One of the most dominant topics in the book, to me, is the theme of nature, and how nature is dominant over everything, including society. One of the many ways that this theme is represented is the presence of the "sunshine" throughout the novel. A way that this is held true is how the sun never shines on Hester, and Lavender made me realize that this is a way of showing that Nature has a certain way of condeming Hesters punishment.
There are MANY instances that sunshine is used in, and some are:
on page 92, when Hester tells Pearl: "No my little Pearl!" "Though Must gather thine own sunshine. I have none to give Thee!" This to me, represents the innocence of Pearl. The sunshine will avoid Hester, because she has sinned, but Pearl can reach the sunshine, becasue she is not a sinner, and she sees society as it really is, a joke.
Another important representation of sunshine is page 160 where Pearl says: "Mother, the sunshine doesn't love you, It runs away and hgides itself! its afraid of something on your bosom." But let me cahtch it she says "for i am young and have nothing on my bosom yet."
this kind of follows the themse of innocence,
Ong scene on page 178 symoblizes the realtiuonship between Pearl and nature, and innocence...
HELP ME FIND MORE EXAMPLES PLEASE??!!???!!?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Xanthe,
ReplyDeleteThis is a good start. You've got a clear thesis (that Hawthorne wants us to see Nature as superior to Society) and a good way to develop and defend it (the function of sunshine as a symbol throughout the novel).
You've already tracked down a number of instances of sunshine. Clearly, the most important (perhaps the "happiest") chapter is "A Flood of Sunshine"--so this should be well suited to your essay. Keep in mind the connection between sunshine and femininity (it's in this flood of sunshine, that Hester finally gets to let her hair down and be a woman again). Keep in mind, too, the opposing scaffold scenes (the first and final ones take place in the 'light of day', the middle one--the mock confession--occurs in the gloom of night). Finally, don't overlook the Pearl = triumphant woman = sunshine link (it's always Pearl who is looking for sunshine, and on page 212 she is ultimately described as a "glistening ray" in contrast to the somber crowds gathered for the Election Speech).