Scarlet Letter 6: p.126-144

"I, your pastor, whom you so reverence and trust, am utterly a pollution and a lie!" (131)

Guilt is one of the worst punishments a human can have. Reverend Dimmesdale is the representation of God for his people, but he has committed a major sin. Besides this fact, he does not tell anyone of his doings. This is very contrary to the religious leader he is supposed to be. Th town looks up to him as an earthly saint, and this is how he is acting? Dimmesdale knows he is a liar, but  does not want to tell the Bostonians. Due to his duty to God, he cannot let his people go away from Him once they are disheartened by his conduct. This connects to how Proctor thought God was dead in "The Crucible".

"And there stood the minister, with his hand over his heart; and Hester Prynne, with the embroidered letter glimmering on her bosom; and little Pearl, herself a symbol, and the connecting link between those two" (140)

This is an interesting family portrait. They all stood on the scaffold together, displaying their sin. This family was rooted in evil. Adultery was at the center, and Pearl was the product. Hopefully, this foreshadows that the family will be judged together, even with Dimmesdale. The scarlet A did shine over them in the night sky, perhaps referring to the darkness of their sin and as a future sign that everyone will know the truth. 

Questions:

1) Will they be judged together?

2) Will Dimmesdale open up to the town?

Scarlet Letter 5: p.107-126

"he was often observed [...] to put his hand over his heart, with first a flush and then a paleness, indicative of pain" (110)

This is a somewhat awkward quirk of Reverend Dimmesdale. Knowing this action, one can guess that Dimmesdale may be the father of Pearl. Why would he randomly grab his chest when in an instance of uncertainty or suddenness? This sounds similar to Hester with her scarlet letter, a constant reminder of sin and evil, bringing forth pain. It even states Dimmesdale becomes flush, which may be eluding to the fact that Pearl has a rosy essence. Dimmesdale is definitely the father.

"'I must needs look deeper into it. A strange sympathy betwixt soul and body! Were it only for the art's sake, I must search this matter to the bottom!'" (125)

Chillingworth will not stop until he knows the answer to a problem. He mentions this when trying to find who Hester cheated with. Chillingworth is not one to fool around with. He can feel the guilt within Dimmesdale, but he is trying to find out why Dimmesdale feels this way. Chillingworth will watch every single move of Dimmesdale until he knows the answer to his "disease". It seems that Chillingworth begins to grow suspicion of Dimmesdale in relation to Hester's adultery.

Questions:

1) Will Chillingworth find out that it is Dimmesdale?

2) Will Hester give in to Chillingworth?

Scarlet Letter 4: p.91-107

"this boon meant [...] to keep the mother's soul alive, and to preserve her from blacker depths of sin into which Satan might else have sought to plunge her!" (104-105)

Though Pearl was a symbol of sin, she was a constant reminder of the mistakes in Hester's life.  Knowing our mistakes, we can learn how to act in the correct way. Pearl helps Hester to become better and to repent for her sin. This argument is supported when Mistress Hibbins asks Hester to go to the forest to do what I suppose is witchcraft, or to sign with the Black man. Hester refuses because she has to take care of Pearl. Pearl manifests her guidance in abstract ways. 

"'No, my little Pearl!' said her mother. 'Thou must gather thine own sunshine. I have none to give thee!'" (94)

This furthers the idea that Hester has accepted her sin. She feels she has no goodness inside of her. All her sunshine was gone after her adultery. Hester does not want her child to look up to her, for she has nothing good to offer, only sin. This may have been why the magistrate wanted Hester to give up Pearl for another family to take care of. Though Hester cannot support Pearl well enough, she is her only and most valuable possession, thus the name Pearl.

Questions:

1) Why did Pearl take Dimmesdale's hand and put it against her cheek?

2) Is Pearl going to become to the devil Hester thinks she is?

Scarlet Letter 3: p.72-91

"Thus the young and pure would be taught to look at her [...] as the figure, the body, the reality of sin" (73)

This quote explains the severity of punishment in theocratic Boston. Hester had committed something totally contrary to their Christian beliefs, and they wanted to torture her for it. Her punishment was to be the role-model of sin. Hester was basically being compared to the Devil. This would have to be the worst punishment other than death. This quote carries on from what was said earlier about Hester being a walking and living example of sin for everyone else. 

