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September 13, 2005
The Scarlet Letter Ch.8-13
"I can teach my little Pearl what I have learned from this!" answered Hester Prynne, laying her finger on the red token. "Woman, it is thy badge of shame!" replied the stern magistrate. "It is because of the stain which that letter indicates, that we would transfer thy child to other hands." "Nevertheless," said the mother calmly, though growing more pale, "this badge hath taught me,--it daily teaches me,--it is teaching me at this moment,--lessons whereof my child may be the wiser and better, albeit they can profit nothing to myself."
I feel that this section, depicts perfectly what every parent wants for their children: for them to have a better life then they did themselves. All parents want to provide more for their kids, then their parents provided for them. Parents want to give their kids more then what they had in hopes that their children will do it for the next generation to come. Hester feels that through her mistake, Pearl could only gain the knowledge of what not to do, because of what she has seen her mother is going through. People say that the best way to learn is through experience, and if you experience the worst, it can only get better from there. I think Hester knew that, and she wanted to pass that on to her daughter, just like any parent would.
Posted by ElizabethLudovici at September 13, 2005 07:05 PM
Comments
i do agree with you...it goes along with the old adage that parents want to teach their children from their mistakes. my parents would always reprimand me, and then tell of a similar story when they were younger. corny, i know, but it made me listen. i think that it kind of what hester was getting at. pearl will learn the ultimate lesson from her mother's mistake, and, in due time, it will shape her character forever.
Posted by: LaurenEtling at September 13, 2005 09:48 PM
The statement that you quoted makes me realize how Hester and Dimmesdale can use their sin to better other people. Hester uses her sin to teach Pearl and can use it to teach other people. It makes her be a stronger impact. Dimmesdale uses his sin to help other people. He is a preacher and the only way you can effectivly reach people is if you have experience. He can relate to people and he has a very strong message when he does preach. People come to him and say.....you are a Godly man!!
Posted by: michelle koss at September 14, 2005 08:34 PM