Scarlet Letter

Posted: 8/10/05 at 2:35pm

Curious who has read the book... I need to write a paper about the historical setting and the main conflict that arises from that setting, and then worldly present conclusion.

I don't need someone to write my paper for me, just wanted to see everyone's thoughts on the book and so forth
--korenglish

Updated On: 8/10/05 at 02:35 PM

[Plum]

Posted: 8/10/05 at 2:59pm

I think you might be having a Gone With the Wind moment- "Scarlet" in this title has only one T. :)

I read it about 6 years back and remember disliking it very deeply. I vaguely remember the color red being of continuous importance, though.

Posted: 8/10/05 at 3:15pm

thanks plum... I fixed it.

[justme2]

Posted: 8/10/05 at 3:38pm

I've seen the silent Lillian Gish version and it was ok. They colored the "scarlet A" on her clothing in the negative a vibrant red, so it really stands out in the Black and white film (much like the "Red Kimono" silent movie).

It's set in Puritan times, and the main character is miserable in her marriage to a "bad guy", who then dissapears for over 7 years or so. She has an affair with the local doctor (I think he was a doctor) and they have a child out of wedlock. She is "shamed" in the town square, and a Scarlet A is sewn onto her clothing over her chest. This stands for "adultress" and serves as a warning for all other young women. She refuses to rat on the doctor, so he is tormented throughout the entire movie with guilt. Not enough to finally c ome out and admit his part in the crime, though! (until the end). They take her child away (I can't remember if she gets it back...I think so), make her live in a shack outside of town, nobody can talk to her, or the child, and so on.

The crux of the movie (as I saw it) was about the hypocrisy of the town. They shunned her and her daughter, but were behaving in manners far worse than her supposed crime.

Does that help?

[jasonf]

Posted: 8/10/05 at 3:45pm

Not that it's relevant to the paper necessarily, but don't forget about Hester's husband who comes back and discovers the infidelity, and rather than tell everyone, torments Rev. Dimmesdale by moving in with him under the pretense of helping him with his illness. If I remember right, Chillingsworth (GREAT name) slowly poisons Dimmesdale, causing the halucinations he sees at the end of the A in the sky - though Hawthorne makes the point that it might have just been overriding guilt -- or there WAS an A there - I don't think it's ever really clear.

I actually really liked this book, and LOVE the musical by Mark Governor (though I've met very few people who even know anything about it).

I read this a LONG time ago, so I'm going on memory and the recording of the musical I have -- your best bet is reading the book. :)

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 8/10/05 at 4:44pm

I remember writing an essay on symbolism in the book--the A Hester is given, the A that appears on Dimmesdale, then something about where and when Dimmesdale revealed what happened, like the post was really symbolic or something.

[justme2]

Posted: 8/10/05 at 5:47pm

thanks jason sf!

I completely forgot about that portion of the plot!! How sad! Yes, the creepy husband did come back in the silent version as well, and then poison the doctor slowly. What I can't remember is the ending!

Did Hester die with the doctor? Did she and her daughter remain together?

[Over_the_Moon]

Posted: 8/10/05 at 5:51pm

Symbolism symbolism symbolism

Go to sparknotes.com or something.

[Millie42]

Posted: 8/10/05 at 5:51pm

I read it several years ago and liked it. It's a bit TOO full of imagery and other literature devices, but it's still very good. I did a HUGE project--- essentially a term paper---on it.

What are you looking for advice on?

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 8/10/05 at 6:48pm

Love this book....Jane Campion needs to do a film version. I saw about 1/4th of the p.c./Skinemax version with Demi Moore...holy crap! I don't remember the scene where Hester Prynne's friendly black maid gets herself off with a candle in a hot tub in the book! (I'm not making this up.)

[justme2]

Posted: 8/10/05 at 6:53pm

THAT was not in the silent version!!!

[ashley0139]

Posted: 8/10/05 at 6:59pm

I actually really liked this book. I don't really have anything helpful to add though...

[jasonf]

Posted: 8/10/05 at 7:04pm

justme -- Hester doesn't die - she and Pearl stay in the town, and she wears the A for the rest of her life - though I forget if that was by choice or not...

[justme2]

Posted: 8/10/05 at 7:06pm

thanks jasonsf!

Posted: 8/11/05 at 12:13am

thanks for all of your help guys,

I really appreciate it!
--korenglish

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 8/11/05 at 12:53am

I think it was by choice, in the symbolism, didn't the town start to view her A as able as opposed to adultery, so the A became more positive or something?

[movieinmymind]

Posted: 8/11/05 at 12:55am

...oh man. i read this book last year for school. and it was on the final, which i took about two months ago. i'm sorry, but i hated it. it made me fall asleep a lot.

but, i could help you out if you'd like. it's just that it looks like a lot of people have already beaten me to it!

Posted: 8/11/05 at 4:02pm

I finished the book... and now I'm starting to write my essay today.

THanks for all of your comments again,
--korenglish

[BroadwayBaby21]

Posted: 8/11/05 at 4:40pm

ugh Scarlet Letter needs to die. I read it this past year. hated it with a passion.

[WOSQ]

Posted: 8/11/05 at 4:43pm

Scarlet Letter sounds like a good drag name.

Better put back the second 't'.