"Whether from pride or resignation, or feeling that her penance might best be wrought out by this unutterable pain, she resisted" (73)
Nathaniel Hawthorn characterizes Hester Prynne through indirect Characterization. Throughout the chapters, Hester character changes. At first she seems strong willed and tough in the face of adversity. This is because she is on trail by everyone she knows and despite all this pressure, she is relatively calm. When she sees her husband in the crown, she does not react. She merely stares at him for a while, and they push there conversation to a later time in the prison. When asked to give up the name of the man that has also sinned, she refuses. These moments characterize Prynne as someone who is calculated. She know what she is doing and knows the consequence to every choice, willing to take it.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
The Scarlet Letter- The Rose Bush
"This rose-bush, by a strange chance, has been kept alive in history" (35)
The lone rose bush outside of the prison door seems to be the only vegetation visible through the bars of a warn down prison. Everything else is a view of the dirt covered town, waring away as well. That rose bush meant that in Prynne's Grim situation, there was still a ray of hope. Just like the rose bush at the prison, pearl was the beautiful thing that came out of a mistake. Everyone thought her to be the spawn of satan. The towns people labeled pearl based solely on the mistakes of her parents, as an abomination to be handled or shunned. But pearl was not a abomination to Prynne. Prynne, comments how pearl was the only thing good that came out of her current situation. Prynne fights for Pearls custody even though it means going against the leaders and townspeople once more. Pearl is what Prynne has to live for. With out Pearl, Prynne could give up with out hurting anyone.
The lone rose bush outside of the prison door seems to be the only vegetation visible through the bars of a warn down prison. Everything else is a view of the dirt covered town, waring away as well. That rose bush meant that in Prynne's Grim situation, there was still a ray of hope. Just like the rose bush at the prison, pearl was the beautiful thing that came out of a mistake. Everyone thought her to be the spawn of satan. The towns people labeled pearl based solely on the mistakes of her parents, as an abomination to be handled or shunned. But pearl was not a abomination to Prynne. Prynne, comments how pearl was the only thing good that came out of her current situation. Prynne fights for Pearls custody even though it means going against the leaders and townspeople once more. Pearl is what Prynne has to live for. With out Pearl, Prynne could give up with out hurting anyone.
The Scarlet Letter- Setting
"A throng of bearded men, in sad-colored garments, and grey, steeple-crowned hats, intermixed with women, some wearing hoods and others bareheaded, was assembled." (35)
The setting of this novel is in Salem, Massachusetts, in the 1700s. It is clear that is it not a big town, and everyone knows what everyone, and that includes their secrets. This is how towns in this time governed "effectively". Because Salem was such a small town the smallest rumor could be turned in to a full trail for witch craft, or in Prynne's case, adultery. Hester Prynne could not hide this from the town like a normal secret however, and knew that persecution was inevitable. Because of the small town, she also knew that giving up her accomplice in her crime would do more harm than good. Opposed to the chaotic opening scenes with Prynne being persecutee and surrounded by the towns people, the house in the country is quite different. Everyone leaves her alone out there to do her work. The setting like this family, is secluded from the rest of the town.
The setting of this novel is in Salem, Massachusetts, in the 1700s. It is clear that is it not a big town, and everyone knows what everyone, and that includes their secrets. This is how towns in this time governed "effectively". Because Salem was such a small town the smallest rumor could be turned in to a full trail for witch craft, or in Prynne's case, adultery. Hester Prynne could not hide this from the town like a normal secret however, and knew that persecution was inevitable. Because of the small town, she also knew that giving up her accomplice in her crime would do more harm than good. Opposed to the chaotic opening scenes with Prynne being persecutee and surrounded by the towns people, the house in the country is quite different. Everyone leaves her alone out there to do her work. The setting like this family, is secluded from the rest of the town.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Frankenstein- Conflict
"But now, when I appear almost within grasp of my foe, my hopes were suddenly extinguished, and I lost all trace of him moe utterly than I had ever done before." (154)
Victor faces mostly internal conflict because he could not tell anyone about the creature. He had to face his problems on his own, and deal with the guilt that he faced over creating the creature and the acts that the creature committed. He might have delt with it better if he had confided with someone. Instead he killed himself because this conflict was too much. This conflict was however external with one other character. There was not much hidden between Victor and the creature. From their second meeting, the creature told Victor every act that he committed and why he committed it. The creature knew that Victor still wanted him gone, not to hurt anyone else. This ultimately lead to Victor tracked the creature across the globe, each knowing each others strengths and weaknesses.
Victor faces mostly internal conflict because he could not tell anyone about the creature. He had to face his problems on his own, and deal with the guilt that he faced over creating the creature and the acts that the creature committed. He might have delt with it better if he had confided with someone. Instead he killed himself because this conflict was too much. This conflict was however external with one other character. There was not much hidden between Victor and the creature. From their second meeting, the creature told Victor every act that he committed and why he committed it. The creature knew that Victor still wanted him gone, not to hurt anyone else. This ultimately lead to Victor tracked the creature across the globe, each knowing each others strengths and weaknesses.
