post 8: Chapters 16-19

9/5/2015

Explain the kind of love Hester and Dimmesdale have for each other. What prevents them from acting upon this love? Discuss themes, symbols, and rhetorical devices in these chapters.

Jasmine M.

9/14/2015 10:49:54 pm

The love that Hester and Dimmesdale have for each other is filled with a sin that is driven with love for one another. Although the act that they both committed was considered disbelieving and punishable, it was something that was done because they both care for each other deeply. What prevents them from acting on it though is the fact that Dimmesdale is a person who is viewed highly among society in the church and if they were to act on it, all of the people's faith in him will be ruined. Dimmesdale has a role that he believes he has to fulfill which is to lead the people. Therefore, their love is suppressed. The theme that is introduced in the chapter is the fact that based on the decisions that you make, that's what makes you the person you are. This is shown when Dimmesdale realizes that it is too late to save himself from death and the reason is because he has waited too long to forgive himself and to act upon his guilt. The pain in his heart (which symbolizes the secret and guilt he feels) will be the end of him although he can still release it if he wanted to, to the public.

Tariq T

9/17/2015 05:27:48 pm

I agree, Dimmesdale does have a sin filled deep love for Hester.

Valentina B

9/15/2015 07:55:44 pm

The kind of love Hester and Dimmesdale have for each other has sin involved but also shows the care they have for one another.What prevents them from acting upon this love is the fact that Hester is filled with shame by the townspeople and Dimmesdale has a great reputation amoungs the people.The themes, symbols, and rhetorical devices in these chapters are that the choices you make cant be ignored because Dimmesdale noticed that his guilt is something that will eventually come out .

Krystal C.

9/17/2015 09:24:21 pm

I completely agree. They had a special kind of love. What prevents them from being together is that Hester is just filled with shame by the people. The theme is you eventually pay for your choices and they will catch up with you.

Alayjah R.

9/18/2015 08:00:18 pm

I agree the kind of love hester and Dimesdale share is a special love that survives no matter what circumstances.

Triston Y.

9/15/2015 11:13:40 pm

Hester and Dimmesdale have a sinful love they're both wrong for being attracted and caring for each other. Their emotions for each other is strong but cannot be brought to society because Hester is viewed as a sinner and Dimmesdale is high ranked in the church Theme is pathos

Jasmine M.

9/17/2015 10:29:37 pm

I agree with your statement. Furthermore, if Hester and Dimmesdale allow their emotions to become public, the whole town will assume that Dimmesdale is the father of Pearl which is bad because he is ranked and looked at so highly among the church and the public.

Triston Y.

9/18/2015 09:01:50 pm

Your comment is corrected but your also missing the fact that even though his repetition may be in danger. Hester and her daughter may become more embarrassed and may be even more harassed because she slept with a high ranked church and may even get hurt. Also they may consider Hesters daughter as more of a evil child

Tariq T

9/15/2015 11:47:32 pm

Hester and dimmesdale have a forbidden love that could be compared to romeo and Juliet. From the view times they've met Hester and Dimmesdale have a deep and passionate love shrouded in sin and secrecy. Dimmesdale cares deeply for Hester and Pearl and he feels deeply sorrow he cant show his love child and lover. If they act upon there love they could be persecuted by the community. Dimmesdale would loose his job respect and standing in the community if he exposed his true feeling and true relations with Hester and Pearl. Considering how many years of suffering that has passed many may feel outraged that Dimmesdale let Hester suffer while he remained his standing.
Theme: life choices affect your personality
Symbols: Pearl , pain in Dimmesdale heart

Franklin A

9/17/2015 05:00:53 pm

Their love that they have for each other is not the right type of love. It’s all just fill with sin and can be seen as an immoral act. You can tell that they both love each other so very much, but it is just not the right type of love. It isn’t really shown in public because of other people’s opinion on Hester and her “wrongdoings”. Dimmesdale is supposed to be considered a very religious person because of how venerated he is in the church. This is what prevents them from acting upon this sinful love that they have together. Themes for these chapters would be sin, and not true love.

Deandre T.

9/17/2015 08:10:54 pm

Hester and Dimmesdale have a sinful love for each other, one that should not be. They do not act upon this love because it is "wrong" in the eyes of God, which is also against their fundamental beliefs. This chapter brings back the theme of sin and religion. It also poses a question - stick to your faith, or stick to your heart?

