What are your thoughts about the town's current impression/treatment of Hester? If you were Hester, how/would you confront Chillingworth? What do you think of Pearl's behavior?
(Obviously I'm looking for fairly lengthy journals this time around; there's a lot to talk about!)
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I am glad that the townspeople have finally begun to treat Hester as more than a criminal. I think it is a good thing that she is being accepted again, and an even better thing that the townspeople admire her. This treatment, however, could only have come from years of wearing the scarlet letter, so, had they never convicted her, I do not think Hester would have developed into such a strong willed person.
On the subject of Roger Chillingworth, I think how Hester confronted him was entirely appropriate. Now that the council is discussing the removal of the letter, I think that the entire situation needs to be resolved. That would mean having both Chillingworth and Dimmesdale admit their respective secrets and come to terms with what they have done. After all, seven years is far too long to hold a secret, especially if it has been burning at one's heart, eating away at one's sanity.
Pearl is a precocious child. Like her mother, she is independent and strong willed. I do not necessarily dislike someone with these traits, and, personally, do not find anything wrong with Pearl's behavior. However, I can see how acting in such a way could displease or annoy Hester, so perhaps it would be good for Pearl to mind her own business and stop asking about the scarlet letter and Dimmesdale's heart.
I am so happy that the townspeople have been treating Hester better. Even though she still wears the A for adultry, she isn't considered a criminal anymore. Everyone noticed her actions and how she has helped so many people. They noticed how her heart was true and how loving she was and started to treat her as human being and not a criminal.
I think the way that Hester confronted Chillingworth was good because she showed him how he was ruining Dimmesdale and how he had been trying too hard to make Dimmesdale confess. She didn't do it in a demanding way though; she just showed him her discontentment with the situation and I think her intent was to make him feel guilty. Chillingworth was too stubborn though, and all he wanted was revenge, even to the extent of almost wanting Dimmesdale dead.
I find Pearl, in this chapter, quite intriguing. She does not know what she looks like so of course by seeing he reflection, she thinks it is someone else and tries to bring that person out of the water. She creates many things out of the natural plants and flowers and is just so very curious. She is so intelligent as to know what is going on between Dimmesdale and Hester. She kept on asking her mother about the letter, but I think inside she already knew what the letter meant. She has so many ways of expressing herself and her extreme intelligence for her age shines throughout this book, but especially in chapter 15.
Yes, I agree with Ben and Mandie. It's nice to see that the townspeople are begining to see her as more than just a criminal. They're starting to see how the letter really has taught Hester a lesson. They're noticing how she has accepted her punishment without complaint and how, even though she knows that it can't really make up for what she's done, she still tries to do good for other people. I think Ben really hit a mark when he said, "[...]had they never convicted her, I do not think Hester would have developed into such a strong willed person." To take that further, I think that it's a good thing that they punished her in that manner. If she had been killed, she never would have learned anything. Even if they had branded/scarred her, I don't think she would have become a such a strong person. After all, she could have blamed them for scarring her. But with the letter, she made the letter herself. She's the one that continues to put it on everyday. In the end, she could run away and take the letter off and no one would ever know what she did. However she hasn't done that, so she has no one to blame but herself for her punishment.
With Roger Chillingworth, I totally agree with what Mandie said about Chillingworth making it harder for Dimmesdale to come clean. It was awsome that Hester would confront him like that, though I don't think it really made a difference than to show us how twisted Chillingworth is now. He even calls himself a fiend now! I probably would have confronted him too, except I'd be yelling alot more and finally storming away because of the hopelessness of it all. This is kind of off subject, but it's been bugging me, so I'm gonna type it real fast: Why the heck, when you're making up a name for yourself, would you come up with Chillingworth?!?!? That kind of gives away everything he's trying to keep secret! *sigh* what an idiot...
Sorry, but I agree with Jordan on Pearl. Pearl is demonic in sooooooo... many ways. She smiled when she broke the wing of the bird! How many seven-year-old girls celebrate because they condemed a bird to death?! I've seen such girls cry over a dieing frog that they haven't even touched, let alone a bird that they've injured themselves! She did kind of show that she was sorry about it later, so I guess in that way she shows that she's still an innocent little girl. I guess you can conclude that she's simply an innocent little girl with the subconciousness of a demon. :P
i was extremly pleased to read that Hester has become such a good person in the society. personally i think that the way she changed so much with helping people with their food and such came directly from the letter. i agree with everyone else on that. i truly do hope on thing though, Hester should be doing these things because she is a changed person not because it is her way of making up for the wrong things she has done in the past. other that than small possibility hester is a great person now. as for Mr. Chilliingsworth. he is a piece of work. you kinda gotta respect the guy. he is a pretty good actor. but nevertheless a very very twisted person. i cant really stand him. and to throw in a little dialoge here hey Courtney I! i totally understand your frustration with his name but the author had to do something to throw out some clues. and thats a pretty big clue.
