Chapters 5 & 6
How does Hawthorne address "sin" itself in these two chapters? What seems to be the narrator's stance on sin? Consider how Hester sees the world in which she lives, as well as its residents, and her fears and thoughts about and for Pearl.
On a personal note, what is your stance on sin? Is there such a thing intrinsic to our nature as human beings? If so, from what source does it flow?
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ReplyDeleteMs. Roz it doesn't want to let me post :(
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ReplyDeleteAlthough the narrator is not Nathaniel Hawthorne himself, his views on Puritans certainly show through the eyes of the narrator. Hawthorne disregards with many of the Pertains beliefs and so does the narrator. The narrator criticizes the people as hypocrites and also the way they live. Therefore, Nathaniel’s views on sin rub off on the narrator. Adultery is the sin committed in this novel; in chapters 5 and 6 this sin has caused Hester Prynne to be isolated from the rest of the town. However, it is not just Hester that is an outcast but also her daughter, Pearl.
ReplyDeleteHester is released from prison but still has to wear the scarlet letter until she reveals her lover’s identity. If someone commits a sin and the whole town is aware of it, that person will become an outcast forever. Such as, Hester and her daughter, Pearl, who move to a cottage home on the outskirts of town. The narrator seems to favor in on Hester’s side. Even though all of the townspeople dislike her, Hester still has to support her family so; she does needlework for almost everyone in town. Even with her “sinful hands” she makes the best needle work in town. However, this sin that Hester committed is still in stance even with her needle work; she is not allowed to do anything for brides.
“Lovely and immortal flower, out of the rank luxuriance of guilty passion.” (p.81) Pearl is described as a beautiful flower that grew from a sinful dead. She is her “mother’s only treasure.” The narrator describes Pearl as a child who is distinctive from the other children in the town. Pearl is literally like a pearl in an oyster shell; she is a mysterious and different child. Pearl is like a mirrored refection of Hester; the children are as cruel to Pearl as the townspeople are to Hester. The children in town are so cruel to Pearl that she made her own imaginary friends. Why if Pearl is so young, she questions her mother like an adult? Everyone is town believes that Pearl is a demon-child because of her mother’s reputation. Is she?
On a personal note I believe that we are intrinsically motivated for self-survival. Everyone one sins it is just the nature of humans. The 7 most “deadly” sins consist of wrath, greed, sloth, pride, lust, envy, and gluttony. Sin has always been and will always be a part of human life. As long as there is sin, people will react to it in different ways; some will hide it, some will embrace it, and others will rot from it. However, no matter how the sin is handled, it will always leave its mark.
this is not letting me post either!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteNathaniel Hawthorne addresses sin as the thing that destroys Hester's sense of happiness. As referred to in the novel, even Hester denied her needlework as a sin: "Like all other joys, she rejected it as a sin..." (pp. 77). Her handiwork is considered the new "fashion" that she made for all the townspeople, except to "embroider the white veil which was to cover the pure blushes of a bride..." (pp.76). Hester probably considered her needlework/handiwork not genuine and has another meaning hidden beneath it, and is a false way for her to feel like she belongs to the town. The omniscient narrator, or more likely, Hawthorne himself, believes that sin is something that everyone is responsible for, it's not only Hester's fault. Hester was just unfortunate to have been discovered and placed under the humiliation of the townspeople. Hawthorne also probably thinks that the sinful act of people should be pardoned, or at least, not looked down at, because it may not always be the individual's fault. Hawthorne also views the Puritan society as unfair and cruel for secluding Hester and her innocent daughter Pearl.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, sin is something that is man-made. Just as there are millions and millions of religions around the world, how do we know which one is the "right one"? Which one will truly guide us to "heaven"? For the religions that came from Christianity, the concept of sin was most probably created to scare and discipline people. The concept of sin is just something that is in people's minds. Of course, it can be argued that there is such a thing as a "sin" or "sinful acts," but the truth is, that the only thing that exists is good and bad people and acts. Good and bad is much more logical than sins that go around damning people to hell. Until science can prove it, we will never know whether there truly is a heaven or hell; moreover, just as Martin Luther protested against the Roman Catholic Church for their sale of indulgences to guarantee people their passage to heaven, we can never truly know what is right if the most respected people in society were corrupt. To be honest, I think that everything is just a part of our ever-growing imagination.
Hawthorne illustrates that the Puritan town has bias morals, even though they seem to cast Hester outside of their society for her “sin” they use her handiwork at the needle for their “fashion.” However she is allowed to make embroidery for everyday garments, with the exception of a bride’s veil. “But it was not recorded that, in a single instance, her skill was called in aid to embroider the white veil which was to cover the pure blushes of a bride.”(76) A bride’s white veil is considered pure and innocent, while Hester’s hands are considered fester and dirty with sin, afraid that she may transmit the sin onto others. Hester seems to accept the fate and sin that the morals of society has placed upon her, and seems to make penance by helping others in worse conditions by making garments for them, however even the poor seem to scorn her. She is the walking sin, whenever she is present within the crowd of Puritans she is the talk of the town in people’s mouths. They seem to forget that they sport her work on their clothing, being hypocrites they contradict themselves and yet they have sins themselves, probably plenty more than Hester.
