Feminist Critique

I think the feminist critique is rather pointless. People are simply looking for something that is not there, and even if it is there who honestly cares. It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out that Chaucer may have been misogynistic, as most males of his time were. Women were subordinate to men during this time, that is simply common knowledge. Emily was objectified by Chaucer because that was the role taken on by women of the time. This does not make Chaucer a woman hater, he is simply following standards set by society. I believe everyone is well aware of a woman's role in the middle ages, including Chaucer, which is why is view of women is accurate. The feminists that view this book as morally wrong are probably right, but this is how the world was at this time. In fifty years we will look back and think that the gay rights debate is rediculous because the solution is very obvious.

Society Evaluation

I decided to keep my society exactly the same. Everyone who was willing to trade would only do so if it was advantageous to them. I found myself continuously saying "no I dont want to trade Albert Einstein for Kanye West". Also, I like my society and almost feel an attachment to it; it would have taken a very advantageous trade in order to interest me. However, I do see a few flaws in my society. Every member has a very dominant personality type. Martin Luther King is the leader of my society, but Albert Einstein and Chuck Norris are leaders in their own right. Wonder Woman could easily do whatever she wants with her super power and Chuck Norris could become a military dictator. Megan Fox has little value to contribute to society besides her good looks and ability to have children.

Ideal Society

When thinking about an ideal five member society the first person who came to my mind was Chuck Norris. Chuck Norris would be the laborer and warrior in my society. You just don't mess with Chuck Norris. Next I chose Megan Fox, she would be the sexual being and her rediculously good looks would keep the male members of society entertained. My third member of society would be Martin Luther King, he is one of the greatest leaders in history. He was also a scholar and never afraid to stand up for what he believed in. Albert Einstein would be the fourth member, he was one of the smartest scientists ever, his knowledge would be used to fix and invent useful products. Finally would be wonder woman, wonder woman is a warrior with the speed and strength of one hundred humans.

10 Steps to Dating

1. Be outgoing and talk to the girl

2. Become friends with her

3. Go out of your way to talk to her. ex-go to her locker or wait for her after school

4. Begin being more than friends. ex- put your arm around her, text her

5. Ask her to hang out, bring a few friends, not as formal

6. Depending on how hanging out was, ask her on a date ex- the movies or dinner (Burger King)

7. Make her your girlfriend

8. Start hanging out with her other than going on formal dates, just spending time together

9. Bring her around your friends

10. Introduce her to your family

Essential Question #4

There are many similarities between Invictus and Beowulf. Invictus is much shorter because it focuses solely on the concept of fate and faith in God, a major theme in Beowulf. In the first stanza Henley talks about thanking whatever gods may be for his unconquerable soul. The character in Invictus cannot be defeated because he thanks the gods. Beowulf is the same way, Grendel never had a chance at defeating him because of his faith in God. Beowulf is unconquerable. Henley next says that he can be bloodied but never defeated and still unafraid. Beowul is never scared because he knows that God is on his side. Henley finishes by saying he is the master of his fate and the captain of his soul. Beowulf was fated to defeat Beowulf and he accomplished that through his faith.

Essential Question #2

What are the social obligations of a hero?

The biggest social obligation of a hero is to protect those who he or she has vowed to protect. A hero has a social duty, much like a police officer, to serve and protect. A hero always puts the needs of the community before the needs of him or herself. A hero is made by the villain. All historical heros protect their respective communities from a certain villain. Without the villain, there is no hero. A hero is also a roll model. Everyone in the community looks up to the hero. Children want to be like the hero while adults envy him or her. If the hero fails to act as a role model they can no longer be labeled a hero. Being a hero is not all fun and games, it is hard work. Much like a professional athlete, a hero is always in the spotlight and must be conscious of how they look and whay they say. Heros are held to much higher standards than the rest of the community.

Essential Question #1

How do we create division in our society?

