post 1: Custom House

9/5/2015

“The Custom House” What is romanticism? What is the purpose of this chapter? How does Hawthorne’s family history contribute to his attitude toward The Custom House and his place in society? How would you describe Hawthorne’s attitude toward his former job and fellow workers? Why do you think so? (This is asking for TONE and evidence supporting your inference.) In this essay, Hawthorne addresses the reader directly. What effect does he create with this manner? What effect does the detailed description of the scarlet letter have on you?

Katelynn_S

9/9/2015 05:18:17 pm

Well romanticism is the moment of literature which emphasize and mostly focus on the individual versus the subject as a whole.The purpose of this chapter is to get background information on the story (the diary that he found) to give a starting place for readers. His family background is a vital role to him because it of partial reason to how and why he lives as he does. He feels connected and tied to the land of his forefathers giving him purpose and reason yet he feels like he's not living up to their legacy. I believe you look upon his formal job and his fellow workers with a fondness . I feel as if was recalling these memories in a state of nostalgia for what I have read anything good that he had while working there. Why I believe that writing that essay addressing the reader directly was affected because he made personal he made it felt like he was talking to you on a one on one basis. Sharing have life and making it so much more relatable than not having the intro. The set up was so we can just dive in to someone else's life the proper way. With the combination of everything I had said before this, reading the "Custom House" effective my reading of the Scarlet letter by enhance the whole experience.

Caitlyn D.

9/19/2015 12:28:58 am

I agree with your comments about the importance of the introduction. The background on his family and coworkers gave the readers the motive for him writing the book.

Franklin

9/10/2015 05:35:56 pm

Romanticism can be explained as the movement in the arts and literature. It all begin in the 18th century. The purpose of the chapter was basically to describe Hawthorne’s life. He was administrator of the Salem Custom House. The Custom House was written based of the Scarlet Letter, although as reading it I can tell the style of the writing was different. Hawthorne’s family history contributed to his attitude toward The Custom House and place in society because his family history made him who was then. It was important because it almost like it shaped out what his social life would be like in the future. His attitude toward his former job and fellow workers was fine but I feel like his coworkers didn’t really get him because they had never any of his writings so they wouldn’t know what a genius he is. I think this because he never held anything against them, but on the other hand his coworkers might see him as a understatement because of not knowing what an intelligent man he is. It creates a manner of more meaning on the reader and emphasizes the reader more. He showed a bit of emotion so it was more personal to the reader and appealed it to them. The detailed description of the scarlet letter custom house had an effect on me that when I actually starting reading it, more things made more sense about how the novel was going to be about.

Kelvin A.

9/17/2015 08:18:56 pm

I agree with your comments.

Jasmine M.

9/17/2015 08:42:22 pm

I agree with what you are saying towards the misunderstanding between Hawthorne and his coworkers. Since neither, really converse with each other they both underestimate one another. I also agree that The Custom House allows people to make more sense of the novel and furthermore it creates more of a flow of how things occur.

Alayjah Redmon

9/10/2015 08:42:19 pm

Romantiscm is movement in arts and literature that allows one to express them selves it was a period of time in the 18 century where artist and writers but new emphasis on emotions being expressed. The purpose of the chapter was to give information about the author which is important because it shows his views and his opions which is a foresight on how the book would be written. Hawthorne family background is imporant because it shows he feels that his anscetors were wrong for there religious judgement but also feels as if his not worthy enough to be apart such a noble family. Hawthorne additude to his former job as a release feeling while their he felt alienated because he was so much younger than all his fellow workers and also feeling restrained by his job , and having a feeling of lonilness and not an understanding while working at the Customs House. Hawthorne address the reader directly and creates a sense belonging he makes the reader connect with him and tells his opions and feelings about his life and his anscetors making the reader relate with his story and life. The effect the scarlet letter have on me is sadness it makes me unhappy to read about the struggles Hester went through , but the custom house chapter makes me feel connected with the nartor and makes the book more interesting to read.