Pearl is my hero, yes she may be demonic but so what if everyone were the same life wouldnt be any fun (that was a joke in case you didnt catch that) she is super smart. i only wish i could be that smart at that age. she is sooooo good at processing info like the whole A made out of seaweed thats impressive. i really like pearl and she isnt demonic so get that out of all your heads. oh ya i would probably hit chillingwork because he would just frusterate me so much. he is a twisted guy so i dont how to confront him it almost seems like none of what a person said would get through to him.
In the reading that the class did for today, a lot has happened. First, the town's view and treatment of Hester has changed. The discrimination and judgment that had been past down to Hester in previous scenes is no longer present. For example, the scarlet letter does not stand for her sin but now stands for her capabilities. Also, the magistrates of the town have now considered removing the scarlet letter from Hester's chest. They would do this because of the service to the poor and her compliance to society's rules. I think that Hester is deserving of this treatment although she does not believe that she has earned it. Also, in the reading for today, Hester confronts Roger Chillingworth about Mr. Dimmesdale. She does this to try to get the physician to stop tormenting the sick and weak pastor. She feels that she owes at least this much to the one that she made fall into temptation. As far as how Hester addresses the Doctor I do not see any other way to do it. Finding the Physician in a quiet place and talking to him was about her only option. Finally, the reader gets another glimpse into the behavior of little Pearl. In the reading, the child exhibits strange behavior which for her is not all that strange. In the scene at the end of chapter 15, Pearl puts seaweed on her chest in the shape of an "A" just like her mother's. This primarily shows how prominent this figure has been in the child's life. It said earlier in the book that the letter was the first thing that the baby saw. Also, we see another instance of Pearl's uncanny receptiveness. When Hester asks if Pearl knows why she wears the letter and Pearl replies for the same reason that Mr. Dimmesdale covers his chest. This is particularly strange because a child of that age would normally not be able to make that connection. In conclusion, the reading for today has revealed the town's new views of Hester, and the conflict between Hester and Dr. Chillingworth. Also, the chapters have given the reader futher insight into the strange behavior of Pearl.
I think it is great that everyone has started to except Hester back into the society and see her for who she is instead of what she had done. Hester has really shown improvement i believe. She has tried hard to become excepted and i think her acceptance is well deserved. She has become a much better person, she is much stronger willed, and it seems like she takes more responsibility for herself and the things she does.
I really dont like chillingworth all that much and (sorry brock) i dont really respect him all that much. I realize that he cant think much of Dimmesdale but revenge isnt the way to deal with it. I didnt think that there was anything wrong with the way hester confronted Chillingworth. She showed him how he is affecting others and that he wont be able to fix everything by himself. Chillingworth doesnt seem like a person that i would get along with very well either. REality is staring us all in the face and even though it can be very hard at times i think everyone needs to realize what reality is showing us and then move on and better ourselves by it. Roger doesnt act like he can do that. He is too worried about revenge and i think Hester realizes this about him.
I thought pearl was different in these couple chapters. She almost acted normal when playing at the shore. She was playing like you would expect a normal kid to do. Towards the end of the reading she seems to become demanding when asking about the letter which is not good. If she keeps acting like this there might actually be hope for her!
The town's current treatment of Hester intrigues me. They seem to have gotten so used to the Scarlet Letter that it really doesn't seem like it means anything to them anymore. She seems to have regained her standing and her license to have humanity. I would feel ecstatic about regaining at least some standing in the town. I agree with Ben that Hester would not be the person that she is currently without the punishment that the town sentenced her to. This story would have unfolded in a far different manner had she had been killed. Also this story could have gone into a completely direction had Pearl been taken away. The townspeople see Hester as an actual person, they have accepted her.
I believe that the way that Hester confronted Chillingworth was possibly the best way to do so. She saw an innocent opportunity to do so and she made the best of it. Like many others, or so it seems, I believe that the way that Chillingworth has been going about trying to get Dimmesdale to confess has damaged, or ruined, him in some way. I think that it is not Pearl that is possessed, it is Roger. The description of him alone, when he is talking to Hester, leads me to believe so. He's crazy and possessed. I can believe it easily.
Pearl's starting to actually act like a "normal" child. She seems to possess plenty of imagination, for instance her imaginary friend named "Fourth." (?)(I probably misinterpreted that) The one thing that I thought was slightly sadistic was her treatment of the jellyfish. Her experimentation/curiousity seemed to explain her actions, and as for the bird, it seems to me that she didn't take any joy in hurting it nor did she mean to hit it in a way that would cause death. Most of us have probably thrown stuff at animals not meaning to hurt them. From what I interpreted she dropped the stones after hitting the bird. It even says that it "[...] grieved her to do harm to a little being [...]" Pearl seems to be what the Puritans wanted from their kids, miniature versions of themselves, albeit more imaginative and energetic. Maybe slightly more demonic (jk).