Sociey is divided economically, ethnically, and spiritually. In our everday lives we witness the extreme economic divisions that are prevelant in our society. Higher income families tend to inhabit one part of town while the low income families are convined to other sections, these sections are sometimes separated by gates. In extreme cases, whole towns become consumed in economic prosperity or recession. The higher income families will migrate to a certain area, driving the property tax up and forcing lower income families to completely vacate their community. This same type of division is not only seen economically but also ethnically. A perfect example is Nonantum, the neighborhood in which our school is located. The streets are not seperated by the normal yellow lines, the lines are instead painted green, white, and red representing the Italian flag. Nonantum is inhabited by people of Italian descent, which discourages others from moving into the area. The same type of division is seen in South Boston with Irish people and in Waltham with latinos. In the global society spiritual division is a major problem. In Ireland Catholics and Protestants waged war on each other for years based solely on religous beliefs. Muslim radicals attacked the United States in 2001, and the war continues today. The world does not have to be like this. Rich people are no better than poor people, one race is not better than any other, and all religions should be respected and tolerated.

Dorian Gray Ch 19-20

Quote

"Suddenly I determined to leave her as flowerlike as I had found her" (Wilde 215).

Response

I think Dorian's promiscuity is a representation of Oscar Wilde in a heterosexual fashion. Promiscuity is not something that was widely accepted during this time period, especially homosexual promiscuity. I think Wilde chooses to write from a heterosexual perspective so as not to condemn himself. Wilde provides us with another critique of societal values through Dorian's promiscuity. Also, this idea brings up the value of love. In today's world the word love is thrown around like nothing, people say it even when they do not mean it. Dorian is a revolutionary character, his idea of love is more similar to that of today's world rather than that of his own time period.

Quote

"He was withered, wrinkled, and lonesome of visage. It was not till they had examined the rings that they recognized who it was" (229).

Response

Yes! I have been waiting the whole book for Dorian to finally pay the price for his actions and he finally receives his punishment in the waning moments of the story. Youth is not eternal, no matter what a person does they cannot stay youthful forever. Dorian's age catches up with him extremely quickly, when he destroyed the picture he destroyed the bargain, he killed himself and lost his youth; he gave his beauty back to it's rightful owner. Dorian deserved to die, there was no hope of any reformation. He was simply too far gone that he had to die.

DG 16-18

Quote

"The hideous hunger for opium began to gnaw at him" (190).

Response

Maybe opium will destroy Dorian's body like no other thing has. Dorian counts on the picture to bear the brunt of his sins and keep his face beautiful, but will the picture bear the internal effects of opium is the question. I really hope that Dorian will be forced to suffer some sort of consequence. Also, the fact that Dorian needs to smoke opium proves his feelings of guilt for his actions. Dorian could have just continued living his life normally but he now needs drugs to relieve the pain. 

Quote
"'You wrecked the life of Sibyl Vane,' was the answer, 'and Sibyl Vane was my sister. She killed herself. I know it'" (Wilde 195).

Response
Once again Dorian is so close to receiving retribution for his actions, and once again his beauty gets him out of a tight situation. I find myself continually waiting for Dorian to be punished; he comes so close and his beauty helps him. Dorian is the devil disguised as a beautiful human and nobody is able to recognize it. This relates back to people's perceptions of beautiful people, beautiful people can do no wrong. Bad perceptions of beautiful people simply melt away when we come into contact with people. Beyonce can simply do no wrong, she is just too good looking much like Dorian can do no wrong as he is beautiful.

DG Ch 15

Quote
"What is the matter with you to-night? You are quite out of sorts" (Wilde 181).

Response
Could Dorian possibly be feeling a bit of guilt? It has been a long time coming for Dorian to finally feel a bit of consequences for his actions. We see a loss of appetite at dinner and an insatiable thirst for champagne. His stomach is turning from guilt and he is attempting to drink away his problems. This is great, Dorian may finally be changing for the better. His guilt may possibly cause him to evaluate himself and realize the terrible life he leads. Dorian's guilt is the first step towards a transformation, it is uncertain if he will suppress this guilt or use it to help himself.

Quote
"'I believe he is in love,' cried Lady Narborough, 'and that he is afraid to tell me for fear I should be jealous'" (181).

Response
Mrs. Bennet! Lady Narborough's disconnect with reality is just like Mrs. Bennet. Lady Narborough provided a bit of comic relief to an intense situation, I actually chuckled to myself when I read this section. To be quite honest, I could not find another quote worth writing about so I chose a comical one.

Predictions on Dorian's Note

The two words written on the paper were Your Next. Dorian set up Alan by admitting he murdered Basil in order to convince Alan that he is capable of killing a man. He struck fear into the heart of Alan before informing him that he will be next if he does not destroy the body.

DG Ch 14

Quote
"You must have something to do with it. Wait, wait a moment; listen to me" (Wilde 173).

