"A" is not for Apple
The Scarlet Letter shows the branding of a woman in a morally intolerant society. In class we read the line "The scarlet letter had not done its office" (Ch. XV [my page 223]). This comes after the narrator reveals Hestor's question about the existence of "the whole race of womanhood." What "office" is the scarlet letter supposed to do? [Dictionary.com defines "office" as "a service or task to be performed; assignment."]
posted by Dr. Battles at 2:06 PM
10 Comments:
It was suppose to be a punishment for her committing adultery. She was supposed to wear it so that people would know she had sinned with another man. However, people begin to see the good things she does and start to associate the “A” with able. Also from the beginning of the novel we see that Hester is very proud of what she has done or at least she does not seem to feel ashamed for what she has done. I think that scarlet letter actually causes the opposite effect than what the magistrate wanted.
Because the letter A stood for adulterer, the office was suppose to give Hester shame but Hester showed the people that she had no shame for what she did. She instead became part of society and eventually became liked for her needlework.
Since women where to obey man, and that was what Hester did with the minister and brought shame onto herself, gave her reason to question the existence of women. And go figure that it was stated by a man, "The scarlet letter had not done its office. It was suppose to be a reminder, which it was to Hester, but did not bring the shame the town thought it would bring.
The real intent of the office was to remind Hester and the community of her crime. It also reminded her and everyone else that women can and will do things without the restraints of men. By her seeing the letter everyday, it allowed her to gain more of an insight in to how she really felt about her affair and it revealed the hypocrisy and irony of the people who saw her as evil.
The scarlet A was to be a public display of sin. As I said in class, I think the town wanted to display Hester as an outcast and by making her wear the letter, they attempted to do that. However, they did not so much outcast her that they utilized her services. She also was very giving of her time when people were sick, etc. Also, because Hester never admitted who the man was, the only way they could "get her" was to make her wear the letter. The purpose of the letter backfired on the town because Hester's life did not change. Although she was internally struggling, she never let her feelings be known to the townspeople. The letter was meant to defeat Hester as a woman, when in reality, it strenthened her essence as a woman.
The scarlet letter was given to Hester so that she could suffer for her wrongs. It branded her as a sinner for the entire society, with the hopes that she, and everyone else, will never forget her shame.
We see from the very beginning though, that Hester doesn’t seem very ashamed of her actions. She lives outside of the society’s rules, so their disapproval doesn’t seem to mean very much to her.
Around this time in the novel, the narrator has just informed the readers that society is now seeing Hester in a positive light. “A” now means “Able” because of all the good she does for them: clothing the poor, helping the sick, etc. The letter stops reminding the townspeople about her sin so it can’t keep doing its job. Hester can’t suffer greatly if the people are okay with interacting with her, despite what she did in the past.
Julie, you said that Hester’s life didn’t change because of the “A,” but the narrator implies that she would have joined Ann Hutchinson, who led a religious rebellion (Chapter 13, page 151 in my book) if she didn’t have Pearl to take care of. That would mean Hester’s life is changed because of Pearl, the reason she must where the scarlet letter in the first place.
Maybe she’s changed more from being a mother than the wearer of the letter, but they go hand-in-hand for Hester. She would not have to wear the letter if she never had Pearl because no one would have known about the act of adultery.
Her life has been changed, for the better I’m sure Hester would argue, but nevertheless, it has changed. Her character, on the other hand, has not undergone a significant change since she placed the letter on her breast. She is, and always was, a strong-willed, kind-hearted woman who wants to help others. Maybe the letter was intended to change her character, to make her repent for her actions. Obviously, that failed. Hester is as strong at the end of the novel as she was at the beginning.
Julie, you made a good point when you said that the letter strengthened her essense as a woman. The idea of the letter actualy being a paradox I find is one of the most interesting themes in the book. When you said that it doesn't change her, I understand that you mean that she stayed who she was in her beliefs in reguards to her sin. She still earned her living through her craft and helped the needy; she would have done that with or without the letter. The people who shun her are the very people who enjoy her services; through that, she see's the hypocracy in her peers, strengthening the belief that she is a strong woman.
Cicely
You mentioned that the letter shielded her and set her apart. I understand her being set apart from everybody else but what do you mean by sheilded her?
Julie
You talk about Hester's life not being changed by the letter, I agree with you because she didn't let that keep her from going on and living her life. She didn't resort to hiding and never going out in public again because of the letter, if anything the letter made her a stronger woman.
Cicely
You mention Hester being sheilded and set apart by the letter. I understand the set apart but how exactly was she shielded by the letter?
Julie
I would have to agree with you on your point about Hester's life not changing because of the letter. She didn't allow herself to go into hiding because she was ashamed of wearing the letter, she continued to live her life and do what she needed to do. If you want to get technical parts of her life made have taken minor changes but for the most part she was still the same Hester she was before she committed her sin, she didn't let their "branding" change who she was. If anything I think the letter made her a stronger woman.
Britabeth,
You are correct in that the letter "A" now stans for able and that since the townspeople have grown to accept Hester, the meaning of the letter no longer applies.
I do not agree that Hester hasn't suffered greatly because of all this. She suffered the inability to be with the man she loved and not be part of society. She also watched as her child was shunned by the other children. That alone would hurt any mother. Thankfully Pearl turned out good.
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