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3.19 AVERAGE
3.19 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really like this book. I think that Hawthorne uses the word "ignominious" way too much, but other than that I think this is an interesting read and it makes me think. The fact that Hester doesn't love her husband and she thinks he's probably dead anyway but can't remarry is a crazy position to be in. While I disagree with extramarital sex, I can see that she's in this really terrible position because she ought to be able to be released from a relationship that doesn't seem to hold up anymore. I love the character of Hester Prynne because she is such a strong character at heart in a really awful position; I guess mostly I just love that she doesn't let her situation break her. I love the complexity of Arthur Dimsdale because Hester loves him and he hates himself so it's hard to hate him completely for his cowardice but at the same time you just can't like him either. Anyway, I would definitely recommend it. Although the ornate language would be a turnoff for some people, the plot is unique and compelling so it makes you think.
As someone who is incredibly verbose and has never made a concise statement in my life, I feel seen by Hawthorne’s style. It genuinely feels like he’s drunk and making everything up page by page. In terms of boring classics it definitely isn’t the worst! However I will never read it again. If you are going to read it I would highly recommend buying a version with chapter summaries or finding some online.
(Also, I suppose I can’t really blame him given he’s 200 years dead, but slut shaming is sooo overdone…. I am begging you to write about anything else Nathaniel….)
(Also, I suppose I can’t really blame him given he’s 200 years dead, but slut shaming is sooo overdone…. I am begging you to write about anything else Nathaniel….)
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
This was a tough one. Hawthorne's style is very verbose and bombastic, with frequent archaic words and phrasing. This book really breathes 19th century pathos, with a lot of hyped-up feelings, and chock full of symbolism. The central theme of sin, punishment and redemption of course makes it very heavy-handed, together with an omniscient narrator that constantly debites general wisdom. And then there are the slightly misogynistic and the downright racist statements (especially about the Native Americans). This makes reading this mid-19th Century book very difficult for an early 21st century person.
But at the same time this story is intriguing. Because it deals with themes that still are relevant. The scarlet letter of course is a social stigma, but by making a saint of protagonist Hester, Hawthorne highlights the hypocrisy of American Puritanism all the more. In our 21st Century-eyes that puritanism seems to have a very patriarchal touch, because it is mainly men who do not come out well in this novel. And that in turn makes Hester a feminist avant la lettre, who thinks deeply about the wretched fate of women, and even points to the need for “an internal and external revolution”.
There is also a strong 'gothic' accent to this novel, especially in the ambiguity surrounding Pearl, Hester's angelic and lively child, regularly suggesting that there also is something devilish in her. On closer look, almost all characters carry this ambiguity between good and evil to a greater or lesser extent, in a spectrum that starts with the heroine Hester (who herself admits that she could just as well belong to the party of devil worshipers), over the fallen minister Dimmesdale (whose portrait is a bit too contrived for me) to the demonic Doctor Chillingworth. For me this was all a bit too over the top to be enjoyable, but I can understand why this, especially in America, is still considered a classic. Rating 2.5 stars.
But at the same time this story is intriguing. Because it deals with themes that still are relevant. The scarlet letter of course is a social stigma, but by making a saint of protagonist Hester, Hawthorne highlights the hypocrisy of American Puritanism all the more. In our 21st Century-eyes that puritanism seems to have a very patriarchal touch, because it is mainly men who do not come out well in this novel. And that in turn makes Hester a feminist avant la lettre, who thinks deeply about the wretched fate of women, and even points to the need for “an internal and external revolution”.
There is also a strong 'gothic' accent to this novel, especially in the ambiguity surrounding Pearl, Hester's angelic and lively child, regularly suggesting that there also is something devilish in her. On closer look, almost all characters carry this ambiguity between good and evil to a greater or lesser extent, in a spectrum that starts with the heroine Hester (who herself admits that she could just as well belong to the party of devil worshipers), over the fallen minister Dimmesdale (whose portrait is a bit too contrived for me) to the demonic Doctor Chillingworth. For me this was all a bit too over the top to be enjoyable, but I can understand why this, especially in America, is still considered a classic. Rating 2.5 stars.
challenging
informative
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Behind the redundant writing and characters, there reveals an issue with Puritanism, where sin is far more of a better punishment than forgiveness. Religion, in this book, keeps the people in line and scared. It also reveals the hypocrisy in them. I did find it interesting that the thoughts of witchcraft and nature gives Hester and Pearl freedom, while Puritanism keeps them in sin. Despite this, the book felt a bit boring. The writing was a bit repetitive with the themes of sin, shame, and punishment. This might be how actual Puritan's felt, but the writing wasn't it for me. The characters lacked personality; their role felt one sided and I wanted to be apart of their struggle.
That said, it's worth reading for its historical significance, but it’s not the most engaging or dynamic novel. A decent read if you're into classics, but don’t expect it to be a page-turner.
That said, it's worth reading for its historical significance, but it’s not the most engaging or dynamic novel. A decent read if you're into classics, but don’t expect it to be a page-turner.
I reread this book with my high school home schoolers, and confirmed that Hester Prynne is one of my favorite heroines in literature. I think she is such a vividly realistic character who lives and react in ways that I myself would also. Rereading this novel as an adult gave me a new appreciation for the redemption and repentance found throughout its pages, and I think it is a story that speaks well beyond the confines of the Puritan world in which it is set.