Comparing Reichl And Hester Prynne

Upon reading Garlic and Sapphires, the similarities to a previously read fiction book became clear. The Scarlet Letter, shockingly, possessed similar aspects. Specifically, the author, Ruth Reichl, and the troubled, female protagonist, Hester Prynne, owned qualities of likeness. A modern food critic and a woman outcasted by sin would not, at first glance, occupy any sort of parallels. Nonetheless, Reichl and Hester share details about their lives including the title of mother, reception of hostility from others, hold a respected occupation, and the loss of identity. Reichl and Hester are happily burdened with the responsibility of motherhood with a boy and a girl, respectively, in numerous aspects. Although Hester was not initially pleased
Years after the initial shock of her sin was publicly shamed, Hester became a respected woman in her community. As a seamstress and a charitable person, the public opinion of her changed. The “A” insignia on Hester’s breast that had once meant “Adulterer”, overtime changed to “Able” (Hawthorne 113). Also her initial transfer to the New York Times, Reichl become well renowned and relied upon for her review of new restaurants, “I read you religiously,”(262). She continued to gain prestige when attempted a job as the chief editor at Gourmet. Both women were able to establish public and self-esteem from their
As an undercover restaurant critic, Reichl had to assume the role of numerous personas to accurately review an eating establishment. She suffer understanding whether or not her thoughts were her own or one of her characters. Reichl was becoming dissatisfied with herself, “Was I pretending be other people because I no longer liked the person I had become,” (Reichl 262). But through her disguise she was able to distinguish the different part of her own personality. Reichl cultivated her good-hearted qualities, from the persona Brenda, and discard her wicked qualities, from the character of Emily. She was under the assumption that she “lost” her identity with her various characters. In reality, Reichl rediscovered her identity though her characters. Both Reichl and Hester discovered their identities through different