A Cogitative Countenance

In class today, when Mr. Wasserman told us to reflect and just write about whether or not we felt “we made the right decision,” I initially just thought it was BS; just being honest here. Although now that I’ve had some time to reflect on it, I really think that it is a very significant question.

For the big picture, we are moving towards answering the question “How does this book challenge or confirm my fundamental beliefs about how the world works?” It could very well be that the question of whether or not we think we made a good decision, will define how well we can answer the question above. I personally felt that I did make the “right” or a good decision when it came to both my book and my group. Although “Snow Falling on Cedars” can be quite slow, dull, and boring at times, it definitely contains some content and some concepts that do challenge and/or confirm some beliefs of mine. Also, the people that I am working with are key to successfully answering such a question, because they bring up ideas and contribute their own thoughts and personality to the group, that allows me to have a better underdstanding and a deeper interpretation of the text.

So far there hasn’t been to many things that I think “Wow I totally agree,” or anything like that. I don’t know if it is because I’m just not paying attention to the text in a way that allows me to make such connections, or it could just be that my views don’t conflict or agree with the book to a significant event. It’s hard to explain, but I guess different things and beliefs are deffinitely different, and also the extent to which they care about them varies. So although nothing has popped out at me so far, I’m sure that something will come about, or I can really get into it and think about some of those issues that are just mild to me.

     I have come to the end of The Scarlet Letter, and it was definitely worth reading.  It was a whole new reading experience for the least part, because such a book would not usually cross my eyes, and this made it all the more enjoyable and interesting.  I would even recommend this book to others, especially those studying Puritan times, psychology, or evil such as our class did.
     All that I had stated in previous posts that I wanted to unfold in the book did, and it was very interesting to follow.  Hester eventually removes the scarlet letter from her chest, but her child Pearl doesn’t seem to recognize her mother without it, forcing Hester to resume the wearing of the scarlet letter.  This symbology is important, and is another aspect of Hawthorne’s writing that I enjoyed.  In the final third of the story, questions of identity had arisen, and the relationships between the four main characters became more and more intricate and complicated.  A woman is also taken to be punished for supposedly being a witch, and this is just another fine example of how true the author stays to the time period, while also developing this fascinating story line.
     Leaving this book, there is not much left to be answered.  The story comes to a tidy conclusion, leaving the reader feeling satisfied that they know the story of these characters’ lives.  Of course, I will always wonder what “irreverent” thing was on Minister Dimmesdale’s chest, although I personally believe it to be a scarlet letter “A,” matching that of Hester’s.

     Just a little over two thirds of the way through The Scarlet Letter, and there are many things still developing, which make me really like this book.  To start off from where my last post ends, the relationship between two characters, a minister and a doctor, illuminate topics that relate back to the main character, Hester.  This is so interesting, and such an intricate skill that Nathaniel Hawthorn possesses.  The minister of whom I speak is Dimmesdale, and he is beginning to touch upon some of the issues that we studied in class relating to sin and the religious and moral beliefs, which relate back to evil.  Such connections are truly intriguing to me, and are one aspect of this book that keep me hooked on it.
     Things are beginning to change for Hester, and although she is still ridiculed and shunned in society, she is begging to become ever so slightly accepted back into the society over time.  However, the most important thing that I am noticing about this book are the secrets being revealed to the reader.  A period of seven years has past, and the book is exposing the secrets of the characters, mainly things that happened to them those seven years ago.  It is very interesting to see what will happen, and the storyline keeps unfolding in unexpected ways, yet somehow in a predictable manner.
   Reggy has pretty much summed up the plot line as of now, and I am interested just as much as she is to see what is going to happen next!

     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.

     By reading The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, I hope to learn more about life, and punsihments, in the Puritan times.  From reading the summary of this book, I expect that this book will illustrate the strict and simple lifestyles led by the Puritans.

Reggy has some very similar thoughts on this as I do:

I chose this book because I am interested in getting to know the Puritan community, their punishments, and how they treated others who had committed sin. I have not read anything about this topic, that is why I am so interested in starting to read about it.

     I also hope that I will be able to make some connections from this book with the things that we studied in class about evil.