I am supposed to explain this quote from the Scarlet Letter:
"To the untrue man, the whole universe is false, ---it is impalpable, --- it shrinks to nothing within his grasp."
Can somebody give me some ideas on what this quote's meaning is?
Thanks.
Picture this: Hester living a life of shame, quietly keeping the secret of her child's existance, being shunned by neighbors...while Dimmesdale preached Godly sermons to the sinful, living a painlful inner life with his secrets of the past. Now picture Hester standing in public and pointing the finger to the A on her chest, starting to speak the quoted words with her eyes piercing into the abyss of Dimmesdale's eyes.
Powerful stuff.
Hester lived a life of pain in the community, but her soul was in peace. The reverend lived a comfortable life in the community and church, but his soul was wretched and in pain. LIfe was shrinking to nothing within his grasp.
So, in the words Shakespear wrote..
"To thineself be true; thou canst not then be false to any man". These were the words of advice given by the Polonious to his son Laertes in Hamlet.
It is worthy advice for any young person to aim to achieve.
I'll give you three examples. Mr. Dimmesdale is false, he doesn't reveal he is an adulter, which makes him sick, he want to tell people and confess so bad. He is false to people in the town and so they are not true either. On the other hand Hester is true to the town and for that she becomes good, learns from it, and when she wears the letter she can feel others sins. Also, Mr. Dimmesdale doesn't know the identity of Chillingworth (world false because he's false) When Dimmesdale, Hester, and Pearl stand on the scaffold in the middle of the night in the sky an A appears (he's true, the world is true.)
Just some thoughts, I have to write an entire paper on this quote.
haha yes. the scarlet letter has got to be THE most boring book ever writen
english,school,reading,writing all suck
I bet that is you morris (ALEXANDER, Saturday, november 1,2008 at 4:32 pm)
The quote "To the untrue man, the whole universe is false, --- it is impalpable, --- it shrinks to nothing within his grasp" from The Scarlet Letter reflects the theme of deceit and the consequences of living a dishonest existence. Additionally, it highlights the contrast between the characters of Hester and Dimmesdale in the novel.
In the context of the story, the quote suggests that a person who is untruthful or deceitful perceives the world around them as false and intangible. This means that their perception of reality becomes distorted, and they struggle to truly connect with the world and the people in it.
One example of this is Mr. Dimmesdale, who lives a life of pretense and hides his involvement in Hester's adultery. As a result, he experiences internal torment and his soul suffers. Despite his comfortable public image and apparent success, his internal world is filled with guilt, pain, and a sense of falsehood. The universe, in his perception, shrinks to nothing within his grasp because his dishonesty diminishes his ability to find genuine fulfillment and purpose in life.
On the other hand, Hester, who embraces her sin openly by wearing the scarlet letter "A," lives a life of authenticity. Though she faces public shame and isolation, her soul remains at peace because she is true to herself and does not deny the reality of her actions. In contrast to Dimmesdale's experience, her connection to the world remains intact, and she is able to learn from her mistakes and grow as a person.
The quote also suggests that truth and authenticity are essential for personal growth and a meaningful existence. To be true to oneself means to live honestly, without hiding or denying one's actions or their consequences. By being true, a person can avoid the negative consequences of living in a false reality and enjoy a deeper level of connection with others.
In order to fully comprehend the quote and its implications, it is important to consider the broader context of the novel and analyze the actions and motivations of the characters. Exploring the themes of truth, deception, and the effects of living a dishonest life will provide a deeper understanding of the quote's meaning and significance.