After reading chapter two, I had a sense of admiration for Hester. She was able to take full responsibility for her actions and when she was punished, was able to keep her emotions under control despite the fact that everyone looked down upon her.
If you were in Hester's shoes, and had to stand on the scaffold for hours for all the town to see, how would you have reacted? Would you have been able to keep your composure as long as she had?
I have also come to greatly admire Hester's character. Her ability to maintain such composure really shows us how strong she is. I couldn't imagine being treated with such hostility and not having even one friend to comfort me. "Lonely as was Hester's situation, and without a friend on earth who dared show himself, she, however, incurred no risk of want." (Pg. 68) I'd probably sulk and constantly feel sorry for myself if I were to walk in her lonely, humiliated shoes. I wouldn't be able to keep any sort of composure while standing on the scaffold. How about you?
ReplyDeleteOn page 49 it reads:
Delete"The unhappy culprit sustained herself as best a woman might, under the heavy weight of a thousand unrelenting eyes, all fastened upon her...It was almost intolerable to be borne.."
I doubt that I would be able to keep my composure on such conditions; I'm timid by nature and to have to endure that would've been merely impossible.
Her punishment was so callous (vocab word, woot!) that it is hard to relate to Hesther with any of our own life-experiences. For example, let's say that I stole a television and got caught. I'd expect myself to be a strong individual and face the consequence of being temporarily incarcerated and grounded until graduation. Hesther's one sin, which in hindsight wasn't even all that heathenish (oh yeah!) considering her husband was MIA for two years, cost her a lifetime of loneliness and guilt.
ReplyDeleteSierra, this sounds like a transition to a separate post: can you sympathize with Hester's unfaithfulness/"sin"? It sounds like you have found justification, or at least character motive.
ReplyDeleteI like Hester's strength to put up with that she is a strong character. I think i could hold myself togther in that situation. By that point its about pride and dignity.
ReplyDeleteHester's strength to put up with her sin shows that she has excepted her fate, and will be able to teach her child what not to do. TO be placed in Hester's situation would be difficult, but i believe i could handle the situation just as Hester had did. Also, I agree with Alex, because it is about pride and dignity.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I would be able to keep my composure, think I would break down. With that said I truly admire Hester and her strength to come face to face with the consequences of her actions, not only in that chapter but through out the book.
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