Question

1. examine how hester clothes herself and (contrastingly) how she clothes pearl. what is the significance of this contrast? 8. explain how hester “bestows all her superfluous means.” (80) what can we infer about her character and her motives? 9. find the powerful simile that hawthorne crafts in order to convey the experience of alienation or “banishment” which hester feels. (81) 10. how does hester respond to the slights and insults she receives from rich and poor alike? infer her motives and character on the basis of her response to these “attacks.” (82) 11. hester’s solitude has produced a remarkable “fancy” - “that the scarlet letter had endowed her with a new sense. she shuddered to believe, yet could not help believing, that it gave her a sympathetic knowledge of the hidden sin in other hearts...” explain this “fancy” in your own words and explore its significance to the novel. (83 - 84)

Explanation:

These questions pertain to the analysis of characters, their actions, and literary devices in Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter. They require understanding of character - motives, symbolism (like the clothes), and literary techniques (similes).

Answer:

1. Hester's clothes are a form of self - expression. Her elaborate and fancy clothes for Pearl contrast with her own somber and plain attire. This could signify her desire to give Pearl a life full of beauty and freedom that she herself may feel deprived of. It also shows her love and care for her child.
2. When Hester "bestows all her superfluous means", it implies that she is generous and perhaps trying to gain some form of acceptance or atonement. Her motives may include a sense of charity, a need to be seen in a better light by the community, and a desire to provide for others as she has been ostracized.
3. A powerful simile to convey alienation could be "Hester stood among them like a solitary tree in a barren field." This simile emphasizes her isolation from the rest of the community, just as a single tree stands alone in an empty field.
4. Hester responds to slights and insults with a combination of dignity and resilience. Her basis for response may be her inner strength and her determination to protect her dignity and that of her child. She may also be driven by a sense of justice, knowing that she has been wronged by the community's harsh judgment.
5. The "fancy" Hester experiences could be a manifestation of her over - active imagination due to her solitude. It may also be a way for her to cope with her isolation and the hidden sin she believes exists in others. The "fancy" gives her a sense of connection to something beyond her immediate, harsh reality. The significance to the novel is that it adds depth to her character and shows the psychological impact of her isolation.