Jett 1

Nolan Jett

Cooper

AP Lang P. 3

27 November 2017

Dialectical Journal 1

Chapters 2-5

1. “It was a circumstance to he noted on the summer morning when our story begins its

course, that the women, of whom there were several in the crowd, appeared to take a

peculiar interest in whatever penal infliction might be expected to ensue.”... “Mercy on

us, goodwife’ exclaimed the man in the crowd, ‘is there no virtue in woman, save what

springs from a wholesome fear of the gallows?” Ch. 2

2. What are the challenges of moral relativism within a society?.

3. Moral relativism, in the tense it is used in chapter two of the “Scarlet Letter,” is how the

moral standards one holds for themselves compare to the moral standards that they hold for

others in their society. In ​The Scarlet Letter​, we see this in how Hawthorne describes the way the

women of the Puritan society look at Hester Prynne. In the second paragraph of chapter two,

Hawthorne mentions that this society had “not so much refinement” that could keep “the wearers

of petticoat and farthingale from stepping forth into the public ways” and forcing themselves into
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the “throng nearest to the scaffold at an execution.” When Hawthorne uses words such as

petticoat and farthingale, he is referring to the women. This description gives the reader the idea

that these are well behaved, Puritan women who dress nice, supposedly hold high moral

standards for themselves, and are expected to stay at home and keep to themselves. However, in

this passage, Hawthorne shows us that these women are chomping at the bit to get the chance to

judge another woman for something. Each of them however, have different ways that they would

punish Hester. One says that “at the very least, they should have put the brand of a hot iron on

Hester Prynne’s forehead. Another woman in the crowd states that “this woman has brought

shame upon us all, and ought to die.” Both of these statements express how the opinions of the

women differ significantly. This is something that a Puritan woman would not be expected to say

at the time. A man, in the end of the passage, asks the question, “is there no virtue in woman,

save what springs from a wholesome fear of the gallows?” pointing out that if they were in

Hester’s place, they would wish for any of their suggested punishments. This man’s statement

helps to show how these women hold different standards and morals for themselves than they do

for others and therefore highlights the challenges of moral relativism within a society.

4. Hawthorne’s language in this paragraph shows that there is plenty of moral relativism

within a society. However, Hawthorne also points out that the moral relativism can change over

generations. We can see an example of change from generation to generation in the second

paragraph when he says that, “Morally, as well as materially, there was a coarser fibre in those

wives and maidens of old English birth and breeding than in their fair descendants.”

Hawthorne’s example helps to explain to us that even though a person may judge other people

differently than they judge themselves, society can change over the course of several
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generations. This change happens as different ideas and morals are passed onto kids and it may

also be Hawthorne saying that these changes in moral relativism can ultimately be what changes

an entire culture.

Chapters 6-9

1. "Hester Prynne," said he, fixing his naturally stern regard on the wearer of the scarlet

letter, "there hath been much question concerning thee of late. The point hath been

weightily discussed, whether we, that are of authority and influence, do well discharge

our consciences by trusting an immortal soul, such as there is in yonder child, to the

guidance of one who hath stumbled and fallen amid the pitfalls of this world.”... “And,

moreover, is there not a quality of awful sacredness in the relation between this mother

and this child?” Ch. 8

2. How does an individual distinguish right from wrong?

3. In this passage from “The Scarlet Letter,” the reader can see the minister, John Wilson,

judging right from wrong as he tries to decide if he should take Pearl from Hester or if he should

leave the little girl with her mother. Originally, he thinks that they should take Pearl from Hester,

telling the young mother that the clergy men and the governor have discussed the issue and do

not feel comfortable leaving the innocent little girl “to the guidance of one who hath stumbled

and fallen amid the pitfalls of this world.” This decision, as stated by the minister, has been
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decided on by the common sense of he, the governor, and Mr. Dimmesdale since they feel that it

would be bad for Pearl to grow up under the influence of an adultress. In the end however, the

minister comes to a conclusion, stating that “God gave her the child, and gave her too, and

instinctive knowledge of its nature and requirements.” In this instance, the minister is using his

religious background to come to the conclusion that it would be in their best interests to leave

Pearl with her mother since nobody knows how to care for the little girl like the person who gave

birth to her as that is how God intended it to be. This is an example of how he decides right from

wrong.

4. In this passage, Hawthorne uses language that shows that not only did the minister use

common sense and religion to decide right from wrong, but also may have had a personal

experience that was similar to the one that he is currently dealing with. When Hawthorne

describes his expression, he says that “his large eyes had a world of pain in their troubled and

melancholy depth,” and describes his voice as, “sweet, tremulous, but powerful.” From this, we

can conclude that the minister is sympathetic towards Hester and the situation that she is faced

with. He uses these emotions to decide what is right and what is wrong. This may also be

Hawthorne telling us that we too should really listen to what our gut tells us when deciding right

and wrong instead of making quick, rash, decisions based on what we see on the surface, how we

are influenced by our society, and external pressures.

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Chapters 10-13

1. "Even in the graveyard here at hand," answered the physician, continuing his

employment. "They are new to me. I found them growing on a grave, which bore

no tombstone, no other memorial of the dead man, save these ugly weeds, that

have taken upon themselves to keep him in remembrance.”... “And ever, after

such an outpouring, oh, what a relief have I witnessed in those sinful brethren!”

Ch. 10

2. How do the nature of man and the natural world connect?

3. In chapter 10 of ​The Scarlet Letter, ​Hawthorne says that “[the black weeds] grew out of

his heart, and typify, it may be, some hideous secret that was buried with him, and which he had

done better to confess during his lifetime,” comparing the black weeds that grow around the

graves in the cemetery to the dark secrets that man keeps in his heart throughout his life. By

adding that the weeds are “black,” a color associated with evil things, Hawthorne is connecting

the natural acts of nature, such as the color of a plant, to the secrets and nature of man. When

“the [ugly weeds] [grow] on a grave,” they represent a man’s dark secrets and symbolize him

confessing “an outspoken crime.” Hawthorne states that, “[man’s heart] will yield [his sins] up,

at the last day, not with reluctance, but with a joy unutterable.” This natural act of plants growing
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to typify man professing his sins, a natural act after death, further proves the connection between

the natural world and the nature of mankind.

4. In this passage from ​The Scarlet Letter, ​the minister says that after people die, “they yield

[their sins] up, at that last day, not with reluctance, but with a joy unutterable.” With this

statement, Hawthorne shows us that we should confess to what we have done wrong. The

minister then goes on to explain that many people, “while strong in life, and fair in reputation,”

have trusted him and confessed to what evil things they had done. And then, after such an

outpouring, oh, what a relief [he] has witnessed in those sinful brethren!” This is ultimately

Hawthorne telling us that instead of holding our secrets and sins deep in our hearts until the end

of our lives, we should go against our nature and profess them while we are still young. In that

way, we can truly live a happy life.

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Works Cited

Hawthorne, Nathaniel. “The Scarlet Letter.” 1850. ​Literature Project, ​2017,

http://www.literatureproject.com/scarlet-letter/index.htm#TOC_Section_3​. Accessed

27 November 2017.