Scarlet Letter Journal

Christine Dauz
Honors English 9-3
Due:15 October 2007
The Scarlet Letter Journal

“A throng of bearded men, in sad-colored garments, and gray, steeple-crowned hats, intermixed with women…page 49.”
I wonder what’s happening here with all these people. Why are they standing outside? I wonder what they are waiting for. It seems like there’s a show or something like that. But I think it’s something bad I just don’t know what it is.

“I’ll tell ye a piece of my mind, page 53.”
I think that the way all of the other people are coming at Hester Prynne that way is pretty wrong. Even though the time now and then are so different. It shows how much people have evolved and changed. But if she has to wear that scarlet letter everyone should because they also commit crimes like Hester’s. But not as bad I suppose.

“Yes!-these were her realities,-all else had vanished! Page 61”
I feel really bad for Hester because technically her worst nightmares have come true. She probably thought that it was all a dream or something like that. But it pretty much sucks for her. I hope it gets better for her or someone else does something more horrible then she did. It seems like the fact that the scarlet letter and the infant are there in her life now makes her want to not live in the world.

“It irks me, page 65.”
Irks is a strange word to me. I don’t get the meaning of it. I’m thinking it means strikes or stands out. It would make sense to say that. I’m not sure though. Right now I’m pretty sure it means strikes or stands out.

“Never! replied Hester Prynne, looking, not at Mr. Wilson, but into the deep troubled eyes if the younger clergyman, page 71.”
Hester is trying really hard not to tell anyone who she had an affair with to protect that person. But you can tell that its killing her inside not telling the truth. I think she’s risking a lot by not telling them who she had an affair with. Its makes her seem like she is the one who should be taking all the responsibility and not the other guy. But I don’t think anyone will find out who the man is.

“Thy acts are like mercy, said Hester, bewildered and appalled. Page 79.”
You can see that here Hester is protecting the man she had an affair with. She knows that even though they fin find out his name, he himself won’t get in as much trouble as she. That is because he is a man. But you can also tell that Hester is defending him out of love I think. Well that is what I’m guessing because you can’t have an affair if you don’t love the person you are having an affair with.

“How is it, Hester? Doth they sentence bind thee to wear the token in thy sleep? Are thou not afraid of nightmares and hideous dreams? Page 80.”
I so think that Roger Chillingwoth is making fun of Hester Prynne right now. It seems like he’s making joke off of his anger. And they seem to be hurting Hester’s feelings. He’s saying his words with smiles like he’s glade she had done what she did. But I think he’s just really mad about the whole situation, I think he needs to grow up and talk to her about what she did wrong and not stand there and make fun of her.

“…she was banished… page 88.”
I think that Hester being banished or an outcast in the society sucks because of what happened. But in time something else will happen that worse. And that the society would forget what Hester had done. So until then she will be an outcast to the society. But I think it will suck for her not to be able to talk to any of the townsfolk.

“…spoken of the infant: that little creature…a lovely and immortal flower… page 92”
I think that the words creature, lovely and flower play an important part in Pearl’s characteristics. By the author calling her a creature he can be referring to her as a mischievous child that likes to play pranks on others. And by calling her a lovely flower he is saying that she can also be a kind and loving person. But I think Pearl’s has different sides to her personality. So I think everyone in the town is on her bad side and only her mother in on her good side.

“Gazing at Pearl, Hester Prynne often dropped her work upon her knees and cried out with agony which she would fain have hidden…page 99”
I think that Hester questions Pearl a lot. Like questions about is this really her child. And she probably wishes that she never had an affair. I think that Pearl makes her regret a lot of things. And every time she looks at Pearl probably brings back bad memories. That’s why she cries out at night like that.

“Behold, verily, there is the woman of the scarlet letter…Come, there fore, and let us fling mud at them!”
Having people make fun of you and insulting you in front of a whole town of people is pretty rude on my be half. I don’t think those young kids should be treating Hester Prynne and Pearl that way. It’s enough that they are always talked about but to have mud flung at them is totally wrong in any century. That should be treating Hester with respect because she still is older then those children.

“..immortal soul, such as there is in yonder child…page113”
I don’t see the governor refers to Pearl as an immortal child. Apparently the child is not immortal. Its not like Hester and Pearl are going to be living longer then everyone else. They are just simple human beings that make mistakes like everyone else. I think its unfair the way they call Hester and Pearl names. I don’t think that right. They should learn how to except it and move on.

“Here is a child of three years old , and she cannot tell who made her! page 116”
Most kids at three years of age wouldn’t even know who had made then. They all probably think babies come from the stork still or a story like that. I wouldn’t even know what those men were talking about because I would be three. It would all be weird to me. I wouldn’t even speak to those man. I would just sit there and be quiet the whole time.

“Good men interpret themselves too meanly, page 126.”
I could see why these men think of themselves mean. But that’s hoe they live. The rules they live by make them that way. If they changed those rules then wouldn’t be so mean. I think they should change there lifestyles.

“…they discussed every topic of ethics and religion, of public affairs and private character… page 128”
I think Roger Chillingworth opens up to Mr. Dimmesdale a lot. He could be Roger’s best friend to say. They probably tell each other secrets and stuff like that. But I think the mostly talk about Hester Prynne and her affair. And they talk about the way she is her style and attitude.

“Alas! To judge from the gloom and terror in the depths of the poor minister’s eyes, the battle was a sore one, and the victory anything but secure, page 132”
I feel bad for the minister cause apparently he’s going to win his fight but lose something else along with it. And its kind of bad for him because he knows what is coming. But he doesn’t know what to do about it. Plus he doesn’t know what he will lose at the end of his battle. Which is a win and lose situation.

“This man, said he at such a moment, to himself, pure as they deem him,-all spiritual as he seems,-hath inherited a strong animal nature from his father or mother. Let us dig a little further in the direction of this vein! Page 134”
I like this quote a lot. It stands out to me. He’s admitting there is something wrong with. But yet he doesn’t know what it is. Like the way people perceive him isn’t the way he really is. It’s like that one saying where you hide behind your smiles and everyone thinks your ok but deep inside your not at all.