Chapters 7 & 8
Respond to the following no later than Friday, January 7th.
Is personality a creation of nature (what we are biologically) or nurture (what we are surrounded with and confronted by as we grow)? How do these chapters inform the question? (What do Hawthorne's characters seem to believe?)
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Personality is a creation of nature and nurture. As girls and guys are born, they naturally have different personalities based on their hormones and testosterone levels. Taking sex out of the picture, this is where the personality is shaped mostly by nurture. The surroundings of a person can affect them tremendously.For example, if a person is surrounded by alcoholics there whole life, they are more than likely to drink alcohol because it was viewed as a good thing. The characters in Hawthorne's chapters has the view that nurture is stroner at shaping a personality, especially at Pearl's young age, and they are right. At a younger age, it is easier to be influenced. The puritan townspeolple thinks that Pearl will follow in the same footsteps as Hester or at least a similar path, a path that dishonors God.
ReplyDeletePersonality is created by nurture; what we are surrounded with and confronted by as we grow. Parents wonder why children act out of the norm, and it makes them question that their actions seem far from what they were taught. The development of a person’s personality is influenced by environmental upbringings. Our parents are our remodels, since we are in our mother’s womb. However, humans have to act for themselves and make their own decisions in life.
ReplyDeleteWhat would you do if you find a wallet filled with a great amount of money? A person who has been surrounded with drug dealers, robbers, frauds, gang bangers and drug abusers, would most likely look around and take the money. However, if that person is raised up in a better environment, they might search for any identification in the wallet, so it can be returned. Therefore, a person personality is based upon the surrounding and confrontations as they grow up.
In “The Scarlet Letter” Pearl is the little girl who is growing up in a harsh environment. In chapter 7, Hester goes to the Governor Bellingham’s mansion because the Puritan townspeople were spreading rumors that they were going to take Pearl way from her. As Pearl grows up in with her mother’s sin, she develops a very distinguished personality. Pearl sees how the townspeople treat her mother; like trash. Similarly, the children in town treat Pearl as the townspeople treat her mother. Earlier in the novel, Pearl has shown her personality, but in chapter 7 she shows her angry and frustration by frightening a group of children who were trying to throw balls of mud at them. This shows that Pearl personality (actions) have changed because of the horrible environment she is being nurtured in. Once, they were in the Governor’s mansion chaos began. Wilson religiously questions Pearl of her existence but, she refused to answer him. Wilson believes that Pearl should be taken away from Hester because it looks as if she is not teaching her well. However, Dimmesdale steps in to state his religious opinion in which he believes a person’s personality is created from nature; in other words Gods creation.
Other than Pearl, Governor Bellingham also shows how he developed his personality in these chapters 7 and 8. The Governors possessions in his mansion show his personality. His portraits along the walls show that he is proud of his ancestors. His garden shows that he has not forgotten how he was raised up, because it is planted as those from England. Governor Bellingham’s armor also shows how his surroundings in battle created who he is now. Fighting for his country in war changed his personality and actions into becoming the Governor of Massachusetts.
Personalities change with what a person sees and confronts.
We have a little bit of our personality from nature when we are born and are taken care of by our parents. There our parents determine if we are needy, whiny, independent, quiet, depending how much our parents have to pamper us to keep us happy emotionally and physically. Yet as we are growing we are learning and make more of our personality within the environment we are growing in. We are influenced by our parents and those who are close to us, like Pearl who is being taught religion, morals, and life by her mother, Hester. Yet some people seem reluctant to keep Pearl with her mother like Governor Bellingham who said, “‘Here is a child of three years old, and she cannot tell who made her! Without question, she is equally in the dark as to her soul, its present depravity, and future destiny! Methinks, gentlemen, we need inquire no further.’” Since Pearl was being reluctant to answer the minister’s religious questions, yet she was taught who her Heavenly Father is by Hester, and Hester was there to fight for the custody of her daughter that Pearl is teaching her life and vice versa; Pearl is Hester’s obstacle , responsibility, and sin. What would happen if Pearl was taken away from her mother, or what would happen to us if we were taken away from our parents? Would our personality and attitude change toward society be negative? Anyhow the characters against Hester would test her on how she raises Pearl, they hope they would see a change in Pearl that would not lead her on the path of darkness.
