A conversation about American literature past and present.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Hester and Arthur
What do you think of Hester and Arthur Dimmesdale? Who do you like better? Why? What do you think of the way they react to their situations, Pearl, Roger, the townspeople? How does Hawthorne want us to feel about them? Why?
I like both characters of Hester and Dimmesdale. Hester, though she committed adultery, seems to understand that what she did was wrong, and that she must pay as a consequence of her actions. At least she committed adultery while not even knowing if her husband was alive, and while being in a state of love for Dimmesdale (it was not just some one time thing). I like Dimmesdale because he feels guilty for not being able to parade around the town a similar "A", showing that he also partook in the bad deed. I feel badly though for Dimmesdale because he has to deal with the mentally unstable Chillingworth. Both Hester and Dimmesdale seem to only care what the other thinks and nothing else. They love each other. The two main things I like about each character is that Hester proudly accepts her situation and tries to work with it, and that Dimmesdale does not try to erase what happen or make it seem like he did not consent to it. I have respect for Dimmesdale because he wants to come clean, but knows he cannot.
I feel sympothy for Hester and Arthur because of the circumstances around the whole adultry situations. I like Dimmesdale better because he seems to react better to the problem that he is facing. Hester is now just kind of floating through life in the years since having to wear the scarlet letter. I think that Hawthorn wants us to be somewhat symathetic toward both characters. Hester's life in particular was destroyed by he crimes and i predict that eventually the same thing will happen to Dimmesdale.
I admire both Hester and Arthur Dimmesdale, due to the fact that they handle the situations they are put in maturly. Hester understands and accepts what she has done wrong, rather than becoming angry and spiteful towards the townspeople who do not understand her situation. She knows that because she now has a child to care for, she must think of more than just herself. Although she sees Dimmesdale being adored by the community, she does not reveal the fact that he is Pearl's father. This shows that she continues to love him despite what their relationship has caused. I think that Hawthorne wants us to sympathize and respect her. Although I like Hester more, Arthur Dimmesdale is a character I like as well. He always stands up for Hester when she asks him for help, even though it may cause the community to have suspicions about him. Also, he feels immense remorse for his mistake, which he shows by the fact that he scourges himself, wishes to wear a red letter for the townspeople to see, and much more. Hawthorne wants us to like him, but to wish that he would reveal his secret.
I like Dimmesdale better because he seems warmer and nicer than Hester. She seems so emotionless and cold after committing adultery. Although, I am not really sure what her personality was like before this all happened. Both Hester and Dimmesdale want to avoid Chillingworth at all cost. It seems that when they heard that he was going on the same ship with them to Europe, it was a big problem. The townspeople blow everything way out of proportion. It was only election day and they were dressed up and partying. This is seriously against all Puritan traditions. Dimmesdale and Hester want to have Pearl as a loving child. But, when Pearl sees that Dimmesdale will not acknowledge her in public she seems some what upset. She wants proof that he really cares. Hester also notices a change in Pearl. When Hester changes her appearance in the middle of the book, Pearl almost seems like she does not even recognize her mother, physically and mentally. Hawthorne wants us to see the townspeople as wild and crazy people who seem to almost pressure the main characters into breaking down. They are always there to judge them. He also wants us to know that the characters sinned and they should pay for it in some way. He wants to convey a message to us saying that there are consequences for our actions.
4 comments:
I like both characters of Hester and Dimmesdale. Hester, though she committed adultery, seems to understand that what she did was wrong, and that she must pay as a consequence of her actions. At least she committed adultery while not even knowing if her husband was alive, and while being in a state of love for Dimmesdale (it was not just some one time thing). I like Dimmesdale because he feels guilty for not being able to parade around the town a similar "A", showing that he also partook in the bad deed. I feel badly though for Dimmesdale because he has to deal with the mentally unstable Chillingworth. Both Hester and Dimmesdale seem to only care what the other thinks and nothing else. They love each other. The two main things I like about each character is that Hester proudly accepts her situation and tries to work with it, and that Dimmesdale does not try to erase what happen or make it seem like he did not consent to it. I have respect for Dimmesdale because he wants to come clean, but knows he cannot.
I feel sympothy for Hester and Arthur because of the circumstances around the whole adultry situations. I like Dimmesdale better because he seems to react better to the problem that he is facing. Hester is now just kind of floating through life in the years since having to wear the scarlet letter. I think that Hawthorn wants us to be somewhat symathetic toward both characters. Hester's life in particular was destroyed by he crimes and i predict that eventually the same thing will happen to Dimmesdale.
I admire both Hester and Arthur Dimmesdale, due to the fact that they handle the situations they are put in maturly. Hester understands and accepts what she has done wrong, rather than becoming angry and spiteful towards the townspeople who do not understand her situation. She knows that because she now has a child to care for, she must think of more than just herself. Although she sees Dimmesdale being adored by the community, she does not reveal the fact that he is Pearl's father. This shows that she continues to love him despite what their relationship has caused. I think that Hawthorne wants us to sympathize and respect her. Although I like Hester more, Arthur Dimmesdale is a character I like as well. He always stands up for Hester when she asks him for help, even though it may cause the community to have suspicions about him. Also, he feels immense remorse for his mistake, which he shows by the fact that he scourges himself, wishes to wear a red letter for the townspeople to see, and much more. Hawthorne wants us to like him, but to wish that he would reveal his secret.
I like Dimmesdale better because he seems warmer and nicer than Hester. She seems so emotionless and cold after committing adultery. Although, I am not really sure what her personality was like before this all happened. Both Hester and Dimmesdale want to avoid Chillingworth at all cost. It seems that when they heard that he was going on the same ship with them to Europe, it was a big problem. The townspeople blow everything way out of proportion. It was only election day and they were dressed up and partying. This is seriously against all Puritan traditions. Dimmesdale and Hester want to have Pearl as a loving child. But, when Pearl sees that Dimmesdale will not acknowledge her in public she seems some what upset. She wants proof that he really cares. Hester also notices a change in Pearl. When Hester changes her appearance in the middle of the book, Pearl almost seems like she does not even recognize her mother, physically and mentally. Hawthorne wants us to see the townspeople as wild and crazy people who seem to almost pressure the main characters into breaking down. They are always there to judge them. He also wants us to know that the characters sinned and they should pay for it in some way. He wants to convey a message to us saying that there are consequences for our actions.
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