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3.19 AVERAGE
3.19 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I thought I liked this in high school, but now I wonder if I remember it incorrectly; it was a slog at under 200 pages. I understand the symbolism, but it's too verbose. Although I'm glad I revisited it, I did not enjoy it.
Favorite Quotes:
"Ah, but let her cover the mark as she will, the pang of it will be always in her heart." -chapter 2
"It is to the credit of human nature, that... it loves more readily than it hates. Hatred, by a gradual and quiet process, will even be transformed to love, unless the change be impeded by a continually new irritation of the original feeling of hostility." -chapter 13
"The scarlet letter was her passport into regions where other women dared not tread. Shame, Despair, Solitude!"
-chapter 18
"But there is a fatality, a feeling so irresistible and inevitable that it has the force of doom, which almost invariably compels human beings to linger around and haunt, ghostlike, the spot where some great and marked event has given the color to their lifetime." -chapter 5
"When, an uninstructed multitude attempts to see with its eyes, it is exceedingly apt to be deceived. When, however, it forms its judgment... on the intuitions of its great and warm heart, the conclusions attained are often so profound and so unerring, as to possess the character of truths supernaturally revealed." -chapter 9
"Her breast, with its badge of shame, was but the softer pillow for the head of that needed one. She was self-ordained a Sister of Mercy; or, we may rather say, the world's heavy hand had so ordained her, when neither the world nor she looked forward to this result." -chapter 13
"Ah, but let her cover the mark as she will, the pang of it will be always in her heart." -chapter 2
"It is to the credit of human nature, that... it loves more readily than it hates. Hatred, by a gradual and quiet process, will even be transformed to love, unless the change be impeded by a continually new irritation of the original feeling of hostility." -chapter 13
"The scarlet letter was her passport into regions where other women dared not tread. Shame, Despair, Solitude!"
-chapter 18
"But there is a fatality, a feeling so irresistible and inevitable that it has the force of doom, which almost invariably compels human beings to linger around and haunt, ghostlike, the spot where some great and marked event has given the color to their lifetime." -chapter 5
"When, an uninstructed multitude attempts to see with its eyes, it is exceedingly apt to be deceived. When, however, it forms its judgment... on the intuitions of its great and warm heart, the conclusions attained are often so profound and so unerring, as to possess the character of truths supernaturally revealed." -chapter 9
"Her breast, with its badge of shame, was but the softer pillow for the head of that needed one. She was self-ordained a Sister of Mercy; or, we may rather say, the world's heavy hand had so ordained her, when neither the world nor she looked forward to this result." -chapter 13
Man, was this a slog! I've tried to read this many times, but could never get past the first 36 pages of introduction. I made it through, but it took all summer! I needed to finish it as it was the summer high school book club read. I have loved every movie I've seen of this title and like the story very much; however, I think Hawthorne could have used a lot less pages and didn't need the introduction to the tale. I realize that this is a style issue and this is definitely NOT my style. I do understand why it is a classic and am happy that I finally conquered it. I think I'll wait awhile before I tackle the next book that I deem "good for me."
An old classic. Those who rate it poorly, are not understanding of Old English. The twist and turns in the book are no different from modern day novels. Cleverly written for the 1800's. One of the banned books of the day. A must read classic.
This book was pretty blah for most of the way through, there wasn't much dialogue. I really did love what I could get out of it though, especially the last chapter which I thought was the best. Overall pretty good, glad I got to read it.
Finished reading this again for the umpteenth time. Such a remarkable allegorical work that contrasts the Romantic preoccupations and views on Nature and the importance of the individual outside society's constraints to the strict and narrowly moralistic views of the Puritan past; Hester is an important feminist icon as well, and she deserves what the "A" becomes. Her view that good works can redeem us anticipates (for her character) the Enlightenment views that eventually changed the course of Puritan thinking (that of the individual as helpless and at the whim of God's mercy) and Pearl seems the very picture of the Romantic love of rebellion and sympathy with the natural world. And also, behind all the obtuse language, this is a pretty kick-ass novel about love and revenge and guilt and crazy impish kids doing freaky stuff!