Thoughts from my recent reading of "The Scarlet Letter"

[Boblloyd91]

So I recently read the classic by Hawthorne. I tried to read it several years ago, however due to time constraints I couldn't finish it. I had the chance to read it through and finish it, and must say it is now one of my favorite novels. I have a few thoughts I'd like to share, and would like to hear everyone else's thoughts as well.

1. Did anyone else think that the opening chapter in the toll house was a bit too wordy and almost unnecessary in places? I did enjoy how he shared his thoughts on the Puritan inhabitants of Salem, however I felt there was a lot of "fluff" in that chapter.

2. There was a great deal of symbolism in the book, and I feel one of the most poignant symbols was actually the character Pearl Prynne. I thought it was fascinating how she was presented as a wild, somewhat hard to control individual who had an almost otherworldly aspect of her. I felt she could be a good symbol of both the intense, hard to control sexual drives of both Hester and Arthur, as well as sexual desire in general, and its' effects. I know that may sound weird but that's what I thought.

3. I found that in an ironic way, Hester became the more "holy" of the two in spite of her being the one who was the brunt of the persecution. I thought it was interesting that she became stronger over time, whereas Arthur Dimmesdale became more and more ill and self loathing as he hid from the adulterous affair. It seemed as Hester had to face the situation as it was, she was the one who was fully open and accepting of her actions. I also was wondering if Hawthorne was thinking of the woman taken into adultery in the New Testament.

4. I found it ironic that the main villain in the story (Chillingworth) was logically the one who was wronged the most. He found out his wife cheated on him, and was unable to be with her as she was now branded an adulterer (why he chose not to stay with her is still unclear to me). I think I'll share more soon, but for now those are my thoughts. How do you guys feel about the novel?

[ajvenigalla]

I finished this book on a first reading the beginning of this year. I loved it, every word and moment of it. Even the Custom House prologue (which is absolutely worth reading). It's not too wordy IMO; it's profound, terrifying, and full of fantastical power.

[Boblloyd91]

I finished this book on a first reading the beginning of this year. I loved it, every word and moment of it. Even the Custom House prologue (which is absolutely worth reading). It's not too wordy IMO; it's profound, terrifying, and full of fantastical power.

Interesting! How did you find it terrifying?

[ajvenigalla]

Interesting! How did you find it terrifying?

Chillingworth is a terrifying character. He's almost satanic in his hatred. Yet he is truly wronged. I think any novel with portents of witches and shooting meteors mixed with a sense of dread and sin - I think it's bound to be terrifying in a sense.

[~Ji]

The Scarlet Letter is one of my favourites. Hester Prynne is such a strong and noble character, without being idealised in any way.

1. " ... the opening chapter... almost unnecessary ... ". Absolutely. If anyone was reading it for the first time, I would suggest skimming this prologue.

2. I has always seemed to me that " ... the intense, hard to control sexual drives of both Hester and Arthur ..." are not special. Their sexual attraction was normal and typical and acting out that attraction was normal - always has been. Is little Pearl a symbol of wild free and unrestrained desire? - could be, because as you say, the book is heavy with symbolism.

3. "Hester had to face the situation as it was, she was the one who was fully open and accepting of her actions". This is true to a point. And Hester becomes such a strong and noble figure in the community. But in another sense Arthur Dimmesdale (who is generally seen as the weaker of the two) is also a character of great strength. He never chooses to move away, which would have been the true cowards way out, but instead stays even though he feels painfully the wrong he has done to Hester and to his own inner moral beliefs. Could he publicly owned that he was the Father? I doubt it would have been to any great benefit to Hester, Pearl or himself. What would have been their standing in the community subsequently? Probably doubly condemned for seducing such a fine wrought person as Arthur Dimmesdale.

4. I didn't find Chillingworth a particularly likeable character and like you, I have understood why he remained a mere onlooker.