ReplyDeletePersonality seems to be more of a ceation of nurture rather than nature because the way we think is developed as we grow due to our surroundings. Basically the way we think can be affected by the way we are raised, by our parents. Our personality is developed through our experiences, the way they affect us, and it does not seem like something we are born with. The question whether personality is a creation of nature or nurture is shown in chapter 8 when governer Bellingham questions Hester by saying, "....we, that are of authority and influence do well discharge our conscience by trusting an immortal soul, such as there is in younder child, to the guidance of one who hath stumbled and fallen amid...What canst thou do for the child, in this kind?"(p.106-107) This informs the question (whether personality is the creation of nurture or nature) because he thinks that Pearl is around bad influence being with her mother, Hester. Then Master Dimmesdale says, "God gave her the child, and gave her too an instinctive knowledge of its nature and requirements...."(pg.110), he says that God gave Pearl knowledge indicating that personality is a creation of our nature rather than influence.
ReplyDeletePersonality is definitley nutured just because everyone around one another can influence in diffrent ways. Not everyone from a bad neighborhood ends up doing drugs or alcohol, there may be that one person pushing them or nurturing them to do better. Or if evryone around is acting stuck up or obnoxious then high chance they will be the same. Just as with Pearl , her mother personally knows the consequnces of commiting a sin , so she is doing everything she can so Pearl will not follow in her footsteps her dream is that Pearl will be the opposite, "-to be trained up by her to righteousness-"(pg111).
ReplyDeletePersonality is one of the many things that defines each individual. It's a creation of nature but as we grow we are influenced by our surroundings and tend to changes our views and behavior. For example, a person that goes through domestic violence usually has a change in personality and begin to see the world with hate and contempt. However, this individual was once "normal" and full of life, how nature brings us to the world, but our experiences definitely have a great impact on our personalities. Even though most humans are influenced by their surroundings, there are a few who manage to remain the same despite of all confrontations they've came across. Overall it's a matter of maturity and how one responds to certain conflicts that determines our personality. Hawthorne illustrates different perspectives of the creation of personality through Governor Bellingham, Hester, and Reverend Dimmesdale. Unlike Hester and Mr. Dimmesdale, Governor Bellingham strongly believes that one's personality is nurtured, "My poor woman,"said the not unkind old minister, "the child shall be well cared for!--far better than thou canst do it" (109). The governor believes that Pearl will grow ruthless and malicious because of her mother's shameful sin. Furthermore, he argues that Hester isn't suitable of teaching a child about morals and principles, so he insists in taking Pearl from her mother in order to save her from misery. Hester disagrees with Governor Bellingham and claims that she is fit to educate her child due to her shame. "I can teach my little Pearl what I have learned from this!" answered Hester Prynne, laying her finger on the red token" (107). Like most parents, Hester doesn't want her daughter to make the same mistakes she made and is willing to emphasize the importance of morals to little Pearl. Reverend Dimmesdale reinforces Hester's argument in a religious perspective, "This child of its father's guilt and its mother's shame hath come from the hand of God, to work in many ways upon her heart, who pleads so earnestly, and with such bitterness of spirit, the right to keep her. It was meant for a blessing; for the one blessing of her life! It was meant, doubtless, as the mother herself hath told us, for retribution too; a torture to be felt at many an unthought-of moment; a pang, a sting, an ever-recurring agony, in the midst of a troubled joy! Hath she not expressed this thought in the garb of the poor child, so forcibly reminding us of that red symbol which sears her bosom?"(110-111). He believes that God's purpose for Pearl is to punish Hester in a way that she cannot avoid, for Hester loves Pearl more than anything and having Pearl be her shame and joy really highlights the consequences of her sin.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing "natural" about our self-beings is our humanly-instictive urges, such as hunger, warmth, and the need for shelter. But what would we be like if we weren't influenced by anything? I mean, we would still have language, but would we be perfect or something? It's hard to think about, but yeah, I just rather not think about it. We are influenced first by our parent's beliefs, then influenced by other areas like school and the media. Everyone is unique because of the different people they are influenced and choose to be influenced by. Biologically, we are all the same in terms of sex and the certain attitudes because of it, but then there are still different races around the world in different surroundings. There are other certain things in people that are not influential, but genetic such as shyness and the ability to be a fearless speaker. But overall, we are mostly influenced by our surroundings and parents. Personality is a follower, not a leader.
ReplyDeleteIn the scarlet letter, the Puritan society really believes that people are influenced by the people they are surrounded by. For example, when Pearl refused to name who "created" her, the men were astonished because they just witnessed how Hester's guilt is making Pearl into a rebellious little girl. They believe that Pearl should be taken away and raised under a true Puritan household so that her soul can be saved and eventually sent to heaven. This is evidence that the Puritans believe that a person's personality is influenced by their surroundings.
