"Ah, but," interposed, more softly, a young wife, holding a child by the hand, "let her cover the mark ash she will, the pang of it will be always in her heart." (Hawthorne, Pg. 36)
A kind-hearted lady amidst the hoard of gossipy Puritan women does not wish the worst for Hester Prynne unlike the rest. She does not believe that any ugly or painful abuse will bring justice to the female name. She understands the dark and beaten soul of the adulteress. She realizes that the true punishment is not within the embroidery of the scarlet letter, but within the mind fostering many years of guilt and regret. Hester will bear emotional torture for the rest of her life by taking care of her lovely daughter, Pearl. For she does not look at the "A" on her chest, but at the offspring born out of her sin. The cheeky three-year old is a constant reminder of the mother's shame. Yet Pearl has become Hester's everything, her treasure. To withstand society's pressure, she brushes off her remorse with dignity. Not only she has decorated the scarlet letter with golden threat, but has sewn extravagant dresses for her little "imf". Pearl, through her mother, has become the living scarlet letter. Hester by doing this, has given off the impression that she is not embarrassed. However, nothing will be able to take away the fault of her crime that will be woven around her heart forever.
No comments:
Post a Comment