ReplyDeleteHester carries her child in a dress that is a close connection to the letter on her bosom. Pearl shows off her own radiance, she is defiant and has a strong spirit that seem to once possess Hester. She is the imp, the fairy-like child that Hester sometimes fears from because of “lacked reference and adaptation to the world into which she was born.”(83) Pearl cannot enter the circle of the Puritan children, she was cast aside before she was born, the product of a sin. However Pearl is just a child innocent of the actions of her parents, yet why throw her aside? Pearl does not seek acquaintance with the children, she seeks companionship with her mother; and shows her feisty attitude when the children seem to taunt her, but when she comes of age of entering society as a young lady will she seek companionship? Hester cannot rein Pearl in as other parents do with their children, Hester lets her free to her impulses, which makes her more fairy-like and makes Hester doubt who Pearl really is and what will she become of.
Sin for me is consider a contradiction to our own morals and rules that seem to cause chaos, it disrupts the peace that we live in. With the sins that we make we learn more of ourselves and who we really are, it gives us a chance to change ourselves. To not make a fatal sin that can cause us to be cast aside in society’s prison cell; yet we can be forgiven and make penance, and also to forgive ourselves. Yet it is natural for us to make a sin due to our greed, our jealously, our wrath against others, being a sloth, our pride, our gluttony, and lust that we crave for; it is our instinct, we will never be perfect.
In Nathaniel Hawthorne's dark drama "The Scarlett Letter", the puritan society has condemned Hester Prynne to a life of punishment, as she is unworthy because of her great sin. Sin is one of the major themes in this novel, and one must be careful to not mistake it's significance for a mere mistake, or flaw. Sin in this puritan world has been declared as an evil doing, it is something that is prohibited, it is denounced, and hated. There is no sin allowed in this puritan society, and so this woman (Hester Prynne) is forever hated because of her sinful action of adultery. Hester Prynne fears that her daughter Pearl will be seen as sinful, because of her own pain she has gone through,she is hated and mocked for her one sin. Hester Prynne must wear the scarlet letter on her chest as a cruel punishment that she is a sinner. Fallacy can be found in the puritan society's choice of punishment for Prynne, the scarlet letter itself represents an act of sin. To ridicule an individual and put him/her to a life of shame, that is a sin. Hawthorne uses the word sin, to allow us to define the word for ourselves and assess if it has the same meaning of which the Puritans believe in. And the sinful Hester Prynne, is she really sinful? She committed adultery but she is human; humans are not perfect and this Puritan world is not perfect, and even though they claim to be religious- they are sinful too. Sin to me is that which we do everyday, because everyday we sin. We are ungrateful, we are selfish, we are unkind towards others, we are un-Godly, but I also believe it is because God has grace and mercy over us that we are forgiven,and everyday we can become better individuals like Christ.
ReplyDeleteOk, ladies (first posters):
ReplyDelete1) How can it be that you cannot post, if you can post a post that tells me that you cannot post? ;)
2) I found all your responses interesting, and don't think you need to change much in them at all. Still, consider what Hester begins to feel about the people around her. She seems to believe that she has a "sixth sense" (if you will) about her society. Her "A" seems to have given her the ability to feel sin in others. Is this simply an idiosyncrasy of Hester's? Or is Hawthorne using her as a mouthpiece for his own commentary on human nature?
It didn't post the first few times, and I got mad because it erased everything I wrote :|
ReplyDeleteYeah, the first few times it didnt let me post.
ReplyDeleteI think that Nathaniel Hawthorne is using Hester as a mouthpiece for his own commentary on human nature. He wants to show the reader that even the other townspeople are sinners, not just Hester.
Hawthorne represents sin in the part that it plays alongside contradictions and hypocrites. He also gives readers an opportunity to question the punishment of "sins." Humans are known for making mistakes and aren't by any means perfect.Though Hester did do something frowned upon by others in the Puritan society from which she lived, it's highly unlikely that she was the only person to commit such an act. The only thing separating her from others is that she was caught and had to deal with her private matter publicly. This gave the people in the town the false impression that they were in some way superior to her. While she was still valued as a seamstress, she was seen as nothing of a person. She was allowed to create clothing for every occasion except that of a wedding. From this Hawthorne explains that the consequences of sin are unescapable and can be both mental and emotional. Hester has become an outcast, the subject of torture and torment, who is living on the outskirts of town, whose only source of happiness is her daughter. Pearl is seen as a mirror image of her mother. Pearl can't acquaint herself with the other children and often retaliates against the taunts. Since Hester is incapable of disciplining Pearl she questions who her daughter is, where she "came" from, and who she will become especially since her daughter claims she doesn;t have a "Heavenly Father."
ReplyDeleteSin is something defined by religion. Religious views vary so how can we punish based on sin? At some point in their lives, everyone has sinned. The 7 deadly sins aren't things that are taught but in varying degrees are natural to human life. I couldn't agree more with Esmeralda, sin will forever be an aspect of human life and there will obviously be very different reactions to it. Regardless, there will be consequences either big or small.
Chapters 5 and 6 depict sin as fashion worn by Hester which she is not pleased about. Her sin has come to be an example for other in society to witness what she has done and serve as a warning.However it has subjected her to ridicule and isolation which has it's effects which she feels should not be causing her much shame. Her daughter has begin to take notice in the scarlet letter which reset upon her bosom. The puritan society treats sin as a repulsive disease with no cure. The effects have caused her distress. While her needle work has put her in an advantageous position by being needed by people it barely fills the void caused by isolation. She wears her letter with a new found intuition believing that just as the letter is a symbolic display of her sin it also provides her with a sense of her fellow sinners however they remain undiscovered in their sinning ways. She came to the conclusion that purity was a lie and that is every one was seen for who they truly where they would all walk with a scarlet letter on their chess. One of her greater fears involve Pearl and how growing up in a society that harshly judges her because of how she came to be. Hawthorne's depiction of the society shows his views because of what he emphasizes in the characters as well as the rhetorical devices he uses such as humor.