Personality is a creation of both nature and nurture. Children are often the reflection of their parents. Even
ReplyDeletewhen the child is too young to understand, they may have similar moods, likes or dislikes, or even the same behavior as
the parent. Hester even mentions how "she could recognize [Pearl's] wild, desperate, defiant mood." (83) However, I dont
believe that what we are biologically is enough to make up our entire personality. As we grow up we are confronted
by situations that result in our conscience and define our maturity.Then, we are continuously influenced by our
surroundings such as school, friends, or the media.
Hawthorne's characters believe that personality is a creation of nurture. The townspeople strongly believe in the principles
in relgion and government. They believe that Hester is a bad influence and Pearl shoudl be taken away so that she is
"capable of moral and religious growth"; and this can only be accomplished if she becomes part of their society.
Personality is much more than what we humans are made out of, biologically we are all the same but when it comes to each individual and their personalities, everyone is extremely diffferent. Personalitly is made up of our own surroundings and what we confront as we grow, but most importantly out of our ancestry. Through time, one can see time and time again how acestry has influenced many of the world's famous leaders and their personalities. Louis the 16th was chosen to rule France at an early age after the death of his father. This serves as a great example of ancestry playing a big role in one's personality and life. Our surroundings also affect us. Personally, I have seen many people around my neighborhood drop out of school and become part of gangs, and I blame the environment we live in for their poor choices in life but also the challenges that they've had to face that changed them. Obstacles we confront have great effects on each of us, but it's how we chose to handle these obstacles that change the result of our lives.
ReplyDeleteIn chapters 7 & 8 of The Scarlet Letter, Hawthrone shows the views of many of the characters and their opinions on what makes our personalities. "Without question, she is equally in the dark as to her soul, its present depravity, and furture destiny!"(103) Governor Bellingham believes that Pearl is a dark child and that the cause as to why she turned out so, is because of the mother's sin. Later on Bellingham continues to say that the child could also be cared for better in the hands of another person, a more Godly person. Bellingham believes that nuture is the cause of personality. Hester believes that she as a mother who has sinned can teach her child to be better and more wise, "this badge hath taught me-it daily teaches me-it is teaching me at this moment-lessons whereof my child may be the wiser and better..."(101) Thus Hester believes that she can teach her child to be a better person and influence her child's personality and life to change and be different from that of her life as a cause of her sin. Mr.Dimmesdale supports Hester's view in a more religious way that helps the other clergymen agree to let Hester keep her child because God intended it to be so. "This child of its father's guilt and its mother's shame hath come from the hand of God, to work in many ways upon her heart..."(104) Many of the characters in this chapter seem to overall agree that nuture is what mainly influences one's personality.
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ReplyDeletePersonality is a creation of the nurture we receive since birth and as we grow up. As we grow, we are exposed to all sorts of events and people. Based off of what exactly those events are, people personalities will be shaped around that. For example, if a girl would to see her father beat her mother, she might develop a hate for men, due to an event that occurred. Personality is shaped by these events in a way that seems fit. A loved person in society but hated at home will develop a two-faced personality, resulting in the two different ways the person will based on how the person was nurtured. But at the same time, some people's nature will also have an effect on their personality. When through the ages a family has been more fortunate than others, they will look down on others, making them look snobbish. A person's nature can have an effect on how a person's personality will develop but is not completely responsible for the way the personality is because then people with similar natures would be identical, since there personalities would be the same. Hawthorne shows this when Hester pleads Mr. Dimmesdale to help convince the other priests to allow her to keep Pearl even though she committed that affair with the unknown man. Although he was nurtured to believe what the Bible says and live and judge by what the Bible says, his nature as a human prevents him, although he is nervous, from refusing to try to help keep the mother and daughter together. Another example is how Governor Bellingham upon seeing Pearl for the first time said that she needed to be removed from Hester's possession if she were to be raised as under the church. His religious personality made him jump to the conclusion that the sinner could not raise a religious child, even if Hester is very resentful of what she did. His nature did not have enough of an effect on his personality, so the way he was nurtured, in a Puritan society, led him to take care of this situation the way a Puritan priest would act not a regular, compassionate human man. Nature and Nurture must be used in a certain ratio per se, to create a person's personality.