Response
This quote goes back to the discussion we had during class regarding Dorian's influence over man. We stated that Dorian has the ability to be the leader of men or the ability to drag men down with him. Unfortunately, Dorian has chosen the second option in his decision to drag Alan Campbell down with him. Dorian decided to force Alan to help him dispose of the remains of Basil Hallward by blackmailing him with some sort of note. Once again Dorian displays his profound ability to continuously make the wrong decisions. It is one thing to commit yourself to a life of crime, but to bring another man into the equation unvoluntarily is a whole other beast. What is it going to take for Dorian to finally realize that he has no right no do whatever he wants because of some rediculous painting?

Quote
"But the thing that had been sitting at the table was gone" (178).

Response
Damn! Dorian seems to have an inate ability to wiggle his way out of the tightest situations. I would love to see Dorian get punished for his actions, but I realize it is a far fetched idea. Dorian needs to pay for his actions because he is unable to realize himself what he has done. Dorian is the polar opposite of Reverend Dimmesdale. Unfortunately, Reverend Dimmesdale was tormented day after day by himself and another while Dorian lives his life free of consequence both from himself and from society. I'm afraid the only way to help Dorian is to kill him, it would be the best for both Dorian and London.

DG Ch 12-13

Quote
"It was some foul parody, some infamous, ignoble satire. He had never done that. Still, it was his own picture" (Wilde 160).

Response
The picture of Dorian Gray has become unrecognizable even by it's very artist, Basil Hallward. Basil had no idea what he was getting into when he asked to see Dorian's soul, he opened a can of worms that he never imagined would exist. Basil's once beloved muse is now a demonic shell of his former self. Lord Henry's experiment turned out to be disasterous, as forshadowed initially by Basil.

Quote
"He rushed at him, and dug the knife into the great vein that is behind the ear, crushing the man's head down on the table, and stabbing again and again" (163).

Response
The picture should have just burst into flames right then and there, what is Dorian thinking? What did Basil do to Dorian that he deserved to be murered, could it have possibly been for Basil's genuine care for Dorian? Lord Henry is to be blamed for all of Dorian's vile doings. Lord Henry chose the worst possible person for his twisted experiment, he to have foreseen the consequences. Lord Henry may have seen the consequences and not cared. The possbilities are endless, but a man is dead on account of Lord Henry's experiment.

Dorian Gray Ch. 11

Quote
"He grew more and more enamored of his own beauty, more and more interested in the corruption of his own soul" (Wilde 131).

Response
Dorian's interpretation of the painting is in the middle of the two options we have discussed. He sees the marks that he is leaving on the painting and becomes intrigued by it all the while cherishing his eternal youth. Dorian will never change, he sees the wrinkles made on the painting and scoffs at them. The marks made on the painting have an influence on Dorian, but this influence is not positive. The marks make Dorian happy that he made the bargain because he sees how much damage he would have actually done to his beauty.

Quote
"How exquisite life had once been! How gorgeous in its pomp and decoration! Even to read of the luxury of the dead was wonderful"(140).

Response
It is very surprising to me that Dorian would not realize the obvious. It is obvious that life will become boring when emotion and change is taken out of it. Dorian is basically living the same day over and over again, which is what he asked for. There are only so many things one can do at the age Dorian is. With age comes wisdom, and with wisdom comes an added element of excitement. Dorian needed age in order to become smart, when his beauty left him he would have had elderly wisdom. Now Dorian is trapped with his good lookes and naive mind.

Dorian Gray 9-10

Quote
"You must not ask me that, Basil. I could not possibly let you stand in front of that picture" (Wilde 119)."

Response
Basil could not possibly look at the best of his artwork and see the new marred image staring back at him. Basil would be absolutely crushed to see his work destroyed by the sins of Dorian. Basil would also find out about Dorian's deal with the Devil. Dorian has no friends in this world, nobody who he can fully trust. What good is beauty if there is nobody to share it with. Dorian cannot let anybody into his life because they might find out his deepest secrets. Dorian's life is now filled with outer beauty and inner torment.

Quote
"He recalled the stainless purity of his boyish life, and it seemed horrible to him that it was here the fatal portrait was to be hidden away" (125).

