Feminist Response

Many believe Chaucer was a chauvinist due to the way he chose to portray Emily and other women in The Knights Tale. However, if one were to look at his writings from a historical perspective, they'd find that his portrayal of women merely mimicked the writings and customs of the time period in which The Knight's Tale takes place. The story takes place in Athens, in which women were expected to be controlled by men all their lives. It was an Athenian custom that women were to serve their father and brothers before they were married and to serve their husbands during their marriage and in the afterlife. If a woman was born to an important family, they were to be betrothed by an early age or else the family would be dishonored. Despite being related to royalty(even loosely related), Emily was not swiftly sold to the highest bidder. In fact, Theseus showed no intention of betrothing Emily until suitors actually came to him. If anything, Chaucer's portrayal of Emily is progressive. He showed that women could actually be free-thinkers despite having to live their lives as servants. Chaucer may have even inserted Emily's proclamations of woe as a way to show why such customs are immoral. The Knight's Tale was written before any Women's Rights movements had surfaced. It is only natural that women take a subservient role in Chaucer's writings, as that was the custom of the time. Women simply did not take on a dominant role in the writing of those times because they were not expected to in real life, and thus never did. One must also note that Palamon, who prayed to Venus, was the one to marry Emily. This is significant because Venus was a goddess with feminine attributes. Arcite, on the other hand, prays to Mars, a god with masculine attributes, and fails to achieve his ultimate goal. Thus, Chaucer showed the strengh of feminine qualities over masculine qualities.

Ideal Society 2

No changes have been made to my society due to the fact that I found nobody in another's society who I felt was worth trading for. That is not to say that everyone else's choices were poor. Rather, it means that my society was perfect for me and their societies were perfect for them. Quite honestly, if there was someone I felt was more deserving of a spot in my society than someone who was already in there, they would have been a part of my society in the first place. My society works out because each member has their own set of beliefs and dreams, which all seem to revolve around the possibility of objective happiness. Each member is also powerful in some way, whether it be from their influential words or their ability to warp reality. This allows the members to eliminate all threats to their happiness. One possible flaw in my society is that there could be a power struggle should a member be denied the happiness that they are owed, or if one member's happiness conflicts with the happiness of another. This is only a possible flaw because each member of the society has their own idea of how their happiness can be achieved, but do not see fit to use others in their plans of achieving such happiness. Rather, they all know and rely on their own strengths to chase after their dreams. Each member can work with others, but it content being by his/herself. This means that no member of the society will seek to influence others, and will only share their opinions on a subject when asked to do so. Jareth, being a master of dreams, can easily make the dreams of each member of the society come true without conflicting with the dreams of other members. There is peace in such a society, making it stable.

Ideal Society

The members of my ideal society are Jareth, George Carlin, Sekhmet, Dr. Frank-N-Furter, and Ramona Flowers. Jareth, from the movie Labyrinth , was chosen to be the leader because he is the Goblin King of the Labyrinth, and has a great deal of experience in ruling having done it for thousands of years. He has the power to make dreams a reality and warp dimensions, and is thus able to create the perfect society for the five members to live in. He is a dreamer who deals in the dreams of others, making him able to constantly improve the society. George Carlin was chosen because he is a phenomenal comedian and social critic. He inspired many people to become comedians, including Chris Rock, Lewis Black, and Sam Kinison, which shows his ability to spread and appreciation of comedy to others. He never takes anything at face value, which ensures that he will be quick to point out any flaws in the society so that they may be fixed. Sekhmet was chosen because she is the Egyptian Goddess of warfare, the hunt, the wilds, protection, sexuality, the desert sun, magicians, physicians, etc. She is known as the Protector of Pharaohs and can both cause and relieve the greatest of agonies, making her the perfect warrior and healer. She is also motherly towards those she protects and strives to ensure their happiness. Frank-N-Furter from The Rocky Horror Picture Show was chosen because of his extensive knowledge in the field of science. He is able to create human life within just seven days, and has a great deal of knowledge of multiple galaxies. He also has access to the technology of multiple planets, which will aid the advancement of the society. Ramona Flowers the Scott Pilgrim book series was chosen because of her ability to travel through subspace, making her able to move from one place to another quickly and even enter the dreams of others. She is also able to store items and subspace, and thus protect items from theft. This makes her the ideal banker and laborer for the society. My society values dreams, advancement, and good times. Each member of my society contributes to making the society a paradise, whether it be by protecting the society from outside harm or improving it from within.

Essential Question # 5

The Code of Courtly Love

1) Two people must first be acquaintances, then friends, before finally attempting a romantic relationship. It is improper to force yourself on another person, and no one should enter a relationship expecting it to be romantic. If it is to be, the romantic relationship will come naturally.

2) The initiator of the relationship should be the male. However, the female is allowed to attempt to initiate the relationship should she feel it necessary(No rushing things, though).

3) The two people must tell their friends and family of their significant other within a week of recognizing their romantic relationship. This revelation must take place in person.

4) The two people must introduce their friends and family to their significant other within a month of recognizing their romantic relationship.

5) When the two people feel mutually ready, they should plan a date in an area that interests them both. This allows them both to behave comfortably and naturally. The initiator of said date does not matter.

6) While on a date that requires money, the person who initiated the date should be expected to pay. However, the male should be expected to at least offer to pay for the date regardless of whether or not he offered. The couple splitting the cost is also acceptable.(In the case of a homosexual or lesbian couple, the buyer can be decided amongst themselves).

7) Once a couple feels comfortable enough with each other, one of them can plan a date with the other in a surprise location that they feel their significant other would enjoy. The initiator of these dates must pay close attention to the reaction of their significant other once they arrive at their destination in order to be sure that their date is enjoying themselves, and be prepared to leave should their significant other become uncomfortable. The initiator of these dates does not matter.

8) Either of the two people in a romantic relationship are allowed to initiate the first kiss. Should the other not be ready, the initiator is required to stop immediately out of respect. The one who refused should explain their reasons for not feeling ready and forgive the other for trying to kiss them. Try to make such an awkward situation as comfortable as possible, for it could save the relationship.

9) Both individuals in a romantic relationship should readily compliment the other on their appealing qualities, and avoid using malicious insults.

10) Once the two people are comfortable with each other, they should plan a formal date in which friends or family is present. The initiator of this date should be whoever has such an opportunity available.

Essential Question # 4

Simplify and analyze Hrothgar's parting words to Beowulf from line 1708-1767.

In his parting words to Beowulf, Hrothgar warns Beowulf to learn the nature of nobility and give thanks to God. Hrothgar tells Beowulf that noble man will go through life without being harmed until he falls victim to the devil's temptations. Once a man gives in to sin, they are filled with a feeling of greed and wanting; "What had long contented him now seems insufficient; he becomes embittered, begins to hoard his treasures, never parts with gold rings in ceremonial splendor; he soon forgets his destiny and disregards the honors given him of God, the Ruler of Glory"(1732-1737). It is fitting that Hrothgar is the one to give Beowulf this advice, as it was he himself who had originally taken up a life of greed and fallen into the "Devil's" clutches. This is a lesson that Beowulf has, or should have, already learned by now after his encounter with Grendel's mother. Hrothgar's speech may merely serve as a way that the author can convey the reason why Beowulf had difficulty in defeating Grendel's mother to the reader. Hrothgar's speech also serves as an explanation that those who turn away from God are filled with greed out of a need for compensation, as a life without God is empty. Hrothgar then tells Beowulf to always swallow pride, as the glories he will achieve in life will not be as worthwhile as his reward in heaven. Hrothgar reminds Beowulf that all men eventually die, and advises him to focus less on his own glory and more giving glory to God.

Essential Question # 3

How is Wealhtheow portrayed? What does she do? What can we expect from Anglo Saxon women?

Wealhtheow is portrayed as a hostess to the men in Heorot during feasts. She offers a cup Hrothgar, her husband, begging him to enjoy the feast, and then procedes to offer the cup to every man in Heorot. It acts as if it is her responsibility to make the feast enjoyable, and would feel shamed if any man found her to be less than satisfactory. She is described as mindful of ceremonial, which shows that she is entirely submissive to the customs of her kingdom. This would not be an odd trait, if not for the fact that as queen, Heorot is literally her kingdom. She should be the one making the customs, not acting them out. Despite being a queen, Wealhtheow behaves like a servant. Rather than living up to her title as queen, which means a woman sovereign, she lives up to her name, which means foreign slave. While she is serving the men of Heorot, she is described as "excellent in mind", showing that the standards of her time were not only that women had to serve men, but also that they had to enjoy doing so. Some might interpret her behavior as merely polite and considerate. However, she is clearly nothing more than a servant. Even though she is the one bearing the cup, not once does it touch her lips. She gives every man what their share, and chooses not to take what is left over(if there was anything). She looks like a queen and dresses like a queen, but she does not act like a queen. If this is the role of a queen in an Anglo Saxon society, one can only imagine the servitude that is expected of regular women, who were not even permitted to enter Heorot. The role we can expect an Anglo Saxon woman to play is that of a servent of no more worth to a dog. Actually, that's not technically true. After all, even dogs receive the scraps of the master's table.

Essential Question # 2

"What are the social obligations of a hero?"

At a glance, it may seem like heroes are held to a certain set of obligations. Even the heroes themselves feel trapped by their heroic duties at times. However, while all heroes may feel obligated to behave a certain way, they are not truly held to any standard. A true hero has no obligations, but rather inclinations. A hero is born when someone performs a heroic act because they as a human being want to, not when they are forced to. Intent is the foundation of the morality of an action, after all. While heroes do not truly have any obligations, they all seem to follow a pattern of social behavior. This is due to the fact that those who take on the role of a hero all have a heroic mindset. Those who choose to follow their heroic mindset follow the "true hero" formula. A true hero feels the need to protect those around them even at the risk of their own life. A true hero does not kill without need to. A true hero is unselfish and kind to those in need. A true hero is an icon to the people they protect, is justly proud for their work, but holds no narcissism. A true hero not only protects people, but inspires people to protect those around them. A true hero serves as a protector, an inspiration, and above all else, a friend to those around them.

Ess? Part B

Is Shakespeare progressive or misogynistic in his portrayal of Lady Macbeth?


