A Cogitative Countenance

     Although the writing and language of Nathaniel Hawthorne is initially difficult, and the plotline seemingly slow, The Scarlet Letter is off to a great start.  The storyline is well developed, and keeps me wanting to keep on reading.  I especially love how well developed each character is; although the author successfully keeps pieces of their true identities and intentions somewhat hidden, he exposes them at just the right moment.
     I am beginning to question the true thoughts of Hester Prynne, the main character.  She is forced by her society to wear the letter “A” on her chest, because of the adultery that she had committed.  She does have thoughts that express that she is feeling ashamed of it, and that she is unhappy about her punishment.  There is a time when Hester see’s her reflection, and the main focal point about her is the scarlet “A” embroidered upon her chest.  However at times, she seems to not be bothered by it.  For example, while she could have easily left the town in which she was accused, ridiculed, and punished, she chooses to remain living there, constantly being seen with the scarlet scar upon her.
     This book is also a great window into the time era in which it takes place.  So many things are going on, such as Hester’s situation and Dimmesdale’s illness and struggles with faith and morals, that are true to that era.  I am excited to continue to learn about these situations, and to see how many of the intricate situations are resolved.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 25th, 2006 at 8:30 pm and is filed under Outside Reading, English 213. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.