Response
Dorian can no longer bear to look at the picture. His quest for eternal youth will never end. Dorian's quest began with his natural beauty, followed by the Devil's bargain in order to keep himself young, and now he can no longer look at his marred image so he decides to hide it forever. Dorian's quest has taken him so far as to hide a picture where he looks old. Dorian can hide the picture but he can never destroy it, the picture owns Dorian's soul and will never sell it back to him.

Dorian Gray CH. 7 and 8

Quote
"He had dreamed of her as a great artist, had given his love to her because he had thought her great. Then she disappointed him. She had been shallow and unworthy. [...] But he had suffered also" (95).

Response
Dorian is calling Sibyl shallow but he has failed to accurately judge himself. Dorian fell in love with Sibyl's acting rather than her beauty and personality, sounds a bit shallow. This situation is much like when a man saves a woman's life, she is destined to fall in love with him; but once this luster wears off there is nothing to build a relationship on. When Dorian saw that SIbyl was a bad actress, the luster of the love he thought he felt has worn off.

Quote
"Eternal youth, infinite passion, pleasures subtle and secret, wild joys and wilder sins--he was to have all these things. The portrait was to bear the burden of his shame, that was all" (109).

Response
Dorian has achieved what he always wanted, eternal youth and a life without consequence. The picture will now bear the brunt of Dorian's age and sins. A life without consequence is a life with anarchy, Dorian will now do anything he wants because he knows it will have no effect on him. It is true Dorian will be happier because he will keep his youth, but what happens when Lord Henry grows old and Dorian stays young. Dorian will not feel his sins personally, but he will see them whenever he looks at the painting. Dorian's achievment is both a blessing and a curse

Dorian Gray Ch. 5-6

Quote
"As for marriage, of course that would be silly, but there are other and more interesting bonds between men and women" (Wilde 79).

Response
This quote relates back to one of the topics we discussed in class regarding Harry's motives. Scott stated that Harry may want to create another image of himself in Dorian, simply changing small aspects to see what it would be like. Seeing as Harry is already married, he would not want Dorian to be married because he already knows what marriage is like. Harry wants to see what other bonds between men and women are like so he can know what he could have had. Harry's fantasy of recreating himself in another man is twisted, he is willing to take another man's soul just for his own whimsical pleasures.

Quote

"Her trusts make me faithful, her belief makes me good. When I am with her, I regret all that you have taught me. I become different from what you have known me to be. I am changed, and the mere touch of Sibyl Vane's hand makes me forget you and all your wrong, fascinating, poisonous, delightful theories" (82).

Response

Dorian's love for Sibyl is deeper than his love for Harry. Sibyl could destroy Harry's experiment if Dorian begins to trust her more than he trusts Harry. Sibyl proves, once again, Dorian's impressionability. Dorian first let himself be influence by Harry to the point that his identity was lost, now we see him stating that Sibyl has more influence than Harry. The worst part of this is the thought of what Harry will do to Sibyl in order to save his experiment. The results could be profound.

Dorian Gray Chapter 4

Quote
"I dont't think I am likely to marry, Harry. I am too much in love" (Wilde 51).

Response
Dorian's sexuality is no longer a mystery, and Harry's sexuality is no longer as ambiguous. We see Dorian profess his love for a woman, this drastically changes the way I perceive the novel. Reading this chapter that was full of talks of marriage and woman is a change of pace, there is no longer a profound sense of ambiguity. My opinion has also shifted along with the novel, I believe Wilde is making a societal critique on flamboyancy and feminity. One's amount of flamboyancy and feminity has nothing to do with their sexual orientation.

Quote

"Oh, yes; horrid people with dyed hair and painted faces" (55).

"Don't run down dyed hair and painted faces. There is an extraordinary charm in them sometimes" (55).

Response

While reading this chapter a strange comparison comes to mind; I found myself continually comparing Dorian and Harry to Alan and Charlie from the television sitcom Two and a Half Men. This is especially applicable to the above quote, throughout the episodes Charlie pokes fun at Alan because he is unable to find girls to go out with him while Alan pokes back by saying that all the girl Charlie dates are whores. The two conflicting views make for a funny show while the two conflicting views of the novel made this chapter comical. 

Dorian Gray #2

Quote
"Margaret Devereux was one of the loveliest creatures I ever saw, Harry. What on earth induced her to behave as she did, I never could understand. She could have married anybody she chose" (Wilde 37).

