The Scarlet Letter

Well let me say that I liked this book, and it made me think! I really believe that the people in the book are very judgemental! They judge Hester because of her sin but do they realize that they sin and sinning by judging her? Hester tries to keep herself together and be strong in the beginning but by the time she makes it to the scaffold she breaks. I believe that adultery is wrong but Hesters sin should be between her and God not be put out there by all those around her.
I love the picture of that rose in the prison yard in the beginning and from this I got the picture of innocense or a seed of good that survived among all the bad. "The rose among the thorns." I believe that Pearl is like this little rose and her character really stood out to me throughout the book. She was so innocent but she was exposed to the world and was beginning to understand so much. It seemed her eyes were just being opened to the real world and she wasnt stopping it but, she just wanted to know more.
In the scene, where Pearl points out her mothers reflection in a piece of armor and all that you can really see is Hester's scarlet letter, it seemed to be a symbol that wherever Hester looked it seemed she was reminded of what she had done. It confused me that Hester would not want to leave the town that tortured her for her sins but in the end when Dimmesdale dies it made me believe that she just didnt want to leave because she still loved Dimmesdale and couldnt leave without him. Dimmesdale was an interesting character too. He had sinned but didnt have to be punished publically instead he was punished on the inside and he punished himself. Dimmesdale knew he had done wrong and he punished himself for it.
I thought it interesting that Pearl could feel the connection between her mother, Dimmesdale and herself. Pearl twice wanted Dimmesdale to come out with the truth and to take the punishment and scorn of the town holding her and her mothers hands. Both times he said no and she turned down his offer of kindness. Finally in the end he tells the truth to all the people and she gives him that kiss she had been wanting to give to him. The kiss was like a symbol for the gladness in Pearl that he had finally stood up and made himself known.

So this book started out very boring and very confusing for me. Actually all throughout the book there were parts that i didnt understand but once i got into it i could hardly stop. The book kept going with more and more action that kept you on your toes trying to keep track of what all was happening. I liked the character Nick because he seemed to be the only one that wasnt so snobby in the book along with Gatsby.
I thought it was confusing how that Gatsby lied about his life and in the end it didnt seem that he had that much to hide except the drug dealing. It seemed that Gatsby had a good life and was a good kid until he met up with Meyer Wolfshiem. It was interesting how that the author made the Doctor T.J Eckleburg advertisement eyes like a symbol for Gods all-seeing eyes.
Throughout the book I enjoyed a few sentences that seemed to have such a deep meaning but meanings that were too deep for me. Maybe you would know how to explain them to me? "Life is much more successfully looked at from a single window" and "So we drove on toward death through the cooling twilight." To me the second sentence was just saying that we are always going on toward death no matter how hard we try to stop time or turn it back.
Gatsby was kind of a sad character because his wealth and parties didnt buy him any friends. He had parties at his house at which he hardly 3/4 of the guests and he tried to live the past over again with Daisy in which we all know that we cant do that. Gatsby had one true friend in the whole book, Nick. Nick was really the only one that took the time to understand Gatsby and to see beyond the rumors of the city people.
I think it was different seeing all the affairs going on through the men and women of the book. Most times we dont see these types of things put out so boldy but usually hinted at but not put out in plain words. This book made no confusion there and made sure we knew who was having an affair with who.
In the end this book had a love story, murder, and a sad story in it too. Enjoyable book but some parts were sketchy and some parts seemed to have no reason. In the beginning I felt the book was explaining things that led to nowhere.

The Grapes of Wrath

This book was a little bit harder to get into. It starts explaining the setting which to me is harder to pay attention to rather than explaining the main character first. I like the character Al because he is 16 and already having to put in his opinion and feeling pretty high up. I think we all need to have the chance to feel we have knowledge and share it. Al seemed mature for his age and the hard times his family were having made him this way.
I think the setting of this book is really important to know about. You need to know that this was during the depression and the great dust bowl. Without that knowledge everything doesnt fall into place. I feel the preacher helped make Joad who he was, he was a help to Joad because he didnt judge him for what he had done in the past but looked to the future.
In chapter 9 when it talks about the family leaving the house and the dust lingering in the air it seemed to me a symbol that they wont ever forget their homeland. Traveling is hard for the family because as they go the people are cruel and bitter to them, and the culture is new and different for them. It is nice when they find the Wilsons to travel with thougth because it helps when you have someone to support and help you along the way, and who are "in the same boat as you".
In the ending I got the picture of when there is death there will be life. Rose of Sharon gives life to the man even after the death of her child.