to prove himself to anybody because “a man may think God sleeps, but God sees everything” (110). Only God would know how sorry Proctor was, and only God knew what Proctor really felt inside. Proctor ripped the paper and knew he would find goodness in God’s kingdom. Thus, he found redemption putting his pride aside.
In the beginning of the play, Proctor is unable to be redeemed because he is following a misguided path to find forgiveness. He seeks for forgiveness in others, rather than understanding that God judges us based on our moral intentions, whereas others only see the actions that are performed. Arthur Miller introduces Proctor as a man who allowed his temptation get the best of him, and expects immediate acceptance of his apology from his wife. Proctor comes off as a demanding husband, making the audience feel sympathy towards his wife, because the man she loved committed adultery. The audience does not warm up to Proctor until later in the play because his pride and frustration taint the good human being that develops in the end of the play. Proctor kept trying to prove himself to others because he was filled with pride, but in the end, he realized he did not need to prove himself to anybody but God.
The key shift that brings Proctor to this decision is when Rebecca Nurse sees him about to sign the confession. Proctor looks up into the gentle eyes of the elderly woman and has a revelation when she says: “Why, it is a lie, it is a lie; how may I damn myself?” (140). Rebecca Nurse was not going to allow the authority on earth to give her an illusion of redemption by forcing her to confess to a sin she did not commit.
John Proctor died a martyr. He was the voice of the true Christians that refused to lie in order to save themselves, having faith in God and knowing He would be there to save them in His kingdom. Proctor gave hope to many people. He put aside his pride and selfish desires for the good of others. From being self-centered, he became selfless, and embodied Christianity. He overcame the temptation to sign the confession and keep his life. Seeing Rebecca Nurse refuse her last chance to live, made him realize what a huge mistake he was making. Proctor’s experience with temptation represents things people face today. We overcome our temptations by standing by our faith. As much as one may want something, there is self- control within us. It is our free will to choose whether we want to give into a desire.
The reason for Proctor’s redemption was because he allowed his temptation to get the best of him. Through the characters’ situations, Arthur Miller creates a parallel between the issues each character faced and issues that are faced among society today. A girlfriend is heartbroken when she finds her boyfriend was with another girl or a boy made the wrong decision to smoke because everybody else was doing it. Each character in the play can be related to if they are taken out of context. Miller took some of the deadly sins that boil up inside every human being and blew it up into a story of pride, greed, and envy.
When one commits a sin or hurts another person, it is a human instinct to seek forgiveness and lift that burden, only being able to imagine the pain that was caused. If it is not lifted, then it weighs a person down, shadowing or tainting the goodness behind the soul that committed the sin. Thus, it is crucial for one to be forgiven. In The Crucible by Arthur Miller, John Proctor seeks the forgiveness that he hopes to clear his blemished soul and lift the burden of his lingering sin. In search for his redemption, John Proctor made numerous mistakes, but in the end, realized what he was looking for was always above him.
John Proctor committed adultery with Abigail. He sinned against his wife, breaking one of the Ten Commandments. Proctor knew what he did was unacceptable and confessed his wrongdoings to Elizabeth. Elizabeth was heartbroken, and the only thing Proctor could do was make the effort to show how much he cared for her. He ended up in frustration when Elizabeth did not cede in forgiving him: “I […] must have mistaken you for God that day. But you’re not, you’re not. […] Let you look for the goodness in me, and judge me not” (Miller 55). Proctor wanted Elizabeth to forgive him and forget the sin he committed, and for her to simply appreciate the goodness he had in telling her about his lechery. Proctor realized it would not be easy to seek the forgiveness he longed for. There had to be another way.
When Proctor was accused of witchcraft, he went to court defending himself, trying to prove he was a good man. After seeing his friends being accused, Proctor put aside his pride for the good of others. Unfortunately, Proctor stopped having faith in God because he saw the court, which was known to carry out “God’s law” (129), force innocent people to confess to sins they did not commit. John saw that the court did not hold fair judgment, even though it represented a form of authority. He concluded that even the court was not able to wash away his sins.
Proctor wanted his life back and his sins gone, but was running out of options to get rid of his pain. The only way Proctor believed it would be cleansed was if he confessed to a sin he did not commit. Proctor was ready to sign the paper, but it was not until he saw Rebecca Nurse that he realized the mistake he was making. By signing the paper, he was freeing himself, but condemning hundreds of Christians that believed in him. If he did not sign, he would be joining an illustrious group of Christian martyrs. After Proctor signed his name, he could not look at the paper without knowing he had just signed his name to a lie: “Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! […] I have given you my soul; leave me my name!” (143). Proctor realized he did not need to prove himself to anybody because “a man may think God sleeps, but God sees everything” (110). Only God would know how sorry Proctor was, and only God knew what Proctor really felt inside. Proctor ripped the paper and knew he would find goodness in God’s kingdom. Thus, he found redemption putting his pride aside.
In the beginning of the play, Proctor is unable to be redeemed because he is following a misguided path to find forgiveness. He seeks for forgiveness in others, rather than understanding that God judges us based on our moral intentions, whereas others only see the actions that are performed. Arthur Miller introduces Proctor as a man who allowed his temptation get the best of him, and expects immediate acceptance of his apology from his wife. Proctor comes off as a demanding husband, making the audience feel sympathy towards his wife, because the man she loved committed adultery. The audience does not warm up to Proctor until later in the play because his pride and frustration taint the good human being that develops in the end of the play. Proctor kept trying to prove himself to others because he was filled with pride, but in the end, he realized he did not need to prove himself to anybody but God.
The key shift that brings Proctor to this decision is when Rebecca Nurse sees him about to sign the confession. Proctor looks up into the gentle eyes of the elderly woman and has a revelation when she says: “Why, it is a lie, it is a lie; how may I damn myself?” (140). Rebecca Nurse was not going to allow the authority on earth to give her an illusion of redemption by forcing her to confess to a sin she did not commit.
John Proctor died a martyr. He was the voice of the true Christians that refused to lie in order to save themselves, having faith in God and knowing He would be there to save them in His kingdom. Proctor gave hope to many people. He put aside his pride and selfish desires for the good of others. From being self-centered, he became selfless, and embodied Christianity. He overcame the temptation to sign the confession and keep his life. Seeing Rebecca Nurse refuse her last chance to live, made him realize what a huge mistake he was making. Proctor’s experience with temptation represents things people face today. We overcome our temptations by standing by our faith. As much as one may want something, there is self- control within us. It is our free will to choose whether we want to give into a desire.
The reason for Proctor’s redemption was because he allowed his temptation to get the best of him. Through the characters’ situations, Arthur Miller creates a parallel between the issues each character faced and issues that are faced among society today. A girlfriend is heartbroken when she finds her boyfriend was with another girl or a boy made the wrong decision to smoke because everybody else was doing it. Each character in the play can be related to if they are taken out of context. Miller took some of the deadly sins that boil up inside every human being and blew it up into a story of pride, greed, and envy.
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