A conversation about American literature past and present.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Who's Responsible?
In ch. 14 Roger Chillingworth says to Hester, "'And waht am I now?'...'I have already told thee what I am! A fiend! Who made me so?'" Hester responds that it was her who made Roger a "fiend". Agree or disagree.
I agree in the sense that they were married, and he just up and left her without explanation. Being alone for 2 years, Hester may have figured that he left her for good, and that she should get on with her life [eg: the affair w/ Dimmesdale. Chillingworth shows up, and sees that Hester is now an adultress, a "fiend" in her eyes and the thsoe of the community.
Chillingworth became an evil (almost satanic) man as a result of the disovery of his wife's adultery. All he has in his heart is revenge. I do agree that Hester was the literal cause of this transformation into a "fiend", because she committed the adultery and directly brought about Chillingworth's hatred. I'm not saying Hester is completely to blame for Chillingworth's change in character, because he should have the inner strength to avoid the workings of evil.
I agree that Hester drove him to his behavior to some extent. Hester isn't the sole person to blame although. Chillingsworth was the one who left her for 2 years and left her without someone. Hester made one mistake, although this mistake was large Roger's obsession with it was unhealthy. He took it into his own hands, he could have just dissapeared and walked away from the town but he decided to investigate.
Hester provoked Chillingworths change in character, but I do not think that Hester is completely at blame. Chillingworth is a grown man and should have control over his actions and decisions. Hester only has control over what she does,not what Chillingworth does. She can not control his actions. In that sense, Hester is not completely at blame because Chillingworth should have selfcontrol and determine for himself his actions, rather than just lashing out of control because of Hesters actions. Hesters not at blame for what he decides to do, I do not think Hester is looking for trouble or is a bad person purposely provoking Chillngworths anger.
I agree with this quote. Hester and Chillingworth were married, and Chillingworth just left her without explanation. Hester had no idea whether he was alive, dead or every coming back. After being left alone for 2 years, Hester might have figured that he left her for good, and that she should get on with her life. The only problem was that the two were married, and Hester could not leagally move on with her life. Once Chillingworth finally does show up, and sees that Hester has cheated on him, an adultress.
I agree that Hester turned Chillingworth into a "fiend" partially. There were also other causes. Chillingworth should be able to control his own actions and not be as easily influenced by others. And Chillingworth did leave her alone for a couple of years without saying much. When he did come back the town had viewed Hester as an adulteress and a "fiend". Then again, though, he did not have to intefere but he sought some kind of revenge, and for that reason he became one himself.
6 comments:
I agree in the sense that they were married, and he just up and left her without explanation. Being alone for 2 years, Hester may have figured that he left her for good, and that she should get on with her life [eg: the affair w/ Dimmesdale. Chillingworth shows up, and sees that Hester is now an adultress, a "fiend" in her eyes and the thsoe of the community.
Chillingworth became an evil (almost satanic) man as a result of the disovery of his wife's adultery. All he has in his heart is revenge. I do agree that Hester was the literal cause of this transformation into a "fiend", because she committed the adultery and directly brought about Chillingworth's hatred. I'm not saying Hester is completely to blame for Chillingworth's change in character, because he should have the inner strength to avoid the workings of evil.
I agree that Hester drove him to his behavior to some extent. Hester isn't the sole person to blame although. Chillingsworth was the one who left her for 2 years and left her without someone. Hester made one mistake, although this mistake was large Roger's obsession with it was unhealthy. He took it into his own hands, he could have just dissapeared and walked away from the town but he decided to investigate.
Hester provoked Chillingworths change in character, but I do not think that Hester is completely at blame. Chillingworth is a grown man and should have control over his actions and decisions. Hester only has control over what she does,not what Chillingworth does. She can not control his actions. In that sense, Hester is not completely at blame because Chillingworth should have selfcontrol and determine for himself his actions, rather than just lashing out of control because of Hesters actions. Hesters not at blame for what he decides to do, I do not think Hester is looking for trouble or is a bad person purposely provoking Chillngworths anger.
I agree with this quote. Hester and Chillingworth were married, and Chillingworth just left her without explanation. Hester had no idea whether he was alive, dead or every coming back. After being left alone for 2 years, Hester might have figured that he left her for good, and that she should get on with her life. The only problem was that the two were married, and Hester could not leagally move on with her life. Once Chillingworth finally does show up, and sees that Hester has cheated on him, an adultress.
I agree that Hester turned Chillingworth into a "fiend" partially. There were also other causes. Chillingworth should be able to control his own actions and not be as easily influenced by others. And Chillingworth did leave her alone for a couple of years without saying much. When he did come back the town had viewed Hester as an adulteress and a "fiend". Then again, though, he did not have to intefere but he sought some kind of revenge, and for that reason he became one himself.
Post a Comment