Response
During class today we had an in depth discussion on which is more advantageous, beauty or intelligence. One of the major focal points was the fact that beautiful people can marry rich men and not have to work hard, therefore, beauty is more advantageous. In this case we see Margarent, who is apparently stunningly beautiful, run off and marry a poor man. Why she did not marry the richest man in the town is unknown. If she was more intelligent she would have married a richer man because women have little to no chance of making any money in that time period. If a woman was to gain status she would have to marry a rich man, Margaret could have but did not. Intelligence is much more valuable than intelligence, but a median between the two is ideal.

Quote
"To get back one's youth one has merely to repeat one's follies" (44).

Response
Lord Henry's statement may have an effect on Dorian. Whether this effect is good or bad is unknown. Dorian could interpret this statement literally and begin repeating all his mistakes again in order to accomplish his everlasting quest for youth. Dorian's other option is to realize that youth is plagued by mistakes which one will not make when they are older and wiser. Dorian may realize that growing old has its perks along with youth. Nothing is perfect and nothing is static, one cannot be young forever and youth is not without it's struggles. Dorian's immaturity is inhibiting him from growing old and wise.

Dorian Gray #1

Quote
"You seem to forget that I am married, and the only charm of marriage is that it makes a life of deception absolutely necessary for both parties" (Wilde 6).

Response
This quote has little textual relevance but I feel like it is the ignored aspect of marriage. Marriage is not a cake walk, people sometimes go into marriage thinking that it will be easy and full of nothing but blissful happiness. This is possibly why the divorce rate in the United States is at 50%, people have a false idea of the struggles of marriage and when the going gets tough people just quit. It is a testimony to certain people, if you are not willing to put effort into something important like marriage then you should not be getting married.

Quote
"Every day. I couldn't be happy if I didn't see him every day. He is absolutely necessary to me" (11).

Response
Oscar Wilde seems to be inserting his own life into his characters. When Basil states that he cannot reveal his painting because it will say to much about his true self it is a testimony to the struggles of homosexuals in the 1800s. These homosexual tendencies are probably why the novel was ridiculed when it first came out. If I was to guess what would happen I would say that Basil's sexual identity will be found out, much like Wilde's was. Once again, the novel's ending is not going to be pleasant.

Dorian Gray Preface Assignment

I did not particularly enjoy the preface as I do not enjoy this type of abstract, artsy writing. I find it somewhat difficult to understand. I did get certain concepts out of this preface. One thing was that people who find faults in beautiful things are corrupt, or in other words, pessimism is bad. People live their lives constantly attempting to find faults in everything while failing to see life's beauty. Wilde then goes on to talk about the morality of books, he states that there are no moral or immoral books, just well writen or badly written. This is a statement I completely agree with, throughout history certain books have gone from ridiculed to acclaimed. The morality of books is not objective, it is based on the opinions of the reader. Certain people could love books that another person would dispise.