ReplyDeletePersonality is both of the nature and nurture because everyone has a unique personality, a way of experiencing the world and participating in it that is all their own. But is it really? Are our personalities truly unique, or are there others (perhaps thousands of others) with the same personalities as ours? And how is personality determined? Many ways have been proposed in different periods in history and even today. These different propositions can be placed into three categories: personality is caused/influenced by the environment; personality is inherent in our genetic make-up; personality is a mix of both genetic and environmental influences. Personality is first dealt with the environment because for example say if a person is around a bad crowd then the person can be influenced by the crowds bad actions. With those actions in place the person is the begin to commit the wrong doings. In genetic influences personality can be a trait or characteristic from a child's parents because the parent's habits can wipe off on the kids. In the Scarlett Letter, "I can teach my little Pearl what I have learned from this!" answered Hester Prynne, laying her finger on the red token" (107). Hester doesn't want her daughter Pearl to follow behind her footsteps because she wants her child to be known of good morals and not the person that she is. The characters in the story believe that Pearl will be the same as her mother but in the end could it be true or not true.
ReplyDeletePersonality is a creation of nature and nurture. We could have been born again with the same aspects but our personality will always be different biologically by how our brain cells grow. Also peoples' personality is also based on the people that they hang out with, the different kind of music they listen too, and the childhood they grew up in. This is because as our brain is developing as children we begin getting interests and our brain cells, and we become acustumed to this environment. This is why some people dislike rap, and others rock, it is all based on nature and nurture.
ReplyDeleteIn the Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, chapter 8 proves this claim when Pearl runs away from the old minister. "The old minister seated himself in an armchair and made an effort to to draw Pearl betwixt his knees. but the child,unaccustomed to the touch or familiarity of any but her mother, escaped through the open window, and stood on the upper steep looking like a tropical bird...". As a child Pearl spent her childhood at prison with her mother Hester Prynne and was unaccostumed to other people touching her, that is why Pearl jumped when the old minister touched her. Pearl acts like this because her nurture was prison and her nature as a child
pg. 107
ReplyDeletePersonality is molded best by nuture. The most recent example is in chapter 9, describing Roger Chillingworth at an earlier point in his life. It was hinted that he joined "in the incantations of savage priests" who had a skill in the "black art(pg. 115)." This strongly influences later theories of the townsfolk in the chapter that he is evil, and/or has ill-willed intentions. Thus, the evil savages he was surrounded with while in the wilderness must have had traits that rubbed off on him. When around people for an extended period of time, it is inevitable to absorb at least some of their mind frame. Actions of the clergymen in the story also confirmed this notion. They were concerned that because Hester was a being of sin, it might come out in the child. Thankfully Hester was able to defend her influence on Pearl, and show that she controlled an important part of what the girl was exposed to.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I must qualify on the topic. An infantesimal aspect of a personality- but one nonetheless- is influenced by biology and cannot be controlled. Pearl is described as one who acts oddly, and "seemed to have drank [with Hester's breastmilk] all the turmoil, the anguish, and despair which pervaded the mother's system(pg. 64)." But that oddity that was eventually perceived as evil did not orginate from Hester herself. Some characteristics we just have, and cannot help but to display. Therefore
Sure we have personality characteristics that come from our “birth-givers”, but overall our personalities are developed by our own environments. Take a look a t Pearl: she carries her mother’s striking individuality, intelligence, and beauty, yet along with Hester, she is ostracized from the community and, as a result, takes advantage of her growing overactive imagination and youthful wit to create her own friends and enemies. In addition to this isolation, Pearl receives a different form of religious teachings, based on her mother’s upbringing, which would inevitably lead her to growing up differently from the children in the village. Characters such as Governor Bellingham believe that Pearl’s soul has a chance of being saved, since she was apparently born in sin, only if she were taken out of the hands of her unfit, sin-ridden mother, feeling as if “it is because of her stain…[he] would transfer they child to other hands.” (Pg 101).
ReplyDeleteAlso take into consideration that people often say “she’s so white washed”…or “he’s always trying to act black”…or whatnot, but with a race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status comes a particular culture so when an individual is raised in a certain society the person is bound to retain some characteristics of the culture.
A person’s personality can at times be a creation of nature and no one can change it, but most of the time it is shaped by nurture. Every single person has experienced something that has changed their view on the world and has made them act different. This reflects on a person’s personality. For example, living in a home where people are constantly yelling and fighting can cause someone to become aggressive or even come to believe that all people are like. They might think that its ok for them to act the way that they do because it was in the way people were in the environment in which they were raised in.
