A Coward?

We all seem to be calling Dimmesdale a coward and that he should just tell everyone and get it over with. However put yourself in his shoes. If you had a secret, such as his, would you tell everyone that you did something horrible? In a community such as theirs, the role he plays in this community.

Pointing Fingers

Who or what do you think is to blame for Dimmesdale's predicament?  Hester, the Puritan community, Chillingworth or himself? Or do you think everyone had a part to play?

Dimmesdale's Guilt

Taking it as though everyone read chapter 17, The Pastor and His Parishioner, What do you guys think of Hester's plan? Do you believe that it will benefit Dimmesdale, Hester, and Pearl if they leave? What do you think will happen if they do leave? Will Chillingworth keep their secret?

Why on the heart?

"To Hester's eye, the Reverend Mr. Dimmesdale exhibited no symptom of positive vivacious suffering, except that, as little Pearl had remarked, he kept his hand over his heart" (Hawthorne, 2005, p.129).

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Thinking about this quote, why do you suppose that Mr. Dimmesdale's scarlet letter is placed on his heart? What is emblematic of the heart? Explain.

Guilt, Death, or Confession?

“His form grew emaciated; his voice, though still rich and sweet, had a certain melancholy prophecy of decay in it; he was often observed, on any slight alarm or other sudden accident, to put his hand over his heart, with first a flush and then a paleness, indicative of pain” (Hawthorne, 2005, p. 82).

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As a recurring motif in The Grapes of Wrath, sickness frequently foreshadowed the suffrage or death of a character. In light of this, What do you think Dimmesdale’s sickness represents? Is this illness an indication of more than pent up guilt?

Scarlet letter

We as humans have such high standard for our leaders, parents, and authority that when they dont meet our standard we get hurt by it.

My favorite quote in Chapter 9 was when Roger Chillingworth and Reverend Dimmesdale were conversing and the Dimmesdale states,' " I could be well content, that my labors, and my sorrows, and my sins, and my pains, should shortly end with me, and what is earthly of them be buried in my grave, and the spiritual go with me to my eternal state, rather than that you should put your skill to the proof in my behalf" '(100). I find this statement quite strong because he truly knows that if he dies all his secrets and hidden pain will go with him and be terminated for good. What is your guy's opinion on this quote!

Pearl

In Chapter Six of The Scarlet Letter we get the to see Hester's child Pearl. We also see how much care Hester has for this child. " For so had Hester called her; as a name expressive of her aspect, which had nothing of the calm, white, unimpassioned lustre that would be indicated by the comparison. But she named the infant "Pearl", as being of great price,- purchased with all she had"( Hawthorne, 2005, p. 74). Everyone believes that this baby is a devils child because she was born out of sin, however, Hester does not believe so. She believes that something good came out of this all, the pain she went through , embarrassment, and being casted away from everyone: Pearl. I really enjoyed this chapter, it was so heartwarming and beautiful. Hawthorne used such vivid imagery, I felt as if I was with Hester watching Pearl grow up.   

Hester Hopeful Heart

" But sometimes, once in many days, or perchance in many months, she felt an eye-a human eye- upon the ignominious brand, that seemed to give her momentary relief, as if half of her agony were shared. The next instant, back it all rushed again, with a deeper throb of pain; for, in that brief interval, she had sinned anew. Had Hester sinned alone?" (Hawthorne, 2005, p. 72).

I know we discussed this quote in class, but I found it really intriguing. Hester wants to hold on to the belief that her lover will come and make the pain of staying back in the town worth it. If Hester's lover really cared about her, he would show himself. They both committed the sin. I admire Hester for refusing to tell on him, because she knows that if  he really wants the town to know about their affair, he would come out himself.  Hester is Ostracized by the town, for something she did not do alone, and her "lover" just stays in the shadows watching her get shamed by the townspeople.

Does he really care about her at all? What is keeping him from coming out? Do you think he is selfish for not coming out to be with his daughter and Hester? Do you guys think Hester is naive for staying in a town for a man who does not want to show himself to the world?  Please tell me what you think of the passage down below.

The Scarlet Letter

"In all her intercourse with society, however, there was nothing that made her feel as if she belonged to it. Every gesture, every word, and even the silence of those with whom she came in contact, implied, and often expressed, that she was banished, and as much alone as if she inhabited another sphere, or communicated with the common nature by other organs and senses than the rest of human kind. She stood apart from moral interests, yet close beside them, like a ghost that revisits the familiar fireside, and can no longer make itself seen or felt; no more smile with the household joy, nor mourn with the kindred sorrow; or, should it succeed in manifesting its forbidden sympathy, awakening only terror and horrible repugnance."

This quote speaks to me at a personal level. I choose this quote because I feel we can relate to Hester Prynne by how she still feels outcast-ed even after being released from jail and by how much she's started talking again to the people. Like no matter how much she interacts with society she still feels unwelcome, even to people whom she's never met.
Which I ask you guys: How you ever felt you've never belonged in a certain place? Even if you've been there for years or a couple of days. Or! Even around a group of people.

