Group THREE: Chapters 1-7

9/3/2010

1. Describe the attitudes of the Puritan society toward Hester Prynne and Pearl. What were your reactions as you were reading this? Use text examples and page numbers to provide insight.

2.What do you feel is the importance of chapter 5? Why does Hawthorne go into such detail about Hester's needlework? Use text examples and page numbers to provide insights.

3. Explain any character traits you have seen already concerning YOUR character you are to analyze. Use text and page numbers to provide insight. Please respond to others' analysis with thoughts of your own. Add any impressions you have of the characters mentioned. 1. Describe the attitudes of the Puritan society toward Hester Prynne and Pearl. What were your reactions as you were reading this? Use text examples and page numbers to provide insight.

39 Comments

Ashley Thalasinos

2/10/2011 05:36:44 am

Question 1

The attitudes in the Puritan society towards Hester and Pearl were harsh and they disapproved of Hesters sins. They were outcasts in the community and they looked down on baby Pearl as well for what her mother did, and thought she was a demon child (page 109). For Hesters actions, the town makes her wear the scarlet letter so everyone will remember what she did. Also she is to stand in front of the town and listen to them bash her for her sins. (page 36) While reading this, I felt sympathy for Hester and Pearl because people make mistakes. But during that time period, it was very wrong to commit such sins.

Ashley Thalasinos

2/10/2011 05:43:13 am

The importance of chapter 5 to me was to show that Hester was released from jail and free to go, but she chose to stay in the town where she was an outcast. She made a life for her and Pearl, and supported them through needle work (page 54). The author goes into great detail about Hester's needle work to show her talent.

travis jenkins

2/11/2011 02:41:39 pm

The attitudes of the puritans toward hester and pearl is very sceptical. My reaction to this was anger because they should not judge her when their beliefs clearly state that they should not judge anyone. A good example is when the people make Hester stand in front of the whole town and they all gossip about her. they also looked down on Pearl because how she was born when she didnt even do anything.

Travis Jenkins

2/11/2011 02:54:41 pm

the importance of chapter five is that Hester decides to stay in Boston and make a life for her and Pearl by using her sewing skills to make sort of a business. The reason the author goes into so much deatil about Hester's needlework is because it plays a major role of her character.

travis jenkins link

2/11/2011 03:00:02 pm

I agree that the townspeople treated her very harsh and also treated Pearl harshly too. They use Hester as an example to everyone else to not do what she did.

Ashley Thalasinos

2/12/2011 04:54:31 am

Reply to Travis, question 1

I agree with you that the townspeople attitudes were sceptical and they also did go againest their beliefs because they were judging her. They looked down on Pearl when she was innocent and could not help that she was born from a terrible decision on her mother's part.

Ragan Moore

2/13/2011 03:46:59 am

Question 1---
The Puritan society looked down on Hester and her daughter Pearl greatly. They saw them both as outcasts and unclean sinners, due to the sin that Hester committed. The society had different views on how Hester should have been punished; some were extremely harsh. One woman said she should have been branded on her forehead with a hot iron because of her sin. Another woman in the crowd said it would be best if she was put to death; that it is against the Bible to commit such an act (pg. 34-35.) When I read this I felt the way they were treating her was very harsh and cruel. In my opinion everyone sins and falls short. The society itself was sinning by gossiping about Hester, and no one thought anything of it. Hester is human and is not perfect, just like us all. People make mistakes, but it is what we learn from our mistakes that change our character.

Ragan Moore

2/13/2011 04:04:37 am

Question 2---
The main importance of chapter five is to explain the significance of Hester’s skill of working with needles. She is excellent when it comes to needlework, with all the intricacy and detail that goes into it. This is important to know because this talent is very uncommon and it in demand for many occasions. The products from Hester’s needlework can be used for burials, baby gowns, gloves, public ordinations and other events too (pg.54). Everything was unique and elaborate. However, Hester wasn’t allowed to make anything for a wedding (pg. 55) It was considered very unclean and inappropriate. Brides that were pure shouldn’t wear something that came from Hester Prynne because she didn’t remain faithful to her husband. This shows importance of Hester’s needlework again because it just reinstates the fact that Hester is an outcast, and it frowned upon in this Puritan society.

Ragan Moore

2/13/2011 04:11:28 am

Reply to Ashley- Question 1
I agree with you Ashley on how she was treated. It seemed to be overly harsh! I felt sympathy on Hester and her daughter as well. It was considered very wrong to commit a sin, such as adultery in the 1600's. However, people back then are the same as we are today. We all mess up and have our down falls. Society shouldn't look down on a person for one of their decisions because no one is ever going to be perfect.

