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.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
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.
"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.
Monday, February 8, 2010
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.
"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.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
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.
"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.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
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.
"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.
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