Lady Macbeth is often considered the to be the most disturbing female character that Shakespeare ever created. It is for this fact that many believe Shakespeare's portrayal of Lady Macbeth to be misogynistic, or contain a hatred of women. However, if one were to examine the character of Lady Macbeth more carefully, they would find that her gender had little to nothing to do with her reprehensible personality. Lady Macbeth's largest crime was bringing about the assassination of King Duncan, which she had been planning even before the start of the play. While this is indeed a wicked and sinful act, it did not come easy to her by any means. Even in the early stages of her plan, Lady Macbeth felt conflicted. She knew that she did not have it in her to commit regicide, and thus goads her husband into doing the deed for her. She blames her sentimentality on the fact that she is a woman, and believes that if she were a man she would be able to kill King Duncan herself. Lady Macbeth was not acting in any way natural to women, but rather in a way that she believed to be natural for a man. This shows that Lady Macbeth's character is not misogynistic, but is rather progressive. Mind you, her decisions may have been founded on evil and selfishness, but she is progressive none the less. She demonstrated her intelligence through her careful planning and ability to manipulate her husband. This is unlike the portrayal of most women during that time, who were all thought to be unintelligent and inferior to a man. Lady Macbeth was trying to be like a man through her actions. It is understandable that Lady Macbeth would want to elevate her position, as women were treated as second-class citizens during her time. The fact that she chose to elevate her position through means of actions that she attributed to man shows that not only did she want to be treated like a man, but she wanted to feel like a man. Lady Macbeth knew ho much better life was for men during her time, and thus wanted to experience ever aspect of it. Unfortunately, she was ignorant to the fact that murder does not come easy to a man, either, as demonstrated by Macbeth's reluctance to kill King Duncan. Those her claim that the character of Lady Macbeth was a misogynistic allegory ignore the fact that Lady Macbeth felt deep remorse for her actions later in the play, even going so far as to kill herself rather than live with her guilt. Is she had been a true misogynistic portrayal of women, she would have been delighted with the chaos she caused, like most man villains that Shakespeare created. Her character should not be thought of as a critique of women, but rather as a critique of people who strive for something that they know nothing about.

Sin Essay

Nathaniel Burns-Sarno
Advanced Placement English/Mr. George
April 6, 2010
Final Essay on Sin: Topic 2

The Rewards of a Just God

“Better for him that each sin of his life had brought its sure, swift penalty along with it. There was purification in punishment. Not ‘forgive us our sins’ but ‘Smite us for our iniquities’ should be the prayer of a man to a most just God”(Wilde 226). This is the belief of Dorian Gray, the main character of The Picture of Dorian Gray, by Oscar Wilde. Such a belief seems logical, as punishment brings about more reformation than forgiveness. However, when applied to the entire world, Dorian’s belief loses much of its validity. One who is just believes in the “fair treatment and due reward in accordance with honor, standards, or law”(dictionary.com). Therefore, logic would dictate that a most just God would reward each of our actions. Of course, that does not mean that wickedness should be met with approval. The word “reward” often carries a positive connotation, causing many to believe that it is the opposite of punishment. However, the act of rewarding someone does not always imply gifts in exchange for good behavior. A reward is defined as “Something given or received in recompense for worthy behavior or in retribution for evil acts”(thefreedictionary.com). The Crucible ,by Arthur Miller, and The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, both involve the main characters being rewarded for their actions. In being rewarded, the characters of both texts reform to become better people. In The Picture of Dorian Gray, however, the main character never truly reforms as he is never truly rewarded. Without rewards, we have no way of knowing if our actions are righteous or wicked, and no way of knowing when we need to repent for our misdeeds. That is why the prayer of a man to a most just God should be “Reward us in accordance with our actions, and show us the error of our ways”.
John Proctor, the main character of The Crucible, committed adultery with Abigail Williams, the niece of reverend Parris who leads the girls in Salem in a plot to have Proctor’s wife put to death. Proctor’s reward for this sin comes in the form of vexing feelings of shame and regret. The weight of his sin soon becomes too much for Proctor, causing him to simply act as if the sin had never taken place. By ignoring his feelings of guilt, Proctor ignores the reward fate had given him for his sin, a decision that soon lands him in more danger than before when Abigail goes to the court and accuses Proctor’s wife of witchcraft. In order to save his wife, Proctor is forced to accept the reward that fate had given him and use it to direct his actions.
Proctor confesses his adultery to the court, a decision that later leads to him being accused of witchcraft. He is scheduled to be put to death if he does confess to crimes that he did not commit and condemn innocent people who were accused of witchcraft. Proctor initially agrees to the terms in order to save his own life, but is unable to bring himself to sign a testimony, as he does not want his name to be used for the court’s own gain: Proctor’s name was his most valuable possession, so it makes sense that fate would have him tarnish his own name if he were to bring about the deaths of innocent people. Proctor is unwilling to accept the potential punishment, and is thus unwilling to commit the crime. Proctor chooses to die rather than allow the court to use his name to bring about the deaths of even more innocent people. It is then that Proctor decided that the only one he needed to confess his sin to, is God, who is in charge of his fate: “I confess to God, and God has seen my name on this! It is enough!”(Miller 142). Through his confession, Proctor accepts the penalty of his sin and clears his conscience, which allows him to enter into the afterlife and accept the eternal reward that comes with his martyrdom.
Hester Prynne, the main character of The Scarlet Letter, was one of the most beloved women in Boston until she committed the sin of adultery. She is constantly reminded of her sin, just as Proctor was. However, while Proctor is rewarded by his fate, Hester is rewarded by both her society and fate. Hester’s society rewards her with a scarlet A, that she is forced to wear as a symbol of her adultery, while fate rewards Hester with a daughter, Pearl, who serves the same purpose. Hester’s view of the scarlet letter and Pearl demonstrates that she has a complete understanding of the fairness and purpose of her rewards. Rather than cursing the world for the hand that she has been dealt, Hester graciously accepts her rewards and uses them to learn from her mistake: “this badge hath taught me –it daily teaches me-it is teaching me at this moment”(Hawthorne 101). Hester also demonstrates an understanding of the lesson that the scarlet letter and Pearl teach her, and makes great strides to improve herself. Through her hard work and dedication, Hester was able to completely redeem herself in the eyes of the town and the eyes of God: "Such helpfulness was found in her,-so much power to do, and power to sympathize,-that many people refused to interpret the scarlet A by its original signification. They said that it meant Able"(146).
Hester is the prime example of how effective it is when rewards received from different sources are all completely just. Oftentimes, a person is praised for their qualities by one person, but scolded for the same qualities by another person. This causes the person to become confused as to what it truly acceptable behavior, and prevents the person from truly being rewarded. Such is the case with Dorian Gray.
When Dorian Gray is first mentioned in the novel, little is known about him. Basil Hallward, a painter and close friend of Dorian Gray, initially describes him as a beautiful young man who “has a simple and beautiful nature”(Wilde 16). Such a description intrigues Lord Henry Wotton, one of Basil’s closest companions, and fills him with the urge to meet Dorian. After warning Lord Henry against attempting to influence Dorian, Basil allows Henry to meet Dorian while he paints a portrait of Dorian. Upon meeting Dorian, Lord Henry begins sharing his thoughts and opinions with the young man. Dorian behaves in accordance with Basil’s description of him, innocently and naively hanging on Lord Henry’s every word. When Dorian states that his appearance does not matter to him, Lord Henry warns Dorian that his beauty will fade with age, and thus he must cherish his good looks while he can. This revelation greatly upsets Dorian, who declares his disdain for the portrait Basil painted of him as it will never age: “How sad it is! I shall grow old, and horrible, and dreadful. But this picture will remain always young…If it were only the other way! If it were I who was to be always young, and the picture that was to grow old!...I would give my soul for that!”(28). Little did Dorian know that his velleity was to be granted.
Dorian soon falls madly in love with an actress named Sybil Vane, whom Dorian finds to be sacred. He decides to share the news of his infatuation with Lord Henry, who laughs at Dorian’s devotion to Sybil, but agrees to come with Dorian and Basil to see her perform. Sybil is also in love with Dorian, so much so that she grows bored of the fake love that she acts out and is too enthralled by her real love for Dorian to put any effort into her acting. Unfortunately for Sybil, Dorian was only in love with her for her acting and is disgusted to find that she has lost her talent: “Yes…you have killed my love! You used to stir my imagination. Now you don’t even stir my curiosity. You simply produce no effect…I wish I had never laid eyes upon you!”(91). When Dorian returned home that night, he found that the expression of the picture had become cruel. Dorian attributes this change to the agreement he made to give his soul if the painting would age instead of him, and realizes that “For every sin that he committed, a stain would fleck and wreck its fairness”(96). Dorian vows never to sin again and to escape Lord Henry’s influence, but soon finds that his declaration was made in vain.
Dorian continues to follow Lord Henry’s influence and live a life of sin, causing the painting to grow more and more gruesome. Many of Dorian’s friends become disgusted with his behavior and decide to sever any ties they had to him. Basil, who is worried about Dorian, confronts his friend about his change in conduct. Dorian responds by showing Basil how his portrait had changed from a magnificent beauty to a horrible abomination, mirroring Dorian’s soul. When Basil attempts to convince Dorian that it is not too late to make amends for his actions, Dorian becomes enraged and murders Basil. Dorian then blackmails Alan Campbell, a former friend, into destroying Basil’s corpse.
Dorian soon desires to rid himself of the pain that his sins had caused him. Rather than admitting to his sin publicly or searching for some way to repent for his actions, Dorian decides to “cure the soul by means of the senses and the senses by means of the soul”(189). Dorian accomplishes this by turning to drugs in the hopes of forgetting his sin: “There were opium dens, where one could buy oblivion-dens of horror, where the memory of old sins could be destroyed by the madness of sins that where new”(189). This proved to only be a temporary solution, as Dorian found that feelings of guilt would still rise within him. Finding no escape from his pain, Dorian attempts to reform and become a better person. However, when he decides that his desire to reform is due to his vanity, he loses faith that he will ever repent. In the end, Dorian decides that the only way to achieve peace is to destroy the painting, believing that the act “would kill the past, and when that was dead he would be free”(228-229). By killing the painting, Dorian ended up murdering himself.
Dorian is never truly rewarded for his actions, as he is never reprimanded for his wicked actions, nor are his desires to reform met with encouragement. This is mostly due to Lord Henry, who influenced most of Dorian’s actions. Lord Henry was never brave enough to put his beliefs into action, so he influenced Dorian to live according to his words in order to see the result. Whenever Dorian feels any pangs of remorse, Lord Henry advises him to ignore his feelings and focus on receiving pleasure. Lord Henry also constantly flatters Dorian, which leads to Dorian developing a feeling of superiority.
Another factor that leads to Dorian never being truly rewarded is the deal he made to trade his soul for eternal youth. Without his soul, Dorian is unable to receive positive reinforcement or negative reinforcement, as he simply cannot bring himself to care about the world around him. Since everything is pleasurable for him, nothing truly is pleasurable.
The prayer of a man to a most just God should be “Reward us in accordance with our actions, and show us the error of our ways”. In The Scarlet Letter and The Crucible, characters were given rewards in accordance with their actions which caused them to see the error of their ways and reform. However, in The Picture Dorian Gray, no characters’ actions are met with the proper reaction. People are praised for being selfish, and reprimanded for caring about someone else. This leaves the characters unable to reform and dooms them to continue living in their sin. A fair and just God would never allow the innocent to suffer or the wicked to prosper. Without proper rewards for our actions, we are left unsure of how to behave.