ReplyDeleteSIn comes a long with religion. As humans we are prone to sinful and imperfect ways. What a person believes about sin is governed by their religion as well as as the morals we uphold. People are consumed by their sinning ways which work within the world forming what we know as life.
In the two chapters, Hawthorne addresses sin as something that cannot be forgiven. This contrasts with the modern day Christian/ Catholic belief of redemption and forgiveness of sins. However, since the Puritans were very strict about religion, and Hawthorne being of Puritanical denomination, this does not surprise me at all. Hawthorne uses Hester to convey his belief about sin. Throughout the two chapters, Hester comes to believe that the evilness of her sin has somehow transferred on to Pearl. Although this may seem a bit exaggerated to us, we must take into account that Puritans were very god-fearing and did not believe he was merciful. Hawthorne using rich descriptions to describe Pearl that make her seem more of an otherworldy creature rather a little girl. This connects to with gossiping of the townpeople, who have now begun to believe that, because of Hester's sin, her daughter was somehow the offspring of a demon.
ReplyDeleteAs for my beliefs, I do believe in forgiveness of sins, if a person is truly seeking redemption. However, I DO NOT believe one can seek forgiveness for commiting murder. I do believe it is in our nature to commit sins, we our only human and we make mistakes. And sometimes the so-called sin seems more appealing the "right thing to do" and we are can be led astray. But I also believe that we were given a conscience for a reason, and that reason is that so we have the mental capacity and intelligence to choose and know between right and wrong. We are not born knowing what ethics are morals are, but as we grow and interact with society we subconsciously take notes of what is right and wrong. We feel guilt and shame so that we don't do whatever makes us feel that way again; like a built in code of ethics. As I said earlier, we're only human so we're inclined to make mistakes, but that excuse can only go so far. It is up to ourselves to make the right decisions.
Hawthorne uses Hester and Pearl as a representation of sin and how it is viewed by society. He uses Hester and Pearl to show that hypocritical people look down upon people considered sinners, or even those born through sin, even though they too are sinners. The contempt of the townspeople towards Hester and Pearl demonstrate the faultiness of Puritan principles that teach people to frown on people who sin even though everyone sins. The narrator seems to believe that sin is acceptable because everyone does it and it is a natural part of humanity. He illustrates his tolerance for sin by taking Hester’s side even though she has sinned greatly by committing adultery, an act that many at the time would see as a worthy cause of banishment. He further demonstrates his point by commenting on how Hester began to feel as if the scarlet letter “gave her a sympathetic knowledge of the hidden sin in other hearts.”(80) This quote shows that when one accepts him or herself as a sinner, they are able to see that everyone is and that therefore no one is in a position to be able to judge others for committing sins. Furthermore, the author supports his stance on sin by describing Hester’s thoughts and fears about and for her daughter Pearl. As the town begins to believe Pearl is a demon-child, Hester begins to worry about how human Pearl is because of the way she acts. Also, Hester sees Pearl as a representation of her sin and of the scarlet letter, which makes her feel bad about the alienation that Pearl shares with her. These thoughts that Hester has about Pearl show that the narrator believes that the townspeople are hypocrites for believing Pearl is a demon-child because she uses her imagination, which is also a part of human nature, like sinning.
ReplyDeleteOn a personal note, I believe sinning is an intrinsic behavior that people do to make living within society more easy and happy for themselves, even though it may break rules, especially when they are in a situation that they believe it is necessary for and that would be worth their wrongdoing. For example, a bank robber may commit the sin of stealing because they may think that it is the only way out of their financial situation or because they see it as easier than working to get money. Also, an adulterer may sin because they think they need to do so to be happy. Sinning therefore stems from a person desire for happiness, in situations where they believe that the end will justify the means, in this case where the satisfaction of achieving whatever they wanted to achieve through sinning will justify the sinning itself.
Hawthorne addresses sin through the sin of Hester Prynne in committing adultery and how this sin has affected her and her life. With such a great sin, Hawthorne describes the power it had over Hester in mind and heart. He mentions how it changed Hester’s perspective of society and as Ms. Rozmiarek said, gave her a sort of “sixth sense” in seeing the sins in other people after experiencing sin herself, “she shuddered to believe…that it gave her a sympathetic knowledge of the hidden sin in other hearts”(chapter 5). Through this, Hawthorne shows that, in general, when people commit sins such as this, it is something that only the person who goes through the experience, with the ridicule and shame, that can understand. He shows that making mistakes and committing sins gives people a new perspective on life and their own values, unaware to someone who has never been through it before. For example, if someone is out drinking and driving with another passenger and that person crashes and kills the other passenger, of course the whole experience would change the way the person thinks about driving under the influence. In chapter six, when discussing Hester’s daughter, Pearl, Hawthorne also addresses sin as he uses her as a consequence of Hester’s sin. With this Hawthorne shows that sins can never be forgotten. They truly mess with a person’s mind and conscience and are something that a person will always have to live with. Whether through an actual reminder, such as in this case with the result of Pearl, or ingrained in one’s own mind, sins are always there to stay. Furthermore Hawthorne shows that even though one would try to think oppositely and get their mind out of it, it will always be there, “Her only real comfort was when the child lay in the placidity of sleep…until-perhaps …little Pearl awoke!” Overall, through Hester’s sin, Hawthorne uses it to relate to sins in general. Even though they are terrible to commit, Hawthorne demonstrates that doing so develops another perspective and opens up a persons eyes to different views of life and society, yet the sin will always be there to stay to forever haunt the person who committed it, whether through the conscience or through a direct reminder.
