Friday 7 October 2011

Scarlet Letter

For an example of last year's blog (Rori's) go here

In chapter 2, compare the scarlet letter (the "A") on Hester's chest to the rosebush in chapter 1.

Take into account the title of the chapter: "The Marketplace" - why? What happens in Marketplaces? What is Mistress Hibbins a symbol of? Who was she - historically? Keep in mind that she will be very important in this book. Note the "gossip" of the "Goodwives" (is there an irony here?) Think about word choices and images such as "black shadwo" "grim" "naughty baggage" (what is the naughty baggage? The baby?) Why is Hester's attire so much brighter than the rest of the crowd? What does this mean? What happens on the scaffold (why a scaffold?) - happens in general? Think punishment. "A man well stricken in years, a pale, thin, scholar-like visage, with eyes dim and bleared by lamp-light that had served them to pore over many ponderous books. Yet those same bleared optics had a strange, penetrationg power, when it was their owner's purpose to read the human soul... This figure...was slightly deformed." Interpret that quote. Who does it relate to? What does it mean? Who, besides priests and God, can read the "human soul". Deform is both physical and spiritual. "Indian" - why? There's meaning here. Think history - what did the puritans think of the natives? Nature vs. Society.

Look up meaning of Hester's name (first and last).

Use shmoop if you need it.

Smile. I'm watching you.

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