ENG250Y1 Lecture Notes - Meiosis, Reappropriation, Dennis Amiss
Document Summary
Prior to the 1960s, critics argued that the introductory essay was pointless, but since then, critics say that it"s essential to understanding the novel. Hawthrone defines his novel as a romance in this essay; its not about capturing reality but what is heightened; preference of allegories. Almost a riddle, being deliberately vague, is something but then isn"t something. Stands for able: hester helps others with her charity, those she helps sees her then differently. Stands for angel: when winthrop dies, hester sees herself as the protector of dimmesdale. 1692, girls accused a handful of women of being witches: 156 were accused during this period, witches were blamed for many things such as physical aliments and dying livestock, anything unknown. There was a notion that witches had to sign their name in blood in a devil"s book to help fight in the war against god.