ReplyDeleteNot to get all religious but on a personal note I do believe that it is in our nature to sin. If you think about it, everyone sins. EVERYONE! Including me! It is just the way we are and how our mindset works. Of course there are varying degrees of sin from a simple lie to a murder, but we all sin, as human beings are prone to constantly making mistakes. All around us we experience sin and as everyone sins, people get caught up and are easily influenced with all the sin that surrounds us all the time in the media, with friends, family, and communities. People are inclined to rebel and people want to enjoy their lives and experience everything they can experience, so in source it is our inclination to sin (spiritually speaking) as well as the outside influences that constantly surround us that makes us sin.
Throughout chapters 5 and 6, Hawthorne addresses the concept of sin, in several ways. He presents this idea of sin as something that can never be erased nor forgotten by the one who committed the considerably awful, by the particular society’s standards, deed and the people within this society. In addition, he implies that sin is hidden in many individuals, perhaps everyone, for no one can be completely pure, but it is the unfortunate ones whose sins are exposed and therefore become the devil-worshipping icons of sin, and suffer the constant and irreverent embarrassment for the exposed crime, such as Hester who became aware of the “sympathetic knowledge of the hidden sin in other hearts.” (Pg 80). Through rhetorical questions and repeated listing methods, Hawthorne creates a consistent outlook of the sinner and her life, present and future, one that the narrator- a third party and a more or less subjective observer- describes. It is also hinted that Pearl is an embodiment of Hester’s sin.
ReplyDeleteI see sin as a crime against a specific society during a specific time period, since the idea of sin changes, e.g. the Puritan roots of this country did not blossom a modern Puritan nation. My own perception of sin comes from my semi-religious background (semi meaning I went to church because my parents told me to and attended Sunday school because I was supposed to). It has been instilled in me that any variation of the seven deadly sins- wrath, greed, gluttony, lust, pride, envy, sloth- is “bad”., but that doesn’t necessarily believe all of that. Anyway, religion or not, sinning is just another way of confirming whether or not one is human because it is built-in to us to discover what is sinful or not but since anything can be considered sinful, sinning is just being you (meant to be taken in the cheesiest way possible).
Nathaniel Hawthorne addresses sin in chapters 5 and 6 by stating how she would use her needle work to make people look at her differently but still people "frowned upon her sin" (p. 76) Hawthorne also uses to scarlet letter as a way to address sin. "O Fiend, whose talisman was that fatal symbol, wouldst thou leave nothing, whether in youth or age, for this poor sinner to revere?--such loss of faith is ever one of the saddest results of sin." (p. 80) Hester Prynnes act of adultery makes people think she has lost her faith in the Puritan community. In chapter 6, Hawthorne uses Pearl, Prynne's daughter as a way to address sin. Pearl was a consequence of the sin Prynne had committed. "God, as a direct consequence of the sin which man thus punished, had given her a lovely child, whose place was on that same dishonored bosom...) (p. 81) Pearl is even seen as a demon child since she states, "I have no Heavenly Father." (p. 90)
ReplyDeleteI believe sin is something which traces back to the days of Jesus. IF one breaks one of the ten commandments then it is considered as sin. Sin is something which we all do everyday whether we want to or not and that is whats intrinsic about it. Us human beings commit sin for a certain reason. We may do it without knowing or either to fulfill a certain desire we might have. Also some humans may regret their acts but others may not since they did it on purpose.
In chapters 5 & 6, the narrator focuses on two significant characters in the book, Hester & Pearl, in order to emphasize his position on sin and address sin by describing Hester's view on the world she lives in and her fears on her child. Hawthorne describes in chapter 5 Hester's view on the world. She had been sentenced to wearing a scarlet letter on her bosom for her adultery and sin, which the towns people condemned her for. Though Hester's sin set her apart from everyone else, "Every gesture, every word, and even the silence of those with whom she came in contact, implied, and often expressed, that she was banished..."(pg 78) The narrator seems to take Hester's side in the mist of the event. He describes how Hester's sin gave her a deeper knowledge and knowing of sin in others. "that it gave her a sympathetic knowledge of the hidden sin in other hearts."(pg 80) And through addressing Hester's situation in the town as the symbol of sin, being an outcast, sentenced to public humiliation, and finally by describing Hester's new knowledge as a cause of her sin, the narrator is able to introduce his stance on sin. The narrator pointed out Hester's new knowledge in knowing sin in other people to demonstrate how sin is common in everyone, not just Hester, and thus showing hypocrisy in everyone else. Thus revealing that the narrator believes that sin is common among everyone and positioning himself on Hester's side. In Chapter 6 the narrator describes Hester's fear for her child Pearl. Hester questions Pearl's humanity because she acts in very strange ways, which even causes Hester to ask her child what she is. "Child, what art thou?"(pg 89) The narrator then reveals that the people believe that Pearl is a demon-child because of her mother's sin and her manners. Though the narrator makes it clear that Pearl is using her imagination, everyone else seem to be corrupt with the idea that Pearl is possessed by an evil spirit, and thus excluding her, as well as her mother, from society. The narrator makes this clear in order to show how everyone else sins but none are being excluded or treated as Hester & Pearl, which supports his belief that sin is common and the people are being hypocrites and superstitious.