Works Cited

Miller, Arthur. The Crucible. United States: Viking Penguin Inc, 1953

Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Scarlet Letter. New York, New York: Bantam Dell, 2003

Wilde, Oscar. The Picture of Dorian Gray, New York, New York: Barnes & Noble Inc, 2003

<”dictionary” http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/justice “dictionary”> April 3, 2010

<”thefreedictionary” http://www.thefreedictionary.com/reward “dictionary”> April 3, 2010

PODG Character Analysis

Nathaniel Burns-Sarno
Advanced Placement English/Mr. George
March 31, 2010
Character Analysis: Dorian Gray

Dorian Gray is a beautiful man who was innocent until being corrupted by Lord Henry and selling his soul to a painting of himself in exchange for eternal youth.
When Dorian is first introduced, he does not think much about his beauty. That is, until Lord Henry, a silver-tongued hedonist who becomes Dorian’s closest friend, reminds him that he beauty will not last, and he will eventually turn old and decrepit. After reflecting on Lord Henry’s words, Dorian becomes jealous of a painting of himself, as it will retain its beauty even as he ages. Dorian becomes so full of envy that he wishes that the painting would age instead of him: “It it were I who was to be always young, and the picture that was to grow old….I would give my soul for that!”(Wilde 28). Upon Dorian’s words, he stays forever young as the painting becomes a representation of his soul, appearing to be more and more abominable each time that Dorian sins. Dorian develops a fascination with Lord Henry and begins to live his life by Henry’s words. In pursuing his desire to be like Lord Henry, Dorian begins to influence others to ruin, causing all of his friends to distance themselves from him. Eventually, Dorian attempts to break free from his sin by the destroying the painting, only to kill himself in the process.
Dorian is like Pinocchio, and not only because they are both puppets. Dorian abandons the one person who actually cares for him in order to pursue that which he finds amusing, and in the process kills his conscience. He follows the influence of another simply because they are eloquent and ends up a tool for that person’s amusement.
A modern day Dorian Gray would be Joseph Brant, a copycat criminal who lived a lifestyle based off of a movie.

Nathaniel Burns-Sarno
Advanced Placement English/Mr. George
March 31, 2010
Character Analysis: Lord Henry

Lord Henry Wotton is a silver-tongued hedonist who delights in manipulating others through the use of eloquence and paradox.
Lord Henry has a desire for his voice to be heard by everyone, which causes him to share his opinion on every subject with anyone who will listen. Lord Henry’s style of speaking is oftentimes controversial. He speaks in such a manner to ensure that his listeners will reflect on his words and hopefully come to think the way that he does. He enjoys initiating others into his style of life, and thus uses his eloquence to control people. Such is the case with Dorian Gray, whom Henry vows to dominate: “He would seek to dominate him-had already, indeed, half done so. He would make that wonderful spirit his own”(Wilde 40). Lord Henry’s desire to control others stems from the fact that he does not practice what he preaches. Lord Henry has others live by his words rather than living by his words, himself. He enjoys a life of pleasure too much to risk his own happiness, so he risks the happiness of others. Lord Henry claims to be a hedonist, yet does not consider the harm that he causes Dorian. This shows that Lord Henry enjoy being a paradox just as much as he enjoys using them.
Lord Henry is like an automotive engineer who crafts a car for each of his beliefs. He is happy with the aesthetic appearance of each of his cars, but is unwilling to test them for fear that he might be harmed. To remedy the situation, he places the crash-test dummy that is Dorian into each of the cars and allows them to drive head-on into the wall.
A modern day Lord Henry would be Charles Manson, as they both used their influence to recruit other people into their lifestyle so that they could use those people to work for their twisted desires rather than taking direct action.

Witticisms

Nathaniel Burns-Sarno
Advanced Placement English/Mr.George
March 30, 2009
Witticisms

1) Those who strive for peace must often go to war.

2) We spend our lives attempting to achieve heaven, unaware of the fact that such a paradise would remove the surprises and dangers of life that have become so enjoyable.

3) The sad thing about being the best at something is that you will forever be expected to retain your title. People's expectations create an unbearable amount of pressure and remove the joy that one's talents brought to their life.

4) There are many who call themselves highly intelligent, and are thus great fools.

5) There are two kinds of people in the world; the ones who dominate others and the ones who allow themselves to be dominated. The former is a bull, the latter a jackass.

6) Dreaming is a useless art if one is not willing to work for their desires.

7) It is easy to lose faith once you put it in someone else.

8) If you share your life with someone else, the portions they take will be nothing short of gluttonous.

9) The grass may always be greener on the other side, but I pity the man who is responsible for the upkeep of such a lawn.

10) People who ask "What is wrong with this picture" need only reflect on the fact that they are in it.

PODG #11

"Not 'Forgive us ours' but 'Smite us for our iniquities' should be the prayer of a man to a most just God"(Wilde 226).

Such a God would be useful to Dorian, who desires requires reinforcement to better himself. Oscar Wilde most likely favors negative reinforcement, or else he would not have included this line. Dorian was able to avoid punishment because his portrait bared his sins. Therefor, he only received the pleasures that life had to offer. It is for that reason that negative reinforcement is the only option. I doubt that someone who received rewards and punishments according to their actions would believe negative reinforcement to be the only way to better oneself. The only reason Dorian needs to rely on negative reinforcement in the first place is because all chances of positive reinforcement were removed when he gave his soul to the portrait. When everything is pleasurable, then nothing truly is.

"There was a God who called upon men to tell their sins to earth as well as to heaven"(228).

This belief is interesting, as it differs from beliefs represented in other texts. In The Crucible and The Scarlet Letter, the main characters held the belief that sin only need be between man and God. Here we are introduced to the belief of Dorian's society. I wonder why they would believe that God wants them to bear their sins publicly. Who decided on this? Is it just the fact that it makes it more convenient for society to judge that everyone decided sins should be made visible to the world? Perhaps it was the sinners who decided on this while desiring penance. Whatever the case, at no point did Dorian confess his sin to either, making the whole statement a mute point.

PODG #10

"'Eighteen years,' laughed Dorian Gray, with a touch of triumph in his voice. 'Eighteen years! Set me under the lamp and look at my face!'"(Wilde 195-196).

Dorian has definitely gotten a lot smarter. The fact that he was able to come up with a plan so quickly makes it hard to believe that this is the same Dorian Gray. I would have never imagined Dorian to be capable of something so clever before. I do not even think that a highly intelligent person could have come up with a better plan to avoid death. I cannot tell whether age contributed to his wisdom or is it is his sins that have made him wise. Dorian shows that he will forever be able to use his beauty to his advantage, and is now even better at it. I find it a bit surprising that James Vane did not shoot him immediately. If he thought that this was the man who killed his sister, why did he hesitate? Was he simply enjoying the moments leading up to the kill. Whatever the reason, it paid off for Dorian.

"'The only horrible thing in the world is ennui, Dorian. That is the one sin for which their is no forgiveness'"(208).

This is interesting, as ennui(sloth) is a sin that Dorian commonly commits. Dorian is constantly switching between a state of depression and a state of nonchalantness, which both fall under the category of ennui. It is odd that Dorian can be seen as a tragic character despite the fact that he barely acknowledges his sin. At most he acknowledges how is sin would be looked at by others. I doubt he would care one bit if his sin was not considered taboo by the world. Dorian seems to like his moments of ennui. Although, that will probably change soon as Lord Henry has expressed his disapproval of it.

PODG #9

"'Women love us for a defects. If we have enough of them, they will forgive us everything, even our intellects'"(Wilde 183).

This seems to be true in most societies, although I believe it works both ways. Granted, it is more common for a woman to be attracted to a man's defects than for a man to be attracted to a woman's defects, by the latter is not unheard of. The loving of someone's defects can either stem from a desire to change the person or a desire to be closer to the darkness. People often find others who they want to change, so they develop a love of personal flaws, as they give them purpose. People also have an inclination to be bad. This is especially true with "pure" people, as the darkness is foreign to them and thus more interesting. This quote may foreshadow Dorian meeting a woman who will love his flaws. I would not be surprised, as Henry states this shortly after a conversation about Dorian's love life.

"'How inquisitive you are , Harry! You always want to know what one has been doing. I always want to forget what I have been doing'"(186).

Why is it that Dorian is being so formal with his words? He murdered Basil after showing him the portrait willingly, but feels no anger when Lord Henry is snooping around? Dorian has changed much throughout the novel, but his opinion of Lord Henry has stayed the same. Dorian desires to forget what he has done. While this may be because he believes his actions to have been shameful, I believe that Dorian only wants to forget what has happened because he does not find it to be important. He has showed no signs of remorse before, so it would make no sense if he felt guilty now. Perhaps Dorian's opinion of Lord Henry will change in time. If Dorian was so willing to murder the one he loved the most, I wonder what is in store for Lord Henry.