Ashley Thalasinos

2/13/2011 09:10:00 am

Reply to Ragan, Question 1

I agree with you that they treated Hester and Pearl too harsh because everyone does make mistakes and aren't perfect either. Obviously the town was not as perfect as they acted because they did gossip and nobody looked down on them for it. Hester was wrong with what she did, but it could have been any of them as well, so they shouldn't judge her the way they are.

Justin

2/13/2011 09:32:21 am

Question 1- The townspeople treated Hester like she was an outcast. They acted like they have never done anything wrong. This is shown on Page 36 when the women talk badly about her

Justin

2/13/2011 09:33:54 am

Question 2- I believe that Hawthorne went into so much detail in chapter 5 because he wanted to show that she could do something better than everyone else and that everyone needed her.

Justin

2/13/2011 09:35:59 am

Reply to Travis question 1- I agree with you, all of them have done bad things every once in a while and they criticize her so much for it.

Justin

2/13/2011 09:37:26 am

Reply to Travis Question 2- I Believe the focus on Hester's needlework comes from the Author trying to show that she still plays a major role in society.

travis jenkins

2/13/2011 10:37:25 am

Question 3

Hester Prynne is a very strong-willed woman that hides the secret of her daughter's father's name in chapters three and four. She is constantly being critisized for her mistake of committing adultery since chapter one. She also keeps Pearl's father's name a secret from the townspeople. She goes through many "trials" with the village leaders when they try to get her to tell them the name of the father of her child.

travis jenkins

2/13/2011 10:45:58 am

Reply Brook Question 3

I agree that Chillingworth is not the father. But he does seem to care about Hester somewhat.

Ragan Moore

2/13/2011 10:54:01 am

Reply to Justin- Question 2
I think that Hawthorne went into a lot of detail to show Hester's special talent. The craft of needlework in those days must have been hard to come by because otherwise he wouldn't have elaborated on it as much as he did. His in depth chapter about her talent shows that the needlework plays a role into how Hester is portrayed as an outcast even more, however, her craft is important during that time.

Ashley Thalasinos

2/14/2011 06:17:59 am

Reply to Justin, Question 2

I agree with you that they went into detail to show that Hester had something to offer the town. Without her, they wouldn't have the nice detailed work she did for them. Even though they would not let her make wedding dresses, Hester still had talent and was needed.

Ashley Thalasinos

2/14/2011 06:24:36 am

Question 3,

My character was Mr. Dimmesdale and he was the town minister. He took Hesters action hard because he said that such a scandal should not have happened in his congregation (page 34). So along with everyone else, he agreed that Hester should be punished. But as the story goes on and Hester is questioned, Reverend Dimmesdale says " She will not speak!" ( Page 45) making me think he has something to hide from the town.

Lindsay Whitaker

2/14/2011 10:30:03 am

The Puritan society thought of Hester Prynne as disgraceful. Page 38 says, "The witnesses of Hester Prynne's disgrace had not yet passed beyond their simplicity." Pearl does not fit in with the other children. Pearl is rarely approached due to her mother's sin. When reading this, I actually felt slight sympathy for Hester and Pearl. Even though she had sinned, I believe that she should have been forgiven and given another chance to redeem her place in society and begin to live a Puritan life for the sake of her child.

Lindsay Whitaker

2/14/2011 10:40:55 am

Question 2:

Page 54 says, "She possessed an art that sufficed, even in a land that afforded comparatively little scope for its exercise, to supply food for her thriving infant and herself". Although needlework didn't earn a great deal of money, Hester did whatever it took to keep Pearl and herself fed. Along with providing for her family, Hester was very talented and took pride in her needlework. Hester took great pride in her work and even wearing the red "A" as a symbol of her sin, she took her time to add detail to the letter.

Lindsay Whitaker

2/14/2011 10:49:12 am

Reply to Ragan (question 1):

I agree with you when you implied that not only Hester was an outcast, but Pearl was as well because although her mother was the sinner, she was still looked down upon by the other people in town. You are exactly right when you say that everyone sins and falls short and I completely agree that the society was sinning as well by gossiping about Hester.

Ragan Moore

2/15/2011 02:13:33 am

Reply to Lindsay- Question 2
Lindsay what you said about her adding detail seems to describe her character overall. Hester seems like a woman who adds her personal touch to everything, even coming down to her own letter "A". She is very skilled in what she does and takes pride in all her work as well. The needlework is a perfect way to provide what she needs for her and Pearl.

