Nathaniel Hawthorne really has this dark romantic stuff down. He sent chills down my spine during this passage:
"Nothing further passed between the mariner and and Hester Prynne. But at an instant, she beheld old Roger Chillingworth himself, standing in the remotest corner of the market place and smiling on her; a smile which - across the wide and bustling square and through all the talk and laughter, and various thoughts, moods, and interests of the crowd - conveyed secret and fearful meaning."
That last phrase, ("conveyed secret and fearful meaning") made me shiver like blizzard-cold weather. I just picture a severe looking old man with crazy eyebrows smiling like Chesire cat across a thousand people knowing he picked me out of the crowd. Poor Hester, she's going to be stuck on a boat with him for around three months. Maybe that was his plan, to scare her and Dimmesdale out of leaving or killing them both on the boat. This book just got really interesting. Until now I couldn't figure out the plot, but I have discovered it. The plot really has nothing to do with the scarlet letter, that is just motivation, the real problem is that two people who have committed adultery want to run away and Hester's husband is following them. Thus the real problem is to go or not to go. I for one am intrigued to see which one Hester and Dimmesdale choose. I think Hester will stay because she is still has guilt for her sin and feels that she deserves the letter, also she'll do anything to stay away from Chillingworth. Dimmesdale on the other hand might still trust Chillingworth to go with him, and might just want to leave that much. I'm also curious if Dimmesdale still cares for Hester enough to try and give up everything for her or if he will give it up for himself. Will he love Hester or will he hide from judgment? Only time and a boat ride will tell.
"Nothing further passed between the mariner and and Hester Prynne. But at an instant, she beheld old Roger Chillingworth himself, standing in the remotest corner of the market place and smiling on her; a smile which - across the wide and bustling square and through all the talk and laughter, and various thoughts, moods, and interests of the crowd - conveyed secret and fearful meaning."
That last phrase, ("conveyed secret and fearful meaning") made me shiver like blizzard-cold weather. I just picture a severe looking old man with crazy eyebrows smiling like Chesire cat across a thousand people knowing he picked me out of the crowd. Poor Hester, she's going to be stuck on a boat with him for around three months. Maybe that was his plan, to scare her and Dimmesdale out of leaving or killing them both on the boat. This book just got really interesting. Until now I couldn't figure out the plot, but I have discovered it. The plot really has nothing to do with the scarlet letter, that is just motivation, the real problem is that two people who have committed adultery want to run away and Hester's husband is following them. Thus the real problem is to go or not to go. I for one am intrigued to see which one Hester and Dimmesdale choose. I think Hester will stay because she is still has guilt for her sin and feels that she deserves the letter, also she'll do anything to stay away from Chillingworth. Dimmesdale on the other hand might still trust Chillingworth to go with him, and might just want to leave that much. I'm also curious if Dimmesdale still cares for Hester enough to try and give up everything for her or if he will give it up for himself. Will he love Hester or will he hide from judgment? Only time and a boat ride will tell.
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