The Scarlet Letter

Chapters 1-6

Synopsis: The story begins by introducing  many of the symbols seen throughout the book, two of them being the rose bush and Boston’s prison. Hawthorne then goes on to introduce Hester Prynne, the main character. Hester comes out of the prison holding her illegitimate child and is escorted to a stage where she is condemned to stand to be publically taunted. It is clear that Hester has committed adultery from the snide comments that the women in the crowd make; they also criticize the ornateness of the embroidered “A” on her chest. 

As Hester stands on the stage she scans the crowd and she suddenly spots a familiar face, her husband. He had sent Hester to America with the promise to follow her but never did. Once he realizes that Hester has spotted him, he suggests that she should not reveal his identity. He then asks a stranger in the crowd about Hester’s crime and punishment. The stranger reveals that Hester has committed adultery and refuses to give up the name of her fellow sinner. Because of this, Hester must stand on the stage for three hours and wear the letter “A” on her clothing for the rest of her life.

Hester is ascorted back to the prison. Hester’s husband, Roger Chillingworth, comes to Hester’s cell to provide her with medical attention. Hester believes that he is trying to poison her, but Chillingworth assures that he wants to get his revenge some other way.

After a few months in prison, Hester is released and free to leave Boston, but she chooses not to. Instead she makes her home in an abandoned cabin in the outskirts of the town. Hester supports herself by selling her embroidery. Although she is successful, Hester still feels alienated and alone. The only thing that keeps her going is her daughter Pearl, who is also treated as an outcast among the other children.

Text-to-text Connection: Just recently, a modern take on the Scarlet Letter was made, the movie Easy A. A high school girl is considered a harlot and wears an embroidered “A” on her chest, just like Hester in the Scarlet Letter.

Text-to-self Connection: A lot of books use a red rose to symbol love, hope, and struggle. In the Scarlet Letter the rose is used to symbolize a sweet moral blossom. It also can be interpreted as the petals represent lust and the thorns are the consequence. Another story that uses a rose to symbolize consequence and love is Beauty and the Beast.

Chapters 7-10

Synopsis: Hester and Pearl go to Governor Bellingham’s house to give him a pair of embroidered gloves and to ask about a rumor that Hester has heard. The townspeople have been saying the Pearl was to be taken away from Hester because she is supposedly a demon child. As Hester and Pearl make their way to the governor’s house they are bombarded by children, who throw mud at them.

When they arrive at the governor’s house they are met by Bellingham, Wilson, Chillingworth, and Dimmesdale. They see Pearl and call her a demon-child. After much discussion, it is agreed that Hester and Pearl will not be separated.

Due to the fact that no one is aware of Cillingworth’s past, he merges himself into society as a doctor. People welcome him because he is aware of native remedies and is one of the only good medical practioners in Boston. The town also greatly appreciates Chillingworth because Dimmesdale is becoming ill. Dimmesdale moves in with Chillingworth so he can receive all the medical attention that he needs.

As time goes on, the townspeople begin to discover Chillingworth’s past and start to associate him with evil and the Devil. Despite the rumors, Chillingworth continues to examine Dimmesdale and he discovers that the reason why Dimmesdale is ill is due to the fact that he cannot confess to his adultery with Hester.

Text-to-text Connection: It is clear from the text that the only reason people believe that Pearl is a devil child is her past. Doubtlessly, Pearl is not a devil child, but the reference reminded me The Exorcist.

Text-to-self Connection: Today in society, people do everything they can to keep mother and child together. This was the case in The Scarlet Letter as well. Bellingham promised to let Hester and Pearl be together. The reasons for families being separated is different now then it was back then, but the outcome of separating a mother and child or father and child are the same. It is devastating for everyone.

Chapters 11-15

Synopsis: Now that Chillingworth knows the truth about Dimmesdale’s affair, he is trying to make his revenge as cruel as possible.

Dimmesdale finds it difficult to live with himself, especially because of his night terrors that remind him of his sins. He eventually results to self-torture when the bible cannot even bring him any satisfaction.

Dimmesdale comes up with an idea that he believes will end his pain: a vigil on the stage where Hester was punished. During his vigil Hester and Pearl show up. Finally, Dimmesdale asks Hester who Chillingworth really is. Hester is unfortunately sworn to secrecy, so she is unable to reveal his true identity.

Now seven years have passed since the birth of Pearl, and Hester has finally branched out in the community. She busies herself with humanitarian work. The townspeople still criticize her, but more and more and forgetting about what happened. They now see the “A” on her chest as a symbol for “Able”.

Even after all these years, Chillingworth is still punishing the minister. Hester begs him to stop and reveal his true identity. Chillingworth refuses and the two get into an argument.

Text-to-text Connection: The Scarlet Letter is very similar to The Crucible. Some of the many similarities include the setting, conflict, and common themes. One striking similarity is that two of the characters want to get revenge. In The Crucible, John Proctor and Abigail Williams have an affair, and Abigail tries to get revenge on John by getting his wife tried as a witch. In the Scarlet Letter, Chillingworth tries to get revenge on Dimmesdale for cheating on his wife through questions and torture.

