Let me start by saying I was very excited when I saw this novel on the list of books to purchase for the class. I first read The Scarlet Letter as a senior in high school. With a disappointing instructor the first time around, I was excited to get another chance to discuss the novel. I absolutely LOVED The Scarlet Letter when I first read it. I have no doubt that this feeling will continue if not even expand upon reading it for the second time.
Despite my love of the book, I was quickly reminded of how BORING the introduction is. I'm not exactly sure why Hawthorne chose to include it. When I first read it as a senior, I remember being terrified that this was going to be how the whole novel was laid out. I was able to comprehend very little of what Hawthorne had to say. I will admit, I had some of the same problems this time as well. While there were some parts that I was able to understand better, the majority of it went straight over my head. I was able to appreciate the references to Thoreau and Chaucer. Back in high school I'm not sure I had ever heard of either of the two authors.
When we talked in class, there appeared to be an agreement that the only part of the introduction that served any real purpose was the section where Hawthorne told of how he discovered the story of Hester. I would have been satisfied if this would have been all Hawthorne included. The whole first part of the intro felt like many of the other readings we have done in the class thus far. Honestly, I don't respond very well to the style. It had the same feeling as some of the sermons, autobiographies, etc. I am much more of a narrative/fiction type of person. While I appreciate all types, I respond much better to the latter style of Hawthorne.
With that being said, it is time to really dig into The Scarlet Letter.......
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