After reading the remaining chapters if the Scarlet Letter, I found it interesting to see how important the symbols were throughout the book. Personally my thoughts and feelings was that, the book resulted in expulsion, suffering and acceptance. However, I also feel it resulted in knowledge of what it means to be human. Throughout the entire book the scarlet letter was meant to be a symbol of shame, not something that was supposed to help Hester identity. The letter helped because as the story gradually progressed the meaning of the letter shifted.
The letter “A” first meant adulterer, eventually it was known for “Able.” As I recalled in chapter 22, on the Election Day the Native Americans thought the letter “A” meant she was a person of importance and status. Like Pearl, the letter functioned as a physical reminder of Hester’s affair with Dimmesdale. However, I feel the instability of the letter’s apparent meaning calls into question society’s ability to use symbols for ideological reinforcement. Pearl was the physical consequence of a sexual sin and the indicator of a transgression. Yet, Hawthorne was able to show us that Pearl was a reminder of Hester’s sin. To her mother, she was more than just a mere punishment but a blessing. She represents not only “sin” but also passion that engendered the sin.
Pearl’s existence gives her mother reason to live, bolstering her spirit when she is tempted to give up. It was only after Dimmesdale was revealed he was Pearl’s father she became fully “human” (chapter 24). Pearl functioned in a symbolic capacity as the reminder of an unsolved mystery.
All in all Pearl was not asked to be born as a symbol of sin, it just happened. The Puritans viewed sin as a threat to the community that should be punished and suppressed, but the question I composed: “Was it only Hester that committed sin?” I did not only find the symbols important, but I felt I gained a better understanding about Puritan’s life and religion. According to research, religion played an important role in the Puritan’s life. They felt that they were chosen by God for a special purpose and that they must live every moment in a God-fearing manner. However, it was shocking that if Puritans did not read the Bible it was thought that they were worshipping the devil. I also found that people in Puritan religion were expected to work hard and repress their emotions or opinions. However, the puritans established laws derived from the Bible and they punished or expelled those who did not share their beliefs or committed sin. I feel that as humans we all sin and no one is perfect. My beliefs and thought are that we might sin in different ways our sin may be physical (by us acting it out) or it may be mental (thinking or lusting about it), so how can someone be punished (whip or put to death) for his or her sin and we all sin?
I enjoyed reading your opinions on the book. I too also agree with the fact that Hester's letter changes over time; going from a megative into a positive. She was making the best of the situation and never gave up hope that one day her burden of this punishment will be gone.
Now on the subject of how can someone be punished for a sin when we all sin, I believe that is all depends on the sin. If we lie to someone or, in the case of Hester, commit adultary that is between you and God; he needs to give you absolution. However, if you kill someone then the law will get involved to find justice for the situation because no one has the right to take the life from someone else. That sin needs much more action because God is not the only one a person needs absolution from.