Hey guys! Sorry if you're waiting for Chapter 2 of Learning To Stand, I just thought I'd upload something to satisfy you while you waited.
A while back in English, we read The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. After we finish a book, we usually do some sort of essay as a test or assessment. For The Scarlet Letter, since it's a rather difficult book in terms of how dense the language can be sometimes, we go to do a creative writing assignment instead. As you can imagine, this made me VERY happy. So, I thought I would let you guys see what I submitted for my assignment.
Basically, the assignment was to choose one of the principle characters in the book (Rev. Arthur Dimmesdale, Hester Prynne, her daughter Pearl, or Hester's husband, Roger Chillingworth) and write three journal or diary entries describing development, how it relates to the Romanticism genre, etc. I chose to write about Dimmesdale for my assignment.
For those of you who don't know what The Scarlet Letter is about, check SparkNotes here: http:/www. /lit/ scarlet/ summary .html (take out all the spaces first).
Anyways, let's get on with the show, shall we?
October 21, 1640
Hester was made to stand on the scaffold today, this early morn around the ninth hour, and what a sight she was to behold! She carried herself tall and proud, clothed in a scarlet dress fit for a queen, the letter embroidered in gold on her chest. She stood as if to mock and smite us all, and from what I can glean from the gossips in the community, some did take offense to her disposition, whilst others where more forgiving. Truth be told, I am most conflicted over the matter of Hester Prynne. I know not whether to be relieved or disgusted- relieved that she didn't reveal my part in her crime, or disgusted at myself for not turning myself in.
Indeed, it was I who planted that accursed seed in the maiden's womb! Would that I had but an ounce of the strength that Hester hath displayed today on that scaffold, then I might have withstood the Devil's temptations and not put myself and Hester in such a state. If all this be true, which indeed it is, then according to our most revered teachings I am therefore condemned and evil, as is Hester. How can this be true? Human is to be flawed, that in itself means it is perfect. And it is only through our flaws and their consequences that we learn and grow. Hester does not deserve this fate, nor do I wish it upon anyone else.
But, imagine if the people, the ones who entrusted their very souls to my care, came to learn of my lustful deeds- I dread to think. And there in itself lies the very crux of our troubles: If my deed is made public, I am to submit to punishment- one such is death- and my flock will have no shepherd to protect them from the wolves that prowl at night. But if my deed is kept secret, I am condemned and thus branded a coward and liar. And if I must live with that label of coward in order to protect my sheep, then so be it. I would rather suffer the hottest fires of Hell than condemn my fellow parishioners to the same fate.
-Arthur
Okay, so that's the first entry! On to the second! Read and review please!