PODG #8

"'You are mad, Dorian.' 'Ah! I was waiting for you to call me Dorian'"(Wilde 172).

Dorian ignores the fact that he has just been insulted and focuses more on the fact that he has been recognized. This shows that Dorian is beginning to love his dark side more and more as time passes, as pride is a common trait in villains. Dorian desires to be charismatic, and is thus delighted when he hears his own name. He does not care whether his name is spoken in love or hatred, just as long as his name is spoken. Dorian also likes a sense of familiarity. Despite not caring about being loved, there is some deep part of him that wants adoration.

"As he read it his face became ghastly pale, and he fell back in his chair. A horrible sense of sickness came over him. He felt as if his heart was beating itself to death in some empty hollow"(174).

Whatever was written on that paper must have been really bad. Campbell, a man who behaved indifferently upon hearing that Dorian had committed murder is sent into a panic attack by mere words. The words that Dorian wrote are most likely a threat to reveal some dark secret that Campbell as revealed. Campbell has become a slave to Dorian, and is willing to do anything to keep Dorian from mailing that letter. Dorian seems to trust Campbell, as he does not seem the least bit worried that his crime will be made known when Campbell leaves. At the same time, Dorian was not stupid enough to allow Campbell to leave to pick up supplies. Sin seems to make Dorian smarter, but also more careless. I doubt that Dorian will trust Campbell for long. It's only a matter of time before Dorian decides to do away with him.

PODG #7

"'Sin is a thing that writers itself across a man's face. It cannot be concealed"(Wilde153).

Basil speaks with much understanding of the situation without actually having knowledge of it. It is almost like he broke the fourth wall. Sin has indeed written itself across Dorian's face, in both the literal and metaphorical sense. Dorian is not completely sure of what he wants, as his desires conflict with each other. Dorian wants to conceal his sin, but at the same time, wants to make his sin known to the world. The latter desire is slowly outweighing the former. Despite having a concrete representation in the novel, Dorian's sin does not seem as though it can make itself known. It is not that Dorian's sin will reveal itself, but rather that Dorian will reveal his sin. Dorian no longer wastes his time with emotions he cannot experience. He is proud of the way things turned out. Dorian always loved himself, so it is no surprise that he loves what he has become.

"'Deny them, Dorian, deny them! Can't you see what I am going through? My God! don't tell me that you are bad and corrupt and shameful!'"(157).

Basil desires Dorian to be a good person, just as most people desire those who are beautiful to have a personality match their features. However, it does not seem that Basil wants Dorian to be moral simply because he is beautiful. Basil has shown that he cares too much about Dorian as a person to behave so superficially. Basil truly loves Dorian, and is desperate to continue loving him. Basil does not want his view of Dorian to be marred in any way. He was willing to believe that Dorian was pure without any evidence. His trust for Dorian ultimately lead to his downfall.

PODG #6

"There are few of us who have not sometimes wakened before dawn, either after one of those dreamless nights that make us almost enamored of death, or one of those nights of horror and misshapen joy"(Wilde 134).

By using the word "us", Wilde not only incorporates the reader into his story, but also incorporates himself. By doing this, Wilde is putting himself into his art, which has been previously stated to be a taboo. This also shows how genuine the emotions of the characters truly are, as Wilde has obviously felt the same way that they do at some point. Wilde is perhaps speaking on behalf of the others who have experienced the kind of horrors he has, just as he spoke up for those who were gay during his trial. This is an interesting style of writing, although it seems a bit subjective. I wonder if Wilde would be as accurate in descriptions of emotions he had never experienced.

"How exquisite life had once been! How gorgeous in its pomp and decoration! Even to read of the luxury of the dead was wonderful"(140).

Dorian wants the good times back. Whether he truly feels remorse or is merely forcing himself to feel remorse because he thinks that he should is unclear. From what Dorian has revealed himself to be so far, I would wager the latter. Dorian is most likely just bored. The fun is taken out of most thing once your emotions cease to be. Dorian seems to be more interested in the luxurious things than the purpose for such luxury. He wants luxury for the sake of having it, much like he wants remorse for the sake of having it. It is interesting that he envies the dead. After all, Dorian has something in common with those who have died; his body and soul have been separated.

PODG #5

"'Of course, I am very found of Harry. But I know you are better than he is. You are not stronger-you are much too afraid of life-but you are better"'(Wilde 114).

Dorian is like a girl who has two boyfriends, one for compassion and one for sex. While Dorian and Harry have not had sex, Dorian speaks of his conversations with Harry as if they had committed sexual intercourse. Dorian does not want to lose either of these boyfriends, as they both have qualities that he desires. While Dorian's logic tells him to stay with Basil, his lust tells him to go to Harry. If Basil could have some confidence in himself and act dominating, he would be the perfect match for Dorian. Unfortunately, Dorian is too wrapped up in his lust for Harry.

"He felt ready to leap upon him and fling him to the ground if he dared lift the gorgeous hanging that concealed the secret of his life"(126).

Dorian is slipping needs to be careful. The fact that he thinks of harming a kind person who has just helped him hide his secret shows that he is willing to do anything to protect his image. If Dorian does not correct himself soon, it can only get worse from here. It is only a matter of time before he actually attacks someone, or even kills someone. I would not be surprised if Basil or Harry end up on the receiving end of a knife by the end of the book. Dorian has developed animalistic instincts. Nothing is beneath him, now.

PODG #4

"There were no signs of any change when he looked into the actual painting, and yet there was no doubt that the whole expression had altered. It was not a mere fancy of his own. The thing was horribly apparent"(Wilde 94-95).

This is the first time that Dorian notices any change in the painting, but he is unable to identify the change exactly. Dorian reflects of the cruelty he showed Sibyl, demonstrating that he may have some belief that the portrait excepted the bargain of a soul for eternal youth. Dorian ignores the change soon after, just as mankind ignores their sins. Dorian also decides that there was never a change in the first place. This can be compared to a human being's inability to recognize their sin even when it is right in front of them.

"'So I have murdered Sybil Vane,' said Dorian Gray, half to himself-'murdered her as surely as if I had cut her little throat with a knife. Yet the roses are not less lovely for all that. The birds sing just as happily in my garden. And to-night I am to dine with you, and then go on to the Opera, and sup somewhere, I suppose, afterward'"(103).

Dorian's reaction to the news of Sibyl's death shows that his soul is slipping away. His morality has been replaced by an uncaring being of darkness. Although Dorian wishes to feel some emotion for his lost love, he is unable. Dorian's optimism is too bright to be mere displacement. He truly does not care about Sibyl's death one bit. He speaks in such a nonchalant manner that I am surprised that not even Lord Henry found his words odd. If this is what Dorian becomes after breaking up with someone, I can only imagine how he will change should he commit true atrocities.

PODG #3

"'He wants to enslave you.' 'I shudder at the thought of being free'"(Wilde 72).

Dorian and Sibyl are truly a good match for each other. Neither of them seem to mind the thought of being the puppet of someone that they barely know. It would be interesting if Dorian did develop a desire to enslave Sibyl. It would make sense, after all. It would be only natural that someone who was being controlled by another would want to know the feeling of being in charge of someone else. If Dorian does enslave Sibyl, then perhaps Lord Henry will use his influence over Dorian to also control Sibyl. Lord Henry would most likely love the idea of having two puppets. After all, the more subjects one has to experiment on, the more likely they are to achieve the desired result.

"'Discord is to be forced to be in harmony with others. One's own life-that is the important thing'"(83).

Lord Henry stays true to his character by saying something that his behavior contradicts. If he actually believed that following the plans of another is wrong, he would not be forcing Dorian to do so. This statement actually seems like it could jeopardize Lord Henry's plans. After all, since Dorian follows Lord Henry's words so enthusiastically, it is likely that he would begin to live his own life after hearing this. Of course, Lord Henry must have a plan to prevent that from happening. Otherwise, he would not have said anything in the first place.

"I don't think I am likely to marry, Harry. I am too much in love. That is one of your aphorisms. I am putting it into practise, as I do everything you say"(Wilde 51).

I find it interesting that Dorian is aware of the fact that he is Lord Henry's slave, yet does not mind in the least. Is Lord Henry truly that inspiring, or is Dorian just a moron? Really, if it's so obvious to every character in the story that Lord Henry is manipulative, why cannot Dorian see it? Or rather, why does it not bother him? Maybe Dorian seeks to follow Lord Henry's example merely to be as successful as him. Although that is not likely. Such a motive seem too intelligent for Dorian.

"I don't want to see him alone. He says things that annoy me. He gives me good advice"(60).

Dorian truly is immature if something like receiving good advice annoys him. If Dorian knows the advice that Basil gives him to be good, why does he consider following it? Perhaps Dorian uses the term "good" ironically, as if he means what society considers to be good rather than what he himself considers to be good. In that case, does Dorian consider Lord Henry's advice to be "good"? The case might be that Dorian likes the advice that Basil is giving him, but forces himself to be annoyed with it because he finds Lord Henry's advice to be fascinating. It is a shame that Dorian allows himself to be influenced so easily. He reminds me of Pinnochio, who was also a puppet that strayed from the one who considered him to be a masterpiece and ignored good advice in order to pursue that which seemed amusing.

PODG #2

"Philanthropic people lose all sense of humanity. It is their distinguishing characteristic"(Wilde 38).

Humanity has two definitions that seem to contradict each other. The first definition is "the quality or state of being humane". The second is "the quality or state of being human". If using the second definition, what Lord Henry said was completely true. Showing compassion goes against human nature. Human beings are hard-wired to look after themselves and do only that which is in their best interest. Philanthropists devote their lives to helping others out of the goodness of their hearts. So, in a way, philanthropists have forgotten what it is like to be truly human. Lord Henry's words could also be a critique of those who help others without being asked to. People like that are often hated for meddling in affairs that do not concern them. Despite the feelings of others, a philanthropist will continue to help, thus inciting more anger from those who do not approve of their involvement. This may cause the situation to become even worse, as feelings of resentment grow.

"One should sympathize with the color, the beauty, the joy of life. The less said about life's sores the better"(43).

