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Post by Bailey Wagner on Aug 8, 2014 16:08:47 GMT
At the start, Hester's dream is to be accepted by her neighbors and looked at with the same respect as anyone else, but her scarlet letter is in the way. "The sunshine does not love you. It runs away and hides itself, because it is afraid of something on your bosom", those are the words of a seven year old. Hester's daughter, Pearl. She really nails it with those words because that's exactly how they are treated. But after seven agonizing years of this abuse, Hester's dream changes, and she longer wants to be surrounded by the constant reminder of her biggest mistake. She only wishes to remove herself from the town in which she holds her shame and go somewhere else to be happy and prosper with her family.
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Post by Hunter Tuazon on Aug 8, 2014 17:43:27 GMT
Hester Prynne’s American dream is to not be judged by her label as the woman with the scarlet letter, she wants to be treated equal and looked down upon by her actions. Hester also wants to be free of all the shunning and the insults that are thrown at her every day. In the end, Hester's strength, honesty, and compassion carry her through a life she had not imagined. Hester lives on, quietly, and becomes something of a legend in the colony of Boston. The scarlet letter made her what she became, and, in the end, she grew stronger and more at peace through her suffering. Hester becomes an angel of mercy who eventually lives out her life as a figure of compassion in the community. Hester becomes known for her charitable deeds. She offers comfort to the poor, the sick, and the downtrodden. When the governor is dying, she is at his side. "She came, not as a guest, but as a rightful inmate, into the household that was darkened by trouble. Even though she achieved her dream she lost many things along the way like Roger Chillingworth, "thou knowest that I was frank with thee. I felt no love, nor feigned any." She kept her word in carrying her husband's secret identity, and she tells the minister the truth only after she is released from her pledge. Also she realizes what she did and now has to live with that until she dies. In Chapter 17, she explains to Dimmesdale that she has been honest in all things except in disclosing his part in her pregnancy. "A lie is never good, even though death threaten on the other side!”.
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Post by melodies01 on Aug 8, 2014 23:05:15 GMT
This course studies the American Dream for characters throughout American Literature. At the beginning of the novel, what is Hester’s American Dream? How does she and her dream change over the course of the novel? Cite specific examples from the text to support your answer. At the beginning of the novel, Hester's American Dream is to be viewed equally in the society, whether the sin is carried with her or not. In the beginning of the novel, the scarlet letter attracted negative attention from the crowds who thought that Hester has brought shame upon all of them. As the book progresses, Hester slowly realizes the mistakes she has made. Hester arranges a meeting with her husband, Roger, because Hester has had shame built up inside her for some time. Over time, Hester's personality changes and she starts to care for Pearl to a greater extent. She starts providing a prosperous life for Pearl and the society and slowly starts changing her American Dream to a state of independence, desire, and faith. Hester wanted independence from the Puritan Society and the belief that you should follow God. Hester wanted a life to live without judgement and to also treat her daughter right and guide her down the right path for life. |
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Post by Erin Dean on Aug 9, 2014 17:16:29 GMT
In the beginning of the novel, Hester's American Dream is to become equal with the people in her village. She wants to live her life without the " relentless vigor with which the society <frowns> upon her sin." She never felt like she belonged to the society because of her letter; " Every gesture, every word, and even the silence...implied..that she was banished." Her dream is that the village people would forgive her sins and not look at her negatively. Over the course of the novel, Hester changes as does her American Dream. Hester realizes that the she doesn't have to endure the burden of the Scarlet letter anymore and that she can be free from her sin. Hester realizes that "the past is gone" and that with the "stigma" vanished she can feel a sense of relief. Her new dream is to be free with Mr. Dimmesdale and Pearl and to forget the Scarlet letters existence.
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Post by kelseylindblom on Aug 9, 2014 21:22:26 GMT
At the beginning of the novel, Hester’s idea of the American dream is to be an equal among the townspeople. Regardless of the sinful action she committed, Hester wishes for the people of her town to look at her without judgment. As the story progresses the pain that comes with the bearing of the scarlet letter stays with Hester. She raises her baby girl, Pearl, to the best of her ability and teaches her imperative life lessons. She also tries to make amends with Arthur Dimmesdale and Roger Chillingworth. Once Hester realizes Chillingworth’s sole purpose is to take out his revenge against the ailing Arthur Dimmesdale her idea of the American dream changes. After meeting with Arthur in the forest they decide to leave the town where their sins began. Hester’s revised idea of the American dream is to create a better life for Pearl as well as herself and to no longer have to carry the heavy burden of the scarlet letter.
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Post by Rachel Boone on Aug 10, 2014 1:56:36 GMT
In the beginning of novel, Hester's "American Dream" is to be accepted back into society. When Hester was first released from the jail with her daughter in her arms, when she was put on that scaffold and humiliated endlessly in front of the people she used to call friends, she hit a low. From that point on she knew she had to fight for her hopes and dreams and earn her place back into society. Even though it was rough at first, “The unhappy culprit sustained herself as best as a woman might, under the heavy weight of a thousand unrelenting eyes, all fastened upon her, and concentrated at her bosom”, she was able to push through the pain and grow from it in strength . By doing good deeds and helping people in need, her presence even in opposition allowed her to slowly rejoin the town and their people. After her dream comes true Hester learns to be proud of the scarlet letter and accept it's forever place on her. After one dream ended, then arose another and soon Hester wanted to leave the colony and run off with the father of Pearl, Reverend Dimmsdale. She had arranged for them to be stored away on a ship and for them to start a family together, to live a happy life far away from the town, but sadly this dream does not come true. Reverend Dimmsdale dies as he reveals to everyone that he was the adulterer to Hester and shows the scarlet letter "A" burned onto his chest.