The Scarlet Leter (Chapter's 4 & 5 reading)

Assuming that you already read Chapter's 4 & 5, what are your initial thoughts on the plot, and, if possible, make a couple predictions as to what might happen in the future.

The Scarlet Letter

"It may serve, let us hope, to symbolize some sweet moral blossom, that may be found along the track, or relieve the darkening close of a tale of human frailty and sorrow," ( Hawthrone, 1850, pg.46).

This quote/passage really stood out to me because as the criminals enter the prison the rose bush is the first thing they see reminding them that beauty and hope still exists. Do you guys agree or disagree? I'd love to hear your opinions/ thoughts!

Chapter 28

     In chapter 28, there's a passage that stood out to me. " 'Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lif' up his fellow, but woe to him that is alone when he falleth, for he hath not another to help him up.... Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him, and a three-fold cord is not quickly broken.' " (Steinbeck, 1939). This was something Casy would often preach about and ever since he died, it was stuck in Tom's head. It demonstrates that being alone is more difficult because there's no one there by your side to help you back up. So, having a strong bond with others is essential because they are there to support you. In other words, it basically meant that unity and cooperation is necessary in survival and it's displayed in the Joad family of how they all help and depend on each other. 

Transcendentalism

When I think of a transcendentalist I think of Jim Casy; Jim Casy was a man that changed his mind about his occupation. When we first met Casy we found out that he was once a preacher but he decided to stop because he no longer believed in what he once taught. Would Casy's decision to stop being a preacher be an example of transcendentalism?

Transcendentalism

Tom never understood Casy's theory about the oversoul but it's not until Casy's death that he comes to realize that unity is essential so that they can acquire equal rights. Is Tom's change of mind an example of transcendentalism?

I'd love to read your opinions and thoughts!

Final Thoughts On the Grapes of Wrath

Honestly, when we first we presented with this book, it looked highly boring and uninteresting completely. I read the first few Chapters thinking about how boring it was but, honestly, I think that I was just unknown to the metaphors and ideas behind the Chapters. After everyone started posting on the Blog site, I decided to read them and was shocked at what I had completely missed when reading those Chapters. After reading what they had to say, it made me re think about what I had already thought of the book. While I continued to read the book, I was trapped by its unexplainable imagery and themes. Reading the book became more of a desire to learn more about the story. What made the book even more interesting was the idea of how the book was structured to be. The Chapters (as we talked about in discussion) always switch from the Joad family to more of an overall view of what was occuring during that time. With that info, it made the book even more understanding because it gave insight with problems that were affecting people during that time. That's all I really have to say about The Grapes of Wrath but let me know what you guys thought about it! Did you think it was boring at first but was surprised to know it was interesting?

Chapter One

In chapter one I really enjoyed the deep use of descriptive words to describe the setting. The setting started off as a very vivid and easy going but as the rising action started approaching we see how everything gets twisted around. The dust storm seemed like a deadly disease that infected everything in its way. One of my favorite quotes in this passage is, "Dust hung like fog" (Steinbeck,1939,Para.10). This shows how strong and thick it was that it hanged in the air. Overall, this opening chapter gave out the main conflict of the story and pointed out how this was going to be Nature vs. Man type of conflict.

Chapter 27

The main conflict created for the cotton pickers is that once someone hears about a job opportunity, they tell their friends and they go on to tell their friends. Once they got to get the job everyone's been talking about there's already too many cotton pickers. The boss will either tell the cotton pickers there's no work available or they'll let them work but they lower the pay. Another conflict that arouses is the very low pay. The boss takes advantage of the cotton pickers because he knows they're desperate for work and won't find a job anywhere else. They over work and at the end of the day they get paid about 5 cents.

Chapter 27

The main conflict created for the cotton pickers is that once someone hears about a job opportunity, they tell their friends and they go on to tell their friends. Once they got to get the job everyone's been talking about there's already too many cotton pickers. The boss will either tell the cotton pickers there's no work available or they'll let them work but they lower the pay. Another conflict that arouses is the very low pay. The boss takes advantage of the cotton pickers because he knows they're desperate for work and won't find a job anywhere else. They over work and at the end of the day they get paid about 5 cents.

Chapter 27

The main conflict created for the cotton pickers is that once someone hears about a job opportunity, they tell their friends and they go on to tell their friends. Once they got to get the job everyone's been talking about there's already too many cotton pickers. The boss will either tell the cotton pickers there's no work available or they'll let them work but they lower the pay. Another conflict that arouses is the very low pay. The boss takes advantage of the cotton pickers because he knows they're desperate for work and won't find a job anywhere else. They over work and at the end of the day they get paid about 5 cents.

Chapter 27

The main conflict created for the cotton pickers is that once someone hears about a job opportunity, they tell their friends and they go on to tell their friends. Once they got to get the job everyone's been talking about there's already too many cotton pickers. The boss will either tell the cotton pickers there's no work available or they'll let them work but they lower the pay. Another conflict that arouses is the very low pay. The boss takes advantage of the cotton pickers because he knows they're desperate for work and won't find a job anywhere else. They over work and at the end of the day they get paid about 5 cents.