The adventures of Hester Prynne and her absurd situation due to her judgemental society has finally come to an end. To say that this book was very dramatic.. is a complete understatement. I mean, Hawthorne portrayed that very clearly in terms of how Hester was treated and punished. Also when Dimmesdale dies? Because I mean dying from guilt RIGHT after his confession isn’t dramatic and exaggerated right? Way to put that out there, Hawthorne. The exaggeration portrayed in The Scarlet Letter was quite humorous actually. Given that the Romanticism itself during this time era was dramatic, Hawthorne exemplifies this exaggerated quality in his novel. Additionally, I didn’t necessarily enjoy Hawthorne’s vernacular language as I tried to analyze and understand it throughout my entire reading. It sort of bothered me that I had to define a handful of words every once in a while.
But I mean, don’t get me wrong, I thought this book was pretty interesting. Regardless of it’s irrelevance and frustration I have had towards the characters, I honestly thought the plot had me interested enough to finish this book at all. If it were any different, I probably wouldn’t have bothered to finish it, to be honest. For example, if Chillingworth couldn;’t have the ability to annoy the hell out of me throughout this entire book because of his vengeance towards Dimmesdale, I probably wouldn’t have that hopeful gut feeling that something happens to him opposing his favor so I can be pleased with the way it would end. So, I guess you say that it triggered a motivation. Although it did end as I expected, without my hopeful misfortune for Chillingworth, I wouldn’t have changed a thing about how Hawthorne wrote this book. It’s originality is the beauty of it all, and I honestly enjoyed that.
Now, since this book is officially over for me, I do have final thoughts in regarding to the theme or moral lesson in this book. One can say that this book has no point or no lesson, and I can agree to an extent. It doesn’t teach you anything necessary you will need as an essential to life, but I would say that it does teach you about judgement and a Puritan-based society. It taught me the fundamentals of revenge when it came to Chillingworth’s vengeance, and the sexism I thought Hawthorne portrayed in this society since it was ran by men.
Finally, I would also like to point out that Hester Prynne slays with her generosity and genuinity throughout this entire novel regardless of her sufferings. Everything, from sucking up to accepting the “A” on her chest to taking the brave initiative to run away with Dimmesdale even after all those years of keeping his secret identity, EVERYTHING she has done in this novel definitely convinces me that she is a true heroine. To say anything less about her other than a hero is quite absurd.
Overall, I would definitely 8/10 recommend to those who are suckers for a good exaggerated, dramatic, and a sort of “romantic” story. Hawthorne is one to make your brain hurt beneficially, but it’s worth the read.
-Kimberly Ancheta
(Image retrieved from:
http://onelittlelibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/scarletletter_large.jpg?w=300)
But I mean, don’t get me wrong, I thought this book was pretty interesting. Regardless of it’s irrelevance and frustration I have had towards the characters, I honestly thought the plot had me interested enough to finish this book at all. If it were any different, I probably wouldn’t have bothered to finish it, to be honest. For example, if Chillingworth couldn;’t have the ability to annoy the hell out of me throughout this entire book because of his vengeance towards Dimmesdale, I probably wouldn’t have that hopeful gut feeling that something happens to him opposing his favor so I can be pleased with the way it would end. So, I guess you say that it triggered a motivation. Although it did end as I expected, without my hopeful misfortune for Chillingworth, I wouldn’t have changed a thing about how Hawthorne wrote this book. It’s originality is the beauty of it all, and I honestly enjoyed that.
Now, since this book is officially over for me, I do have final thoughts in regarding to the theme or moral lesson in this book. One can say that this book has no point or no lesson, and I can agree to an extent. It doesn’t teach you anything necessary you will need as an essential to life, but I would say that it does teach you about judgement and a Puritan-based society. It taught me the fundamentals of revenge when it came to Chillingworth’s vengeance, and the sexism I thought Hawthorne portrayed in this society since it was ran by men.
Finally, I would also like to point out that Hester Prynne slays with her generosity and genuinity throughout this entire novel regardless of her sufferings. Everything, from sucking up to accepting the “A” on her chest to taking the brave initiative to run away with Dimmesdale even after all those years of keeping his secret identity, EVERYTHING she has done in this novel definitely convinces me that she is a true heroine. To say anything less about her other than a hero is quite absurd.
Overall, I would definitely 8/10 recommend to those who are suckers for a good exaggerated, dramatic, and a sort of “romantic” story. Hawthorne is one to make your brain hurt beneficially, but it’s worth the read.
-Kimberly Ancheta
(Image retrieved from:
http://onelittlelibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/scarletletter_large.jpg?w=300)