Tim Rezendes
AP English Language
2/12/10
Scarlet Letter Essay 1
Dimmesdale’s Torture
Dimmesdale’s tortured soul and deteriorated body is a sight deserving of pity. Throughout the novel he is tormented by both himself and those he surrounded himself with, this agony began with his original sin and continued all the way to his unfortunate end. Dimmesdale’s anguish was especially poignant because of his occupation and his personality.
Dimmesdale’s vocation as the town priest in the wildly theocratic society that is Boston prevents him from professing his sin openly; therefore, his torment becomes much more poignant. When a person commits such a serious sin it is only human nature to want to confess and repent, Dimmesdale cannot do this because his priesthood prevents him to. Dimmesdale takes a utilitarian approach to his retribution; he believes that in sacrificing himself he will be doing the best for the greatest amount of people. He reasoning is displayed when he proclaims, "Guilty as they may be, retaining, nevertheless, a zeal for God's glory and man's welfare, they shrink from displaying themselves black and filthy in the view of men; because … no good can be achieved by them" (Miller 120). Dimmesdale is very much like Jesus; Dimmesdale is willing to keep his sin private in order to prevent society from having to suffer the agony of losing their leader while Jesus was willing to take on the sins of all of us so that we would not be condemned to a life of eternal suffering. From his original sin all the way through the remainder of his life, until his final minutes, Dimmesdale stayed true to his vocation and his opinions by not revealing his sin. Dimmesdale’s ability to stay true to the people that he had been preaching to causes his suffering to be all the more worse. The poignancy of Dimmesdale’s torment is accentuated by his priesthood, which calls on him to profess his sins while he feels he cannot without compromising the society in which it is his duty to serve. This vicious cycle that has engulfed Dimmesdale is nearly impossible for him to escape. Dimmesdale’s personality further increases the poignancy of his agony.
Dimmesdale’s personality lends itself well to the aspect of punishment, he is a man that knows when he is wrong and feels completely terrible about it. What is unique about his situation is that Dimmesdale has Chillingworth constantly reminding him of his sin and attempting to make his misery worse and worse. Dimmesdale is like Gen Noonan, if Gen was to ever do something wrong all it would take for a punishment would be to make her wrongdoing known. Now, Chillingworth’s constant prodding of Dimmesdale would be like a teacher giving Gen detention for a month when all a teacher would have to do is tell Gen that he or she was disappointed. Dimmesdale’s courageous and kind hearted personality is to be applauded and sympathized by the audience while it is misunderstood by society. Not one member of society is able to be sympathetic towards Dimmesdale because nobody knows his situation. This brings us back to the concept of a vicious cycle; the vicious cycle is a recurring theme that constantly inhibits Dimmesdale from confessing his sins. Dimmesdale’s attempt to do what is good for the greatest amount of people is his tragic flaw. Dimmesdale never once considers himself and he pays for it with his life.
From Dimmesdale’s original sin to the time of his death he is a static character. He never wanted to compromise the well being of the society he loved. His occupation as a priest and his personality made his punishment especially poignant. Dimmesdale is a character that is to be sympathized; he is the unsung hero of Boston. Nobody knew the extent of his suffering for them and he was never willing to tell them. Dimmesdale is the epitome of Christian virtues, the society he loved made his suffering worse by admiring him yet his love for them never changed.

Scarlet Letter #10

Quote
"It was the observation of those that beheld him now, that never, since Mr. Dimmesdale first set foot on the New England shore, had he exhibited such energy as was seen in the gait and air with which he kept his pace in the procession" (213).

Response
Mr. Dimmesdale is finally showing signs that he feels fully redeemed. He is showing the energy that was lost due to his sin. He reconciliation with Hester has removed the weight that was bearing down on his chest and he is able to breath again, he can focus on what is truly important. After his reconciliation with Hester he completes his reconciliation with society and himself by revealing his sin to everyone. His revalation to the public in with final minutes was rather timely, he does not have to suffer any longer. He can now go to heaven with a clean conscience, there will be no black weeds on Dimmesdale's grave.

Quote
"Pearl kissed his lips. A spell was broken." (229).

Response
Pearl is so adorable, as is articulated in class by Kerri. Pearl was longing for a father her whole life and she finally found one, unfortunately, he was not around long. Pearl's bad behavior was due to the fact that she had no father figure, as is the case with many children with single parents today. Dimmesdale revealing his identity to Pearl will help her, it is good to finally see Pearl as the sweet little girl that was hidden inside her all along.

Scarlet Letter #9

Quote
"But Pearl, not a whit startled at her mother's threats any more than mortified by her entreaties, suddenly burst into a fit of passion" (189).

Response
I am not completely sure that Pearl is the spawn of Satan. She seems to be acting like a little child that has her mother wrapped around her finger. She throws fits when she does not get her way; she is suddenly a pleasant little girl when her mother appeases her. The strangest aspect of this is that Pearl throws a fit because her mother takes off the scarlet letter, what does the scarlet letter have to do with Pearl. Pearl is a child whose innocence seems to have been taken by her, she is a mature child but this maturity may not be the best thing for her. A young child needs to experience the care free childhood that they deserve, Pearl does not seem to have a childhood.

Quote
"The excitement of Mr. Dimmesdale's feelings. as he returned from his interview with Hester, lent him unaccustomed physical energy, and hurried him townward at a rapid rate" (194).

Response
Mr. Dimmesdale's redeption may be complete, finally. What I cannot understand is why Mr. Dimmesdale, the man who was supposed to be so strong, could not break away from Chillingworth without Hester. Yes he felt guilty, but it's been seven years; he needed to get over what happened and move on. At first Dimmesdale could not bring himself to betray the citizens of the town, now he is running off to Europe with the town sinner. Dimmesdale's motives are sometimes unclear.