Frankenstein- Frame Story
"You have read this strange and terrific story, Margret; and do you not feel your blood congeal with horror" (155)
The frame story of Frankenstein helped to establish the story and call attention to the parts of the story that mary Shelly wanted to focus on, while lessening attention on Watson for the majority of the story. There are many compensate at work with many characters. The reader is not overwhelmed by all of these characters because of the frame story. When Walton is speaking the reader is focused on the characters is associated with walton's story, as well as Victor and the creature's stories. Because Mary Shelly did give the reader the story behind almost all the character, this could have made the story long and drawn-out, but because the characters were important to each frame, the story stayed interesting and suspenseful. Also knowing that the story will end with Victor chasing the creature, add mystery on what scenarios could possibly lead to such an out come.
The frame story of Frankenstein helped to establish the story and call attention to the parts of the story that mary Shelly wanted to focus on, while lessening attention on Watson for the majority of the story. There are many compensate at work with many characters. The reader is not overwhelmed by all of these characters because of the frame story. When Walton is speaking the reader is focused on the characters is associated with walton's story, as well as Victor and the creature's stories. Because Mary Shelly did give the reader the story behind almost all the character, this could have made the story long and drawn-out, but because the characters were important to each frame, the story stayed interesting and suspenseful. Also knowing that the story will end with Victor chasing the creature, add mystery on what scenarios could possibly lead to such an out come.
Frankenstein- Antihero
"I had in the custom of taking every night a small quality of laudanum; for it was by means of this drug only that I was enabled to gain the rest necessary for the preservation of life."(135)
Victor is an antihero because, instead of facing his mistakes and trying to make them right, he hides from them until they go away. He lets the creature wonder for two years with out monitoring or even suspicion as to what he might be doing. If the creature did not happen back in to Victors life by happening on his younger brother, Victor might not have given the hideous, dangerous creature another thought. He mentally shut down at the first sign of anxiety when the main character usually makes a plan to save the day, rid the world of the monster that he just created. When he is forced back with the creature, he acquiesces to make another. Only when he decides to go after the monster does he make any heroic action. Shortly after this, he gives up in the ultimate way and removes himself from the world. This lets the creature win. It's as if he never saw the creature again after his breakdown at the factory, because he had not stopped the monster.
Victor is an antihero because, instead of facing his mistakes and trying to make them right, he hides from them until they go away. He lets the creature wonder for two years with out monitoring or even suspicion as to what he might be doing. If the creature did not happen back in to Victors life by happening on his younger brother, Victor might not have given the hideous, dangerous creature another thought. He mentally shut down at the first sign of anxiety when the main character usually makes a plan to save the day, rid the world of the monster that he just created. When he is forced back with the creature, he acquiesces to make another. Only when he decides to go after the monster does he make any heroic action. Shortly after this, he gives up in the ultimate way and removes himself from the world. This lets the creature win. It's as if he never saw the creature again after his breakdown at the factory, because he had not stopped the monster.
Frankenstein- Guilt
"That is also my victim!" he exclaimed; "in his murder my crimes are consummated; the miserable series of my being wound to its close!" (163)
From the moment the creature was created, Victor could not handle the guilt that it caused with in him. This is the primary reason that he became mentally unstable and could not function. A the story progresses, his guilt grows. He seems to be recovering when he returns to Geneva, only to find out that he was the cause of his brothers death. Added to that Justine's life framed for what his creation had done. In this case he had to watch her die slowly. He knew that she was not going to be exonerated, and he let her die anyway. This is when he retreats to the mountain in solitude thinking over all of the hanious crimes that he is responsible for. This might be why he agrees to the creature request, to set it right and protect the lives of his potential victims. Only when he starts to feel guilty for all the things that she could do does he abandon the project. And after the creature kills two more of his relatives, he can't take it any more. He mental illness is to much. Huilt is the reason for his suicide.
From the moment the creature was created, Victor could not handle the guilt that it caused with in him. This is the primary reason that he became mentally unstable and could not function. A the story progresses, his guilt grows. He seems to be recovering when he returns to Geneva, only to find out that he was the cause of his brothers death. Added to that Justine's life framed for what his creation had done. In this case he had to watch her die slowly. He knew that she was not going to be exonerated, and he let her die anyway. This is when he retreats to the mountain in solitude thinking over all of the hanious crimes that he is responsible for. This might be why he agrees to the creature request, to set it right and protect the lives of his potential victims. Only when he starts to feel guilty for all the things that she could do does he abandon the project. And after the creature kills two more of his relatives, he can't take it any more. He mental illness is to much. Huilt is the reason for his suicide.
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