It's great that society is starting to accept Hester, but if I was Hester I would probably be so use to being an outcast that fitting into society wouldn't really mean anything to me. It's great to have friends but she must not have had any close friends that she could trust before the incident otherwise they would have stuck by her, so her finding someone she can talk to and trust with her secrets now seems highly unlikely. Basically the people in society's opinions shouldn't really matter though if she dosen't trust any of them anyway. This chapter failed to mention if Pearl was being treated any diffrent also. If the Parents are starting to become more fond of Hester, I wonder if their children are doing the same towards Pearl. To me she doesn't seem like the type of girl who's capable of having friends, so I'm curious as to how well she's adapting to the changes. If I was Hester and I had to confront Chillingworth I would have told him he was more sinful than Dimsdale, and he needs to move on with his life. I'm glad she sent Pearl away when Chillingworth, and she were talking. If Pearl is crazy enough to throw rocks at birds, she's definiately not mature enough to know what the A stands for or anything about the situation whatsoever. It's great she felt bad, but she knew that it was going to hurt the bird so she shouldn't have done it in the first place. That part of the story really bugged me , and it made me dislike Pearl even more.
In today's reading, Hester is no longer thought of as a criminal, she is thought of as a regular townsperson. However, the scarlet letter does not allow her to actually be of a regular villager's standing. The people of the town have started to accept her back into society, which I think is great. It also goes to show that her punishment was a pretty easy punishment, because after awhile the people disregard the A as audultry, and think of it as a sign of her capabilities. If she had been killed for the sin, everyone would have remembered the reason she died. But if she had died from her sin, she would never have learned her lesson. Hester is very good to the people of the town, doing favors for people and helping the poor, and many people think highly of her for it. She is finally making her way back into society. She is proving to everyone that even though she has committed a sin, she is not fully an evil person. She is very self-driven and an all-around good person, despite her committed sin.
I agree with many when I say that the way that Hester confronted Chillingworth was appropriate. She just wanted to let him know that she thought the way that he treated Dimmesdale was unneccesary. She doesnt think he should torment the poor guy so much. There is something weird about him... it creeps me out. Pearl on the other hand, she is a very interesting girl. I do have to agree with Courtney though... she seems like an innocent girl with a demonic subconciousness. She is very smart, I don't think I've ever seen a child that age with the skills to connect pieces of information like she does. But still... she is kind of demonic too, but just a little.
I am very glad the townspeople are accepting her as a real human being now. Im glad they can she her more for who she is rather than what she has done. I think Hester is an amazing woman. It would take a lot of stregth to go about life the way she does. It is kind of contradicting to myself to say that I dont know if I could life like a normal person afterthe whole big letter A, walk of shame, jail time, husband coming back as if on cue to see her on the pillory, her husband knowing who the father of her child is and torturing the life out of him, ect. I mean this woman has a LOT going on and she is still expected to raise Pearl in a good manner and provide for them. It is just crazy. I am glad the townspeople are finally coming around to just really see her.
I dont like Chillingworth. I would probably have to agree with Brock. I'd hit him. Oh man, he just gives me the creeps. He is just gross. I dont know that I would be able to even talk to him. Just the way he will stare at you or feel ok with torturing someone almost to the point of death disgusts me. I mean, yes, someone has to do something about the whole killing Mr. Dimmesdale but I think I ould try to avoid Chillingwirth as much as I possibly could. Dont get me wrong, I would totally stand up for the father of my child, whether he admits it to the public or not. Im sure he is still a good guy and so Im proud of Hester for talking to him. It may not have solved much but it is a step in the right direction.
I still like Pearl. It is kind of weird how she like iteracts with someone who is non-existant, but when you've got no friends what's the poor little girl gonna do? As for the seaweed thing, I think it shows intelligence beyond that of a seven year old. I think it is pretty crazy that she put two and two together. She seems to possibly be a little in your face at times, but that is what kids are for I guess.
Well, it is about time the the townspeople realized that the "sin" Hester committed is just a part of her and that it does not define who she is. I agree with Ben, the scarlet letter almost benefited Hester in a way. It helped her realize how strong she is and that she only needs herself to survive.
Hester had the right to confront Chillingworth. I understand that he is her husband, but he needs to realize he sort of abandoned her in a way, and so he needs to lay off of Dimmesdale. If she never would have confronted him, then this problem will not be able to be resolved completely in the future.
