Sunday, January 9, 2011
Another View on Hester
Ch 13 does not go far into the story line to say, but takes time to give the reader prospective on Hester and what is going through her brain. Hester sees Dimmesdale in a state that makes her feel guilty, but she isn't sure whether or not to help him. Hester knows that Chillingworth is not healing his "friend", and she knows that he is gaining his trust so he can execute his revenge causing the most damage to him. We also are told that Chillingworth has sunk down morally to execute his revenge on Dimmesdale, while Hester supposedly has risen up after her sinful action. Discussion wise, we didn't get to talk long, but I did find the section talking about Hester's A important; comparing her A to the cross of a nun in my opinion is a bold statement. As Hester is portrayed helping the poor and needy, I kind of get the feeling that it is almost not sincere, like her thinking is not all there, and that her sanity is a tiny bit shaken.
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Hester's attitude is always up to discussion so far as I am concerned. She seems to be doing the things that she is doing in this community at least partly to show the leaders of the place that she is able to do it -- that she is not a bad person, but she does it with a sense of rebellion. I say this because she never repents of her sin. She becomes a model person while still holding onto the idea that she and Arthur have a real marriage that may not be recognized on earth, but is right so far as heaven is concerned. Hawthorne seems to be conflicted about the effectiveness of the punishment given to Hester; he does not seem to believe that they have changed her on the inside. They have succeeded in changing her behavior. Given the transcendentalist viewpoint from which Hawthorne comes, which can be seen as a very individualistic way of thought, this forcing of external change is probably a difficult barrier for Hawthorne to face. I believe that Hester's refusal to repent is a key to her character.
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