Nothing like getting back to reading than by starting with the classics.
The Scarlet Letter is a well-read book amongst my American friends; not so much for its content, sadly, but as a faded high school English reading assignment seasons long ago. Mohammad decided on this book for March, and after reading the book through and through, including the easter egg of an introduction, "The Custom-House", I can understand why Nathaniel Hawthorne’s sexy waxy poetry may not be for every teenager.
The book is written in old English, which might be the contributing reason for general disinterest in the book, but I liked it. It was refreshing to challenge myself reading like that, turning every word over like caramel in my mouth, long enough to pronounce and mull over the meaning and usage of the archaic, but careful not to let it stick in my gums. The story itself, although fairly simple in format and plot, was not any less laden with despair with each retelling and bemoaning of fate through the chapters. Hawthorne demonstrates his literary prowess most noticeable in description and detail than in plot engagement, which may be the tell of excellent writers.
His skill in prose is first evident upon reading the introduction to the book, "The Custom House". It is a semi-autobiographical account of Hawthorne’s life working in the real Salem Custom House in early 1840s Massachusetts. "The Custom House", as an introduction to the main story, was also used as a means of “authenticating” the plot of The Scarlet Letter. The accounts of a Surveyor of the town about Hester’s trials and tribulations, was found bound, with a scarlet seal, by the author in the same Custom House years later upon his employment and return to Salem. Thus inspired, he began the story of Hester’s lifelong cross to bear.
I also utterly enjoyed the imagery of the many symbols of infidelity and independence, and the descriptions and musings of shame and condemnation of the two tortured protagonists. The depth and eloquence of words used to describe already vividly despondent characters makes it that much more tantalizing to read. The penetrative influence of a religious society on an individual’s personal convictions and their subsequent life paths are exemplified in all three protagonists’ character arcs: Hester, Arthur Dimmesdale, the feeble and guilt-ridden reverend, and Roger Chillingworth, the alleged medical doctor and confirmed creep. All three make significant changes to their lives according to societal expectations, and live in hyperawareness; one of shame, one of revelation, one of detection). All three don’t lead happy or relatively fulfilling lives, and instead, squander all opportunites to re-locate and change the life sentences Fate has condemned them with.
I belive that the relevance of the book and the motivations of the author are entirely up to the reader to interpret, and I can definitely understand teenagers being unable to relate to the searing passion of such depth of emotion only found in the throes of experience and the pangs of regret. I, however, am not a teenager, and by that definition, definitely do relate.
7/10
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