The Scarlet Mob Scribblers: Rereading Hester Prynne
Lauryn Stillman
Ms. Morsette
18 November 2012
Alienation
When one’s social roles are not valued or accepted by society, alienation is generally the solution. Whether one chooses to make oneself distant from society, or one is forced to be isolated, the emotional damage and effects are the same. In life, and in literature, one’s emotions are emphasized by how one is treated by society. Society has the power to decide whether one becomes rejected or welcomed. The Puritan society in the 16th century was a group of people who were very judgmental and forced isolation upon many citizens who may have committed some type of “sin”. The great American novelist, Nathaniel Hawthorne, exemplifies the Puritan religion in his novel The Scarlet Letter. …show more content…
Jamie Barlowe wrote a literary criticism about the novel called The Scarlet Mob of Scribblers: Rereading Hester Prynne. In this piece of literature, Barlowe also expresses how Hester Prynne was alienated from the Puritan community. The scarlet letter “A” placed on Hester’s bosom represents the sin she committed and reminds her every day of the mistake she made. Throughout history, the color red symbolized sin and evil (Barlowe 44). Once again society has a big impact on how one is seen by others. Barlowe states “We come from a society where the lady in red is all danger and unresolvable mystery” (10). Hester is most definitely seen as the woman with whom not to associate. She was seen as “sin” and was the symbol of what people should not become. Barlowe reinforces the fact that Hester was “socially, politically, and religiously alienated from the community” (44). Although Hester was seen as an outcast, her tragedy led to a valuable lesson for all. She taught readers that people make mistakes, and they must hold their head up high and dig deep for their inner strength. . Hester Prynne was a prime example that one’s silence cannot protect oneself (Barlowe 10). The Scarlet Letter depicts how people will form unfair opinions and judgments. Hester contradicts this depiction towards the end of the novel when she starts helping out the sick. She does everything she can to prove to towns people and herself that she is a good person despite her mistake. The letter “A” soon turned from “adulterer” to “able”. Being shunned from society had really taught Hester that other’s opinions matter far less than the opinion we have of ourselves. That is the opinion in life that matters most of
Ms. Morsette
18 November 2012
Alienation
When one’s social roles are not valued or accepted by society, alienation is generally the solution. Whether one chooses to make oneself distant from society, or one is forced to be isolated, the emotional damage and effects are the same. In life, and in literature, one’s emotions are emphasized by how one is treated by society. Society has the power to decide whether one becomes rejected or welcomed. The Puritan society in the 16th century was a group of people who were very judgmental and forced isolation upon many citizens who may have committed some type of “sin”. The great American novelist, Nathaniel Hawthorne, exemplifies the Puritan religion in his novel The Scarlet Letter. …show more content…
Jamie Barlowe wrote a literary criticism about the novel called The Scarlet Mob of Scribblers: Rereading Hester Prynne. In this piece of literature, Barlowe also expresses how Hester Prynne was alienated from the Puritan community. The scarlet letter “A” placed on Hester’s bosom represents the sin she committed and reminds her every day of the mistake she made. Throughout history, the color red symbolized sin and evil (Barlowe 44). Once again society has a big impact on how one is seen by others. Barlowe states “We come from a society where the lady in red is all danger and unresolvable mystery” (10). Hester is most definitely seen as the woman with whom not to associate. She was seen as “sin” and was the symbol of what people should not become. Barlowe reinforces the fact that Hester was “socially, politically, and religiously alienated from the community” (44). Although Hester was seen as an outcast, her tragedy led to a valuable lesson for all. She taught readers that people make mistakes, and they must hold their head up high and dig deep for their inner strength. . Hester Prynne was a prime example that one’s silence cannot protect oneself (Barlowe 10). The Scarlet Letter depicts how people will form unfair opinions and judgments. Hester contradicts this depiction towards the end of the novel when she starts helping out the sick. She does everything she can to prove to towns people and herself that she is a good person despite her mistake. The letter “A” soon turned from “adulterer” to “able”. Being shunned from society had really taught Hester that other’s opinions matter far less than the opinion we have of ourselves. That is the opinion in life that matters most of