Chapters 1-3

My first reaction when reading the first page of The Scarlet Letter was shock in how horrifying and ugly the description of the prison was. Already aware that the story is based around an adulterer, I was surprised to see that for a "crime" that is committed frequently now a days, would have you locked up in horrible sounding prisons back then. Before reading chapter three, I was under the impression that the interrogators were only blaming Hester for committing adultery, and not the male in the situation. Thinking this, I was again surprised to see a community only blaming a woman in a crime that consists of two people. Eventually as I kept reading I learned that they were trying to pry out of her who the father of her child is. Something that I found to be a strong impact on the storyline was that the first time Hawthorne had Hester talk was when she yelled, "'Never!... It is too branded. Ye cannot take it off. And would that I might endure agony, as well as mine!'" (64). I found this to be quite significant demonstrating an independent woman, staying true to what she believes in and protecting the father of her baby, which seems difficult to do in this time period as punishments were harsh and cruel. An observation I noticed was that Hawthorne consistently reflects back on the scarlet letter itself and how it is imprinted on her chest. The first time I believe it is mentioned is on page 50 when Hester walks out to the crowd, "On the breast of her gown,  in fine red cloth, surrounded with an elaborate embroidery and fantastic flourishes of gold-thread, appeared the letter A." He ends chapter three with the last line being, "It was whispered, by those who peered after her that the scarlet letter threw lurid gleam along the dark passage-way of the interior.' (65). These descriptions of the letter embroidered on her clothes give it great significance. I interpreted the last quote to mean that the A almost has special powers, it was leading her into the direction of the prison. I am waiting to read more to fully elaborate on that idea, maybe she is meant to be imprisoned to make a difference? As gender goes, the author made Hester come out to be a strong, brave and courageous woman, while the Reverend and men interrogators are helpless in the fact that she won't give any names away, giving her more power and control over the trial.