Bryan L.

9/17/2015 11:47:02 pm

Hester and Dimmesdale have love for each other but they can't show it because Dimmesdale has his beliefs and thats going against it.

Cesar V

9/18/2015 12:23:15 am

I think you pose a very interesting question. It has been a point of disagreement and conflict for a long time in literature, entertainment, and in our real worl.

Keiana .W

9/18/2015 07:50:12 pm

I agree with what you said about Hester and Dimmesdale's love which is sin. But as for your interesting question at that time I believe you had to stick to your faith rather than your heart.

Kelvin A.

9/18/2015 10:40:01 pm

Yes, you're completely right on why they cannot show their love and that question you pose is VERY interesting & well put.

Cesar V

9/18/2015 12:21:30 am

The Love between Hester and Dimmesdale is one filled with negative views and situations. Their love is a love that is forbidden. It goes against many beliefs of the time. Which leads into the tragic reason of why they cannot act upon it. They cannot act upon it because it would tarnish Dimmesdales public image. Its not a reason that would stick with everyone but it is very realistic. Often times we avoid doing what we truly want in order to not remove ourselves from the comfort of our current reality.

Caitlyn D.

9/18/2015 11:58:55 pm

Though the statements made about other people's views of their love were true, you failed to mention how they felt about their love and the dynamics of it.

Keiana. W

9/18/2015 07:47:40 pm

Hester and Dimmesdale love was vey sinful. They didn't go through with their love, since it was against what they believe at that time. The theme of these chapters is the choice you make, sin, religion.

Alayjah R.

9/18/2015 07:56:23 pm

The love Hester and Dimmesdale have for each other is a deep and passionate type of love. They both know the crime they were about to committed was punishable they didn't it because they're love for each other out weighed the consqunces.They can't act on this love because Dimmesdale is a very well known and respected man in society and if what happen between them would be found out Dimesdale would lose his place in the church and his repetution in the town would be runied so they keep what happen between them a serecet. The theme is that love survives all and symbols are the pain the Dimmesdale feels.

Joshua W

9/18/2015 09:51:10 pm

The kind of love Hester and Dimmesdale have for each other can be explained as iniquitous in some eyes. Due to their actions it's quite obvious that they are deeply in love with one and other . What prevents them from fully expressing their love is Dimmesdale's role in the church . If they chose act on their love the faith of the church would be comprised. The themes of the chapter is basically the choices you make will stay with you , Dimmesdale lives with guilt and his decisions are getting the best of him.

Kelvin A.

9/18/2015 10:38:20 pm

Although Its sin filled the love that Dimmesdale & Hester have is deep. For a minister to commit a sin and risk his reputation for Hester shows you how much they truly care for each other. But as foretold he is a minister who is HIGHLY respected in the Puritan community if they see that he was the one who sinned along side Hester he'd be looked down upon and most likely not respected for his actions his authority would be stripped and he'd basically be in Hester's predicament.The theme shows how your life decision can effect your future.

Caitlyn D.

9/18/2015 11:38:56 pm

Dimmesdale and Hester share a scandalous and dangerous love that continuously grows and causes them to care deeply for each other. Though their feelings are clear they cannot act on them because of Dimmesdale's position in society and in the church. If they were to act upon their feelings he would lose the respect from the church as well as his job. The punishment they would endure cannot be forgotten. Hester already experienced the punishment when the father was unknown but if it was discovered that the sin was committed with a role model in the Puritan church, the price would be much greater on both parts. The themes presented are love and restraint

Robert C.

9/18/2015 11:55:47 pm

I don't quite agree that Dimmesdale is concerned about his position in the church because he is willing to move to Europe with Hester. It is Hester that contemplates about the move and what it may mean for both her, Dimmesdale, and Pearl. .

Robert C

9/18/2015 11:51:17 pm

Hester and Dimmedale finally connect in a forest by the brook. They realize their love for one another even throughout the difficulties they both faced by their transgressions. Hester begins to open up by ripping off the scarlet letter and then smiling. She also lets her hair down. Dimmesdale and Hester want to move to Europe to finally be free from the shame that has haunted them both. Pearl sees this as an abandonment.

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post 8: Chapters 16-19

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