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Post by sophiapa116 on Nov 20, 2012 17:49:29 GMT -5
As we discussed in class today, there is an evident disconnect between Hester and her baby. Hawthorne makes this subtly known as he writes “when the young woman—the mother of this child—stood fully revealed before the crowd” (50). This disconnect is also shown through the baby not having a name. However, Hawthorne does reveal the name of the baby in Chapter 6 which personifies the infant and creates an attachment. In this chapter, Hester becomes more connected to her infant, but more disconnected on some level as well. Pearl is described essentially as perfect and beautiful beyond compare, just as Hawthorne described Hester (86-87). Additionally, she is connected to her mother even more as they are both essentially in their own “sphere”, as they are both outcasts from Puritan society and ideology. However, Pearl is described as a creature with many odd behaviors that detach her from Hester. Hester questions if Pearl is even a human child, which is interesting because Hawthorne describes Hester as being extremely human, compared to the automaton Puritans. Pearl and Puritan society are both portrayed as nonhuman, but in two different ways. Comments?
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Post by idach116 on Nov 20, 2012 23:18:15 GMT -5
As mentioned in class, the narrator does not hide his detest for the Puritan society in Boston especially with the gloomy and grey tone he sets for them in the beginning of chapter 2. His description of the Puritans as not being human further proves his disdain of them because he sees them as a pack of animals that blend in blandly with little independent opinions diverging from the Puritan ideology. On the other hand, the narrator venerates Pearl especially in her haughty behavior and beauty, similar to Hester's to an extent. Hester thought that "[Pearl] seemed rather an airy sprite, which...would flit away with a mocking smile" (Hawthorne 88). Being described as an airy sprite, which is a lively fairy, Pearl can be concluded to be abnormal, probably intolerable, in the Puritans' view in manner and behavior. Pearl is described nonhuman positively because she is farther apart from acceptance than her mother is in society, which the narrators admires about her. On the opposite spectrum of type of existence where the Puritans are on the non human end as animals, Hester in the middle as a human, and Pearl on the opposite and more goddess-like end of non human.
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Post by maryri116 on Nov 25, 2012 12:21:17 GMT -5
I agree that the two are both portrayed as nonhuman, but I think that Hawthorne is doing so for two separate purposes. The narrator's attitude towards the Puritans obviously shows his dislike towards them, whereas his use of adjectives to describe Pearl (words that depict her shedding light on the Puritans, and giving them color) portrays her in a positive light. It seems as if Hawthorne contrasts the two's un-humanlike qualities in order to show the starkness of the Puritans in comparison to the liveliness of the little girl. More obviously, though, Hawthorne compares Hester's inanimate Scarlet Letter to her seemingly nonhuman little girl. Thus, Hester's Scarlet Letter and Pearl testify to what Hester has done and are symbols of shame; but at the same time they both distinguish her as being apart from and even above the rest of the community.
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Post by josephst112 on Nov 27, 2012 16:48:40 GMT -5
In chapter 6 we learn that Pearl is a mini version of Hester Prynne. When the narrator says, "Above all, the warfare of Hester's spirit, at that epoch, was perpetuated in Pearl. She could recognize her wild, desperate, defiant mood, the flightiness of her temper, and even some of the very cloud shapes of gloom and despondency that had brooded in her heart." (82) he demonstrates that Hester is scared because she sees herself in Pearl. This shows that Hester does not want Pearl to have that wild side to her because Hester does not want her daughter to be exiled as she was. Hester knows that if Pearl continues to grow up this way she will commit a sin, like Hester did, and be punished for it. The narrator foreshadows these events when he says, "But later in the day of earthly existence might be prolific of the storm and whirlwind." (82) He foreshadows that something bad might happen to Pearl in the future because of her nature. This is exactly what happened to Hester and if she follows in her mother's footsteps something bad will happen to her. Chapter 6 helps to show that Hester and Pearl are one in the same when the narrator talks about how similar their nature is and how Pearl might end up in a "whirlwind" of trouble, like her mother did.
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Post by kaylaro116 on Nov 27, 2012 17:42:57 GMT -5
As we discussed in class today, Pearl seems to be intrigued by Hester's "A". It is possible that this could be a result of Pearl's constant association with the letter ever since she was an infant. In the dull Puritan society the letter also stands out with its vibrant colors which could also be the reason it draws Pearl's attention. Pearl's interest in the letter could ultimately cause her to want one of her own. This leads to another point made in class today that Hester is gradually conforming to society and she is trying her best to do the same to Pearl. Hester sees her own characteristics in her daughter, and she has experienced what the consequences of being different are in society. She does not want that life for her daughter, so she is doing everything she can now to save her daughter from what happened to her.
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Post by 14elesvik on Dec 2, 2012 11:34:36 GMT -5
Does anyone have any ideas WHY Hester became more attached to Pearl? Why the connect happen? Is it due to her transformation from Romanticism to Puritanism. As a romantic, Hester had no connection with the nameless baby. Later, when Hester became terrified of Pearl's Romanticism and when Hester became more Puritan, Hester connected with her child better...
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Post by maryri116 on Dec 8, 2012 19:29:51 GMT -5
Vikranth - Just to scratch the surface, maybe her growing toleration for Pearl stems from her growing toleration for the sin that she believes she committed. Its obvious that Pearl is a manifestation of the letter (Heck, Hester even dresses the two the same!), so her increased acceptance most likely stems from an internal aquiescence between herself and her crime.
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Post by leiade116 on Dec 11, 2012 10:36:17 GMT -5
I think Hester Prynne is actually intrigued by Pearl, the fact that she notices so much about the A and what it stands for is shocking to Hester. Although she does seem nervous in the beginning that something may be wrong with the child, toward the end of the novel she has actually come to love Pearl. I agree with Mary, as the A on Hester's chest becomes accepted, Hester seems to accept Pearl as well. Since the her crime has in some ways dimished in the Puritan society, I think Pearl's direct connection to the adultery is somewhat dimished as well.
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