Cesar V

9/10/2015 10:04:42 pm

Romanticism is when artist would emphasize on motive. That is displayed here by using this chapter to place a reasoning behind Hawthrones attitude toward the house and his place in society. I believe he views his workers as useless due to the fact that most of them are there due to family ties. Hawthorne addresses the reader directly to leave a sence of personality between the reader and the writer. The detailed description of the skarlet letter portrays a sense of importance.

Jasmine M.

9/15/2015 12:17:36 am

Romanticism was a movement in the arts and literature in the 18th century that emphasized inspiration, subjectivity, and the primacy of the individual. In the Scarlet Letter, the purpose of this chapter is to provide background information to the reader about the story that is to be told by the narrator in the Custom House. The Scarlet Letter is a story within a story and Hawthorne's family history contributes to the Custom House because he views it as a place in which he is bound to be in although he doesn't feel as though he is living up to the family's traditional expectations. Hawthorne feels an outcast to his fellow workers since he is so much more younger than them. When Hawthorne addresses the reader directly it brings more meaning to the reader and pulls the reader closer to the story, so that you are no longer reading the story but are in the story. The effect that the detailed description of the scarlet letter is a sense of wonder. It allows me to utilize the description given and be able to grasp the importance of the letter in the story.

Valentina B

9/15/2015 07:17:55 pm

Romanticism was a movement in literature.The purpose of this chapter is to set a setting or background for the Scarlet Letter.Hawthorne’s family history contribute to his attitude toward The Custom House and his place in society by feeling similar how Hester felt because he also feels like an outcast and feels like its his fait to be there. Hawthorne’s attitude toward his former job and fellow workers is that they are not suted and dont have the skills for the job and corrupt due to the fact that most are in that place because of family connections.

Joshua W

9/15/2015 08:19:35 pm

Romanticism can be presented as the movement in the arts and literature in the 18th century . The Custom House serves as clearfication on the letter and the talk of Hawthorne's family futher explains both how and why he chooses to live his life . Hawthorne’s attitude toward his former job and fellow workers was a act of discomfort , he felt that he was an out cast. The fact that all his co-workers were older gave him a feeling of unease and allowed him to feel misunderstood. By Hawthorne adressing the reader he appeals to emotions and helps the reader become gather a better understanding of the scarlett letter .

Deandre T.

9/17/2015 08:29:37 pm

I completely agree Joshua, I said the same thing. The Custom-House sheds light on the background of the Scarlet Letter.

Robert C

9/19/2015 12:43:42 am

I agree with you because its shows the importance of the introduction.It makes you relate his background and his family

Deandre T.

9/16/2015 09:43:52 pm

Romanticism are any ideals or beliefs that are based upon a romantic viewpoint, rather than realistic. The "Custom-House" is simply purposed to introduce the background for the writing of "The Scarlet Letter." Hawthorne's family history helps to show that despite his link to Protestants, he feels ashamed of their barbarous actions. Hawthorne's own feeling of an exclusion from society shows a clear link in his own life to the "fictional" Hester Prynne, who embodies Hawthorne. Hawthorne had a simple, but distant relationship with his coworkers. I feel this was because they simply could not relate with him. Addressing the reader effectively helped for the writer and reader to have a direct connection. The detailed description of the scarlet letter intrigued me. It was very interesting that this seemingly fictional story was manifested from real life events and an actual letter "A." This was a wonderful preamble to a compelling tale of human emotions and ethics

Deandre T.

9/17/2015 08:27:35 pm

Sorry I meant Puritans, not protestants.*

Trizia H.

9/17/2015 08:11:40 pm

Romanticism is an artistic, literacy, and intellectual movement. The custom house was merely and introduction to The Scarlet letter to let the audience know how it came to a "fictional"life. Evendently we know that "Hester Prynne" is a clear connection to the author's real life. As well as his very effortless, yet far off friendship with the people he worked his. However, I personally was not curious about the book how do you create something that you know is not real, nevertheless use it to describe your own life that doesn't seem very "fictional" to me.