Ragan Moore

2/15/2011 05:27:36 am

Question 3---
My character was Hester Prynne. Even with only the first few chapters read I can tell Hester is a very strong and bold character. These character traits are shown when she is made to stand on the scaffold because of the sin she committed. It would take one strong and brave woman to stand up, in everyone’s view, and take all that was being said about her. The gossip and mocking that was taking place about Hester was so demeaning, and yet she could hear it all (pg. 36). At times it says she said “… must needs shriek out with the full power of her lungs, and cast herself from the scaffold down upon the ground, or else go mad at once.”- (pg. 38) Personally, I wouldn’t be able to bear the things she dealt with during her punishment. Hester is also shown to be compassionate and protective over her daughter as well. She says that Pearl is her only treasure. She takes care of Pearl and provides for her, like any mother would, however, she tries to let Pearl, be Pearl. Although this does cause issues because people in the Puritan society see Hester’s daughter as a demon child. Through it all Hester to me is a strong and courageous woman. One who knows she has committed a sin, and is taking her punishment and treatment without resistance.

Brandie Owen

2/15/2011 07:16:06 am

Hester Prynne and her daughter Pearl were frowned upon by the people in the Puritan society in which they lived. The Puritans were repulsed by the sin that Hester had committed and wanted nothing more than for her to be punished for her crime. People in the community each had different ways that that they would have Hester punished. One Puritan woman even said “At the very least, they should have put the brand of a hot iron on Hester Prynne’s forehead” (pg. 34). Another Puritan even went as far to say that she has brought shame to the society and ought to die for the sin Hester had committed (pg. 35). While reading these first few pages in The Scarlet Letter, my heart began to break for poor Hester Prynne. The people in this Puritan society seem to lack the forgiveness and love that we, as sinners, are supposed to have for our brothers and sisters in Christ. I feel as though these people are bring a bit hypocritical when it comes to falling short from the correct way to live that the Bible provides us with, because as they discuss and gossip about the choices that Hester Prynne has made, they are falling short themselves.

Brandie Owen

2/15/2011 07:49:03 am

In response to Ragan Moore (question one)---

I completely agree that everyone sins and falls short. People are no different now then they were in the Puritan society back then, which means that even though Hester Prynne committed adultery she was not the only person in the town that was going against the society‘s morals. It is not fair that Hester is being punished for something that has no effect on the people that currently live in that town. The Puritans were being very hypocritical towards the situation when they were gossiping about Hester. I agree that the important thing we must do is learn from the mistake we made.

Brandie Owen

2/15/2011 08:28:20 am

Question 2-- (my last question was question one)

The importance of chapter five in which Nathaniel Hawthorne titled “Hester at her Needle” is that it shows the significance of Hester’s talent to work with needles which was uncommon in the Puritan society. Hester put her talent to use by spending a large amount of her time creating things for the people in the society so she could provide for her and her daughter Pearl. “She possessed an art that sufficed, even in a land that afforded comparatively little scope for it’s exercise, to supply food for her thriving infant and herself.” (pg.54) Hester Prynne was brilliant when it came to making things that the people of the Puritan community would want and be willing to pay her for. She made all sorts of things including gloves for the governor, articles of clothing for funerals, baby linen, children’s attire, ect. (pg 54-55) Although Hester Prynne had a unique style of needlework in which many of the Puritans in the community enjoyed, Hester was not allowed to make anything for a wedding. The Puritans felt that since Hester was impure for committing adultery, she should not be allowed to create the white veil for the bride since the white veil symbolized purity. This example in the book reminds us of how Hester Prynne continues to be an outcast to the Puritans.

Brandie Owen

2/15/2011 09:04:53 am

In response to Ashley Thalasinos
(Question Two)---

Hester Prynne really shows the desire that she has for taking care of her daughter Pearl by spending hours and hours doing her skill of needlework. She continued to stay in the town even though the people of the Puritan society basically shunned her, and managed to live in that society while taking care of her daughter on her own. I look up to Hester Prynne for her dedication to provide for her daughter even though things are tough and she is an outcast because of her sin. I love how even though Hester is exempt for creating the veil for the wedding because she is impure, but she continued to keep her head held high and didn’t let the society’s views of her become the view of herself.

