Dialectical Journal: The Scarlet Letter
Dialectical journal: Scarlet letter
1."But on one side of the portal… was a wild rose-bush… which might be imagined to offer their fragrance and fragile beauty to the prisoner as he went in…” (Chapter 1, pg.41)
The rose bush in this excerpt at the beginning of the book signifies the one thing that seems to bloom despite the harsh rules and restrictions that the Puritan society bestow upon all who reside there. Much like the rose bush, Hester Prynne flowers and remains strong through her shame and ridicule despite the harsh condemnation of the puritan settlement.
2."By an action marked with natural dignity and force of character, and stepped out into the open air, as if by her own free-will” (Chapter 2, pg.45)
This quote shows how even when being lead out of a place so shameful and horrible as a prison, Hester’s persona is still elegant and confident.
3. “With a burning blush, and yet a haughty smile, and a glance that would not be abashed, looked around at her townspeople.”(Chapter 2, Pg.46) This is another example of Hester’s defiance and strength. When the author refers to the towns people as “her” townspeople it’s showing that even though these onlookers are scorning her, she somehow still has power over them.
4."On the breast of her gown, in fine red cloth, surrounded by an elaborate embroidery and fantastic flourishes of gold thread, appeared the letter A.” (Chapter 2, Pg.46)
This excerpt displays how Hester has taken her ignominy and over exaggerated it so that she is almost mocking the very thing that was meant to shame her, making it her own.
5."There she beheld another countenance, of a man well stricken in years…yet those same bleared optics had strange, penetrating power, when it was the owner’s purpose to read the human soul…as Hester Prynne ‘s womanly fancy failed not to recall, was slightly deformed, with the left shoulder a trifle higher than the right.” (Chapter 2, Pg.50)
Hester is either
1."But on one side of the portal… was a wild rose-bush… which might be imagined to offer their fragrance and fragile beauty to the prisoner as he went in…” (Chapter 1, pg.41)
The rose bush in this excerpt at the beginning of the book signifies the one thing that seems to bloom despite the harsh rules and restrictions that the Puritan society bestow upon all who reside there. Much like the rose bush, Hester Prynne flowers and remains strong through her shame and ridicule despite the harsh condemnation of the puritan settlement.
2."By an action marked with natural dignity and force of character, and stepped out into the open air, as if by her own free-will” (Chapter 2, pg.45)
This quote shows how even when being lead out of a place so shameful and horrible as a prison, Hester’s persona is still elegant and confident.
3. “With a burning blush, and yet a haughty smile, and a glance that would not be abashed, looked around at her townspeople.”(Chapter 2, Pg.46) This is another example of Hester’s defiance and strength. When the author refers to the towns people as “her” townspeople it’s showing that even though these onlookers are scorning her, she somehow still has power over them.
4."On the breast of her gown, in fine red cloth, surrounded by an elaborate embroidery and fantastic flourishes of gold thread, appeared the letter A.” (Chapter 2, Pg.46)
This excerpt displays how Hester has taken her ignominy and over exaggerated it so that she is almost mocking the very thing that was meant to shame her, making it her own.
5."There she beheld another countenance, of a man well stricken in years…yet those same bleared optics had strange, penetrating power, when it was the owner’s purpose to read the human soul…as Hester Prynne ‘s womanly fancy failed not to recall, was slightly deformed, with the left shoulder a trifle higher than the right.” (Chapter 2, Pg.50)
Hester is either