PEARL
P 62, Ch 6
- Pearl's aspect has infinite variety
- She had all types of characteristics
Ch 8
- She is my happiness and fortuve and retribution "She is the Scarlett Letter"
P 47
- "Speak out the names"
- Will we take the Scarlet Letter away? NEVER
Who is the protagonist of the book?
HESTHER at first but DIMMSDALE at the end
- D is a priest who is a sinner - that is dynamic
- Hesther struggles throughout the whole book - it is more her.
- No - it is Dimmsdale's story told through Hesther
- Isn't it really Pearl's book? It doesn't start with Hesther and Dimmsdale getting together - it starts with Pearl's entrance into the society.
- It is Hesther's story MORE than anyone else's
- No - it belongs to all three of them together.
- Pearl is boing told through Hesther too.
- It is not Pearl's story - - she is a symbol, not the protagonist.
- Shouldn't the protagonist change throughout the book - - for better or worse?
- Hesther changes, but Dimmsdale just dies. . . ?
If this is a tragedy, like in Greek Tragedy, the tragic hero has to have a tragic flaw. What is Dimmsdale's tragic flaw?
- What killed him? Not confessing - holding a secret so long that it built up and killed him.
- He hated himself. fasting and lashing himself has to be a flaw
- GUILT - he was holding his hand over his heart
MAN IN BLACK - -
- Who is the man in black? Where does he show up??
- In the forest - with Mistress Higgins
- and he is the one who makes the women all witches
- Hesther says that if not for Pearl she would write her name in his book in blood
- Isn't it Chillingsworth - - walking in the semetary?
Rebecca Nealeigh Period 5
ReplyDeleteI believe that the story is about Hester and the author included other characters to tell her story and that of the early puritan society. These characters like Dimmesdale and Chillingworth emphasized how the puritans over-looked their citizens to focus on a better Community. Chillingworth lurked in the woods and Dimmesdale performedd a horrible sin. The community did not even know that these men had done such things because they were focused on shaming Hester. I wish we would have discussed our opinions on Pearl's odd behavior. I believe that the way Hester raised her child, the lack of a father, and isolation from other young children caused Pearl to act such a way.
Nick Browen period 2
DeleteI never thought of how the characters like Dimmesdale and Chillingworth contributed to the story by emphasizing the Puritan way of putting commmunity over individual, and how in doing so they perpetuated Hester's torturing of being outcast. However, I think this story is not only about Hester. I think she is only half of the big picture, with the other half being Dimmesdale. All the chapters about Dimmesdale explore some interesting topics that we would not of had without him. He explores the concept of keeping a sin inside instead of confessing, how a guilty man receives less anguish if he isn't a godly man, an atheist, and keeping a shield to the world, to seem strong, even though you are not.
Jailene Vazquez pr. 2i agree with becca on how dimmesdale and chilingworth both represent how the puritain community was and I also agree with nick in how it never really crossed my mind how they both set the view points of the puritans. I also put the colonist to shame because of them just focusing on one person's sin the wouldn't notice their own sins they probobly didn't even know they were doing something wrong because their level of wrong was jesters sin.
DeleteChristian Klug Period 5
ReplyDeleteI thought that the protagonist for the novel could be seen as either Hester or Dimmesdale, or even both depending on the way you look at it. Hester was present in the majority of the scenes and the author talked the most about her feelings, but Dimmesdale was present in the majority of the important scenes and even had a few chapters for himself, however his importance was more subtle until you near the end of the book. After knowing what Dimmesdale did, the motivation for many of his actions become much clearer. A topic I would have liked to talk about would have been Pearl's "elfish" personality that showed itself several times during the book. The author did not give a great explanation on how she acted during those moments, so it is hard to understand what he means by "elfish".
I agree with Christian as to wanting a further explanation to the word "elfish." During the time period of the book the Puritans may have had a different perspective of the word then than we do now. I would have liked to hear what everyone defined the word while reading like. In my personal outlook I thought of it as more of a substitution to "odd" or "abnormal" something really indifferent because they singled Pearl out from the rest of the other Puritan children just because she was the result of a sin she had no control over.
Delete- Julissa Garcia Per. 2
DeleteRandee Huffman
DeleteI agree with Christian about how the protagonist can either be Hester or Dimmesdale. I'm more on the fence of Dimmesdale being the protagonist because the author took us through the pain he felt and all the guilt he suffered from. But the author also tells us Hester's story and all of the humiliation and judgement she had to live with on a day to day basis. Between the both of them they both go through rough times but that all has to do with the way they each dealt with the crime they both committed.
Ajith Raja :D
DeleteI see Dimmesdale as more of an antagonist. He did not tell his secret from the beginning which resulted in Hester raising Pearl alone,Hester take her punishment alone, and having Hester keep his secret. Whatever punishment Dimmesdale received he deserved it. Also in the end he died leaving no time for him to spend with Hester.