Brandie Owen

2/15/2011 09:52:18 am

Question 3---

The character I was asked to analyze was Roger Chillingworth. His real name is Roger Prynne, and he is the husband of Hester Prynne. Roger was a scholar in England when he married Hester. He sent her to America and told her to live quietly until he arrives after he completes his studying. To me, this shows that he was very much capable of love because he was willing to wait for her while they were having to be apart. He arrives much later than he initially planned but when he arrived his heart was broken by seeing his wife, who he has been anticipating to see for so long, standing up on a scaffold for the crime of adultery. “Very soon, however, his look became keen and penetrative. A writhing horror twisted itself across his features, like a snake gliding swiftly over them, and making one little pause, with all its wreathed intervolutions in opened sight.” (pg. 40) This shows that Roger was shocked to see his wife standing on the scaffold which makes him a man of high expectations. When Roger entered the jail cell of Hester Prynne disguised as a physician, the first thing he did was take a look at Pearl. This indicates to me that he was very hurt at the act that Hester had committed because this child that she his a mother to is not his. “The child is yours,-she is none of mine,-neither will she recognize my voice as an aspects or as a father’s.” Roger Chillingworth comes across to be very one way or the other. I know that he is very hurt by the crime his wife has committed but he doesn’t try to see Hester’s point of view of why thing’s have happened. Roger comes off as very revengeful. Towards the end of chapter four when he asks Hester to tell him the name of the Pearl’s father and she refuses, he goes into detail about how he will seek his revenge. Roger is ashamed of being the husband of Hester Prynne, because he makes her swear that she will never reveal his true identity. This proves his character to be arrogant.

Justin

2/15/2011 09:57:29 am

I believe Pearl is a very hyper child. She seems to want to protect Hester from all of the people that talk about her.She is a very independent child. She does not seem to like anyone but her mother.

Brandie Owen

2/15/2011 09:59:34 am

Response to Ragan Moore (question three)---

I like how even though the town views Hester has a impure person, she doesn’t look down upon herself. Hester is very strong and brave, like you said, And I admire her for being that way. It must take a great amount of courage. I don’t think that I would be able to cope with everything as well as she did. Not only does she deal with the Puritan society bashing her for her sin, but she manages to take care of her daughter Pearl. I like how she remained dedicated to being a good mother for her child. That shows very good qualities in her.

Lindsay Whitaker

2/15/2011 11:05:33 am

Reply to Ashley (question 2):

I like how you said that although Hester was released from jail, she stayed in town even when she was judged and looked down upon. And she ignored the ridicule and provided for herself and Pearl by her needlework.

Lindsay Whitaker

2/15/2011 11:31:08 am

Question 3:

Roger "Chillingworth" was Hester Prynne's husband. When he walked into the jail to see Hester in chapter 4, he was very calm at first in my opinion. While reading about his time visiting her, I imagined him very confused and disgusted when seeing Pearl for the first time. On page 48 he says "The child is yours,-she is none of mine,- neither will she recognize my voice or aspect as a father's". He also implies that even if he was the father of this child he still could not be a good one. Roger is obviously upset about this as any man would be and I don't blame him for being angry.

Jacob Gulledge

2/16/2011 05:19:33 am

question 1

I believe that the attitudes that the towns people had toward Pearl and Hester were very bad because when she was standing on the scaffold in chapter 3 the children were teasing her and the adults were talking about her as well,My reactions while reading this was sympathy for Hester and Pearl

Jacob Gulledge

2/16/2011 05:26:06 am

question 2

I think that Hester shows alot of character in chapter 5 because she is released and is free to leave town but chooses not to do so,I believe that horne goes into such detail with her needlework because even though everyone has alienated her she still continues to provide for her daughter pearl as well as being nice enough to do needlework for the mayor as well.

Jacob Gulledge

2/16/2011 05:31:35 am

My character is Hester and i believe that even though she commited adultery she still shows good character by keeping pearl and standing up for her daughter when the towns people thinks that she is a demon child.The attitudes that the puritans had against Hester and pearl were harsh and cruel because they act like they have never did anything wrong and they criticize her and pearl so much because of one mistake,I also believe that there attitudes toward Pearl are even worse because they treat her very bad and it's not even her fault

Jacob Gulledge

2/16/2011 05:33:19 am

reply to justin question 3

I think you are right,Pearl is a very hyper child and the only reason that she skips and sings through town is because she just wants to have fun.

Jacob Gulledge

2/16/2011 05:35:17 am

reply to Ashley question 1

I think your right the attitudes toward Hester were very harsh.I think that there way to hard on pearl as well

Jacob Gulledge

2/16/2011 05:38:03 am

reply to Lindsay question 2

I agree with you that hester takes pride in her needlework by adding the extra stuff to the red "A" and that she will do whatever it takes to keep herself and pearl fed

Group THREE: Chapters 1-7

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