We as readers see or understand Hester Prynn in two different ways. Her inward character is the opposite of what she acts like in public. Hester's outward character in the begging is more scared and she fears the worst. She is embarrassed and the shame brought upon her is killing her from the inside. but toward the middle and end she doesn't really mind the letter, she is so used to everyone pointing fingers at her. She is really the nicest lady in the Town. she sews stuff for the village, helps out the poor and is nice to everyone. But as the narrator tells us, she would be shamed twice as harshly if they really knew who she was. Hester talks bad about others and said that she would kill Pearl and then kill herself, because of all that she has gone through, her life sucks.
If only Hester was who she seems to be.
THis is a kick ass topic Naomi. its so true about how she needs her privacy. some things are ment to stay private and others can be shared. with her life going public she was going downhill at first, she wanted to kill pearl and herself to keep them out of misery.
ReplyDeleteNaomi,
ReplyDeleteI agree that this disjunction between one's outward appearance and one's inner life is at the heart of the novel. You might not want to limit yourself to Hester. Other characters exhibit the same dynamic (Dimmesdale is outwardly revered, but inwardly tortured), as do major symbols (even as the 'A' is transformed into acceptance by society, it represents the agent in Hester's rejection of the same). This should be a fun paper! I look forward to seeing a draft.
i dont know how to start my paper
ReplyDelete