ReplyDeleteHuman beings are all influenced by their surroundings in ch7 and 8 of “The Scarlet Letter” we begins to notice a change in Pearls attitude and personality. After seeing the way that the towns’ people treat her mother she begins to change a little but then when the people go too far and begin to treat her bad as well, she completely changes. At the age that she is in it is easier for her personality to be changed due to her surroundings and other people’s actions. Due to this, the Governor thinks that she should be taken away from Hester because she is a “bad” influence. This shows that the author and characters also believe that personality is built upon peoples surroundings and experiences.
i believe that personality is a creation of both nature and nurture. Biologically, not everyone is born with the same personality. Personalities mold as one grows up and is nurtured. However, personally the biggest influence on our personality would be nurture and the things we come across as we grow. For example, if you grew up in a house where everybody was always happy and always wore smiles then your personality would probably be jolly or something along those lines. As to say if one grew up in a home where they've witnessed child abuse or even domestic violence their personality might be the opposite of jolly, as to say maybe sad, paranoid or even traumatized.
ReplyDeletePearl can also be used as an example. She was biologically born with a personality the same as the other children, but as she grew up her personality changed. She grew up with only a mother, who not to mention was always looked down on by the townspeople for wearing the scarlet letter. Her personality was crafted into a more rebellious one, and not shy to say whatever was on her mind. For example in chapter 8, when Pearl first comes into contact with Mr. Wilson she is not afraid to answer him, she says "I am mother's child," answered the scarlet vision, "and my name is Pearl." (p. 100)
Personality is a result of nuture, as we frow we take in what we are surrounded by and this influece our manerisms, talking habits, and ways we persent and carry ourselves, all things that make up our personality. Its within the first decade or so of our lives that we look at our surroundings and what we know to be right before we make a decision.
ReplyDeleteWhile we were children in elementary school we developed thoughts, habits, and opinions that we still caryy today. For example if a young man was introduced to a sport at an early age and the was a very common interest to a majority of people around him he would more than likley take an interest in that sport especially if this interest in sports was present in the home. This brings me to my next point, our personalities are a result of what are parents/guardians have exposed us to or allowed us to be exopsed to. Parents can't constantly show inpatience around their children, but be upset when they ask "Are we there yet?" everytime they get into the car. The culture and upbringing we have are the foundation of our personalities, as we get older we simply put our own personal twist on something we pick up from someone else.
In chapters 7 and 8 of the Scarlet letter we see that Hawthorne's characters beleive that personality it a creation of our nurture as the townspeople feel that Pearl is evil because her mother is a sinner. The same can also be said about Hester who wishes to teach Pearl to behave a certain way, in other words she'll show her through example and instill these behaviors in her in hopes that she'll carry them with her throughout her life. It becomes obvios that Hawthornes characters are a result of nuture through the chldren of the townspeople, the townspeople contantly mistreated Hester and thier children saw this and interpreted as right, especially since no one objected to them throwing things at Hester's daughter Pearl.
I believe that personality is a combination of both a creation of nature and nurture, as well as an added component of our own sense of self being. Since we are living things, made from the DNA of two other living things (our parents), it is only natural that we (the offspring) take in some of the personality traits that our parents have internally endowed us with. Also, since we are human, our instinct as children is to pick up certain beliefs and behaviors from the people we surround ourselves with, and those who are constant figures in our everyday lives. For instance, someone who was born and raised in a Christian household who most likely stick to Christianity in their adult life and have Christian belief. It would not be impossible but rather rare that a Christian would convert to Buddhism and vice versa. As for the third component of personality, sense of self being, which I have added on myself, this connects back to the nuturing component of personality. It is quite obvious that although we have control over the people we choose to befriend and surround ourselves with, it is not in our control to choose our family. If a child is unlucky enough to be placed in an unfit household, they are more likely to have an unfavorable personality. However, I believe that this is where one's own sense of self being comes into play. By "sense of self being," I mean our internal self consciousness of what is right and wrong, regardless of whether we've been exposed to good morals or not. There are many people who have defied the odds and have gone on to be very successful, regardless of their circumstances.