With these words, Lord Henry demonstrates how truly nonchalant he is. Human beings normally experience sympathy when someone close to them is suffering. It fills a person with a feeling of unity with those who are in pain, thus making a person more compassionate towards those in need. Lord Henry ignores this part of sympathy and believes that sympathy should only be experienced by a person when someone close to them is jovial. While it is not detrimental to share in someone's good humor, one should never ignore people who actually need sympathy. Lord Henry's opinion of sympathy could only come from someone of good fortune.

PODG #1

"When I like people immensely I never tell their names to any one. It is like surrendering a part of them"(Wilde 6).

This is very true. A person's name is their most valuable possession, as it serves as part of their identity. Some even believe that knowing a person's name gives you a certain power of them. One should never throw around another person's name as they would their own. The only person who has rights to a person's name is the owner of the name. Many consider it rude to mention anything about a person while that person is not present, so I can understand why Basil would not want to reveal Dorian's name. The fact that Basil is an artist makes his attachment to Dorian's identity that much stronger, as artists enjoy a world of secrecy. Basil knows how he would feel if someone were to tell a stranger of him, and thus believes it tactful to not mention Dorian's name without the consent of Dorian himself.

Preface Response

The Preface mostly speaks about art in a manner that only a true artist could. Oscar Wilde opinion about artists and critics seems to be from the point of view of an artist whose work has been critiqued, as he is greatly opposed to those who offer criticisms. In a way, he critiques the critics, which makes him just as bad as them. Those statements aside, Wilde states his beliefs very beautifully, making his words seem that much more valuable. I can only guess that a great part of The Picture of Dorian Gray will deal with great art and ignorant people's interpretation of it. Wilde portrays artists as supernatural beings rather than humans. He excuses them of any fault held by mankind on the basis that they create art. Clearly, Wilde has his own opinion of what true art is. I cannot tell whether he is the artist or the critic in life.

Crucible/Scarlet Letter Synthesis Essay

Nathaniel Burns-Sarno
Advanced Placement English/Mr. George
February 25, 2010
The Scarlet Letter/The Crucible Synthesis

Penance: Should It Be Private or Public?
Thomas Filler, an English Author, once said that “He that falls into sin is a man; that grieves at it, is a saint; that boasteth of it, is a devil”(brainyquote.com). What Filler means by this statement is that all mankind is inclined to sin, but it is how we treat our sins that defines our character. No decent person would take pride in their sins. In order for us to achieve morality, we must bear our sins. The question is, in what manner should we bear our sins? Is it a more successful method to deal with our sins privately, or proclaim our sins to those around us? Such is the dilemma faced by John Proctor and Abigail Williams, characters in Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, and Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale, characters in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter. All four of these characters commit the same sin of adultery in a Puritan society. However, each of these characters deals with their sin in their own way, and thus they all meet different ends. After reading The Crucible and The Scarlet Letter, one is given the impression that it is more successful to bear your sins publicly, as the characters who reveal their sin at some point all achieve their respective goals. However, whether it is more successful to publicly bear your sins, or to deal with them privately, depends completely on your ultimate goal.
John Proctor, committed adultery by cheating on his wife with Abigail Williams. Throughout the play, it is made clear that Proctor and Abigail at one point were sexual partners. However, Proctor realizes his sin and ends his relationship with Abigail. Proctor starts off bearing his sin relatively privately, telling only his wife and acting as if the relationship between he and Abigail never existed. From the first mention of the relationship he had with Abigail, it is clear that Proctor regrets his sin and is left with a stain on his conscience. He is so intent on leaving his past behind him that he becomes angry with his wife when she reminds him of it: “I should have roared you down when first you told me your suspicion. But I wilted, and like a Christian, I confessed. Confessed!...Let you look sometimes for the goodness in me, and judge me not”(Miller 55). However, when Abigail accuses his wife of witchcraft in an attempt to get rid of her, Proctor is forced to confess his adultery to the court. This leads to Proctor being accused of witchcraft, for which he is to be hanged if he does not confess to crimes that he did not commit, and if he does not condemn innocent people. Proctor initially cooperates with the court in order to save his own life, but cannot bring himself to sign a testimony. It is then that Proctor realizes that instead of confessing his sin to his wife and the court, he should have confessed it to God: “I confess to God, and God has seen my name on this! It is enough!”(142). Due to his refusal to give the court a signed testimony, Proctor is sentenced to death and leaves the world with the knowledge that his conscience has been cleared. It was more successful for Proctor to bear his sin publicly, as it leads to him achieving his ultimate goal of clearing his conscience and achieving heaven. However, if he were to have had a different goal, it is unlikely that bearing his sin publicly would have been successful at all.
Hester Prynne committed adultery by cheating on her husband, Roger Chillingworth, with Arthur Dimmesdale. Hester did not choose to bear her sin publicly, but rather was forced to, as she became pregnant as a result of her relationship with Dimmesdale. For her crime, she was forced to wear a scarlet letter A, having to forever wear her shame upon her bosom. At first, the townspeople see the scarlet letter as a sign of disgrace, as it stands for Adulteress. However, after Hester showed beneficence and the power to sympathize, the townspeople no longer saw the scarlet letter as a symbol of Hester’s sin, but instead as a symbol of her ability and inner strength.
Hester’s ultimate goal to overcome the shame that the scarlet letter had brought her was quickly achieved, as she transformed the scarlet letter into a symbol of purity through her dedication. Due to the fact that Hester is force to publicly bear her sin because of her pregnancy, one cannot argue that publicly bearing her sin was more successful for her than it would have been to deal with her sin privately. The scarlet letter forces her to become a better person to compensate for the dishonor it caused her. However, had she not been pregnant in the first place, she would not have been forced to admit her sin. Thus, both the scarlet letter and Hester’s goal of overcoming the shame it has caused her would have never existed. In this case, it would have been wise for her to at least admit her sin to God, which she seemed willing to do.
Dimmesdale’s adultery causes him to experience a great amount of suffering, both physical and psychological. Dimmesdale, the most beloved and devout pastor in the town, is truly devoted to God, and the fact that he has sinned against God torments him to the point that he wishes for someone to see him as a sinner. He hopes suffering on earth would limit his suffering in the afterlife. Unfortunately, Dimmesdale is not courageous enough to directly admit to his adultery. When Dimmesdale attempts to admit his sinfulness, his congregation begins to consider him even more pure than they had before: “He had told his hearers that he was altogether vile…Would not the people start up in their seats, by a simultaneous impulse, and tear him down out of the pulpit, which he defiled? Not so, indeed! They heard it all, and did but reverence him more"(Hawthorne 131). Dimmesdale’s desire for earthly punishment is so great that he begins scourging himself with a whip and starving himself. Little does Dimmesdale know that there is a person who sees him as a sinner and seeks to punish him. That person is Roger Chillingworth, who serves as Dimmesdale’s physician. Chillingworth, who is secretly Hester Prynne’s husband, takes the job of Dimmesdale’s physician as a way to get closer to him and ensure that Dimmesdale suffers for his adultery. Chillingworth accomplishes this by constantly goading Dimmesdale into discussions about whether it is right for one to publicly bear their sins. Dimmesdale responds by stating that the only way that a sinner must admit their sins to is God: “There can be, if I forebode aright, no power, short of the Divine mercy, to disclose, whether by uttered words, or by type of emblem, the secrets that may be buried with a human a human heart”(119). Dimmesdale states this so confidently that he seems to believe it. However, that is unlikely, as even though Dimmesdale has continuously admitted his sin to God, he still desires to admit his sin to the public. Dimmesdale’s desire to publicly confess his sin stems from the fact that he preaches morals to the public that he himself does not live up to, and he want his congregation to know of his hypocrisy. Dimmesdale’s goal is to free himself from the suffering that his sin caused him and to get to heaven, a goal which he accomplishes when he finally summons courage to proclaim his sin to the public. Dimmesdale may have died after his confession, but he left the world free of suffering. For Dimmesdale, it was more successful to publicly bear his sin. However, if Dimmesdale’s goal had been different, publicly bearing his sin would not have helped him.
Out of the four characters, Abigail Williams is the most unique. Not only is she the only character to never bear her sin publicly, but she is also the only character to meet an indisputably unfavorable end. Abigail is the source of seduction that caused Proctor to cheat on his wife. Although Proctor eventually comes to his senses and looks to sever all ties that he had with Abigail, Abigail is not as willing to let go of their past relationship. Abigail develops an obsession with Proctor and deeply desires to be his wife. This desire causes her to develop feelings of hatred and jealousy toward Elizabeth Proctor, John Proctor’s wife. It is because of these feelings that Abigail devised a plan to get rid of Elizabeth Proctor. In order to have a chance of getting Proctor all to herself, Abigail accused Elizabeth Proctor of witchcraft. This accusation led to a mass hysteria within the town, as people began accusing others of witchcraft with no evidence. As a result, over one dozen innocent people were sentenced to death. The wildfire of innocent people dying was sparked by Abigail’s uncontrollable lust for Proctor. However, not once in the play does Abigail show any remorse for what she has done. Unlike Proctor, Dimmesdale, and Hester, Abigail lacks a conscience.
Abigail, being the niece of Reverend Parris, knows that the town would never suspect her of wrongdoing, and is thus able to keep her plans a secret. She also attempts to force Proctor into keeping their relationship a secret through the use of blackmail: “What will you tell? You will confess to fornication? In the court?”(Miller 152). Abigail knows the severity of the sin she has committed, but simply does not care about it. The only reason that she keeps her sin a secret is to avoid the consequences she would have to face if the town knew that she was an adulteress. Abigail does not bear her sin at all. She lives it. It is for that reason that I do not consider her to be connected to Proctor, Dimmesdale, or Hester, who all dealt with their sins in their own ways. The fate of Abigail does not have anything to do with the fact that she does not publicly admit her sin, but with the fact that she does not even acknowledge her own sin. Her end is not a result of the way that she bears her sin, but rather a result of her sexual inclinations. It only makes sense that Abigail becomes a prostitute, as it is the one occupation for which she already gained years of experience through her lustful and deceitful behavior.
It may seem that the characters who publicly bear their sins meet better ends, but that is not necessarily true. The only reason that admitting to their sins publicly helped them was because the situation called for it. It is merely a coincidence that in order to achieve their goals they had to make their sins public knowledge. Had Hester, Dimmesdale, or Proctor lived in a different time period or area, bearing their sin publicly may not have helped them achieve their respective goals. Hester, Dimmesdale, and Proctor can only legitimately be used to argue that publicly bearing sins is more successful than dealing with sins privately for one living in a Puritan society. However, for someone who does not live in a puritan society, whether they should publicly bear their sins or deal with them privately depends on their situation and ultimate goal.

















