Upon reading the second section of Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, Hester Prynne's disconnection from society is more deeply emphasized and explained by her refuge to a quiet small cottage near the water and outside of Salem's bustle. However, Hester still makes the occasional journey to town and has not been totally forgotten by society. In fact, though strongly detested for her crime, nobleman and respected officials will wear Hester's stitching on their uniforms. This I found to be quite ironic. Hester is labeled by society with the prominent etched "A" over her chest, and so too does Hester label many people is society, not in disrespect or to shame, but rather in the finest stitching. I found irony also in the fact that because of being an adulterer, Hester cannot embroider a women's veil for certainly an unfaithful woman cannot leave her work on a future bride indebted forever to their husband. "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, 62). Overall, I am somewhat relieved to see Hester can still make a living and do work for others in society who do not denounce her occupation, but of course, Hester cannot fully live down the crime and there is restrictions to the extent of her work and who wears it.
Exotic Setting Reading The Great Gatsby
Here, I am standing on the dock, looking outward for the green light to which Fitzgerald mentions in The Great Gatsby.
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