ReplyDeleteThese two chapters take on the origin of personality by going into great depth about Pearl and Reverend Dimmesdale. Hawthorne's characters seem to believe that personality can be genetically passed down and changed by those who you surround yourself with. As in the case of Pearl, Governor Bellingham and the townspeople believe that not only did Pearl inherit some of her mother's personality, but also that Hester's sin has influenced her personality as well. And with Reverend Dimmesdale, there are those who believe that Roger Chillingworth is the Devil in disguise, and that his constant presence around Dimmesdale is causing the Reverend to become dark and evil. Although I do agree with Hawthorne's characters' perceptions of how we get our own personalities, I do not agree with the notion of genetically passing down sin, or Roger Chillingworth being some sort of demon in disguise.
Personality doesn’t come from either just nature nor nurture. Instead, it is the product of both. However, a larger portion comes from nurture instead of nature. For example, many men, though not all, tend to be less open with their emotions than many women are. Also, character traits, such as a person’s temperament, can depend on biological factors. The larger part of a person’s personality comes from nurture. The way a person is depends on the way they were raised and the experiences they have been through. For example, if one has gone through many hardships throughout their life, they may be more bitter at times than someone who has gone through an easy and carefree life.
ReplyDeleteIn these chapters, all the characters seem to demonstrate that personality comes more from nurture than from nature. Governor Bellingham has lived through the difficult times of colonization and fighting so he has grown to be a more serious, resentful, distrustful person, which makes him want to take Pearl away from Hester. Reverend Dimmesdale, on the other hand, had lived a more peaceful life of religious service, making him a more compassionate and sympathetic person, which is why he spoke in favor of Hester when they tried to take Pearl away. On the other hand, Pearl is used to demonstrate the part of personality that is shaped by nature. According to the clergymen, Pearl was born strange and evil because she was born through sin. However, she is probably the way she is because her personality has developed mainly through nature because she hasn’t lived long enough for nurture to have a large impact on her. Therefore, her personality is impulsive because it relies more on nature than on Hester’s nurturing towards her.
Everyone’s personality is created in different ways depending on the things we are surrounded with, this is called our nurture. When little kids, our parents are the influence to our personality. They teach us what they consider moral values and family traditions. As we grow and become teenagers other things can influence us, like our friends and/or the media. A person that has friends that are “gang bangers” is going to be influenced by those friends and most probably going to become one. But if a person that has friends that are good students then he will most probably be a good student too. The media is another thing that influences our personality. Nowadays we see and hear a lot of sex-related things on TV, the radio, and billboards, and this is influencing the teens to do what is done in the media. Sometimes our personality can change by personal experiences. For example if there are two really close friends that are alcoholics but one day one of them dies of intoxication, then the friend who is alive might quit drinking because he doesn’t want that to happen to him.
ReplyDeleteIn both chapters 7 and 8 the characters inform that nurture is what creates our personality. In chapter 7 the reader can see how the governor’s mansion is decorated with objects that are related to his background. This shows the influence his family made to create his personality. In chapter 8 the reader can see that the Puritans believed that personality is created based on the surroundings. This is shown when Wilson asks Pearl some questions regarding religion. He sees that Pearl has trouble answering which makes him think that it is Prynne’s fault. They say that Prynne is the bad influence to Pearl and she should be taken away. They want to give Pearl to a person who will be a better influence to her.
Personality is developed through nurture. When we are younger, our interactions with out parents shape who we are. As we grow older, hardships, relationships with friends, observations of other people greatly influence who are. If you;re constantly with depressed and sad people, eventually that's going to wear off and change your perspective of life. Teenagers especially are in a period of life where there are trying to find themselves and they greatly depend on the media as well as the people in their lives to influence their mannerisms and character.
ReplyDeleteChapters 7 & 8 shape the idea that nurture forms personality. Pearl is described as a reflection of her mother's attitude since that is the only person she has had any type of interaction with. Governor Bellingham believes that taking Pearl away from her mother will change her ways and transform her into a normal Puritan child.
The personality of a person is defined by that person's surroundings. When we are born, we seem to be born with a clean slate, no baby seems to be too different from the other at the moment of conception or the weeks after, doing things only instinctively, with no real cause. Yet, when that person matures, instinct doesn't play as big a role as it did when they were smaller. During the first 5 years of our lives we gain customs, habits, and certain ways of thinking that have been etched into our brain and slowly begin to give us a personality that is unique to us.
ReplyDeletePearl is the obvious example to this, she was born a healthy child like all others, but she was born to Hester Prynne and because of this Pearl has experienced things that are vastly different to anything anyone else in her age group may have experienced. This is evident with Pearl's personality. Even Governor Bellingham was surprised she did not act like other children when he approached her, she was less trusting because of what she witnessed growing up.