Works Cited
<”brainyquote” www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/t/thomas_fuller_3.html> February 22, 2010
Miller, Arthur. The Crucible. United States: Viking Penguin Inc, 1953
Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Scarlet Letter. New York, New York: Bantam Dell, 2003

The Scarlet Letter Character Analysis

Nathaniel Burns-Sarno
Advanced Placement English/Mr.George
February 22, 2010
Character Analysis: Arthur Dimmesdale

Arthur Dimmesdale is a devout reverend whose is tormented by his sin and the fact that he is unable to admit his sin to his followers.
Out of all the pastors, Arthur Dimmesdale was the most beloved and revered due to his absolute piety. Dimmesdale, being truly devoted to God, is tormented by his sin of lechery. Hypocrisy was added to his sin when he was unable to admit his sin to the public, who consider him to be the purest being in existence. Dimmesdale’s sin and hypocrisy caused him so much grief that he began to fear his fate in the afterlife and wished for punishment on earth: “Had I one friend-or were it my worst enemy-to whom, when sickened with the praises of all other men, I could daily betake myself, and be it known as the vilest of all sinners, methinks my soul might keep itself alive thereby. Even thus much of truth would save me!”(Hawthorne 173). Dimmesdale even resorted to harming himself physically when no one was able to view him as that sinner he was. In the end, Dimmesdale revealed his sin to the public only to die moments afterward.
Dimmesdale is like a teenager who has acted against their parents and wishes for some sort of punishment. Dimmesdale knows that God loves him, and is pained by the fact that he has done something that affects his relationship with God. That fact that God may be disappointed in Dimmesdale’s actions causes Dimmesdale to suffer more than he would if he were to receive a tangible punishment.
A modern day Dimmesdale is Bill Clinton, who also committed sexual misdemeanors, but was kept from admitting to them due to his position as a leader.

Nathaniel Burns-Sarno
Advanced Placement English/Mr. George
February 22, 2010
Character Analysis: Roger Chillingworth

Roger Chillingworth is a sadistic and intelligent man who was once very righteous, but became corrupt after developing an addiction to torturing Dimmesdale. Roger Chillingworth was an expert physician with the ability to read human souls. With this ability, Chillingworth was able to deduce that it was Reverend Dimmesdale who fathered Hester’s child. After gaining this knowledge, Chillingworth made it his purpose to ensure that Dimmesdale suffered. Chillingworth became Dimmesdale’s physician, a position that would allow him to stay close to Dimmesdale without the reverend suspecting anything. Chillingworth’s original purpose was to avenge himself and Hester through punishing Dimmesdale, who wronged them both. This purpose quickly changes, however, as Chillingworth’s torments go beyond the bounds of mere retribution. Chillingworth’s became aware that his obsession with torturing Dimmesdale turned him into a monster, but did not cease his attacks on Dimmesdale: “I have already told thee what I am! A fiend!”(Hawthorne 156).
Roger Chillingworth’s behavior is comparable to that of a hyena. Rather than simply finishing their prey off quickly, a hyena will latch on to their victims with a vice-like set of fangs, increasing pressure each time a cry of anguish is released. The hyena enjoys inflicting pain upon its prey, releasing a low cackle through its clenched teeth as their quarry begins to bleed to death. Each time the prey attempts to escape, the hyena will merely run alongside it, constraining the limb of its unfortunate victim within its fangs.
A modern day Chillingworth is Dexter from the television show Dexter, as both Dexter and Chillingworth have an addiction to causing others to suffer and find relief by torturing those they deem evil.

Scarlet Letter Essay 1

Nathaniel Burns-Sarno
Advanced Placement English/Mr.George
February 12, 2010
Scarlet Letter Essay 1
Dimmesdale’s Disastrous Distress
Throughout history, there have been many methods of torture. Rulers and judges attempted to discover the most potent means of punishing criminals, creating such devices as the iron maiden and the rack. While these devices did cause victims to experience a unimaginable amount of physical pain, they could hardly be considered supreme method of torment. True torment is often found in the very soul of a human being. John Calvin, a French Theologian and pastor during the Protestant Reformation, once said that “The torture of a bad conscience is the hell of a living soul”(www.brainyquote.com). Calvin knew exactly what he was talking about, having lived during an age that embraced public forms of torture. True torment is personal and gnaws at a human’s soul, leaving them unable to focus on anything else. The greatest pain that a person can be inflicted with is penitence. Such was the case with Arthur Dimmesdale, a character in The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne.
Arthur Dimmesdale, a beloved and devout pastor, secretly committed sexual acts with Hester Prynne, the novel’s protagonist. Due to this, Hester became pregnant and was forced to wear a scarlet A upon her bosom as a symbol of her adultery. Dimmesdale, who remained secretive about the fact that he was the father of Hester’s child, was filled with remorse for what he did, but could not bring himself to confess to his crime. Dimmesdale’s congregation had a large amount of reverence for him, believing him to be the purest being to ever walk the earth. This caused Dimmesdale to fear that if his sin was known, his followers would lose faith and consider true purity to be unattainable. Due to this fear, Dimmesdale’s sin was made even greater, as he was forced to become a hypocrite.
Dimmesdale’s guilt grew after a long period of seeing Hester being shunned by the town while he was considered completely pure of any sin. He began to live a life of hypocrisy, telling his followers to lead a life of virtue while he himself was a sinner. He knew that he was a hypocrite, and the approval of which he was met by his congregation tormented him: “It is inconceivable, the agony with which this public veneration tortured him!”(Hawthorne 130). He wished for any punishment from the town, whether it was fair or not. He even went as far as proclaiming himself to be a sinner, which only caused his followers to love him more: "Would not the people start up in their seats, by a simultaneous impulse, and tear him down out of the pulpit, which he defiled? Not so, indeed! They heard it all, and did but reverence him more"(131). Dimmesdale’s congregation believed his confesses to be mere critiques of his own soul. As a result, they considered themselves even more unworthy of heaven and attempted to better themselves. This proves to Dimmesdale that his followers will always consider him pure. Finding no punishment from the people, Dimmesdale began to punish himself, striking himself with a whip, fasting for long periods of time, and branding his chest with a scarlet A. These methods of repentance did nothing to aid Dimmesdale’s guilt.
Dimmesdale believed his torment to be a blessing from God, as the more he suffered for his sin in life, the less he would have to suffer for it in the afterlife: “were I worthier to walk there, I could be better content to toil here”(111). This is why he longs for punishment from the people, as he knows that the punishment for his sin would be great in the afterlife if he suffered very little on earth. Despite the torment he is already enduring, Dimmesdale wishes for another to torture him further: “Had I one friend-or were it my worst enemy-to whom, when sickened with the praises of all other men, I could daily betake myself, and be it known as the vilest of all sinners, methinks my soul might keep itself alive thereby. Even thus much of truth would save me!”(173). Dimmesdale knew that he was beloved, and that fact prevented him from enduring public punishment. This knowledge only served to torment him further.
What made Dimmesdale’s torment so poignant for him was that he legitimately cared about his fate. Dimmesdale was a devoted pastor who truly hoped to achieve purity. His sin left a permanent mark on his soul, not unlike the scarlet A he branded upon his chest. In attempting to repent for his actions, his sin was only made greater. He was tormented by the love that his followers had for him when he knew he did not deserve it. He was unable to find the courage to confess to his sin publicly, and thus had to keep his torment bottled up within his soul. When Dimmesdale finally did declare his sin to the town, he was able to free himself of his guilt and died from the punishment he had inflicted upon himself. The punishment that Dimmesdale was forced to endure in life was much greater than anything that the town could have sentenced him to.






Works Cited
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/torture_3.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Calvin
Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Scarlet Letter. New York, New York: Bantam Dell, 2003

Scarlet Letter # 10

"Whenever Pearl saw anything to excite her ever-active and wandering curiosity, she flew thitherward, and, as we might say, seized upon that man or thing as her own property, so far as she deserved it"(Hawthorne 219).

It is normal for a young child to go through a selfish stage, but such behavior is described as typical for Pearl's character. It is interesting that Pearl's habit of claiming things as her own is first attributed to men, and then to material possessions. That is very odd, as Pearl has rarely been shown showing any desire to be near anyone other than her mother. Perhaps Pearl's interaction with Dimmesdale has caused her to develope an interest in other people. Just as likely, she may simply desire the attention of everyone she passes. I wonder how long her excitement lasts. That is, how long does it take for her to become bored with the people she claims?

"Nothing was more remarkable than the change which took place, almost immediately after Mr. Dimmesdale's death, in the appearance and demeanor of the old man known as roger Chillingworth. All his strength and energy-all his vital and intellectual force-seemed at once to desert him"(232).

Chillingworth, having focused so many years on making Dimmesdale suffer only for Dimmesdale to escape him, is left with nothing. He no longer has any drive, or reason to continue living. Even though Chillingworth deserves punishment, this is very sad. Chillingworth was, at one time, a very compassionate and intellectual physician. It is a shame that he is unable to return to his former self and continue helping people. Chillingworth's obsession with revenge ended up consuming him to the point where he forgot all about kindness and forgiveness. He threw away his former life of virture to take up a life of vengeance. There was no other life that Chillingworth could live, and he knew it. This is especially clear when Dimmesdale is preparing to confess his sin, and Chillingworth begs him not to. Earlier in the novel, Chillingworth said that Dimmesdale needed to admit to his crime to free himself. However, Chillingworth was not willing to let Dimmesdale do that. Chillingworth was not working for justice, but rather for inflicting damage on another to sustain himself.

The Scarlet Letter # 9

"'Yes; now I will!' answered the child, bounding across the brook and clasping Hester in her arms. 'Now thou art my mother indeed! And I am thy little Pearl!"(190).

