TSL - Chapter 15-16

              As I read Chapter 15-16, there were many thoughts that arose in my head. First off, Chapter 15 was about Hester and Pearl. However, I thought that it was mostly about Hester's feelings and such. On the start Hester rants on about how he hated and detested Chillingsworth. This hate for the man almost made me hate her! Hester goes back and forth on weather to hate or love the man. As I read on Pearl plays back on the story. Pearl made a letter, the same as Hester but it was green. I thought that it was significant because it was nature's materials and symbolizes nature's approval to Pearl. She knows the reason that Dimmesdale clutches his hand over his chest is the same as Hester's reasoning and this surprised Hester. By the end of the novel Pearl asked many times about the meaning of the Scarlet letter that Hester snapped to the point she never ever did. As I read Chapter 16, I got some chills. Hester and Pearl walks along the forest. Nature seems to revile Hester but not Pearl. Pearl tries to catch the sunlight for Hester but as Hester goes to the light, the sunlight seems to absorb by Pearl. They also saw Dimmesdale on the forest clutching his chest. Pearl asked a great question about why the reverend never wore his letter outside.

The Scarlet Letter – Chapter 7-10

               

            As I read this few chapters, I had annotated a few pages. I will be putting what I had thought while reading. On chapter 7, I had thought that Pearl might be a demon or a savior, a typical theme in a video game or a manga that I read. Hester made a garb that also has a same figure letter A for Pearl. Pearl is a very combative child (or a foolish one…). A scene that surprised me is when the bond-servant does not know the symbol’s meaning. “In truth she seemed absolutely hidden behind it.” The letter is hiding Hester. On chapter 8, I figured that it was obvious that the governor would be showing off his estate. The guests of the Governor wanted Hester to send the child away but Hester wants to teach Pearl from her own mistake. Chillingworth sees the mother in Pearl because of her sin. On chapter 9, Roger Chillingworth is still in town to find the man who impregnated Hester? I also questioned that Roger might’ve gotten close to a reverend because he suspected the man in the higher-ups or just to investigate the whole town. On chapter 10, I inferred that Roger might’ve wanted the minister to confess on page 141.

         

         "He hath done a wild thing ere now, this pious Mr. Dimmesdale, in the hot passion of his heart!" Chapter X, 'The Leech and His Patient'

The Scarlet Letter – Chapter 3-6

   

          As I read this few chapters, I had annotated a few pages. I will be putting what I had thought while reading. At first, I had already guessed on chapter 3 that the man named roger might’ve been Hester’s husband, which he is, if one reads on in chapter 3. On chapter 4, Hester was on the state of  “nervous excitement.” I wonder why…  Hester also had a reason to not trust Roger because he said “ ‘…have made a better physician of me than many that claim the medical degree.’” After all, he does not have a medical degree… On chapter 5, Hester recalled that she was able to “convert the scene into a kind of humid triumph.” This was a great thing for her. Hester also became a real, living symbol of a sin. On chapter 6 the readers find out more about the child of Hester. Hester thought of Pearl as a cursed child because of her sin and Pearl is not really the socially adept child.

           

          "But she named the infant 'Pearl,' as being of great price- purchased with all she had- her mother's only pleasure." Chapter VI, 'Pearl'

The Scarlet Letter - Chapter 2

This book is amazing. I am going to put all my annotations and what I had thought as I read this chapter. The characteristics of the people are awful. They believe that “religion and laws were identical…” Any small act that is unapproved is punished. People anticipate death penalty for almost all crimes. The sign, which was supposed to put her to shame, was “artistically done.” The embroidery was so great that the greatness of it’s’ look is not approved by the maximum tolerated greatness of the colony. The puritans see her as a sinful woman. However, Hawthorne had explained how a papist, a catholic, might see Hester as a symbolic Virgin Mary. When Hester was facing all the people, on the inside she wants to flee away but she stood up and faced the crowd gathering all the remains of her dignity. Hester had wished that all of the things were a dream and even hallucinated her parents and lover, but reality hits her.

            "On the breast of her gown, in fine red cloth, surrounded with an elaborate embroidery and fantastic flourishes of gold-thread, appeared the letter A. It was so artistically done, and with so much fertility and gorgeous luxuriance of fancy, that it had all the effect of a last and fitting decoration to the apparel which she wore; and which was of a splendor in accordance with the taste of the age, but greatly beyond what was allowed by the sumptuary regulations of the colony."

                                           

Winter Dreams

Reading this story is very thought provoking. It made me think about what I should do in the near future and who I should trust. Dexter was a victim, a victim of love and uncontrollable desire. He was tempted. He could’ve ignored her and went on with Irene but, this is not what mostly happens. In real life, most men cannot resist this kind of urge. To be with the one whom they loved during the youth years was a dream come true. Unfortunately, for Dexter, Judy was nothing but a very professional woman. She chooses the man by his wealth not by his personalities. It was obvious in the story that everyone knows she was playing with their feelings. The men had appointments to have her as a date. She sets up traps for the newcomers to the club. Dexter moved on when she went away. He found Irene and they were engaged. Dexter, however, still can’t control his longing for Judy. One night they met and Dexter cheated on Irene. Dexter, looking back on his actions, did not even feel any regret about his actions or about hurting Irene and her family by betraying her. The story moves on and Dexter became one very, very rich man. He is now on his thirties and his associate, Delvin, informs him about Judy. She is now married to young men who does nothing but drink and beat her. Judy stays home with her kids. Dexter was alone when he shed tears. He was sad about how he wasted his youth on someone so ridiculous. He wasted his chance to find true love.

“I am heartbroken, but I have been heartbroken before, and this might be the best for which I can hope.”
― Lemony Snicket, The End