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Post by rihabella03 on Aug 10, 2014 14:31:39 GMT
This course studies the American Dream for characters throughout American Literature. At the beginning of the novel, what is Hester’s American Dream? How does she and her dream change over the course of the novel? Cite specific examples from the text to support your answer. Hester Prynne's American dream was originally to be considered an equal among her community. Except because of the scarlet letter that had been placed upon her chest due to the sinful action of committing adultery, most of the people within her town avoided and "their head (would) continuously stare at her face". Recognizing her sinful and horrid actions she had committed, Hester began to change her ways to show to the townsmen that there was more to her and the scarlet letter than meets the eye. She also recognizes that she must repair the damage caused by the sin she had created, which consisted of repairing the damage between her young Pearl's father and her husband which she had sinned against. Soon after Hester's American dream became freedom, and protection and posterity for Pearl. Hester wanted to become free the religion and free of the sin/scarlet letter which weighed her heart down. Hester wanted no more than to be free with her young Pearl free and protected from all harm and faith. Without the faith and the scarlet letter holding Hester back, she could led young Pearl into a prosperous life full of freedom and adventure from society. |
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Post by Jared McFadden on Aug 10, 2014 15:15:09 GMT
In the beginning of the novel, Hester's dream is to be seen equally among the people of her town, even though she has made major sins. She gets bad looks and is talked about throughout her whole town because of what she did. Later on in the book, her dream changes. She wants a more independent life and tries to create a better life for her daughter Pearl. She wants to change things and get away from the society she lived in.
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Post by tonychao on Aug 11, 2014 1:44:55 GMT
Hester’s initial dream was to be accepted. She was relegated from the community for committing a major sin. Hester’s crime was very culpable in the eyes of the community. The scarlet letter attracted negative attentions towards her. Eventually changing her status as an outcast and labeled as a sinner. Despite her acts that were far from ephemeral. Later her American Dream changes, she wants to control her own life and the same time, achieve a better life for her daughter, Pearl. Living in a Puritan community, people there belief that God decides how you should live. Hester didn’t want that life where her freedom was restricted; she had other things to care to. She still had Pearl to care too. Instead of disavowing the child that caused her so much pain, Hester raised and loved her Pearl’s entire life.
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Post by bp1998 on Aug 11, 2014 17:30:50 GMT
Hester's dream in the Scarlet Letter is to make the townspeople treat her in a more respectful way and not to look down on her for committing adultery so that way she can live out her life in a much happier way than having to live with everybody looking down on her.
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Post by Jimmy Sampey on Aug 11, 2014 17:53:02 GMT
In the beginning of the books Hesters American dream is to be looked at as a good person that just lives a life and not a sinner. As the book carries on she realizes the decision she made was her choice and she accepts that and moves on. She doesn't care much of what the townspeople say.
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Post by natalie on Aug 11, 2014 20:34:06 GMT
In the beginning of the novel, Hester's "American Dream" is equality, and acceptance. She doesn't want to only be recognized by the Scarlet Letter, that at the same time recognizes her sin. As the novel progresses Hester's "American Dream" changes to become a dream of forgiveness. She has realized what she did was wrong and has accepted her punishment and lesson.
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Post by Logan First on Aug 12, 2014 2:21:06 GMT
As the novel begins, Hester Prynne is sent to America by her husband. Without knowing where her husband is she commits adultery with Pastor Dimmesdale, and has a child, named Pearl, out of wedlock. After the town finds out about Hester’s sin, she is looked down upon by the entire village. She eventually moves to a cottage outside the village and takes a job as a seamstress. Her dream is to become equal to the town people, and show her daughter, the good in her, despite being an adulteress. She supports her daughter with the money she earns from being an expert seamstress. She is able to be a good role model for Pearl as she is growing up. With her extra money she is able to help the sick and the poor.
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Post by Noah Raecek on Aug 12, 2014 13:10:27 GMT
At the beginning of the novel Hester Prynne's dream is to be equal with everyone else in her Puritan town. She just wants to fit in and not be an “outcast”. When she goes to jail and received your punishment of wearing the A on her chest for the rest of her life she begins to realize that she does not fit in as well. After a while Hester begins to think that she cannot always be ashamed of what she has done. She begins to except her punishment and she no longer cares about being equal with everyone, but she just wants to be happy with herself and her daughter Pearl. Her dream changes throughout the story. She goes from wanting to fit in with the crowd to just being happy with what she has.
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Post by Deanna McCullough on Aug 12, 2014 17:14:06 GMT
At the beginning of the novel, Hester's American Dream is to have equality. Since she is recognized as an outcast due to her sin, she wants to be seen in a positive light without being known for the scarlet letter and bringing shame to the town. As the story progresses, Hester's American Dream changes. She wants to "win her freedom from the pain" that she carries around with her as a reminder of her wrong doing. When she takes off the letter she feels like a weight is lifted off of her shoulders. "She had not known the weight until she felt the freedom." She uses her scarlet letter as her "passport" out of the town and into new places.
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