"The chain that bound her here was of iron links, and galling to her inmost soul, but could never be broken" (74)

The sin Hester committed would never be forgotten, by others or herself. The scarlet A would always remain on her bosom, and the guilt she felt would always remain. This abstract captivity caused the loneliness and banishment that Hester felt. This was also an acceptance of her wrongdoing and the punishment she was given. Nothing could help her now: "She could no longer borrow from the future to help her through the  present grief" (73).

Questions:

1) Will Hester have a better future, or will she always be in "captivity"?

2) Will  anyone stand up for her or be her friend?

Scarlet Letter 2: p.56-72

"And my child must seek a heavenly Father; she shall never know an earthly one" (64)

Hester wants God to be the only father that her child knows. The earth is full of imperfection; God created us with blemishes. Hester does not want her daughter to be in connection with any of these blemishes, but to be in relation to only God, the epitomization of goodness. Hester has made her mistakes, and probably does not want her child to make the same. She has already given her daughter a bad name, and hopes to appease it by helping her find God. She wants her child to look to God for guidance, so that the child will never do wrong.

"Live, therefore, and bear about thy doom with thee, in the eyes of men and women,–in the eyes of him thou  didst call thy husband,–in the eyes of yonder child! And, that thou mayest live, take off this draught" (68)

Mr. Chillingworth is provoking Hester into giving up the name of the man she slept with. He tools with her pride and then the things she loves. If she continues to keep the name secret, Chillingworth says the town and her husband will continue to look down on her. He then mentions Hester's daughter.  Hester loves her child, yet she is a symbol of Hester's sin, something her daughter will  have to bear for the rest of her life. The child would probably be embarrassed when she grows up to be known as the child of the adulteress. Though Chillingworth tries to get it out of her, Hester remains steadfast.

Questions:

1) Will Hester's daughter grow up with shame pressed upon by the town?

2) Is the A going to be removed?

Scarlet Letter 1: p.45-56

"a people amongst whom religion and law were almost identical, and in whose character both were so thoroughly interfused, that the mildest and the severest acts of public discipline were alike made venerable and awful" (47)

Just as in Salem, Boston is structured as a theocracy. Religion and law were made one. This explains why the old women surrounding the jail sound so pious, especially when stating punishments from the Bible for Hester's acts. This quote also says any act against the religion or law of Boston, no matter the severity, would be punished harshly. This explains why Hester's punishment is ridiculous, having to where a letter on her gown to show she represented something wrong or unclean and having to stand before the public as a subject of ridicule or hate. Another interesting thing to mention was that the kids were given a half-day just to go see her stand in the marketplace before everyone.

"It had the effect of a spell, taking her out of the ordinary relations with humanity, and enclosing her in a sphere by herself" (51)

The scarlet letter on Hester's grown was made brilliantly; its design and embroidery was exquisite. It definitely had the effect that the people wanted, for it showed that she was different. But Hester took advantage of her punishment by making her mark of uncleanliness look so beautiful. This could interpreted as Hester's own way of going against the people of Boston, getting back at them for her punishment.

"the town-beadle [...] represented in his aspect the whole dismal severity of the Puritanic code of law, which it was his business to administer in its final and closest application to the offender" (49)

The town-beadle is similar to Judge Danforth from The Crucible.

Questions:

1) Will the old women try to rid Hester of her beautifully-made letter?

2) Will Hester be forgiven?

Crucible Essay #2

Daryl Thomas

AP English- Mr. George

3 December 2008

“The Crucible” Essay 2: Toying with Emotions

Abigail Williams elicits a plethora of vile emotions; one’s head is overwhelmed by anger, hate, annoyance, frustration, and irritation when thinking of her. Those who have seen or read “The Crucible” would have some exceedingly foul words for Abigail. Why is this so? To the ignorant in Salem, she may be the only hope for amity, but Reverend Hale and John Proctor know that Abigail Williams is merely “a lump of vanity” (Miller, 110). As the play proceeds, her treacherous actions and deceitful manipulations create a character that manifests the Devil, which forms a fervent feeling of animosity towards her.  When her devilish ways are put into question, she rides the ignorance of others to circumvent losing her reputation and being caught lying. From sinfully committing lechery with John Proctor until sneakily fleeing for the Barbados, Abigail Williams was always a conniving and devious minx.

