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18, 2005
Hester's burden, no more
Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter (Ch 14-21) -- American Literature, 1800-1915 (EL 266)
"So speaking, she undid the clasp that fastened the scarlet letter, and, taking it from her bosom, threw it to a distance among the withered leaves."
I think that this is a pivotal moment in the novel. Hester has realized that she has had her fair share of punishment for her sin and that she is done with it all. Also, the fact that she was able to pour some hope into Dimmesdale is a good thing. He needed a "light at the end of the tunnel" sort of thing. Hester lets her hair down out of her cap, and frees herself from the confines of the scarlet letter.
Seeing as how I just finished chapter 18, my opinions on this are subject to change, so I'll be back to this. Lemme know what you think.
Posted by LaurenEtling at 18, 2005 06:09
Comments
You've touched very closely on the symbolic notions of the novel, but try and project them a little further. Where do you think Hawthorne is ultimately going with this? Beyond the characters, the story has a life of its own, and if you look closely, you'll find that it's quite drastic and forward in thought for its time.
Posted by: Neha at 19, 2005 03:13
I also found this to be a major part of the story. Hester is acting almost in defiance by removing the letter which she has worn for seven years. What made her finally take off her symbol? Her meeting with Dimmesdale was almost romantic, with their true feelings finally resurfacing. "...which she had brought the man, once,-nay, whyshould we not speal it?-still so passionately loved!" In the "heat of the moment" she transforms into the woman Dimmesdale knew before, the one that made him commit his sin.
Posted by: Vanessa at 19, 2005 12:49
true vanessa, very true. i also think that in that moment, dimmsdale resorts to the sin. not necessarily saying that hester "made" him commit the sin, but she played a vital role in it. also, it is hester that sort of "frees" dimmesdale from his sinful heart.
are they in love? i kind of got that notion as well, but the writing is so dense sometimes that it's hard to figure it out. do u think they will run away together and live happily ever after? lemme know.
Posted by: LaurenEtling at 19, 2005 08:00
Haha well Lauren, while I don't think this exactly a fairy-tale that ends in "happily ever after" (I know the ending. I won't ruin for you all here though) I do think that, for this moment, the two are in love. They do believe that leaving New England and moving to Europe will ultimately solve their problems. There they can live as husband and wife and parents to Pearl.
Posted by: Nessa at 19, 2005 09:22
yes i also believe that Hester brings out the sin in Dimmesdale. I just left a comment on somebody else's saying this same thing, but when Dimmesdale emerges from the forest he is overwhelmly tempted to sin.
hummmm and about being in love...i just don't know......i don't think so...for some reason. I think they were just in the heat of the moment and they are just now bonded by their sin. They want to get away together because they have this bond together.
Posted by: michelle koss at 19, 2005 09:40
i do agree with you michelle. i actually never thought of it like this before. i guess hester and dimmesdale are rather bonded by their sin. they seem to not really have affection for each other, considering the entire encounter in the woods they did not even touch each other. but rather they seem to have the commonality of their sin that binds them together. good point! tahnks for all your wonderful comments evveryone! i really appreciate them :)
Posted by: LaurenEtling at 20, 2005 10:23