While Pearl's tantrum may have been caused by a child's inability to cope with change as Hester said, I believe it may go deeper than that. I believe that Pearl's attachment to the scarlet letter is not merely caused by the fact that she is used to seeing her mother wear it. In a stange way, Pearl may very well love the scarlet letter. It was mentioned earlier in the novel that the scarlet letter was the first thing that Pearl saw. That in itself could have caused Pearl to become infatuated with it. After all, many animals recognize the first being they see at birth to be their mother. Since Pearl is always described as wild, it is not impossible that she could have some animalistic tendencies. The fact that Pearl goes back to behaving like her normal self after Hester puts the scarlet letter back on may mean that Pearl does not believe Hester to be her mother without the scarlet letter. Also, Pearl's insistance that Hester pick it up and put it back on may mean that Pearl does not want Hester to reject the scarlet letter. Perhaps Pearl can sense Hester's shame and agony, and feeds of it just as Chillingworth feeds off Dimmesdale's shame and agony.

"'Why, know you not,' cried the shipmaster, 'that this physician here-Chillingworth, he calls himself-is minded to try my cabin-fare with you? Ay, ay, you must have known it; for he tells me he is of your party, and a close friend to the gentleman you spoke of,-that he is in peril from these sour old Puritan rulers!'"(210)

Just as Hester and Dimmesdale devise a way to free themselves of their shame, Chillingworth comes up with a way to stomp on their hopes once again. Chillingworth is indeed as intelligent as he is vengeful. I can only imagine what he has planned. Perhaps he will begin tormenting Hester as he did Dimmesdale, now that she has told Dimmesdale of his plan and twarted his hopes of punishing Dimmesdale further. I would not put it past Chillingworth. He was so close to breaking Dimmesdale, but Hester ruined everything for him. Dimmesdale must feel some sort of fury. Or perhaps he considers this more like a challenge. He may have even encouraged Hester to tell Dimmesdale in the hopes of something greater arising as a result. Perhaps deep withing Chillingworth's darkened heart lingered a sense of boredom. He could be attempting to amuse himself by bringing his twisted game to a new level. After all, Chillingworth has been compared to the devil many times. In most legends, the devil has a great interest in games that involve a gamble of some sort.

The Scarlet Letter #8

"But then the elf-child sighed, and gave up her sport; because it grieved her to have done harm to a living being that was as wild as the sea-breeze, or as wild as Pearl herself"(Hawthorne 160).

Throughout the novel, Pearl has been constantly described as a michievous imp, due to her strange behavior and habit of causing trouble. However, this quote makes me think that there is more to Pearl than meets the eye. She clearly has at least some small bit of sympathy, having felt remorse for injuring a bird. How far this sympathy goes is unclear. She may have only regretted throwing stones at the birds because the birds represented qualities found in herself. Perhaps her sympathy goes further than that. She may just not want to hurt other living things. Either way, through crippling the bird, Pearl experienced regret, which is rare for most children of her age. Seeing as she is clearly wise beyond her years, I would not be surprised if she had developed a conscience this early.

"'We were not, Hester, the worst sinners in the world. There is one worse than even the polluted priest! That old man's revenge has been blacker than my sin. He has violated, in cold blood, the sanctity of a human heart. Thou and I, Hester, never did so!'"(176).

Dimmesdale speaks the truth. While Hester and Dimmesdale's mutual sin was a serious one, it never hurt anyone. The pain inflicted on Hester and Dimmesdale was from the society the lived in, not the sin itself. Chillingworth, however, is committing a horrible sin that hurts not only Hester and Dimmesdale, but also has the potential to hurt the whole town. If anything were to happen to Dimmesdale, the town would lose all hope. By torturing Dimmesdale, Chillingworth endangers Dimmesdale's very life. Chillingworth is truly an abomination. He goes beyond mere retribution and crosses over to sadism. He is no longer torturing Dimmesdale to set things right, but rather torturing Dimmesdale because enjoys doing so. Hester and Dimmesdale have already served their punishment. Hopefully, it will soon be Chillingworth's turn.

The Scarlet Letter #7

"Such helpfulness was found in her,-so much power to do, and power to sympathize,-that many people refused to interpret the scarlet A by its original signification. They said that it meant Able"(Hawthorne 146)

It is very surprising that people in a puritan society would behave in such a manner. I was under the impression that Hester was doomed to a life of shame no matter what she did. However, her kindness and devotion is restoring the image that her adultery had originally destroyed. This society is clearly very different from the one in The Crucible, where the mere mention of a sin could lead to someone being put to death. This may not have always been. After all, the initial view we get of this society is nothing like the view we get of them now. Where there were once people desiring Hester's flesh to be branded, there are now people who find Hester venerable. Perhaps the town is evolving to take up Jesus' message of forgiveness and repentance. Or maybe the town expected Heter to behave wickedly due to the Scarlet Letter she wears, and were shocked to see her demonstrate so much compassion. If public opinion of Hester continues to change this way, it will completely destroy the system of the Scarlet Letter.

"'Woman, I could well nigh pity thee!' said Rogering Chillingworth, unable to restrain a thrill of admiration, too; for there was a quality almost majestic in the despair which she expressed"(157).

Chillingworth is beginning to lose his mind more and more as the novel progresses. He has become so obsessed with torturing Dimmesdale that he has forgotten what he initially set out to do. Chillingworth seems to have developed a perverted taste for human suffering. While spending much of the novel in a bad humor, he expresses joy after hearing the anguish in Hester's voice. I highly doubt that he will ever end it all. He will most likely continue torturing Dimmesdale for the rest of his life to satisfy himself. I would not be surprised if the medicine Chillingworth concocts for Dimmesdale were to contain some sort of poison. Chillingworth has already fullfilled his motive, and yet continues with his plan. He completely understands how much pain he is causing Dimmesdale, which only makes him want to inflict further damage. Chillingworth blames Dimmesdale for making him into a fiend, and yet continues behaving like a fiend when he could choose to end it all.

The Scarlet Letter #6

"Would not the people start up in their seats, by a simultaneous impulse, and tear him down out of the pulpit, which he defiled? Not so, indeed! They heard it all, and did but reverence him more"(Hawthorne 131).

Dimmesdale's predicament is made all the more worse by the public's view of him. Countless times, he told the congregation that he was a wicked man, which the public responds to with reverence. Everyone has such a high opinion of Dimmesdale that they can not imagine him committing the tiniest of misdemeanors. This leads the public to believe that Dimmesdale's claims of being tainted by sin are a self-analysis based on pureness. The public then feels that if Dimmesdale where to analyze their sins, he would find them to be abominations. This could possibly motivate the people to try harder to be pure, but that is the only possible good that could come from their ignorance. Dimmesdale is really trying to confess his sins to receive punishment, but the public will not hear it. After seeing the public's devotion too him, it seems that were his true sin to be revealed, it would cause chaos. If Dimmesdale's secret is forever kept, only Dimmesdale would suffer. However, if his crime is made public knowledge, the whole society would suffer. After witnessing the fall of their idol, the whole town would be left without hope.

The Scarlet Letter #5

"'This man,' said he, at one such moment,to himself,'pure as they deem him,-all spiritual as he seems,-hath inherited a strong animal nature from his father or his mother. Let us dig a little further in the direction of this vein!'"(Hawthorne 118).

It is absolutely clear now that Chillingworth suspects Dimmesdale to be Hester's lover. In fact, Chillingworth considers Dimmesdale to be a prime suspect. Earlier in the chapter, it was stated that Chillingworth was interested in Dimmesdale for something other than his medical condition. The second factor of Chillingworth's interest in Dimmesdale is most likely found in suspicion. This also shows Chillingworth's ability to analyze people, which was mentioned several times previously but not truly shown until now. Chillingworth proves himself to be a learned man by not revealing his suspicions of Dimmesdale directly, and choosing to wait for more information.The way that this is revealed to us could also hint that Chillingworth has a deep malicious intent in mind. After all, it is usually the villains who give speeches in the form of soliloquies.

"'Why should not the guilty ones sooner avail themselves of this unutterable solace?' 'They mostly do,' said the clergyman, gripping hard at his breast as if afflicted with an importunate throb of pain"(120).

This passage shows both Chillingworth's tactics of analyzation and Dimmesdale's guilt. Chillingworth, through a series of questions that would seem like ordinary queries to a reverend, is attempting to learn more about Dimmesdale. From Dimmesdale's reaction, it is clear that Chillingworth's strategy is working. Chillingworth choses to build up to a question about the confession of sins. Dimmesdale, having his own hidden sin, is pained by such a question as it reminds him of all that he has done wrong. Chillingworth is able to gain information without making it obvious that he is trying to do so. Seeing as how Dimmesdale is diseased by his guilt, it is likely that Chillingworth will succeed in whatever plan he has.

The Scarlet Letter #4

"'Nevertheless, I will enter,' replied Hester Prynne, and the bond-servant, perhaps, judging from the decision of her air, and the glittering symbol on her bosom, that she was a great lady in the land, offered no opposition"(Hawthorne 95).

This answers my original question of what would happen should a person not educated in the social customs see the Scarlet Letter. Due to Hester's great care in crafting it, the Scarlet Letter was able to give someone the impression that Hester was important. I also find it interesting that a bond-servant would not know of the Scarlet Letter. I would think a master would educate his servant in social customs, as making the servants appear pleasing to the public would help to raise the opinion of the master. It is particularly odd that a servant of someone of high social standing would be ignorant of his society's marks. By the bond-servant's response, wer learn much of how Hester was viewed before she was branded with the Scarlet Letter. That knowledge makes her situation appear that much more unfortunate.

"'You speak, my friend, with a strange earnestness,' said old Roger Chillingworth, smiling at him"(105).

I believe this quote may signify that Chillingworth is beginning to suspect Dimmesdale. It could be that Chillingworth expected Dimmesdale for some time, and is only more confident in his belief after Dimmesdale's defense of Hester. After all, Chillingworth is known for his ability to read people and in this chapter it was revealed that he is close friends with Dimmesdale. With this knowledge, I find it highly unlikely that Dimmesdale will not be caught. Perhaps Chillingworth already knows, and is simply feigning ignorance in the hopes of finding a way to cause Dimmesdale to experience an even deeper feeling of hurt. The only thing that would surprise me is if Chillingworth does not suspect Dimmesdale at all.

