Monday, January 11, 2010
Hester at Her Needle
Hester is made very aware of the difficulty that will come by staying in Boston, because of the harsh feelings people show towards her. Even though she could easily leave and make a new home, where nobody knows her business, she decides that she needs to stay because of her child's father. She sees this man as her real husband and feels she has to stay in the same place as him so that maybe one day her daughter will have a father. Hester is very brave for enduring as much as she does over the years. She could have moved away and started a completely new life however she wanted, but through the insults and evil stares she decides it is the best idea for her daughter. Hester doesn't sit around all day and act depressed because no one likes her, she goes out and tries to find a job that can suit her talent with sewing. However, no one will buy her materials because of the wrongs she has commited. This leaves Hester doing volunteer work and other odd jobs, while constantly being insulted.
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In truth, she makes a living selling the things that she can make with her needle. The volunteer work is another aspect of her life -- and perhaps of her pennance. Remember to consider the things that are explained as Hawthorne tells us what Hester is thinking when she makes the decision to stay. The insight to her thought process informs the rest of the story. It is part of Hawhorne's exploration of the emotions of the characters.
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