Text-to-self Connection: This portion of the book shows the Transcendentilist nature of Dimmesdale. Transcendetalist ideals include: 1) Each individual is connected to God 2) Conscience, morality, and intuition are present at birth 3) One of the best ways to connect with God is through Nature. Dimmesdale holds a vigil to connect with God on a personal level, so he can pardon his sins.

Chapters 16-20

Synopsis: Hester decides that if Chillingworth will not tell the truth about his identity, she will. Pearl and Hester wait in the woods to meet Dimmesdale. While they wait Pearl asks more and more question about the meaning behind the letter “A”, their reputation with the town, and the Black Man. Hester reveals that the Black Man is Dimmesdale.

Dimmesdale meets Hester, and she tells him that Chillingworth is her husband. This outrages the Dimmesdale, and blames Hester for his suffering. Soon after, he forgives her and they plan to run away to Europe together and settle down.

Hester calls Pearl over to talk to Dimmesdale, but she refuses because Hester is not wearing the “A” upon her chest. Once Hester pin it back on, Pearl comes over but ignores Dimmesdale.

The three return to town separately. Dimmesdale explains to Chillingworth that he is no longer in need of his service and Chillingworth becomes worried that Dimmesdale knows who he truly is.

Text-to-text Connection: When Dimmesdale and Hester decide to runaway to Europe together, it reminded me of the Titanic. In the Titanic two lovers decide that they are going to runaway together and settle down. The only difference is that in The Scarlet Letter they are fleeing to Europe and in the Titanic they are already on their way to the US.

Text-to-self Connection: As a child it is hard to understand what goes on in our parents lives. Now that Pearl is a bit older, she is discovering new things about her heritage and mother’s past. I have known many people who grew up without a mother or father, and met them later in life, as did Pearl.

Chapters 21-24

Synopsis: All the townspeople gather together once again to celebrate the new governor. Dimmesdale, Hester, and Pearl stand among sailors that are to bring them to Europe. As Pearl questions Hester about why Dimmesdale is so friendly to them while they are alone, but so cold in public, the sailors explain that Chillingworth will be joining them on their journey to Europe because the ship was in need of a doctor.

Dimmesdale gives a sermon at the ceremony; the people consider this his best. After he concludes his sermon, Dimmesdale announces that he is “the one sinner of the world”. He calls Hester and Pearl to the stage and reveals that he too has a red insignia on his chest and then he falls to the stage.  Hester asks him if they will spend all of eternity together and he answers by saying that God will decide any further punishment. After his death there is much discussion to what the red mark on his chest was. Was it a scarlet “A”, a mark from his self-torture, or a wound from Chillingworth’s poison?

Shortly after the minister’s death, Chillingworth dies and Hester and Pearl disappear. Years later, Hester returns and continues her charity work. When she dies she is buried next to Dimmesdale.

Text-to-text Connection: The ending of the book reminded of Romeo and Juliet because the two lovers never really find happiness and are allowed to be together. In both stories the two lover die in the end.

Text-to-self Connection: It was interesting to see how much society has changed since Puritan New England and how in a way it has remained the same. Having an affair was unheard of back then and considered an unspeakable crime. Although having an affair is considered a huge betrayal it is much more common in today’s society. People are not shunned or put on display when they have an affair, it is a much more private matter. With this said, people who are unfaithful are still the topic of much gossip, just like in the Scarlet Letter.

Why is The Scarlet Letter Considered a Classic?

“All books are divisible into two classes: the books of the hours, and the books of all Time.

-John Ruskin

Out of the many books published, very few of them are considered classics. The question is why is a book considered a classic and when do they become classics. Is it because they are simply a good read or is it because they have been read and enjoyed by generations and had an impact on people for years? Classics are books that have been around for ages and still are influential and impact their readers the same way now as they did when they were first published decades ago. In order for a book to be a classic, it must with stand the test of time, appeal to everyone, and be encompass a sense of honesty and artistic nature.

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne is considered a classic. The Scarlet letter has been around for decades and has been understood by many generations; it has been around for over 150 years. It expresses a time in United States’ history that is not as well known as other time periods, 17^th century Puritan New England. Many people use the Scarlet Letter as a tool to experience what is was like back then. Hawthorne used themes that people can relate to (truth, deception, love, life, betrayal). Although the Scarlet Letter can be hard to read at times because of the use of old English, it remains enjoyed by many.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is an emotional story about a freshman in high school, Charlie, experiencing the transition of a boy into a young man. It deals with many first experiences, such as sex, drugs, alcohol, parties, and everything else one could possibly experience in high school. He also encounters many struggles with how to make friends, family tensions, and sexuality. Not only does Charlie have to deal with these hardships, but his best friend committed suicide just a year before.

The story is written in a series of letters written to an anonymous person. The first of the letters reveals that Charlie's best friend committed suicide and how much it changed his life. The rest of the book is filled with happy stories that make a huge grin form on your face and sad stories that break your heart.  Charlie's letters are caustic and humorous. We never find out who Charlie is writing the letters to, all we know is that they are supposed to be going to someone who is honest and unjudgmental. The whole reason for Charlie's letters is so he has an unbiased person to talk to. 