I believe our personality is a creation of nature but also nurture.Nurture plays a major role in developing our personality.As we begin to grow up our neighbor's,friends,community,education,religion,etc. influence our personality.For example,if a child's parents are extremely racist then as the child becomes older the child is going to become more racist,going to an extremity of killing any individual of another ethnicity.We develop our personality based on how we are educated and our religious belief.If parents properly discipline their children with good education and good morals then their children would discipline their children the same,and so on.It is like maintaining the traditions and the culture alive.
ReplyDeleteIn the Scarlet Letter,Governor Bellingham,Mr.Wilson,Pearl,Hester,and Dimmesdale demonstrate how personality is created by nurture.When Mr.Wilson asked Pearl,"Canst thou tell me,my child,who made thee?"Pearl responds that"she had not been made at all,but had been plucked by her mother off the bush of wild roses that grew by the prison-door."(Hawthorne,pg.102),obviously Pearl responded this because Pearl doesn't know who her real father is nor has a paternal figure in her life.Governor Bellingham and Mr.Wilson believe,based on their religious belief,that Hester should not be able to raise Pearl because she would become like her mother,a sinner.They believe Hester would educate Pearl non-religiously-no believe in god,catechism,etc.However,they are so wrong because Hester clearly educates Pearl properly,she has told Pearl that Heavenly Father created her.Dimmesdale protects Hester from Governor Bellingham and Mr.Wilson from taking Pearl away from her.Even though Dimmesdale would back up Governor Bellingham and Mr.Wilson idea, Dimmesdale decides to do the right thing and backs up Hester.So Dimmesdale properly defended Hester since he believed it was the right thing to do, religiously and morally.
Personality is creation of nurture because what one sees and experiences growing up directly affect how that person will be. No one is a certain way just because they were built that way everyone has different personalities because everyone experiences different things and interprets them differently even brothers and sisters are different they may have lived a similar adolescence but every mind interprets things differently. Pearl was the result of something sinful and therefore should be evil by nature however this is not the case pearl. The town people believe that Pearl should be taken away from Hester because she is not an adequate mother because she is sinful but Hester says she can teach her daughter an important lesson from her shame.
ReplyDeleteThe personality of someone is more so a creation of nurture rather than of nature. What we are exposed to is what shapes us as individuals. Our day to day life teaches us what and what not to do. Most likely if we are brought up around a positive environment we will live positive lives, and vice versus. It can also teach us what we do not like and what is the best way to handle it. All of these things develope our personalities. Our personality traits cannot be creations of nature because if so we would all behave or react in the same way. Our lives are different and our personality correspond in the same way.
ReplyDeleteIn chaopters 7 and 8 Hawthorne's characters seem to believe that an individual's personality stems from a persons surroundings or what nutures them. Governor Bellingham wanted to remove Pearl from the care of Hester for this particular reason. Because he felt since Hester had committed a sin that she was only capable of raising a sinner such as herself. Hester felt the way she has behaved has impacted her in a way that she can now teach Pearl not to make the same mistakes she did. She believes she can mold Pearl's personality into a positive person therfore, she should be able to keep Pearl. She also considers Pearl as a punishment for her sin that will change her ways for the good. All of this indicates Nathaniel Hawthorne's characters believe that nuture is the creation of someone's personality.
Since the day children were born they acquire knowledge as they grow older. The knowledge they acquire is being retrieved from those they have contact to or hang around like their parents, siblings, or neighbors. We, as humans, are all individuals because of different backgrounds and the way see think of life or anything else. Because we humans are different from each other proves that our personality is based on what we are surrounded with and confronted by as we grow older. Our personality is formed by nature around our presence, for what we see and learn can change the thought of one person because one child may be raised by alcoholics and may be influenced to do the same, but in his mind he may see that it is a bad things, for it depends on what he thinks due to what’s around him. In the novel The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, believe that ones personality is also fromed by ones surroundings. “If the child, on the other hand, were really capable of moral and religious growth, and possessed the elements of ultimate salvation, then, surely, it would enjoy all the fairest prospect of these advantages by being transferred to wiser and better guardianship than Hester Prynne’s.” Since Hester Prynne is the child’s mother, the village believe that the child will soon be just like her mother because Hester is like a role model to her and she may have the same personality as Hester to soon also commit adultery.
