tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post1688680771803870132..comments2024-02-29T02:54:19.767-05:00Comments on Babbling Books: The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel HawthorneBrian Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-29294920814371669852019-04-07T17:44:04.204-04:002019-04-07T17:44:04.204-04:00Thanks Go Books! Thanks Go Books! Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-59149794001482197532019-04-07T15:15:38.064-04:002019-04-07T15:15:38.064-04:00Waw,!!!Great Writting. I realy Loves the scarlet l...Waw,!!!Great Writting. I realy Loves <a href="https://gobook24.blogspot.com/2019/02/the-scarlet-letter-summary.html" rel="nofollow">the scarlet letter summary</a>. I Bookmark your Blogs For Learns New Thing. Thanks For Sharing.<br />GoBookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15302768814527800806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-28375840283783558442017-10-04T09:30:05.677-04:002017-10-04T09:30:05.677-04:00Hi Delia - Hester is indeed a great character. The...Hi Delia - Hester is indeed a great character. There are indeed extremely judgmental elements of society still around. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-15584263584893000282017-10-04T09:10:18.645-04:002017-10-04T09:10:18.645-04:00One of my favorite classics. :) I'm glad you e...One of my favorite classics. :) I'm glad you enjoyed it. I've always admired Hester - to stand up for herself and admit her "indiscretion" is much more than either of the two men have done, one hiding behind her, the other plotting his revenge. I don't think we're that far from those times in terms of how women are viewed today when it comes to having children out of wedlock. Unless, of course they are rich and/or famous.Delia (Postcards from Asia)http://wrongspelling.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-25188414862597266102017-09-17T14:40:02.597-04:002017-09-17T14:40:02.597-04:00Hi Diane - This story is so intertwined with Ameri...Hi Diane - This story is so intertwined with America and New Englend. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-55842279145887986362017-09-17T13:24:54.654-04:002017-09-17T13:24:54.654-04:00I've read this one a few times and enjoyed it....I've read this one a few times and enjoyed it. Living in New England, I've toured the Hawthorne House in Salem, MA (pretty town) a few times. Of course, with the Salem Witch Trials, hysteria, October, near Halloween, it the perfect time to visit. People get all decked out in costume.(Diane) Bibliophile By the Seahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10519875632878992728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-80401048829111973852017-09-03T11:53:18.565-04:002017-09-03T11:53:18.565-04:00Hi Naida - I have not seen the film but I have hea...Hi Naida - I have not seen the film but I have heard mostly negative reviews. <br /><br /><br />There is a lot of irony in the depiction of the characters. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-79628320372044443922017-09-03T11:43:16.529-04:002017-09-03T11:43:16.529-04:00I haven't read The Scarlet Letter but I've...I haven't read The Scarlet Letter but I've seen the movie. Interesting that behind closed doors Dimmesdal and Hester's attitudes are reversed, he's a mess and she seems to be more able to deal with what her situation. I agree, you can find so much more within a book when re-reading it.<br />Great post!The Bookwormhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10217390642323530030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-67027505194215574302017-08-31T20:22:04.287-04:002017-08-31T20:22:04.287-04:00Hi Susan - I did indeed relate this to the books I...Hi Susan - I did indeed relate this to the books I read on New England Witchcraft. With that, I tried not to look at this book as history, but rather fiction. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-81962842782956019082017-08-31T19:07:46.440-04:002017-08-31T19:07:46.440-04:00Hester is a great heroine of her times. I'm i...Hester is a great heroine of her times. I'm interested in the transcendental aspects of the story and the wild naturalness of Pearl. It's so prevalent in Hawthorne's stories. Remember the Birth-Mark by him? I'm sure the Scarlett Letter is quite fascinating to you -- with all those Puritan and witchcraft books you read recently. A lot of shaming going on in that society!! Yikes. thecuecardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08870323589682197091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-71199113054969656192017-08-31T13:38:42.788-04:002017-08-31T13:38:42.788-04:00Hi Ttacy - Though the scarlet A is fictional, this...Hi Ttacy - Though the scarlet A is fictional, this book has branded it upon our cuttural memory. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-86894536334979102342017-08-31T11:33:11.978-04:002017-08-31T11:33:11.978-04:00Whilst I did of course know about the yellow star ...Whilst I did of course know about the yellow star and other such badges synonymous with Nazi Germany, it is only somewhere in the back of my mind that I remember the letter 'A' on a scarlet piece of material ... probably because of the 'scarlet women' label. <br /><br />Not a character that readily springs to mind but one I'd definitely like to read up on.Felicity Grace Terryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17852843882007267665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-64460443599399168392017-08-30T06:26:06.057-04:002017-08-30T06:26:06.057-04:00Thanks Suko - This book really lends itself to rer...Thanks Suko - This book really lends itself to rereading. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-26963137151594307752017-08-30T01:21:29.209-04:002017-08-30T01:21:29.209-04:00Another excellent review! I read this novel many y...Another excellent review! I read this novel many years ago, and have been meaning to reread it for a while now as well. Your post certainly reminds me of the book's worth. Sukohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11893742747135555499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-91822348581788842062017-08-29T13:07:51.411-04:002017-08-29T13:07:51.411-04:00Hey Maria - I also need to learn more. But The Pur...Hey Maria - I also need to learn more. But The Puritans started major educational institutions, espoused the separation of church and state, championed moderation.<br /><br />You raise an important issue. That is, how do we handle historical figures and groups who had positive contributions but who also did horrendous things. I might devout a blog post to it. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-91602010507538653802017-08-29T09:12:41.848-04:002017-08-29T09:12:41.848-04:00Regarding your comment on Puritanism, from what I ...Regarding your comment on Puritanism, from what I saw at those links, they certainly weren't very interested in equality for women. The Quakers, on the other hand, had a more egalitarian society. However, the Puritans have probably made some positive contributions to American society and history. I would have to do some more Googling to find out more. At the moment, it's hard for me to see them in a positive light, to be honest. But I will try to keep an open mind, and find out more. Thanks for pointing this out! :)Maria Beharhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13635809880830316283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-31644685266694945292017-08-28T14:22:50.166-04:002017-08-28T14:22:50.166-04:00Thanks Jane. The skewing that you refer to is the ...Thanks Jane. The skewing that you refer to is the reason I try not to mix my reading of fiction with historical judgements. <br /><br />It is amazing just how much I missed in this book when I read it when young. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-82963588296602204512017-08-28T14:20:10.532-04:002017-08-28T14:20:10.532-04:00Hi Lainy - If you read it I would love to discuss ...Hi Lainy - If you read it I would love to discuss it with you. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-53762027962019841482017-08-28T13:00:04.361-04:002017-08-28T13:00:04.361-04:00I absolutely need to read this one Brian, it has p...I absolutely need to read this one Brian, it has popped up a few times over the years and I mean to buy it. Be good to read a book and have a gab with you about it xxx<br /><br />Lainy http://www.alwaysreading.netSo many books, so little timehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07564778178609301461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-53985752534352304382017-08-28T12:20:15.157-04:002017-08-28T12:20:15.157-04:00I am definitely due for a reread myself--I haven&#...I am definitely due for a reread myself--I haven't read this since 10th grade, and I think I would appreciate it much more as an adult.<br /><br />Excellent review--it's interesting to read an historical novel from an author who also is now quite far in the past. Hawthorne's view of the Puritan world cannot help but be skewed by his own world.JaneGShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11094501834387622997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-51541676275093883722017-08-27T21:23:25.451-04:002017-08-27T21:23:25.451-04:00Hi Laurie - I do not blame high school teachers f...Hi Laurie - I do not blame high school teachers for thier slant on this book as there is so much one can say about it. I just wrote about one aspect of it. <br /><br />I have only read this by Hawthorne. I need to read more.,Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-40892903125192524202017-08-27T21:20:18.371-04:002017-08-27T21:20:18.371-04:00Hey Maria - I've been a bit hesitant to delve ...Hey Maria - I've been a bit hesitant to delve too deeply into Puritanism for the reasons I have mentioned. <br /><br />Of course I have read a bit about it previously, most notably when I read several books on witch hunting. I have been poking a bit around thier history today. At the very least, thier views on women, and thier intolerance of other groups compared to conventional English Society as well as with other groups, such as The Quakers. These views and thier corresponding actions were harmful to the folks who had to live under thier rule. They also probably slowed down human progress toward equality and toward a more free society. <br /><br />History is complicated. There are misconceptions about them and they did have both achievements as well as what we would consider more progressive beliefs. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-79491243951656696552017-08-27T13:37:51.362-04:002017-08-27T13:37:51.362-04:00This review makes me want to stop what I am doing ...This review makes me want to stop what I am doing and go back for a reread. Like many American high schoolers this book was a feature in our curriculum. I honestly can't remember how it was taught, though. Was it taught as a morality tale, a warning? I am not sure if the internal strength of Hester Prynne was highlighted and now I want to go back and revisit that! And I am also fascinated by your take on what Pearl symbolizes. <br /><br />Just a quick observation on Hawthorne after having read The House of the Seven Gables and the Blithedale Romance very recently: he writes some very strong, very complex female characters. He knows their depth. I find that very interesting!<br /><br /><br /><br />Laurie Welchhttps://relevantobscurity.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-66564799070953880072017-08-27T10:45:36.238-04:002017-08-27T10:45:36.238-04:00Thanks again Maria.
It is so striking how reading...Thanks again Maria.<br /><br />It is so striking how reading books for the second time when we are older can yield so much more. I think that you would get a lot out of this if you reread it. <br /><br />Dimmesdale’s cowardice is hard to take. That is why it makes such a striking contrast with Hester’s courage and dignity. <br /><br />This book was a scathing indictment of male dominated Puritan society. Such I held back talking about the actual, real life society for the reasons that I mentioned on my post. At least in the society depicted in the book, and in a lot of real societies, this social structure was indeed driven but much of what you point out in the Old Testament. <br /><br />There are indeed a lot of common themes between this book and “Tess of the d’Urberfilles” <br /><br />Thanks for the links and quotes. The contrast with the Quakers is interesting. I need to read more about the Puritans. <br />Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-39774581767981188192017-08-27T02:15:49.829-04:002017-08-27T02:15:49.829-04:00P.S. Here are some very interesting quotes from an...P.S. Here are some very interesting quotes from an online article regarding the so-called 'rights' of Puritan women.<br /><br />"Massachusetts Bay Colony was a man’s world. Women did not participate in town meetings and were excluded from decision making in the church. Puritan ministers furthered male supremacy in their writings and sermons. They preached that the soul had two parts, the immortal masculine half, and the mortal feminine half.<br /><br />Women and children were treated harshly in the Puritan commonwealth. Women were viewed as instruments of Satan. Children were regarded as the property of their parents. If any child was disobedient to his parents, any magistrate could punish him with a maximum of ten lashes for each offense."<br /><br />And:<br /><br />"Women were, of course, subordinate to men. In the new colonies, the same laws existed as in England. Married women were not allowed to possess property, sign contracts, or conduct business. Their husbands owned everything, including the couple’s children. Only widows who did not remarry could own property and run their own businesses."<br /><br />Here's the link to this article:<br /><br />http://www.womenhistoryblog.com/2007/10/puritan-women.html<br /><br />Here are further links that prove that women were NOT treated as important members of Puritan society. The second link discusses the more egalitarian position of women in Quaker society, as opposed to Puritan society.<br /><br />http://www3.gettysburg.edu/~tshannon/hist106web/site15/HOLLY/public_html/Intro.htm<br /><br />http://puritansandquakers.weebly.com/gender-roles-women.html<br /><br />https://www.landofthebrave.info/colonial-women.htm<br /><br />Here's a quote from a link to an article about the poet Anne Bradstreet. The quote also includes a link to the Wikipedia article about Bradstreet.<br /><br />"Puritans believe that women are inferior to men. Wives were also considered their husband’s property. Men considered Women to be dangerous, and therefore they felt the need to control them. “This idea of danger and inferiority stemmed from the Puritan thought that women had a piece of Eve’s impurity and sin within themselves.”<br />http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Bradstreet<br /><br />Here's the link to this article:<br /><br />https://americanliterture.wordpress.com/2013/01/29/how-did-anne-bradstreet-feel-about-the-treatment-of-women-in-the-1600s/<br />Maria Beharhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13635809880830316283noreply@blogger.com