Dahlia Serrao (period 5)
ReplyDeleteAbout Dimmsdale being the tragic hero, I don't think that's quite right.I understand that Chillingsworth was supposedly the sole antagonist, but I think Dimmsdale did far more wrong than he did good. He was adulterous, he refused to acknowledged Pearl, and he was trying to confess his true nature to the towns-people but their disbelief in his ability to sin (he never plainly came out with his confession) made him a liar. If anything, he was a tragic hero before the book began; he was a good priest and an honest man who a made a life altering mistake, and his belief system caused his to punish himself to the point of death. His flaw was that he wasn't a hero. Hester is the main character and took all the "baggage" for a crime he committed with her. What I would like to discuss more is what Hester meant by "I'd write my name in his (the black man's) book in blood." I had always perceived Hester as someone who wasn't ashamed of here sin, but wasn't proud of it either. So I don't understand how should could say something so blatantly wrong. What does pearl have to do with it? Is she indirectly referring to Chillingsworth?
I think that it was interesting that you brought up the Black Man, because he wasn't really someone that the reader really focused on. I think that the Black Man could've been Chillingsworth because the witches are the only ones that note his change from being an honest person into someone evil. I also think that when Hester said that her name would've been in his book, maybe she was saying that she would've remained in her marriage.
DeleteSidney Yerger. period 3
Wow! Very good point about Dimmesdale, and it definitely puts a new perspective on the character especially when his plight was glorified as 'tragic' and not self-imposed.
Deletei havent really thought of this until i read your comment Dahlia. i agree with you by the fact that Dimmersdale might just be another antagonist in disguise rather than just a tragic hero.
DeleteJulia Baggett, period 5
ReplyDeleteWhat I found most intriguing about the discussion was the comparison between Mr. Dimmesdale's character and that of a tragic hero. This comparison appears to be accurate, as Dimmesdale does posses the character traits affiliated with a tragic hero: noble stature, free choice, and hamartia. Dimmesdale demonstrates the aspect of noble stature as an esteemed member of society. He looked well upon by all classes, even viewed as a righteous saint by his own congregation. Further more, he exercises free choice when he not only commits adultery, but lies about having done so. Finally, Dimmesdale's tragic flaw, his inability to confess his screat and recieve forgiveness, that ultimately destroys him. Throughout the novel, Dimmesdale grows increasingly aware of the sicknesses the secret is inflicting on him, which leads him to his final confession. One thing I would have liked to discuss more is what the scarlet letter is a symbol of and how it grows to symbolize different ideas as the book develops.
Wow, very well said! I never thought of Mr. Dimmesdale as a tragic hero, but I see the resemblance now. Though he is not very heroic, he still fits the description.
DeleteJulia, I also find the comparison between Dimmesdale and a tragic hero the most interesting thought in period 5s discussion. I would have never thought of Mr. Dimmesdale as a tragic hero, but now I do.
DeleteThe Protagonist I think was Dimmesdale. He went through the most pain and suffering throughout the book. What I found I treating about the discussion, was how Pearl symbolized the scarlet letter. How she resembled it through her actions and personality. She represented the scarlet letter in how she brought her mother pain and sometimes acted as a burden. A topic I wish we could've discussed more was the Black man in the forest and Mistress Hibbins
ReplyDeleteI agree that Pearl symbolized the scarlet letter. She was a living scarlet letter for Hester and I believe she was a reminder for Hester of her sin, based on the way she acted throughout the book. I don't mean that Pearl was Hester's punishment, but that she was a consequence.
DeleteLissette Vaca
DeleteI agree that Dimmesdale was the protagonist because even though the book goes into greater detail about Hester, it describes more of an emotional battle for Dimmesdale and how his character develops from it. Super good point!! :)
During the socratic seminar the idea that Chillingsworth branded Dimmsdale was brought up. We had talked about how maybe when Chillingsworth stalked him at night he branded him. I feel that Dimmsdale branded himself to express his shame, not Chillingsworth. I wish that we talked more about if Chillingsworth actually did his actions to humiliate Dimmsdale or to slowly cause him distress and die. This topic would have given us a better insight of what was happening between the two characters. I felt this conflict was a big part of the story, next to the main scarlet letter issue.
ReplyDeleteDimmesdale*
DeleteAnd I think that's a pretty interesting topic like who was it that branded Dimmesdale if it was himself or Chillingsworth or maybe even the guilt but idk was he even branded like at the end of the book they say how some people saw a brand while others didn't.
