I picked up The Scarlet Letter because I joined the Reading to Know book club this year. Honestly, I was not thrilled with this month’s book. I read The Scarlet Letter years ago. In fact, it may have been the very first classic novel I read. I have a few vague memories from that first reading; overall, I was proud of my accomplishment in reading a classic, but I had not particularly enjoyed the read.
While I wasn’t thrilled with the choice in book, I was still interested in finding out what my impressions of this book are now. I am glad I gave this book another try.
I enjoyed the story this time around. The characters came to life more, perhaps because I am more accustomed to the older English this time around than I was the first time. My heart went out to Hester, a woman suffering greatly for her sin. It made me wonder what it would be like to suffer forever for one sin; Hester was never offered forgiveness. Living life through Hester’s shoes through the course of this book made me grateful for the forgiveness found in Christ.
Roger Chillingworth was a difficult character to relate to because of his committed search for Hester’s partner in crime. I understand he was betrayed by Hester, but again, the one person who should have been ready to help Hester and offer her forgiveness shunned her completely.
Finally, Reverend Dimmesdale procured both my empathy and my judgment. I felt bad for the guilt and inner punishment he suffered for all the years that Hester bore her public punishment. At the same time, I wanted him to stand up for what was right and accept the public scorn just as Hester did. When he let Hester suffer alone, I condemned him for his cowardly behavior.
With that said, the characters in this book were well developed. I enjoyed being able to see life through the eyes of so many different characters.
You are right! Dimmesdale was a coward. I did think he suffered greatly for his cowardliness though.
I couldn’t stand Chilingworth. He had a bitter heart, that one!
I didn’t much sympathize with Hester either though, finding her a little prideful and haughty in her own right.
This is definitely not my favorite classic/book but I AM glad to have read it also. I think re-reading it again as an adult was important. While I thought I understood the book as a teen, I most definitely did not. There was a lot more to draw out of it this time around than before, that’s for sure!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and for playing along…even if you didn’t really care for the choice!
You are the second blogger I like who has read this book recently. It makes me want to move it up on my TBR list.
You might enjoy reading Ruth by Elizabeth Gaskell. I loved Ruth so much more than Scarlet Letter because in Ruth the gospel is SHOWN so well.
I appreciate your point that her husband should have been the one ready to stand beside her and offer forgiveness. I hadn’t thought of that, but it’s very true.
Sorry you didn’t like the choice–it was on my list to read with my teens.
It’s not terribly enjoyable to read, I agree, but yet it certainly provoked lots of worthwhile discussion and writing with my kids. (And I’ve *really* enjoyed reading everyone’s discussions too.)