The Scarlet Letter #3

"Her sin, her ignominy, were the roots which she had struck into the soil"(Hawthorne 74).

Even after being released from prison, Hester is far from free. By committing adultery, she has created her own prison that she carries with her, visible only through the Scarlet Letter that has made a permanent home upon her bosom. She will have to live the rest of her life as an outcast. Such a fate seems worse than imprisonment. The prison she has created for herself seems inescapable, but that may not be the case. Perhaps she will overcome the feelings of loneliness as the novel progresses. Since there is no chance of the town changing, the only way she can get through her experience with her sanity intact would be to evolve.

"But she named the infant 'Pearl,' as being of great price-purchased with all she had,-her mother's only treasure!"(81).

Earlier, Pearl was compared to the Scarlet Letter, as both are symbols of Hester's sin. The fact that Hester would name her child Pearl may be for the same reason that she made her Scarlet Letter so beautiful. Both are noted for beauty, and yet will always represent the greatness of her sin. The action of decorating or covering up is even referred to as "pearling". Hester is most likely attempting to make her sin appear beautiful, so that it may be easier to cope with. Hester's original opinion of Pearl is optimistic, but seems to change as the novel progresses. I fear that perhaps the one who becomes most prejudice against Pearl may be Hester, herself.

Scarlet Letter # 2

"'But in their great mercy and tenderness of heart, they have doomed Mistress Prynne to stand only a space of three hours on the platform of the pillory, and then and thereafter, for the remainder of her natural life, to wear a mask of shame upon her bosom'"(Hawthorne 59).

I cannot recall every seeing the terms "mercy" and "doomed" in the same sentence. It is very interesting how this society works. It seems they consider the fact that Hester's adultery may not have been her own decision, but still find her just as guilty of the crime as someone willing to cheat on their spouse. The terms of Hester's sentence are also explained here. It makes sense that all in town would have to know her to be a sinner for this punishment to work, but it makes me wonder what would happen if an outsider who was completely ignorant to the customs of this society were to see Hester. Without knowledge of that meaning behind the Scarlet Letter, they would most likely look at Hester as a regular human being. However, word spreads quickly in this town, so it is unlikely that anyone would remain ignorant of Hester's crime for too long. It is also a shame that Hester's innocent child will probably be looked at with contempt from everyone else.

"'She will not speak!' murmured Mr. Dimmesdale, who, leaning over the balcony, with his hand upon his heart, had awaited the result of his appeal. He now drew back, with a long respiration. 'Wondrous strength and generosity of a woman's heart! She will not speak!' (64).

This strengthens my suspicion of Reverend Dimmesdale being the the father of Hester's child. It is unlikely that a reverend of those times would rejoice over Hester's insubordination unless they could be saved by it. Dimmesdale seems more selfish than I originally thought he would be. He seems content with letting his lover suffer as long as he gets off scot-free. However, I will not jump to any conclusions. Perhaps his excitement was merely caused by Hester's surprising act of keeping quiet, and he will feel worry for her later. Either way, Dimmesdale is a lot different than the reverends of those times. Only time will tell whether he is better or worse.

The Scarlet Letter # 1

"'People say,' said another, 'that the Reverend Master Dimmesdale, her godly pastor, takes it very grievously to heart that such a scandal should have come upon his congregation'(Hawthorne 48-49).

I may be stretching here, but this passage leads me to believe that Reverend Dimmesdale could be the father of Hester's baby. It just seems odd that an author would have a character bring up the Reverend's name and feelings toward the situation if the Reverend is not to have a large role in the story. Having the Reverend as the adulterer would also be a shocking twist for the story, which causes me to suspect him even more. As for his grief, it is only stated that other people have talked of him mourning that a member of his congregation has turned out to be an adulteress. However, his grief(if he even has any in the first place) could be caused by the damage he has done. If he was the lover of Hester, it would make sense that he would feel sorrow for the life she is about to face. Or perhaps he was not the lover, but played some other role in the events taking place in the novel.

"But the point which drew all eyes, and, as it were, transfigured the wearer,-so that both men and women, who had been familiarly acquainted with Hestor Prynne, were now impressed as if they beheld her for the first time,-was that Scarlet Letter, so fantastically embroidered and illuminated upon her bosom. It had the effect of a spell, taking her out of the odinary relations with humanity, and enclosing her in a sphere by herself"(51).

The method of imprinting an adulteress with a scarlet A proves to serve its purpose. It causes Hester to be ostracized by the public, who, by tradition, feel obligated to ostracize her. It is amazing how wearing such a symbol can change the views of those you considered acquaintances. I wonder if the effect of the Scarlet Letter builds upon itself. If it does not, than this would have no effect on someone who truly does not care about others opinions of them. There must be some stronger extreme. Perhaps Hester herself will grow to be the one who does not value the public's opinion, and thus answer my quetion. The punishment of ostacism varries in strength depending on the one being punished. I wonder if they have other punsishments for such a crime.

Crucible Essay Topic One

Nathaniel Burns-Sarno
Advanced Placement English/Mr. George
January 5, 2009
The Crucible, Essay Topic One

John Proctor’s Road to Redemption

“I’ve looked on many women with lust. I’ve committed adultery in my heart many times. God knows I will do this and forgives me”(www.brainyquote.com). These words, spoken by Jimmy Carter, the thirty-ninth President of the United States, still ring true today. From the very beginning, mankind has been prone to sexual desires. Impure thoughts are a part of the human condition. Therefore, it only makes sense that God forgives us when we have such thoughts. However, having impure thoughts and acting on impure thoughts are two completely different things. For those who act on their lust, forgiveness is not so easily obtained. They must work for their redemption and seek forgiveness from those who were affected by their act. Such was the case with John Proctor, a character in The Crucible, by Frank Miller. After sleeping with Abigail, Proctor goes on his own quest for redemption. What makes Proctor’s quest for redemption so unique is that he lives in a society where there is no redemption, and nobody’s slate can be wiped clean. This makes it that much more amazing that Proctor’s quest for redemption included him seeking forgiveness from his wife, the court, and God.
Proctor first seeks forgiveness from his wife, Elizabeth Proctor. This is a logical action, as a person’s spouse tends to be the one most affected by their sexual transgressions. At the time Proctor confessed to Elizabeth, he knew that there was no chance at redemption. Proctor’s confession was made completely out of choice because he believed confessing to his sins to be the right thing to do. However, he comes to regret his confession, as it leads to Elizabeth being constantly suspicious of him: “I should have roared you down when first you told me your suspicion. But I wilted, and, like a Christian, I confessed. Confessed! Some dream I had must have mistaken you for God that day. But you’re not, you’re not, and let you remember it!”(Miller 55). Proctor’s words not only show his frustration toward Elizabeth’s suspicions, but also that he knows in his heart that God is the one that he should be seeking redemption from. However, Proctor was not yet ready to turn to God after his first confession. Instead, Proctor seeks to redeem himself in the eyes of the court.
Proctor’s confession to the court marks a major turning point in his character. At the beginning of the play, Proctor was self-centered and proud. Proctor’s good name was his prized possession. By throwing it away in order to save innocent people, Proctor shows that he has begun to care about others. His confession to the court is much different than his confession to his wife, as he confessed to Elizabeth out of choice and confessed to the court out of necessity. This makes his confession to the court a purely selfless act. Proctor truly believes his quest for the freedom of others to be righteous, as shown by his motto, “Do that which is good and no harm shall come to thee”(95). By keeping such a motto, Proctor shows his faith in his belief that by confessing his sins to the court, he will be ultimately redeemed. However, such a motto would only be true if everyone in society behaved justly, which they do not. Proctor learned this fact when he was wrongly accused of witchcraft and sentenced to death by the very court he sought redemption from.
After confessing to crimes that he did not commit, Proctor realizes that his name will be taken by the court and used as a weapon against innocent people. Proctor, having been so close to the hysteria that witchcraft had created in Salem, is fervently against allowing the madness to continue. After being ordered by the court to sign his name to a testimony, Proctor realizes that by giving the court his name, he will only be adding to the sins that he has already committed. Proctor knows that by saving his own life, he will be damning innocent people. Although Proctor’s name had already been tarnished in the eyes of the court, he is not willing to let it be further dragged through the mud. Even if it saves his life, Proctor will not allow his name to be used to justify the murders of innocent people: “Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of those who hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul, leave me my name!”(143). Proctor is now not only responsible for atoning for his adultery, but also responsible for atoning for his willingness to put his own life before the lives of others.
With nowhere else to turn to for redemption, Proctor seeks to redeem himself in the eyes of God. As state before, Proctor always knew in his heart that God was the one he should have been seeking redemption from, but was not ready to turn to God. However, after appealing to his wife and the court, he had no other options. Proctor shows that he recognizes God to be the highest authority, and that he is not worthy of God’s forgiveness: “I cannot mount the gibbet like a saint. It is a fraud. I am not that man…My honesty is broke, Elizabeth; I am no good man”(136). Although Proctor does not think it to be his place to act as a martyr at first, he realizes that his death could bring about the end of the witch trials. Proctor obtains his redeemed himself through actions rather than words, which makes his redemption that much more substantial.
Proctor is truly a symbol of Christianity, as he sought forgiveness from everyone who was affected by his sins before ultimately turning to God. He became a martyr , sacrificing everything that was important to him in order to defend a righteous principle. In a pious society without repentance or forgiveness, Proctor proved himself to be the only true Christian. He was unable to be redeemed at the beginning of the play because he was searching for redemption in all the wrong places. While it is important to seek forgiveness from those who you have hurt, true redemption can only be given by God. Another factor that made his redemption impossible at the beginning of the play was that he had not forgiven himself. As Elizabeth said, “John, it come to naught that I should forgive you, if you’ll not forgive yourself”(136). Proctor had been carrying the weight of his sins for a long time, and found himself unable to cast them off. He searched for someone to help him carry his sins, but to no avail. It was only after seeking redemption in the eyes of God that he was satisfied. Through death, the burden of his sins was removed.

















Works Cited
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/j/jimmycarte130252.html
Miller, Arthur. The Crucible. United States: Viking Penguin Inc, 1953