Scarlet Letter #8

Quote

'Yes, I hate him!' repeated Hester, more bitterly than before. 'He betrayed me! He has done me worse wrong than I did him!'" (159).

Response

Chillingworth is out of control, his revenge is hurting people in which he does not intend to hurt. Hester has already found redemption in her scarlet letter and she has already had her punishment, but Chillingworth's refusal to give up what happened forces Hester to live in her sin. Hester never loved Chillingworth, she did not even want to marry him; it is strange that Chillingworth would go so far in his revenge for a woman who never loved him to begin with. Dimmesdale is also to blame for his own demise, it is true that he is the priest but he needs to grow a back bone and expose Chillingworth for who he truly is.

Quote

"Let us not look back [...] The past is gone! Wherefore should we linger upon it now? See! With this symbol, I undo it all, and make it as it had never been!" (182). 

Response

Finally! Hester and Dimmesdale have taken their final step to redemption, reconciling their sin with one another. This meeting was long awaited, Hester can finally be at peace and Dimmesdale can be at peace somewhat. If it was not for Chillingworth both characters would have their full redemption. This meeting took much to long, Hester and Dimmesdale's pain and suffering could have been eased much earlier if they talked, it has been seven years. Dimmesdale may be able to find the courage to expose Chillingworth after this meeting.

Scarlet Letter 144-158

Quote
"The scarlet letter had the affect of the cross on a nun's bosom. It imparted the the wearer a kind of sacredness, which enabled her to walk securely amid all peril" (147).

Response
The sacredness that is provided by the scarlet letter is not positive, the people of the society are not regarding Hester as the type of sacred that Dimmesdale is. Hester is sacred, or is able to walk securely because nobody wants to be anywhere near her. It is understandable that a murderer could walk amongst the baddest of the bad because people would be scared of them, nobody is scared of an adulteress. It is simply the fact that nobody wants to be near a sinner that affords Hester a feeling of security.

Quote
"Hester could not but ask herself, whether there had not originally been a defect of truth, courage, and loyalty, on her own part, in allowing the minister to be thrown into a position where so much evil was to be foreboded, and nothing auspicious to be hoped"(151).

Response
Chillingworth's startling amount of evil is even causing Hester to second guess her decision to keep silent the name of Pearl's father. It may have helped DImmesdale if Hester gave him up but that is irrelevant to his current situation, Dimmesdale should have confessed. Taking all this into consideration, Chillingworth is taking his revenge much too far. As was discussed in class, Dimmesdale is a tortured soul and he does not need anyone to contribute to his torture. Chillingworth is the spawn of Satan.

Scarlet Letter #6

Quote
"Calm, gentle, passionless, as he appeared, there was yet, we fear, a quiet depth of malice, hitherto latent, but active now, in this unfortunate old man, which led hime to imagine a more intimate than any mortal had ever wreaked upon an enemy" (127).

Response
This goes back to our class discussion regarding punishment fitting crime, the revenge that Chillingworth is taking out on Dimmesdale does not fit his crime. It does not fit the crime in todays standard but when looked at with historical perspective the revenge is not very far fetched. People wanted Hester killed for committing adultery, Chillingworth is punishing Dimmesdale in a way that society cannot. Another perspective is in regards to Dimmesdale's silence. His tortured soul could be saved if he confessed, not by society, but by God.

Scarlet Letter #5

Quote

"Had a man seen old Roger Chillingworth, at that moment of his ecstasy, he would have had no need to ask how Satan comports himself when a precious human soul is lost to heaven, and won into his kingdom" (126).

Response

Chillingworth is taking his revenge much too far, he must consider the circumstances. He was  stuck in Europe while his beautiful wife who did not love him was in America, it was a recipe for disaster. It is true that what Hester did was wrong but Chillingworth should just forget it, he was not worthy of  such a beautiful wife in the first place. Chillingworth is being compared to Satan, a strong comparison considering the society. Two wrongs do not make a right, Chillingworth should forgive rather than seek revenge.

Quote

"Guilty as they may be, retaining, nevertheless, a zeal for God's glory and man's welfare, they shrink from displaying themselves black and filthy in the view of men; because [...] no good can be achieved by them" (120).  

Response

Dimmesdale is taking the welfare of society into consideration in his decision to keep his sins private. His motives are understandable but they are making him out to be a hypocrite. If the news comes out from anyone other than Dimmesdale he will lose everything, including his dignity. On the other hand, is he reveals his sin himself he may lose his position but he will keep his dignity. Society is hindering Dimmesdale from confessing as well, if Dimmesdale was not so afraid of the consequences he may have confessed, but he knows he has no chance of redemption.

