Chapters 5-8

Even though the chapters so far have ventured deeper into The Scarlet Letter, I still find myself struggling to interpret the meanings behind Hawthornes writing. Unlike past literature I have read, I often have to read through certain passages multiple times in order to understand what Hawthorne is trying to say and how it affects the storyline throughout The Scarlet Letter. One passage that I found interesting and wanted to understand the meaning behind was in the beginning of chapter 5 where it states, "But now, with this unattended walk from her prison-door, began the daily custom; and she must either sustain and carry it forward, or sink beneath it. She could no longer borrow from the future to help her through the present grief. To-morrow would bring its own trial with it; so would the next day, and so would the next; each its own trial, and yet the very same that was now so unutterably grievous to be borne" (Hawthorne, 73). Like I had said earlier, at first I was confused as to what Hawthorne was trying to say. After reading through it and truly trying to understand his word choice, I soon understood the meaning behind this passage. Hawthorne talks about Hester's release from prison, and the realization she has come to. Hester begins to understand that the shame she had to face did not end up on the scaffold, but rather would continue with her from day to day. She can no longer try to sustain hope that the following day's will be better than the current, as the sin she has committed will continue to stay with her.

Also, another passage I would like to point out is in the last paragraph of chapter five where it says, "The vulgar, who, in those dreary old times, were always contributing a grotesque horror to what interested their imaginations, had a story about the scarlet letter which we might readily work up into a terrific legend. They arrived, that the symbol was not mere scarlet cloth, tinged in an earthly due-pot, but was red-hot with internal fire, and could have been seen glowing all alight, whenever Hester Prynne walked abroad in the night-time. And we must needs say, it seared Hester's bosom so deeply, that perhaps there was more truth in the rumor than our modern incredulity may have been inclined to admit" (Hawthorne, 81). This passage did not stand out to me as it was hard to understand, but rather that the mystical affect and the legend of the scarlet letter is brought up once again, as it was stated previously in the end of chapter 3. I find it interesting that in the short amount of the book that has so far been read, Hawthorne has twice brought up this "glow" that the scarlet letter omits. I believe that the mystical affect the letter has will continue to be an important factor throughout the storyline, and I am interested to see where it will surface again later in the novel.

As I was reading, I began to see that even though this work of literature was written in the 1850's, many connections to today's society can be made throughout the plot. One connected I made was to the past story of Lance Armstrong, and his illegal usage of steroids throughout his cycling career. In 2012, Armstrong had come out to public, stating that throughout his career he had frequently used steroids in order to gain an edge over other competitors. As this is highly illegal among professional cyclist, Armstrong was stripped of not only his sponsors, but his Tour De France titles as well. His reputation as one of the greatest cyclists, as well as his respected personality was tarnished, leaving him to be highly criticized by the public. This relates to Hester, and her profound skill in the art of needlework. Hawthorne describes the talent Hester posses as it states "a specimen of her delicate and imaginative skill, of which the dames of a court might gladly have availed themselves, to add the richer and more spiritual adornment of human ingenuity to their fabrics of silk and gold" (Hawthorne, 75). Hester is so talented in the art of needlework, that even dames a court would want to have her adornments added to their fabrics, but Hester ultimately does not receive such praise as a result of the sin she has committed. As Hawthorne later talks about Hester's talents, it says, "But it is not recorded that, in a single instance, her skill was called in aid to embroider the white veil which was to cover the pure blushes of a bride" (Hawthorne, 76). Rather than being noticed for her skills, Hester's name is dishonored and holds a negative connotation. Just like Lance Armstrong, Hester's tarnished reputation comes as a consequence to her actions in the past, and her talents are not able to reach their fullest potential.

Armstrong stripped of his titles as a result of his steroid usage