ReplyDeleteIn the beginning of mankind, God made man and then women, Adam & Eve, and forbade them from eating from The Tree of Knowledge from Good and Evil. The Serpent came and corrupted Eve and convinced her to eat from The Tree, thus leading her to disobey God's rules. And then Eve convinced Adam to eat from The Tree also. Sin came from The Serpent, not from man kind. Due to our imperfectness we fall in sin daily, but it's a battle that is continuous between our nature to fall in sin and our fight against it.
In chapters 5 & 6, the narrator focuses on two significant characters in the book, Hester & Pearl, in order to emphasize his position on sin and address sin by describing Hester's view on the world she lives in and her fears on her child. Hawthorne describes in chapter 5 Hester's view on the world. She had been sentenced to wearing a scarlet letter on her bosom for her adultery and sin, which the towns people condemned her for. Though Hester's sin set her apart from everyone else, "Every gesture, every word, and even the silence of those with whom she came in contact, implied, and often expressed, that she was banished..."(pg 78) The narrator seems to take Hester's side in the mist of the event. He describes how Hester's sin gave her a deeper knowledge and knowing of sin in others. "that it gave her a sympathetic knowledge of the hidden sin in other hearts."(pg 80) And through addressing Hester's situation in the town as the symbol of sin, being an outcast, sentenced to public humiliation, and finally by describing Hester's new knowledge as a cause of her sin, the narrator is able to introduce his stance on sin. The narrator pointed out Hester's new knowledge in knowing sin in other people to demonstrate how sin is common in everyone, not just Hester, and thus showing hypocrisy in everyone else. Thus revealing that the narrator believes that sin is common among everyone and positioning himself on Hester's side. In Chapter 6 the narrator describes Hester's fear for her child Pearl. Hester questions Pearl's humanity because she acts in very strange ways, which even causes Hester to ask her child what she is. "Child, what art thou?"(pg 89) The narrator then reveals that the people believe that Pearl is a demon-child because of her mother's sin and her manners. Though the narrator makes it clear that Pearl is using her imagination, everyone else seem to be corrupt with the idea that Pearl is possessed by an evil spirit, and thus excluding her, as well as her mother, from society. The narrator makes this clear in order to show how everyone else sins but none are being excluded or treated as Hester & Pearl, which supports his belief that sin is common and the people are being hypocrites and superstitious.
ReplyDeleteIn the beginning of mankind, God made man and then women, Adam & Eve, and forbade them from eating from The Tree of Knowledge from Good and Evil. The Serpent came and corrupted Eve and convinced her to eat from The Tree, thus leading her to disobey God's rules. And then Eve convinced Adam to eat from The Tree also. Sin came from The Serpent, not from man kind. Due to our imperfectness we fall in sin daily, but it's a battle that is continuous between our nature to fall in sin and our fight against it.
Throughout chapter 5 and 6, Hawthorne addresses sin as a "freakish,elvish" thing and as Pearl the consequence of Hester's sin, adultery. He infers that extramarital sex is a sin, for example, "But she named the infant "Pearl", as being of great price,-purchased with all she had,-her mother's only treasure!How strange,indeed!Man had marked this woman's sin by a scarlet letter, which had such potent and disastrous efficacy that no human sympathy could reach her, save it were sinful like herself."(Hawthorne, pg.81),it shows that the consequence of the extramarital sex was the birth of Pearl. Also, he addresses sin as something that is not allow in the Puritan society-disobeying the laws or morals like Hester did.
ReplyDeleteThe narrator believes sin is acceptable, that everyone does it at least once,nobody is "perfect", for example, "The next instant, back it all rushed again, with still a deeper throb of pain; for, in that brief interval, she had sinned anew. Had Hester sinned alone?...Sometimes the red infamy upon her breast would give a sympathetic throb, as she passed..a mystic sisterhood...hat unsunned snow in matron's bosom, and the urning shame on Hester Prynne's,-what had the two in common?"(Hawthorne, pg.79 and 80) The scarlet letter indicates who has sinned, which makes Hester feel not alone upon the sin she committed.Also, the narrator believes everyone is a sinner because the "pure" Puritans acted hypocritical against Hester's sin but yet they decided to wear her beautiful needlework.
I believe sin is things we do that go against our morals, views, and religion. For example, since I was raised as Catholic, my parents taught me not to play nor mess around with the "devil's work" such as the Ouija board, so if I played with it, I would be committing a very serious sin. However, we are pardoned and liberated from our sin when we go to confession.
It is the human nature to sin since from the beginning of human creation.If sin didn't exist then there wouldn't be a way to control and discipline society such as the one we have today. People would be committing vulgar crimes and we would never know what is right and wrong!Therefore, it is our nature to commit sin, even the purest and holiest individuals have or will commit a sin!
Sin is a vital part of everyone's life, its inevitable, and definitely intrinsic. From my personal religious veiw point, no one is perfect, and we will never be until Jesus comes back. Sin has been on earth since Adam and Eve took of the fruit tree in the Garden of Eden. Since God cursed the earth or the dirt (called Adama in hebrew, hence the name Adam), and we people are made of the earth, the curses can get a hold of us too. This is one of the sources from which sin flows, from out flesh,when we give into the flesh instead of giving into the spirit of God which dwells in us. Another source of sin is from the Devil and his imps. it can be hard to discern which sin is of the flesh and which is of the Devil, but nevertheless sin is sin and it is vital to our genetic make up.