Blake Huxell, period 5
ReplyDeleteI personally believe that Dimmesdale was the actual protagonist of the story. While most of the narrative is from Hester's view, much of it is about Dimmesdale's internal struggle. Dimmesdale's inner torture was the highlight of the book, making him the protagonist. I wish we would have further discussed Dimmesdale and his emotional struggle throughout the book, since it is such an essential element of the story.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteBrady Sisk Period 5
ReplyDeleteI can see that with the way that you view it, Hester or Dimmesdale could be the protagonist of the story. In my opinion, it's Dimmesdale because most of action in the story revolves him. After Hester is punished for her wrongdoings, things start to improve for her like the change in the meaning of the letter "A" on her bosom. She is involved in the plot from there on out, but it's when she is with Dimmesdale. I wanted to talk about this issue more, the issue of what defines a protagonist.
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteJP Scheuble (a.k.a. J-money P-dizzle) period 5
ReplyDeleteAlthough it seemed that most people disagreed, I strongly think that Hester was the protagonist, or at least remained the protagonist for most of the book. For those of you that say, "Hey JP, didn't Dimmesdale's internal struggle make him the overall protagonist?" I say to them, "No". Dimmesdale did play a huge role in the end of the book, but just because he whined and moaned about his problems, doesn't particularly make him the main protagonist. I wished we would of talked more about what Dimmesdale could of done in the beginning of the book, to have made him more relevant throughout the entirety of the novel.
I feel that both Hester and Dimmesdale were both the protagonists, they were each handled in very desperate ways, Hester was focused on more throughout the book however when Dimmesdale came in, he had a lot of action and uprising to the story. I wish we would have talked more about the way Pearls childhood affected her now as an adult. It says how she moves away and was more of a punishment to Hester but she had to have been affected by it as well, with no social life and just her mother to teach her.
ReplyDeleteBrittani, the points you bring up are very interesting. I feel that Pearl has much depth to her character and even though she is a beautiful, young, and innocent child, she is very intelligent. She is so different from everyone else and I feel she is so special and unique that she could make a change in her future, as a woman, which I feel the author might have hinted at. However, since women couldn't have much say, but with her different attitude I feel she would have been very successful. As if her connection with her mother, I feel that she admired her for her strength and that it was Hester's choice to be away from Pearl. - Maite Garcia
DeleteSamantha Hanenberger Period 5
ReplyDeleteIn the discussion the question of who the Scarlet Letter was really about came up. We said that “it starts with Pearl's entrance into the society". I agree because we follow her journey throughout the entire book either directly or through Hester's point of view. Also the author always makes points to comment on Pearl during the novel and describe the relationship that she has with the Scarlet Letter and her attitude she has towards it. This is something I wish we would brought up, how her view of the Scarlet Letter is so different than what society thinks of the "A" and how it did it or didn't change throughout the novel.
I think it's interesting how Pearl sees the Scarlet Letter and how she thinks she too will one day have one like her mother. I think it shows Pearl's innocence and reminds us that despite her mature and lively personality, she is still just a kid.
DeleteI also think it's very amusing the differences of out cultures between then and now, and yet the basic human characteristic that both share. They condemned Hester because of adultery, but sadly in our society infidelity is more common that it ought to be. i also find it interesting at how over a few years, everyone began to forget what the "A" meant, yet they had previously wanted Hester to die for her sin. i find that a very strong characteristic of humans, to overreact, and then to slowly forget the reasons you overreacted in the first place. i wish our class had talked more about the evolution of the "A" as well.
DeleteDaniel Camacho Period 5
ReplyDeleteI have to say that it is just Dimsdale,s story because it mostly revolves around him. Yes we can see Hester's struggles throughout the book of being an oucast to society but a portion of the book is about Dimsdale and his struggles with Chillingworth. We see how when Chillingworth finds out the secrect with Dimsdale and repeatedly torments him to almost madness. In addition to his struggles we see how Pearl is a physical form of his pain while the "secrect" he carries is an internal pain that reminds him of his sin which kills him in the end. A topic I wish I could of brought up is about how the man in black is interacted with each character.
Aliya Khan period 3
DeleteI agree that the book is about about Dimmesdale, but i also think its about Hester. the book is about the two of them and how their lives played out after they had sinned together. Hester who didnt conceal her sin was beautiful, but Dimmesdale who hid what he had done was old,weak and ugly.
Maddie Denbaugh Period 5
ReplyDeleteWe talked about whether Dimmesdale or Hester is the protagonist, I believe its a tie between the both of them. The Scarlet Letter is not just a symbol of what Hester did, although it is only on Hester's chest, it punishes Dimmesdale just as much. Every time he see's her he's reminded of his fault, and only becomes more guilty of his sin. Whenever Hester's sin is brought up, Dimmesdale is brought up right after. In the book it shows both of them struggling. It shows Hester regretting what she did, but then coming to realize she's been blessed rather than punished. Dimmesdale on the same note, is shown slowly dying everyday and having conversations with Hester about revealing the truth with hope let go of the weight the sin has brought upon his shoulders. The author, many times, shows us how Hester struggles, being constantly ridiculed and humiliated. Dimmesdale, is shown struggling everyday, he had Chillingworth constantly breaking him apart and he had to live with the fact that Hester was punished and he wasn't. It literally killed him
One topic that wasn't brought up that i wish we would of talked about is why Hester didn't leave after being punished? She had the chance to leave the town with Pearl and start over with a new life. She wouldn't have struggled as much if she were to leave, i feel as if Dimmesdale wouldn't have struggled as much either if she would have left because he wouldn't see her everyday and be reminded of the sin he committed.