As the chaos in Salem was imminent, accusations of witchcraft were proliferating. When Tituba was incriminated for this act, she cunningly stated that she worked for the Devil, yet was now obedient to God. She then began to shift the blame by condemning others for this sinful deed. Inspired by the effectiveness of Tituba’s duplicity, Abigail found an opportunity to obtain revenge on Elizabeth Proctor. Since Abigail slept with John, Elizabeth was creating a bad name for her. When asked about the removal of Abigail, Elizabeth would coldly say, “she– dissatisfied me” (112). The townspeople interpreted Elizabeth’s words as insinuating Abigail for doing something unacceptable. Salem was a strictly theocratic society that wanted “to keep the community together […] and to prevent any kind of disunity that might open it to destruction by material or ideological enemies” (7). Therefore, any intimation of misbehavior was taken seriously. Abigail then followed the footsteps of Tituba, saying, “I want the light of God, I want the sweet love of Jesus! I danced for the Devil; I saw him; I wrote in his book; I go back to Jesus” (48). Thereafter, she trumped false charges against others, eventually accusing Goody Proctor. Abigail’s vengeance laid the foundation for her treacherous actions.

Abigail’s false accusations were mere appetizers to the main course of her profound deceit. Having lied once, it was necessary to continue lying to avoid being caught. She used the townspeople’s ignorance of witchcraft to instill fear as a diversion. An example of this was the poppet Mary Warren gave Elizabeth. Abigail purposefully stabbed herself in the stomach, knowing that Mary stuck a needle in the poppet. She then lied saying that Goody Proctor’s spirit hurt her, knowing that the poppet would back her claim. This brought horror upon the people of Salem for it was their validation of witchcraft. The scheming Abigail successfully diverted their attention, continued to get her revenge on Elizabeth, and could use Mary Warren as a scapegoat if need be. This constant manipulation of others helped Abigail continue to disrupt Salem.

Many fell for Abigail’s exploitation. Though she may have been a girl in a masculine society, her words were assertive and seemed true. When Abigail guided the girls to be equivocal when speaking of the night they danced, she threatened them if one told the truth: “Now look you. All of you. We danced. And Tituba conjured Ruth Putnam’s dead sisters. And that is all. And mark this. Let either of you breathe a word, […] and I will come to you in the black of some terrible night and I will bring a pointy reckoning that will shudder you” (20). All the girls were forced to conform to Abigail’s liking for she instilled fear, just as she did to the whole town. When Judge Danforth questioned Abigail if the spirits were merely an illusion, she took away his superiority by manipulating his idea of the witness being the only truth; if she were to help his problem, then he would have to believe her: “I have been hurt, Mr. Danforth; I have seen my blood runnin’ out! I have been near to murdered every day because I done my duty pointing out the Devil’s people–and this is my reward?” (108). At this point, Abigail controlled the head of theocracy in Salem. Her power was at its maximum as she headed towards pure evil.

Since Abigail overpowered everyone in Salem, the fate of the accused laid in her hands. The justice of God was expected to judge the case, yet the final judgment was that of the Devil. Though she fled for the Barbados before the hangings, Abigail left her influence; she did enough damage to Salem. Elizabeth Proctor did not get killed, but many innocent, pious men and women were collateral damage for her demoniac intentions. Murder could now be added to the long list of wrongs committed by Abigail.

            From vengeance to pure evil, Abigail Williams fully transformed into the Devil. A lie to save her name opened a door to get revenge. This led to chaos in a whole town and the death of innocent people. Knowing Abigail for the villain she is, it is a relief that Salem “had no ritual for the washing away of sins” (20). Though she may run away from the responsibility, she will always be stained with the blood of those killed for the rest of her life, as she marches towards Hell.