ReplyDelete#1 In chapters 5 and 6, Hawthorne demonstrates sin itself as something that cannot be erased off the minds of citizens in New England. He demonstrates this when Hester Prynne uses her needle to make the scarlet letter on her bosom stand out so people forget of what the Scarlet Letter A really means, but the citizens still disregard the fancyness and remember of her original sin.
ReplyDeletePrynne also shows her fears and thoughts in ch. 6
by discribing Pearl for the first time in the novel. Pearl is described as a loner who is isolated from town. Other kids do not choose to play with Pearl so she made her own imaginary friends.Prynne saw her daughter as,"wild,desperate, and defiant mood, the fightiness of her temper,and even some of the very cloud-shapes of gloom and despondency that hadbrooded in her heart(pg.87)." Prynne feared these dark traits on her dughter also because she spoke like an adult and questioned why she was in her cituattion.
In chapter 5 and 6 sin is ddressed as the reaosn the townspeople use to endulge in cruelty and ignorance as well the the force that ruined Hester's life and made he into a walking symbol of adultery. The narrators stance on sin oppses the townspeople stance because he reveals theor hypocrusy in the chapters the townspeople isolate and humilate Hester because of what she did, but yet they are not above taking her needlework/handiwork, if she was so sinful wouldn't they avoid and down size everything she creates. Though the eyes of Hester the worl is a prison, eventhough she's been released from prison she cant escape what she's done and her actions will be carried with her for the rest of her life. Tjis is supported by the quote "The days of the faroof future would toil onward; stil the same burden for her to take up and bear along" (p. 76). To Hester the residents are a constant reminder of what she has become, not only because they never fail to critcize or stare ant the scarltet letter, but because she knowns she can never go back to being a part of the that, the normal. In chapter 6 much more is reveled abotu the infant Pearl. Throughout this chapter Hester shows fears for her daughter, whether she'll became a woman who demonstrates the morals she has tried to instill in her or became the symbol of sin like her mother, after all she's beautiful like Pearl said to have been fitted to be the plaything of angles in the garden of Eden, and was born of sin. Hester always thought Pearl was preculiar, but trued to ignore it and treat her like pearl she wanted, but at the end of the chapter its revealed how special pearl really is. He seems demonic, speaking serously when told Hester "I have no Heavenly Father" (p.95) and other blasphamies, then she screams "tell me" at Hester laughing and rolling on the floor. "according to his monkish enemeies, was a brat of a hellsih breed", is this pearl?
ReplyDeleteIn my opinoin sin is a natural part of human nature, its aid that we are descendence of sinners so its part of us as human beings. Our natural sin stems all the way back the Eve's horrible decision and since then has become a part of our nature. When we do sin if you truly repepnt, seek forgivness and learn from it you'll be alright in the end. Just live as good as a life as possible and understabd that in this world things happen
Hawthorne presents the town as a completely hypocritical society, eager to look down on the fellow sinner but not to look down on themselves. There has to be no person in that society that has not sinned. Why is it that when one of their own is announced a sinner,they all jump on their chance to treat that sinner like trash, yet they are unwilling to show a little compassion for their fellow sinner. Hester can even feel this because through their judgement over her sin, she gained an "ability", a sixth sense that allowed her to see the sin in others. This sin has led Hester to have to move away from her society along with her innocent daughter, Pearl, to be mocked by society even when she tries to repent herself in society by using her gift, her handiwork with the needle, to try to help society. Sin has brought Hester to move away from her society but this very sin won't allow her to leave her society, for she feels guilt, and wants to leave the world in the place where her sin was created. These "saints" of society have even influenced their children to look down on Hester, using her as the model of all things wrong, choosing her sin over all the sin they committed, because the society deems her sin, since it was "announced" to the entire town, the worst possible thing, even if they committed the exact same thing. The narrator's view on sin is the same as Hawthorne, that sin is only as terrible as the society deems it. The society deems her sin as the largest atrocity against god because it was publicly announced in a God loving town but what about the others in town who committed similar or worse atrocities? Why are they trying to break her down so much instead of searching for the greater sinners. Maybe it is not the sin, but the society's self-centeredness that led them to be this judgemental. Isn't killing an adulterer as punishment a sin in itself? Why would the societies attempt a retribution for one sin exempt another sin.
ReplyDeleteSin is all created in the hands of people. The idea of sins most likely arose in attempt to keep the peace. How can one sin cause the damnation of a person who was good their whole life? A person's life is not determined by one event but the course of their actions throughout life. Sin cannot be proven to lead us to an eternity in either heaven or hell so then how can it dictate our actions. People's fear of damnation from the creation of sin led people to develop morals, things they know to be right or wrong. Saying that doing something is good or bad is not always going to please God. Sometimes what is good can turn out to be bad and vice-versa. We are all by nature, sinners in the hand of an angry God, so we must try to please him through good actions towards our fellow man not in worrying over committing the so-called atrocities of society. Sin, all in all, is just a form of fear we use to keep us controlled, not a way to guarantee our admission to heaven.