ReplyDeleteTime goes too fast >.<
Personality is not only a creation of nature, it is a creation of our environment our experiences, our views and what we think. Of that somethings we acquire on our own, and some are taught to be the normal way of behaving or thinking. As we mature in life and make daily discoveries we learn who we are and what makes us so. We infuse knowledge we have received with knowledge of ourselves through this we learn who we are. Sometimes as we develop we forget who we are along the way and have to back track in order to learn ourselves more fully and with a better sense of clarity and understanding.
ReplyDeleteThe chapters address the personality most clearly through Pearl. Growing up with a condemned mother has made the three year old both strong stubborn and unsure. Her presence is something that most definitely needs to be made notice off because she is not something that was created in silence and confusion nor has her personality developed as such.
Nathaniel Hawthorne writes a story in which most of the antagonists are obvious because they have evil personalities. In Chapter 7- The Governor's Hall- he describes the home of the man whom plans to take young Pearl away from her own mother because of suspicions that the child is un-Godly.. Hawthorne's purpose for giving such a detailed, long description of the Governor's mansion is so that the audience may recognize that personalities are often created by nature. Conversely, Hawthorne describes young Pearl as a child who is judged and misunderstood, thus she is forced to defend herself (Pearl also feels she must defend her tortured mother)and is confident, intelligent in doing so.. So Hawthorne implies that personality is created by nurture, or one's surroundings. In Chapter 8-The Elf-Child And The Minister- Mr. Dimmesdale helps Hester Prynne by defending her case, that her daughter Pearl must not be taken away from her, and she should raise her because she will not fail in teaching her good and will allow her to have moral, and religious growth. Mr. Dimmesdale, the young minister must believe that there is good in Pearl, that the suspicions of the puritans are untrue, because he must understand that her rare yet beautiful personality has been created or influenced by her surroundings, and what she has witnessed. Also,the antagonist (puritans) including Governor Bellingham must believe that Pearl is a demon-child because they may believe her personality was born because of her mother's sin, thus they believe her mother could never teach her Godly teachings.
ReplyDeletePersonality, as Hawthorne writes, is created by both nature and nurture. Nature is one's need of love, attention, and faith; while nurture is what influences one's attitudes, opinions, and personalties.
In the matter over nature vs. nurture on personality, I qualify in that I believe that personality can be created by either one, or even both. Usually people associate personality with nurture as many people tend to believe that one’s surroundings serves a major influence over the personality of that person. For example, some would tend to associate someone who grew up in Beverly Hills and in rich neighborhoods as snobby and somewhat conceited, while some would tend to think of one who grew up in Compton or in another poor neighborhood as violent, crazy, and maybe dumb. While these thoughts sometimes hold true, it is not always the case. Yes a person’s surroundings have great influence over one’s personality, but not everyone is what people would tend to classify as according to one’s nurture. There are always some who do not get affected by their surroundings and are opposite from what they are perceived to be like. Although I am guilty of sometimes feeling the same way, I was greatly proved wrong when I came to King/Drew. On my first day of school, I was terrified as I’m sure a lot of other freshman students were in being at a new surrounding, but while that thought scared me what had also scared me most was making friends as I thought, in considering the area, that the students there were going to be really mean and scary. Yes my ignorance got a hold of me, but after my first day of school, I have to say that idea soon changed as I had met some of the nicest, smartest, and coolest people at that school, so yay King/Drew! :D Anyway, though, one’s nurture does not always have to create one’s personality, It could just be from one’s nature and inclination to be different and independently minded.
ReplyDeleteIn regards to the Scarlet Letter, I would say that Hester and Reverend Dimmesdale believe personality is created more through nurture, while the rest of the clergymen seem to believe that personality is created more through nature. You can see these distinctions most notably in chapter eight when the clergymen are debating with Hester over the care of Pearl. Because Pearl had been born in such a sinful manner as well as with the fact that when asked of her creation, Pearl strayed away from the proper reply (being that it was just her personality), the clergymen were haste to decide that Pearl “was equally dark as to her soul” just like they saw Hester as being (a result, in their view, of nature from her parents and how she had been conceived). On the other hand, Mr. Dimmesdale and Hester defended the situation by saying that she would grow up learning from Hester’s mistakes (personality by nurture) and would be a constant reminder to Hester of the sin she had committed. In chapter 7, though, you can see both the nature and nurture that shaped Pearl’s personality when she fought back the kids who were picking on her. Although she was never taught to fight against others, her nature, as well as the nurture she received in being isolated from society and therefore ignorant of proper societal manners, shaped her to be the tough, free-spirited child she was.