Krystal C.

9/17/2015 09:38:39 pm

I completely agree with you. Romanticism is exactly what you said. The purpose of this chapter was just basically a introduction and to just let the readers know how it came to fictional life. I agree with you completely on not finding the book curious.

Kelvin A.

9/17/2015 08:18:11 pm

Romanticism was an artistic, literary, and intellectual movement that originated in Europe toward the end of the 18th century and in most areas was at its peak during the 1800's it emphasizes intense emotions. The Custom House chapter is an introduction explaining how the narrator who's an administrator at the Salem Custom House which is a ran down building where he finds documents with a piece a piece of cloth with an embroidered gold A he reads the documents then he decides to finish the story. Hawthorne didn't really care for his former colleagues. They were old and repetitive basically broken records every time he goes to work. They didn't really get him due to the age difference they didn't understand him. Hawthorne's tone is direct making it seem as If he's actually talking to you making it a direct connection to the reader. The description of the A started becoming more imaginable and I could start to think how it would come into play with the story.

Bryan L.

9/18/2015 12:37:23 am

I agree, Romaticism is an artistic and literary movement. The Custom House is basically an introduction to the the readers to show how the story came to be. Hawthorne see as if his job wasn't for him and that he was isolated from everyone. I also agree that he portray as if he himself was speaking to the reader. The description of the scarlet letter helps me see what role it would take and how it would effect the characters.

Keiana. W

9/18/2015 08:59:24 pm

I agree with you on the romanticism it is very true and the custom house is the background of the narrator and how he came about the scarlet letter. But in my opinion I feel like Hawthorne felt like an outcast around his former colleagues. But all in all I agree with you

Caitlyn D.

9/18/2015 02:31:21 am

Romanticism was a movement in the arts and literature in the 18th century that emphasized inspiration, subjectivity, and the primacy of an individual. The Scarlet Letter is one of the many examples of the love stories written in this era. The book begins with an introduction called "The Custom House" in order to provide background to the story. It explains Hawthorne's journey to writing this book and answers questions that readers may have about his ability as well as his motive for writing the book. Hawthorne includes his family history which emphasizes the significance and legacy behind his job there at the Custom House. It also explains his inevitable attachment to Salem. Though he loved his job at the Custom House he felt as though he was being held back or creatively restrained by his co-workers which prevented him from being able to effectively write his book.
When Hawthorne addresses the reader in institutes a sense of involvement. As a reader I became more attentive and intrigued to learn more about this girl who acted in some form of a rebel. Specifically the description of the letter allowed me to draw connections between this piece and a film viewed prior to reading. The connection helped me to gain further interest and I became eager to read the next chapter.

Keiana .W

9/18/2015 08:54:26 pm

Romanticism was an artistic, literary, and intellectual movement that originated in the 18th century. the purpose of this is to get layout or the background of the story. Hawthorne's family history contribute to his attitude toward the custom house and his place society because he fells like he has not followed in their footstep. He felt like an outcast with his fellow workers because Hester is really Hawthorne in real life and how Hester was the outcast is really felt. He create a connection with that manner. The detailed description of the 'A' has on me is that It makes curious of story. it makes want to read the story more

Robert C

9/19/2015 12:39:58 am

Romanticism can be presented as the movement in the arts and literature in the 18th century . The Custom House purpose on the letter and the talk of Hawthorne's family futher explains both how and why he chooses to live his life . Hawthorne’s attitude toward his former job and fellow workers was a act of discomfort , he felt that he was an lonely outcast. Hawthornes co-workers gave him a feeling of unease and allowed him to feel misunderstood. By Hawthorne adressing the reader he appeals to emotions and helps the reader gather a better understanding

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