Scarlet Letter #4

Quote

"'I can teach my little Pearl what I have learned from this!' answered Hester Prynne, laying her finger on the red token. 'Woman, it is thy badge of shame!' replied the stern magistrate" (101).

Response

One cannot learn from their mistakes because mistakes are forbidden. If one makes a mistake they are not forgiven, they are labeled as an outcast. The magistrates do not believe Hester can teach Pearl any lessons from what she did because Hester is a disgraced woman, no lessons could possibly come out of what she has done. Boston is a society based on stringent opinions which are forced upon its inhabitants. Nobody is entitled to their own opinions, they are entitled to the opinions of their superiors.

Quote

"The old minister seated himself in an arm-chair, and made an effort to draw Pearl betwixt his knees" (101).

Response

Pearl would not go near the minister because she was unaccustomed to the touch of anyone besides her mother. The leaders are punishing Hester and Pearl because of Hester's sin. Pearl is being deprived of the social relations that are essential for a young child. Pearl is being condemned for something she had no control over. Pearl can never be a normal child because community leaders will not allow her to. Why punish one person for the sins of someone else?

Quote

"It is probable that there was an idea of penance in this mode of occupation, and that she offered up a real sacrifice of enjoyment, in devoting so many hours to such rude handiwork" (77).

Response

Many people throughout Boston felt the Hester's embroidered A was a sign that she was proud of her sin when this was not the case. She felt that her hours of devotion to making the A were a form  of punishment,  who wants to spend hour after hour stitching the very thing that is to isolate them from society. This was Hester's attempt at penance but she will never be able to forget her sins due to the fact that the A constantly reminds her of her biggest fault.

Quote

"Hester was ultimately compelled to stand aside, and permit the child to be swayed by her own impulses" (84).

Response

A parent cannot reward bad behavior, especially when they have a child born of an adulteress in a theocratic society. Pearl is already an outcast and her bad behavior will isolate her from others still more. As she grows older her behavioral issues will grow into genuinely bad actions. It would not be surprising to see Pearl end up in the same predicament as her mother.

Scarlet Letter #2

Quote

"'Madame Hester absolutely refuseth to speak, and the magistrates have laid their heads together in vain" (Hawthorne 58).

Response

This community prides themselves on finding sinners and punishing them yet they have not found both parties involved in the sin. It strikes me as strange that the community does not attempt to find the man who had a child with Hester. This is contrary to The Crucible, where perpetrators were forced to confess on pain of death. This society is a milder form of a theocracy but it is a corrupt theocracy because certain aspects of the Bible are not recognized. The theocracy of Massachusetts is an ignorant theocracy.

Quote

"While this passed, Hester Prynne had been standing on her pedestal, still with a fixed gaze toward the stranger; so fixed a gaze, that, at moments of intense absorption all other objects in the visible world seemed to vanish" (59).

Response

Hester Prynne is now going to have to face the man whom she had hurt the most, Roger Chillingworth. He may be yet another attempt to gain the name of the second perpetrator. This most likely will not be successful as it is apparent the Hester is more than willing to bear her sin along with the sin of the unknown man. Hester is a martyr for someone else, but she unfortuneately will never be able to be recognized because she cannot be forgiven.

Scarlet Letter #1

Quote

"It may serve, let us hope, to symbolize some sweet moral blossom, that may be found along the track, or relieve the darkening close of a tale of human frailty and sorrow" (46).

Response

As we discussed in class, the rose bush seems to be a glimmer of hope next to a place that is filled with deep sorrow. The rose bush may give prisoners hope that their lives are not over merely becuase they are in prison. It marks hard times follwed by a redemption, hence, the contrast between the prison and the rose bush.

Quote

"She turned her eyes downward at the scarlet letter, and even touched it with her finger, to assure herself that the infant and the shame were real. Yes!-these were her realities-all else had vanished"(56).

Response

Hester is attempting to forget her sin and move forward but society will not allow it, one sin causes a person to be publicly humiliated and ridiculed. In a society that prides themselves completely on religion it seems counter-intuitive to exclude the major Christian theme of forgiveness. If a person repents they should be welcomed back into the community, this is not the case.