Maddie, I totally agree with how you view the protagonist in the novel. I feel the same way about how even though Hester was the one who shared her secret with the world, she was not all that the story was about. In the beginning the story was based around Hester and I actually did see her as the protagonist, but later it started talking about Dimmesdale's hidden pain and I realized the story was just as much about him. I also agree with your thoughts on why Hester didn't just leave with Pearl and create a new life for herself. I personally think though that she never really truly forgave herself for the sin she had conceived many years ago and so that's why she felt obligated to return to the town.
DeleteMaddie and Dani, I can see why you would say Dimmesdale is the protagonist but i dont believe it's correct. You both seem to draw of a positive feeling for D because you have empathy for him. The fact that we see him struggle to confess and continue living as if nothing has happened is depressing, and it makes us feel dimmesdale's in a way that we don't feel for Hester's. However, his suffering is completely self-inflicted and in no point in the novel does he attempt to think of anyone but himself. Im not saying hes the antagonist, i believe that is obviously chllingworth, but his way of dealing with his scarlet letter makes Hester the protagonist. She was the one who lost her dignity, she was the one who bore the eye of the puritans, she was the one physically lifting the burden of the scarlet letter A. Not only did she perform these tasks, but she did them with dignity and more selflessness than anyone else in the community. Strength makes you a protagonist, not shame.
DeleteAllie Hitchcock
ReplyDeleteOne topic that was briefly brought up in my class was the character of the Black Man. Some people expressed their opinion that they believed the Black Man was Roger Chillingsworth, therefore the man who stalks people through the dark forest and collects signatures of blood in his mysterious book. However, I had initially been under the impression that the Black Man didnt actually embody a physical state of being, but rather was a symbol of sin and the devil. Hester used the story of the Black Man as a palpable illustration for Pearl's young mind to help her comprehend the sin that bound Hester and Dimmesdale, the dark secrets that were buried among the graves of the cemetery, and the wickedness that danced with witches under a full moon's luminance.The Black Man's book potrays the idea of selling oneself's soul to evil and forever being marked by this sin. I wish my class would've further discussed this topic.
I think Hester is the protagonist. The book follows her personal struggle, so it only makes sense that she is who the book is about. I can see how people could consider Dimmesdale or Pearl as the protagonist, as they are also important characters and the novel pays special attention to them. However, throughtout the story, the protagonist is supposed to learn a lesson and change. Dimmesdale never learns his lesson, as his guilt consumes him to the point of killing him, and Pearl changes into a beautiful young woman, but she never learns anything as she never knew her mother's and father's sin to begin with.
ReplyDeleteA topic that I wish was discussed more is Pearl. We asked the questions 'Is Pearl a symbol?' and 'Is Pearl evil?' but we never answered it. I think Pearl is, indeed, a symbol, but I don't think she is evil, or " the daughter of the black man". I think she represents not only her mother's sin, but all sin. In the end, she becomes beautiful and all her wildness is tamed, showing the imp inside her is gone, just as sin can also disappear. In the end, Pearl is living proof that all sin can be forgiven.
I honestly think that the novel was about the scarlet letter and the effect it had on the people who committed sin and how the scarlet letter changes people for good or bad. It displays how the people within their society treats those who wear the scarlet and the trials and tribulations of those who wear it. I also think that there is more than just one scarlet letter within the book like Pearl and the cut A within Dimmesdales chest. Pearl is the letter as she is with Hester each and everyday and because of her sin had Pearl which leads her to remember her affair with Dimmesdale who also endures Pearl ever so often. The A on his chest is also and A it may not be shown off to the community as Hesters is and may be hidden away but her knows its there and God does know its there too.
ReplyDeleteAs for how did Dimmesdale die I believe he died simply from malnutrition and probably infection from his wounds not from guilt.
The topic I wished to talk about more was Pearl and her influence to the book. She isnt just an ordinary little girl and felt as though we should have touched on it a bit more.
Rosa Alcazar
ReplyDeleteQuuincy, I agree the scarlet letter could have postive and negative affects onn someone such as Hester being able to understand others and Dimmesdale living in gullit and anguish. Although I believe the reason the scarlet letter had such different effects on each of them was due the fact Hester wore her's on the outside and Dimmesdale wore his on the inside.