Wow! I don't even know where to begin.... this book was extremely hard for me to understand. partly because of the old English? type talking, weird vocabulary, but mostly because of all the symbolism. I am definitely not one who picks up on symbolism easily. i just don't understand why authors cant just be straight forward...
The one section that really stood out to me, was the part where Pearl talks about the black man with the book. she says that her mom Hester wrote her name in blood in the black mans book and that is why she must where the scarlet letter. she also mentioned the minister Dimmesdale held his hand over his heart to hide the letter because he had also signed the book of the black man. Pearl says an old women told her of the story. i cant help but to think that this is an obvious symbol of the sin that they committed. Hester wears hers on the outside where as Dimmesdale hides his deep inside where as it is wearing down on him and therefore making him sick.
there are so many diffrent ways Hawthorne uses symbolim in the scarlet letter. Chapter 19 "the child at the brookside" at first look you just think of Pearl, but isnt it more than possible that they are talking about Hester or Dimmesdale. Hester for just trying to throw away the letter and letting down her hair as though nothing had ever happened? or what about Dimmesdale he is afraid to meet his own daughter who is just on the other side of the brook. He couldn't fess up to what he had done at the the beginning of the book he is truly a child.
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I agree with you that Dimmesdale hid his sin on the inside, which is symbolized by an interior problem, his illness, and because Hester showed her sin on the outside(the "A"), her physical appearance was effected.
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ReplyDeleteThere is definitely a lot of symbolism in this book, but I didn't catch "the child at the brookside". Now that you mention it though, I think that's a really good symbol. They really are all acting a bit childish in that scene. The scarlet letter was pretty much the major symbol of the book, but I like this one, it made me smile.
ReplyDeleteYou are trying to decipher the symbolism in this novel and are doing a very good job. Look closer at the events that are happening when you identify a symbol. The Black Man, who do you think he is and why would Pearl know about him? The woman who told them about the Black Man has been accused of witch craft, but is also seen as a little crazy only because of her relations. Think about what the A symbolizes as well. It does changer throughout the course of the novel. I do like how you recognize the "child at the brookside"; I find that to be an interesting observation. You may want to think about writing your paper on the symbolism found throughout our summer reading. It's a possibility.
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