‘The Custom House’ seems to be
an effort to persuade the reader to regard The Scarlet Letter as truth rather than fiction
. The narrator tells us he got the story of The Scarlet Letter from documents he found in the old surveyor’s office.
What is the purpose of the Custom House in The Scarlet Letter?
‘The Custom House’ seems to be
an effort to persuade the reader to regard The Scarlet Letter as truth rather than fiction
. The narrator tells us he got the story of The Scarlet Letter from documents he found in the old surveyor’s office.
What is the Custom House in Scarlet Letter?
Summary: The Custom-House: Introductory
(“Customs” are the taxes paid on foreign imports into a country; a “customhouse” is
the building where these taxes are paid
.) He finds the establishment to be a run-down place, situated on a rotting wharf in a half-finished building.
What is the point of the Custom House?
A custom house or customs house was traditionally a
building housing the offices for a jurisdictional government whose officials oversaw the functions associated with importing and exporting goods into and out of a country
, such as collecting customs duty on imported goods.
What is the primary purpose of the Custom House introduction?
The primary purpose for the Custom-House introduction was
to give the reader a better understanding of the people living in the Custom-House and their ways of living
. In the introduction, the reader is given an overview of Hawthorne’s points of views on the Custom-House.
Is Scarlet Letter A true story?
No,
The Scarlet Letter is not a true story
. However, author Nathaniel Hawthorne took actual events and attitudes of Puritan America revealed in historical records and infused them into his work, exposing elements of truth and lending credibility to his historical novel.
Is the Custom House important to read?
However, in order to experience the dramatic and literary contrast between the old and the new (new, meaning 19th century standards versus those of the 17th century where the novel is set) “The Custom House” is
quite recommended to be read
.
Why was the scarlet letter banned?
While the book was controversial upon its release in the 1850s (it was banned by the Russian Czar at the time)
due to Hawthorne’s portrayal of Hester as a whole person with desires and feelings
, you might not expect people to take the same tack so these days.
What does pearl symbolize Scarlet?
Pearl is a sort of living version of her mother’s scarlet letter. She is the physical consequence of
sexual sin
and the indicator of a transgression. … She represents not only “sin” but also the vital spirit and passion that engendered that sin.
Why is Chillingworth called a leech?
Roger Chillingworth is called “the leech”
because he sucks the spirit and strength from Reverend Dimmesdale the way the aquatic leech exploits and often kills its host
. He pretends to be a caring physician, but he extorts favors from the clergyman to serve his own selfish need to be near Hester, his legal wife.
Which of the following is a method Dimmesdale uses to punish himself for his sins?
To relieve his guilt, Dimmesdale punishes himself in several ways. He goes without food and sleep for long periods of time, and
he also whips himself on his back, causing cuts and bleeding
. These attempts to atone for his sins do not work.
What is the significance of the novel’s opening scene in The Scarlet Letter?
This opening scene
establishes the dark and solemn mood of the story and it foreshadows
, by its reference to and description of the door, the way in which Puritan “justice” will affect the story’s main characters.
Why did the narrator lose his job at the Custom House?
Why does the narrator lose his job in the customhouse?
He is incompetent. He spends too much time writing when he should be working
. The other inspectors dislike him personally.
Who was the father of the Custom House?
The father figure of the Custom House (indeed, of Custom Houses throughout the United States) was
a certain permanent Inspector
. You could say he was dyed in the wool, or maybe born in royal purple.
What has Chillingworth become obsessed with?
Although Chillingworth initially seems like he is sympathetic to Hester, his comments reveal the darker reality that he is obsessed with
uncovering the identity of his wife’s lover
. Chillingworth speaks this line to Hester, as he explains that he doesn’t blame her for being unhappy with their marriage.
What is the tone of the Custom House?
Tone: Note
the frequent use of humor
in “The Custom House.” Much of it is created via sarcasm, irony, and litotes. One might even argue that a lot of this introduction rises to the level of satire—intended to alert readers to the problems, and perhaps inspire them to work for change.