I LOVE PEARL.(even if she is the devil child)she just fascinates me. She is a wicked smart child, and I think she is going to continue to amaze us. The fact that she knows about the medicines and is not afraid to confront people shows just how special she is and how important she is to the story.
ABOUT TIME!!!! i agree that what she did was bad yea...but still come on that was like 7 years ago. i meancome on seriously. THAT WAS 7 YEARS AGO. i think that it is amazing that they are now starting to let her almost live it down. I like that they are kinda sortove were talking about letting her take it off and that she go as far as to say that she will wear it till it falls off. I think that shows bravery, dedication and a commitment to something. I think she handled it like a person who was truly sorry for what happened.
I think she handled her confrontation with Chillingworth PERFECTLY. I think that he is a dirty rotten guy and she realized exaclty what was going on and then went and had a one on one confrontation with Roger taht i thought WAS PERFECT!!! she handled it with ease, perfection, and a true calmness. She was straightforward and truthful and was just...idk she just seemed at ease. She seemed to know EXACTLY what to say, and when to say it. She confronted him and made him...see her point of view.
I think that although i usually agree with Jordan that hse is a little devil child, the span of satan, i think that she is.......calmer, nice, and much sweeter. she is'nt perfect but it makes much much much more sense exactly what she is doing.
The townspeople have FINALLY realized that Hester is not pond scum, but she is actually a person that made a mistake. If I were her I would feel amazing to be once again accepted. She has gone through many trials and tribulations in all those years, but she has come out a stronger person. She struggled with a lot of things, but her biggest struggle, wearing the scarlet letter, proved to be the best motivator in the world.
I believe that Hester confronted Chillingworth in a way that made him realize what he was doing. It made him see how he was affecting Dimmesdale. I still don't like Chillingworth because he is too stubborn and bull-headed to take all this in, and he is a little insane as well. I can definately see where Pearl gets her satanic tendancies from, because Chillingworth is a scary man. If i were Hester, i would fear for Dimmesdale's life.
OK, so now i get to Pearl and i probably shouldn't change my mind about her.....so i won't. I still think she is the devil in a little girl's body. She is starting to act a little more normal and she is very smart, but everyone knows that demon children are incredible actors. She is putting on a little show for the world, just so when she rampages around town, no one expects it from her. She is solidifying her innocence. Pearl is also annoying Hester with her independance. This shows the branching off that the child is going through from the mother so that she does not feel guilty when she eats Hester later on in the novel. I'm strongly looking forward to the journals that my peers will post admitting that i was right about Pearl all along. Oh what a beautiful day!
it's noble of the townspeople to allow her to be active in the town. also it is good that they think of what she is doing now, rather than her sin from the past when they see her. after so many years they are finally coming around to see who hester really is! i am glad that hester is finally confronting chillingworth. although dimmesdale is still refusing to come clean about his sin, he doesn't deserve to be tormented by chillingworth, especially now that chillingworth is sure that he is pearl's father. if i were hester i don't think i would have argued with chillingworth. rather, i would have calmly asked him to forget the past and to leave dimmesdale alone, because chillingworth is the last person i would want to make mad. i find it strange that pearl is so obsessed with the scarlet lettter. at seven years old, i think most children would think nothing of it considering hester has been wearing it ever since pearl was an infant.
Obviously it is a good thing that Hester has gained a little respect and that the townspeople have starte to look past the scarlet letter. Hester is able to live a more normal life now, although wearing the scarlet letter has made her a strongwilled and self-reliant person.
I think Hester handled the confrontation with Chillingworth pretty well. She is right in thinking that she should tell Dimmesdale about Chillingworth's true identity. I agree that since they are considering letting the scarlet letter come off, the situation between Hester, Chillingworth, and Dimmesdale needs to be resolved.
Pearl's behavior is somewhat typical. All children are curious and overly inquisitive. But there are also some odd things about Pearl, such has her perceptiveness. Even Hester was surprised that Pearl sensed the connection between the letter and Dimmesdale's tendency to put his hand on his heart.
The towns people are really starting to lighten up on Hester. They are starting to look past the big red A on her chest. She has helped alot of people and the town is starting to realize that she is a decent person no matter what mistake she made in her past. I think that the A has made Hester a better person. I think Hester did a good job on confronting Chillingworth. He was trying too hard to get Dimmesdale to confess. Chillingworth is stubborn though. He wants everyone to know about Dimmesdales secret. I do agree with Chillingworth on the fact that Dimmesdale needs to confess. But Chillingworth has his own secrets that maybe he should confess too. I love Pearl. She is a very smart child. Its cool how she knows the connection between Dimmesdale and her mother. And how she is always interested in the A. I dont think she knows exactly what it means, but I think she has a pretty good idea. Pearl is a little different, but she is really intelligent. I wouldnt mind a kid like her.
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