The Scarlet Letter-week2
ReplyDeleteThe main sin that is being focused on in this novel would be adultery. Hester has been accused of committing this “sin” and is being punished. She was put in prison and now that she is free she is forced to wear the scarlet letter A on her bosom until she reveals the name of her child’s father. It being such a little town, everyone knew about her “sin” and made her an outcast. Although the townspeople don’t treats her right she decides to stay in Boston and continue her life there. She believes that she should continue being punished where she committed the “crime”. Maybe she feared leaving and being treated bad else where too. The narrator believes that sin is something that everyone commits, not just Hester. In chapters 5 and 6 we, as the readers begin to see how the people are being really judgmental and unjust toward the way that they treat Hester. Hester begins to do needle work as a way to be more involved with the townspeople and earn money, but even then she is unable to do anything for brides because she is a “sinner”, but yet again everyone is as well. Hester sees everyone else as cruel people and sinners as well, especially since they seem to treat her daughter bad as well. Her daughter can be a reminder of her sins but she is also a treasure to Hester. Pearl, Hester’s daughter, has been questioned to be a “demon-child” since she was the product of Hester’s “evil” and “sinful’ actions.
I have been raised to believe that sins are extremely BAD and that people should try there best to avoid doing anything sinful, but yet again we are all humans and we will all eventually commit a sin. People commit sins on a daily basis, whether it’s something as small as lying or something bigger as in committing murder or suicide. Sins have always been around and always will be. They can be interpreted differently based on peoples religion, morals, or the way that they were raised but, we are human beings which means we are NOT perfect what so ever and sins will always be present.
Hawthorne addresses sin as a crime in which one who commits it will be harshly punished, both mentally and socially. In chapters 5 and 6 Hawthorne talks about the consequences that Prynne had to suffer for the sin she had committed: adultery. The townspeople see Prynne as an example of a great sinner and everyone looks down on her which has caused Prynne to become isolated. The narrator believes that the people who look down on Prynne are hypocrites because they themselves are sinners and they are just using Prynne to make themselves feel less guilty about the sins they have committed. The narrator says that some peoples' sins will come out to the public like Prynne’s sin and will cause great damage to the one who sinned, but sometimes the sin will never be discovered and the sinner would have gotten away without any punishment. Prynne is not the only one who is being treated badly and isolated but also her daughter Pearl. The townspeople see Pearl as the product of Prynne’s sin, which causes Pearl to get the same treatment as Prynne. Pearl is described as a “Lovely and immortal flower, out of the rank luxuriance of guilty passion.” (81) which means that she is a beautiful and innocent child that was born from a sin. Pearl didn’t choose to be born from that sin, which means it’s not her fault, yet people treat her as if it was her fault. Even though Prynne was isolated she had to find a way to survive so she did needlework for almost everyone in the town, even though they would all continue to look down on her. She was able to make clothing for almost everyone in town except brides, as a sinner that was her restriction. The townspeople didn’t want to be too nice to Prynne but what they wanted was to make Prynne aware that they still remembered her sin and hadn’t forgiven her. The people said that Prynne was a sinner didn’t deserve to make something as pure as a brides’ clothing.
ReplyDeleteOn a personal note a sin is related to religion. Every religion has its own beliefs, which means different things are considered sins within each religion. A sin is considered a bad thing, and when committed a punishment must be given. Depending on the religion, a punishment may be given, some will be harsh and others not so much. Sometimes a sin can be forgiven but there are others that will not be forgiven. In my opinion, every human is a sinner because not everyone is perfect and sins are usually committed because of imperfection.
Hawthorne addresses the consequence of sin within these two chapters in depth. No doubt it is embarrassing-the scarlett letter brought more than rosy cheeks for Hester. Hester the adulterer, begins to be described as the source of a second token of sin! The term leaps from the gold and scarlett embroidered A on Hester's chest in chapter 5, to a living, breathing little girl in chapter 6. If I was to only say one thing about my impression of sin from this book, however, it would be that one can recuperate from its consequences and make the best of it. By chapter 5 Hester had set aside the most heavy of her despair and did positive things, "...her handiwork became what would now be termed the fashion(page 75); "Hester beflowed all her superfluous means in charity (page 76)..." A sinner could be good, and upon learning the lesson be uplifted with their own positive endeavors. Hester saw evil in all around her- in the children that cursed her and her child alike (leaving the poor girl lonely), the townspeople who sneered and gossiped to her face without shame, and eventually her own child. Hester truly believed sin could spring from about anywhere, and she tried her hardest to prepare.
ReplyDeleteEvery human being will "sin" in his or her lifetime- by the popular definition of sin. As children we are not as aware of what is frowned upon in society, and are guaranteed to do something that was bad to do. Sin is inevitable , and while I do not hail it, it is vital to wisdom of the human race. The molds of our personalities originate from the sins we commmit, undoubtedly. Yet the origination of sin in all of us can be identified as none other than the human heart. Without it- as with sin, none of us would truly live.
Hawthorne clearly shows that sin is a ver huge part of someones life's. Hester's sin is eatting away at her day by day and she commited as people would today call natural but back then a huge sin. Hawthorne expresses that you should be very embarrassed about any sin there is to be commited , and even penance which Hester has been doing for years cant even earase , because if it wasnt as important Hester wouldnt be feeling as wreched as she does , she even looks at innocent little Pearl diffrent just because her sin.
ReplyDeleteIn my oppinion a sin is as big as you make it. It depends on how strong your belief in your religion is. Women in todays society and at an even younger age do the same as Hester and can still wake up and smile each day. So a sin to one person may not be a sin to another person its all depending on ones morals and the society in which they base their morals on.
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ReplyDeleteHe could not log onto his account.