There aren't too many books that can affect you the way The Perks of Being a Wallflower can. It is a truly heart-warming story that almost everyone can relate to because everyone has experienced those awkward transitions years in high school. There is no limit to the type of people who should read this book, age is the only factor. For one to really appreciate the story you have to had some sort of high school experience, so I would recommend this book to anyone that is 15 and up. 

Stephen Chbosky created an outstanding coming of age novel that will bring tears to your face, but also make your heart melt. The story will bring anyone back to their high school experiences and days of growing up, even if you don't want to revisit them. 

Marley and Me

Marley and Me: Life and Love With the World’s Worst Dog 

A few years ago, I saw Marley and Me when it came out on the big screen, but  I had never actually read the book. A few weeks ago, I saw the movie again and thought to myself that Marley and Me by John Grogan would be a really good read. It turns out I was right. The story was heartfelt and honest, I even cried a little at the end. 

Grogan takes you through a chapter of his life, maybe even one of the most important chapters. He is settling down and starting a family with his wife Jenny. To see if they are ready to take the next big step and have kids, they decided to get a cuddly labrador retriever, named Marley. The second they got him, their lives changed. They no longer could be carefree, they now had a responsibility, a yellow fuzzball, which would later turn into a 100 pound machine. 

Although Marley wasn’t the most well behaved dog, he even got obedience school, he was the sweetest dog anyone could ever have. He helped the Grogans get through a lot, a miscarriage, a stabbing, and the birth of two children. He was loyal and did anything to protect his family. 

This genuine and hilarious novel shows that the human/animal bond in unbreakable, no matter the age of the person or his/her situation. 

I would recommend this book to anyone who is an animal lover. Parents could read it to their kids, teens would get a good laugh, and adults would find this book heartwarming. It is book that I could read over and over again. The thing that makes it stand out is how honest Grogan’s writing is. You can tell he is an accomplished writer because of his diction, tone, and syntax. He uses uses the appropriate language at all times. Parts that are funny, the word choice is hilarious; parts that are sad make you tear up. Everything flows so well together and is simple enough to read, but also enjoyable. Grogan wrote this story right after Marley died, I think he wanted to share his story, and tell people that  a dog can and will change your life. 

Grogan asks, “Is it possible to discover the key to happiness through a bigger-than life dog?” I believe that it is. My life would not be the same without my dog Tucker. Everyday I come home and he is so excited to see me; it brightens up my day. Dogs, and any other pets do make a difference; they make people happy, as we make them happy. 

Three Feet From Gold

Three Feet From Gold is a novel based on the lessons taught by Napoleon Hill in Think and Grow Rich. It applies the lessons to 21st century characters, to create a ficticious story. Greg is a struggling business owner who is behind on his bills and was recently dumped by his girlfriend. Through a series of coincidental events, Greg gains connections with very powerful and accomplished individuals who teach him Napoleon Hill’s lessons. With these lessons, Greg gains a new perspective on life and his destiny.

Napoleon Hills lessons include:

1. Have a purpose, people without a plan or purpose drift aimlessly through life.
2. In order to be successful, you must cooperate with others.
3. You must have faith. “Faith is the state of mind through which your aims, desires, plans, and purposes may be translated into their physical or financial equivalent.
4. Go the extra mile.
5. Possess a pleasing personality, it is the factor that determines whether one is liked or disliked.
6. Obtain personal initiative. One must learn to do his own thinking and be able to act on their own.
7. Have a positive attitude. “Success attracts more success while failure attracts more failure”
8. “Enthusiasm is faith in action”
9. You must have self-discipline.
10. “The power of thought is the most dangerous or the most beneficial power available to man, depending on how it is used.”
11. Controlled Attention will lead to success because it allows one to focus the powers of his mind.
12. Teamwork and cooperation are priceless assets.
13. Defeat is not a bad thing. Many “failures” are only a temporary defeat that could potentially be a blessing. 
14. “Creative vision is developed by the free and fearless use of one’s imagination.”
15. “Sound health begins with a sound health consciousness, just as financial success begins with a prosperity consciousness.”
16. Time and money are valuable, most people striving for success believe that they possess neither one.
17. Develop positive habits, they lead to peace of mind, health, and financial security. 

Greg Reid, the author of Three Feet From Gold, wanted to write his book because Napoleon Hill’s principles made him achieve success. His goal was to become an award winning author and thats exactly what he did. He wanted to share his experiences with others, and show people that anyone can achieve success, no matter what position they are in. 

Reid writes that story so that the lessons of Napoleon Hill are very clear. He separates his book into chapters. Each one of which contains one of Hill’s lessons. This setup was very helpful; it made the book very easy to understand. 

Three Feet From Gold was an interesting read. Normally, I do not enjoy books about success, but Reid did an excellent job incorporating Hill’s lessons into a fictional story, that not only explains how to achieve success, but also includes a great story about struggle, failure, and love.

If you are looking for an inspiring book, than I would definitely read Three Feet From Gold. It is an enjoyable read and gives great advice on how to become successful. 

I give Three Feet From Gold 4 out of 5 stars!