Scarlet Letter Journal Analysis
Journal #2:
In the novel The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, the scarlet letter negatively affects Hester because it excludes her from society, labels her as the embodiment of sin in the town, and grants her a lot of disrespect among the people. Hester lived in a cottage that was far away from the whole town and completely surrounded by woods, which already made her feel separate from the community. Not only that, but every time she went to the busy Boston area, her contact with society made her feel “banished, and as much alone as if she inhabited another sphere” (Hawthorne 78). Hester is obviously suffering from isolation already, due to her sin and the scarlet letter setting her apart from everyone …show more content…
Pearl is a beautiful, smart, yet troublesome child with a hint of evil inside her. She is so naughty that she is called a “demon offspring” and a “brat of that hellish breed” (Hawthorne 90) by the townspeople. Pearl is associated with the devil because all of the actions she performs are mischievous in nature. For example, she purposely fails a test that the governor prepares for her and almost causes herself to get taken away from her own mother, Hester. Pearl does this because she wants Hester to suffer, and seems to enjoy putting Hester through agony. This sinful passion comes from her being the product of sin as well as her being “the scarlet letter in another form; the scarlet letter endowed with life!” (Hawthorne 93). The author’s proclamation that Pearl is the living embodiment of the scarlet letter is key to Pearl’s overall character because it explains her entire behavior and existence. Pearl and the scarlet letter are both the results of the sin committed between Hester and Dimmesdale. The reason why Pearl always focuses on the scarlet letter is to constantly remind Hester of this sin and make her feel guilty about it, just like the letter does. In addition, the connection between Pearl and the scarlet letter can be noticed by the way Hester regularly dresses Pearl in garments of crimson red and gold, which are the same colors of the scarlet
Journal #2:
In the novel The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, the scarlet letter negatively affects Hester because it excludes her from society, labels her as the embodiment of sin in the town, and grants her a lot of disrespect among the people. Hester lived in a cottage that was far away from the whole town and completely surrounded by woods, which already made her feel separate from the community. Not only that, but every time she went to the busy Boston area, her contact with society made her feel “banished, and as much alone as if she inhabited another sphere” (Hawthorne 78). Hester is obviously suffering from isolation already, due to her sin and the scarlet letter setting her apart from everyone …show more content…
Pearl is a beautiful, smart, yet troublesome child with a hint of evil inside her. She is so naughty that she is called a “demon offspring” and a “brat of that hellish breed” (Hawthorne 90) by the townspeople. Pearl is associated with the devil because all of the actions she performs are mischievous in nature. For example, she purposely fails a test that the governor prepares for her and almost causes herself to get taken away from her own mother, Hester. Pearl does this because she wants Hester to suffer, and seems to enjoy putting Hester through agony. This sinful passion comes from her being the product of sin as well as her being “the scarlet letter in another form; the scarlet letter endowed with life!” (Hawthorne 93). The author’s proclamation that Pearl is the living embodiment of the scarlet letter is key to Pearl’s overall character because it explains her entire behavior and existence. Pearl and the scarlet letter are both the results of the sin committed between Hester and Dimmesdale. The reason why Pearl always focuses on the scarlet letter is to constantly remind Hester of this sin and make her feel guilty about it, just like the letter does. In addition, the connection between Pearl and the scarlet letter can be noticed by the way Hester regularly dresses Pearl in garments of crimson red and gold, which are the same colors of the scarlet