Hawthorne addresses sin as something constructed by the morals of a society he makes it clear that the puritan town have biased morals and are hypocrites because although they consider Hester an outcast and a sinful person they still use her needle work. Although the puritan people use her work they do not use it for events like marriages because they consider her work to be sinful. Hester was accused of adultery and is made an outcast in the town and is forced to wear the scarlet letter. Pearl is must also live as an outcast because she is the product of sin but she symbolizes the good that can come from sin. Hester fears that the town’s people are right seeing her daughter as impure. Although all this is described in the book Hawthorne still believes that the town’s people are wrong in questioning the innocence of a child.
I believe that as people we have the ability to choose to sin or completely follow the rules and taboos of society. However we also have the ability to live free and follow our own moral code and sin when we please. The ability to sin is the ability for people to express themselves and without sin life would be very boring it is up to people to know the extent of sins and what should not be done in society. People do not have to follow a specific or any religion to be good the perfect balance of sin and good are what make life interesting.
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The unlikeliest materials- a stick, a bunch of rags, a flower- were the puppets of Pearl's witchcraft, and, without undergoing any outward change, became spiritually adapted to whatever drama occupied the stage of her inner world.
This line is significant because it shows emphasis on hawthorns interest towards pearl she is the product of some sinful act that has caused Hester to be an outcast forever. Yet this shows the beauty that may come from sin and that not all sin leads to bad.
Question
Why does Hawthorne have so much interest in pearl?
Why doesn’t Hester just leave puritan society?
What will happen to pearl if she stays an outcast?
Sorry people I forgot my email and password I will post this properly asap :/
Hawthorne addresses sin as something constructed by the morals of a society he makes it clear that the puritan town have biased morals and are hypocrites because although they consider Hester an outcast and a sinful person they still use her needle work. Although the puritan people use her work they do not use it for events like marriages because they consider her work to be sinful. Hester was accused of adultery and is made an outcast in the town and is forced to wear the scarlet letter. Pearl is must also live as an outcast because she is the product of sin but she symbolizes the good that can come from sin. Hester fears that the town’s people are right seeing her daughter as impure. Although all this is described in the book Hawthorne still believes that the town’s people are wrong in questioning the innocence of a child.
ReplyDeleteI believe that as people we have the ability to choose to sin or completely follow the rules and taboos of society. However we also have the ability to live free and follow our own moral code and sin when we please. The ability to sin is the ability for people to express themselves and without sin life would be very boring it is up to people to know the extent of sins and what should not be done in society. People do not have to follow a specific or any religion to be good the perfect balance of sin and good are what make life interesting.
-_- ALEX why you make me post it then? lol
ReplyDeletei remebered my pasword :)
ReplyDeletethanks esme
cuz i Panicked
ReplyDeleteMs. Rozmiarek my answer didnt want to post up!! >:/
ReplyDeletemy response refuses to be posted... >.>
ReplyDeleteso i posted it on my blog
Sin is spiritual bondage, disobedience to the laws of our Heavenly Father, corruption, loss of the Holy Ghost. From my personal point of view,"Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me,"(Pslams 51:5). The object of this important verse is to express the deep sense which David had of his depravity. That sense was derived from the fact that this was not a sudden thought, or a mere outward act, or an offence committed under the influence of strong temptation, but that it was the result of an entire corruption of his nature - of a deep depravity of heart, running back to the very commencement of his being. This act fully signifies an act of sin temptation. "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,"(Romans 3:23) that is why Jesus was born and died for our sins. God sent His son to pay for our sins with his blood. We acknowledge that we sin and repent of our sins. We believe that we are forgiven through Jesus blood on the cross as full payment for sins. Jesus rose from the dead and now he is at the right hand with his heavenly father, he is going to return for the church and he is going to prepare a place for us in his holy sanctuary. Until he returns he wants the holy spirit to dwell in us so that we would do good deeds on earth. If the holy spirit is not within us then we would be separated from God meaning we shall create sin upon ourselves. We all belong to Jesus Christ in an intrinsic way. Another source of sin is the devil Lucifer, the enemy would want us to sin terribly so this is why he has his little imps working for him so that it would be easy for him to plant evil into people to do wrong doings between one another. This is why it is important to live by the fruits of the spirit and not according to the works of the flesh.
ReplyDeleteIn chapter 5 and 6 Nathaniel Hawthorne in way where it is not portrayed as a handicap for Hester and more so a learning experience. Hawthorne considers sin to be a mistake that if faced will help you grow as an individual. In chapter 5 Hester is offered to leave the settlement but turns down the offer and remains in Salem for three main reasons. She feels compelled to stay in the place where a great event marked her life; she is closer to the man who fathered her child; and lastly, she feels that "...here...had been the scene of her guilt, and here should be the scene of her earthly punishment." Hawthorne reveals his outlook on sin through Hester's reactions to being alienated.
ReplyDeleteI personally consider sin to be unavoidable. Everyone comes to a point in life where they cannot fight temptation and when that day comes, and it will come more than once, you must except that it happened and not dwell on it. Because the sooner a sin can be excepted the sooner it can be prevented from happening again. There is a such thing as a human beings intrinsic, and coincidentally it's source is sin. Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins, and we are now born sinnes. Sin is what makes up our understanding of life because without mistakes we cannot learn what not to do. Humans have a tendency to become curious as to why something is what it is. It is hard to just be told that something is wrong without proof, so we sin and find out for ourselves in order to move on. And with this new knowledge we establish a sense of understanding of outcomes, therefore forming our destiny in life.
I constantly had that problem too when I tried to post on my mother's computer for the first week. Everytime I hit post the computer would shut down-_-.
ReplyDelete