An oil canvas of The Scarlet Letter by Tompkins Harrison MattesonThe words "scarlet letter" feels so controversial and popular yet I do not know whether it pertains to an actual letter or a letter as in a love letter. I bought it, not knowing what to expect and hopefully it will cheer me up as the novel of Flaubert had dampen my soul.
Nathaniel Hawthorne, ah... an author so much admired that Herman Melville had dedicated his ever so popular novel, Moby-Dick on this man who brought to us The Scarlet Letter.
The answer to the mystery, unfortunately, will only be given at the end and so it really bugged me through out the novel. You can really feel Hester Prynne, who has been ashamed to the eyes of her neighbors and yet for 7 years or so continued to live her life and become the carrier of the legend of the scarlet letter.
Hawthorne even used symbolism as he used Pearl, Hester's daughter, the living representation of the Scarlet Letter. Oh, how I enjoyed Pearl and her antics. She is compared to an imp for her unruly behavior, always jumping up and down, dancing all around, and yet, possesses a great beauty that people admire but still connects to evil.
Reading this novel made me recall Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo of Jose Rizal. It attacks the people seated in power. Why, he had written it beautifully indeed! The mixture of love, hope, sacrifice, mystery, pride, power and vengeance... who wouldn't get absorbed in the world of The Scarlet Letter?
I then realized, that no matter how much I have ashamed myself in the eyes of the public, no matter how much people criticize and hate me, no matter how much they love to see my downfall, and no matter how they condemn the love I feel for a person to whom they think is wrong for me to love...
So, does that mean you'll now have the guts to stay in your university having that enigma similar to the scarlet letter of Hester Prynne? We'll see... We'll see...
Nathaniel Hawthorne, ah... an author so much admired that Herman Melville had dedicated his ever so popular novel, Moby-Dick on this man who brought to us The Scarlet Letter.
I won't lie, it has a similarity to Madam Bovary but this novel is something like, what Madame Bovary could have done otherwise...
The answer to the mystery, unfortunately, will only be given at the end and so it really bugged me through out the novel. You can really feel Hester Prynne, who has been ashamed to the eyes of her neighbors and yet for 7 years or so continued to live her life and become the carrier of the legend of the scarlet letter.
Hawthorne even used symbolism as he used Pearl, Hester's daughter, the living representation of the Scarlet Letter. Oh, how I enjoyed Pearl and her antics. She is compared to an imp for her unruly behavior, always jumping up and down, dancing all around, and yet, possesses a great beauty that people admire but still connects to evil.
Reading this novel made me recall Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo of Jose Rizal. It attacks the people seated in power. Why, he had written it beautifully indeed! The mixture of love, hope, sacrifice, mystery, pride, power and vengeance... who wouldn't get absorbed in the world of The Scarlet Letter?
I then realized, that no matter how much I have ashamed myself in the eyes of the public, no matter how much people criticize and hate me, no matter how much they love to see my downfall, and no matter how they condemn the love I feel for a person to whom they think is wrong for me to love...
I will strive hard, and I will strive good. For though I hold in my being an invisible scarlet letter, I'll live by my curse and make my name. For no legendary icon has made it through the history books without injuring a fate similar to mine... or much worst!
So, does that mean you'll now have the guts to stay in your university having that enigma similar to the scarlet letter of Hester Prynne? We'll see... We'll see...
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