English Activity: “The Scarlet letter”

Book: The Scarlet letter

Author: Nathaniel Hawthorn
Members of the group: Daniella Medina, Ana Perez,
Maya Hernández, Rocio Campos and Camila Tejada.

Grade: 1Bach A
Subject: English
Deadline: 23.03.2020
Teacher: Julio Ventura
Index

1. Historical context: About the early colonies regarding religion,

law, and economy.
2. Alternative ending: An alternative ending using the same
setting (time and place) as The Scarlet Letter.
3.Script: a dialog about chapter 6.
4. Reflection question: Prudencia Ayala
HISTORICAL CONTEXT:
The early colonies
It begins in the late 15th century when Europeans migrate to America and ends in
the late 18th century. Those who migrated founded the thirteen colonies, which in
1776 became independent from the British crown.

Religion and Church in the Thirteen American Colonies

The American colonies had houses of worship, but what the people learned in
those church services depending on where they lived. Most New Englanders went
for church services to the meetinghouse, where they often for other things as well.
The meetinghouse was a large building in the center of a town area and was used
for town meetings as well as religious services. People sat on a kind of benches for
most of the day because that's how long the church services usually lasted.
People who lived in the Middle and Southern colonies went to more familiar-looking
churches. They, too, would sit in church for most of the day. Back then, going to
church was a very important affair, and people believed that it should be an all-day
event.

What people believed depended on where they lived:

 The New England colonists were largely Puritans, who led very strict lives.
 The Middle colonists were a mixture of religions, including Quakers (led
by William Penn), Catholics, Lutherans, Jews, and others.
 The Southern colonists had a mixture of religions as well, including Baptists
and Anglicans.

Law in the Thirteen American Colonies

Colonial laws emphasized the survival of the settlement by keeping social order.
Survival relied on positive contributions from every individual. Given the strong
religious beliefs of settlements, colonial law was most concerned with repentance
and the return of the defendant back into community life. The colonists also
believed in individual liberty (freedom), as first expressed in the 1215 English
document, the Magna Carta. Though the Magna Carta had actually established
very limited rights, by the 1600s it was believed to define a wide range of individual
freedoms. With survival plus individual liberty in mind, magistrates and community
leaders set about defining crime. The 1648 Laws and Liberties of Massachusetts,
for example, often quoted biblical passages. Puritans on their way to church.
Puritans had strict punishments against any deviation from the strict laws of their
religion.
Economy in the Thirteen American Colonies
The colonial economy was a mercantile system, in which Britain controlled the
production and trade of colonial goods. Usually, the colonists were only allowed to
produce raw materials, which Britain then turned into finished products and sold
back to the colonists at a higher price.
In addition, the fishing industry was a primary source of wealth in Massachusetts.
But throughout the colonies, people relied primarily on small farms and self-
sufficiency. Households produced their own candles and soaps, preserved food,
brewed beer and, in most cases, processed their own yarn to make cloth. In the
few small cities and among the larger plantations of North and South Carolina and
Virginia, some necessities and virtually all luxuries were imported -- in return for
tobacco, rice and indigo exports, which produced large profits in England's London,
Bristol and Liverpool markets.

ALTERNATIVE ENDING:
After Dimmesdale exposed himself in front of everyone in the scaffold, he took
Hester and Pearl and ran away to the forest. In the forest the reverend convinces
Hester to go away with him to New England, her native country to start a new life
with Pearl as a family. Hester had her doubts about it, because she would have to
start a whole new life and get used to the fact that it would not be just her and
Pearl, Dimmesdale would be there too. She said no word for a moment and she
took a deep and slow breath. Pearl looked at her mother and smiled, giving the
idea that she was happy with Dimmesdale´s offer. She knew that Dimmesdale was
a trustworthy and good man and that they would be fine with him.

Two days went by. Hester and Pearl were at home and Dimmesdale suddenly
came in. Dimmesdale had an anxious look on his face. It was the day when Hester
would answer his proposal. The woman with the scarlet letter came close to him
and looked at him really carefully, saying with her eyes more words than her mouth
with a sparkle in her eyes. Arthur instantly understood what her eyes said and
knew that they would go together to England. With great cheerfulness, the
reverend hugged Hester and his child.

Starting their new life in England, the family seemed to be really happy. Hester
decided to take her scarlet letter off, even though she felt a little weird without it
and Pearl seemed to be uncomfortable because she was used to see her mother
with it. Dimmesdale was getting better from his illness and found himself happy
with his new family and found a new job there.

As Pearl started going to school she told her classmates that she was a special girl
because her mother told her that she came out of a rose from the rose Bush. All
her classmates’ laugh at her but as the time passed by the notice that she was a
cleaver girl and learn really fast.

SCRIPT
(Hester enters to Governor Bellingham’s Mansion)

Hester: Is Governor Bellingham in?

Bond-servant: Yes he is. But he is talking to a minister and to other gentlemen.

You can not see him now.

Hester: I will enter anyway

(Hester and Pearl were at the entrance hall. Governor Bellingham was returning
from a walk with Mr. Wilson and Arthur Dimmesdale)

(Governor Bellingham notices Pearl dressed with a red dress)

Governor Bellingham: How did this guest enter my hall?

Dimmesdale: Indeed. Who is this little scarlet bird? Why are you dressed in this
strange way?

Pearl: My name is Pearl.

Hester: She is my child and I decided to dress her like this. Here are you
embroidered gloves. Is there anything else I can help you with?

Governor Bellingham: Indeed. There is something I wanted to talk to you.

Hester: Is this about the rumor that has been going around town?

Governor Bellingham: so you have heard about it.

Hester: Yes. Please go on.

Looking sternly at Hester Governor Bellingham's said.

Governor Bellingham: Hester Prynne, we have been worried about your child's
salvation. You are responsible for the religious and moral instruction of your child.
This child needs to be dressed properly and instructed in the truths of heaven and
earth. What can you do for her?
(Take it from an old man / Waitress)

Hester: I can teach my little Pearl what I have learned from this!

Governor Bellingham: Woman, it is because of this badge of shame that we want

to give the child to other hands.

Hester: Nevertheless, this has taught me, lessons that can make my child wiser
and better.

(Defying gravity / Wicked)

Governor Bellingham: We will judge carefully, Reverend Wilson, examine Pearl

and see whether she has had Christian instructions.

Dimmesdale sat down and tried to draw Pearl near him.

Dimmesdale: Pearl, can you tell me who made you?

Pearl: No! Emm! Just know that I had been picked off a bush of wild roses by my
mother.

Governor Bellingham: This is awful! Here is a child of three years old who does not
know who made her! We do not need more discussion.

Hester: No, you cannot do that! God gave me this child! She makes alive! You will
not take her! I will die first!

Dimmesdale: My poor woman, the child will be well cared for!

Hester: God gave her to me. I will not give her up. Mr Dimmesdale speak for me!
You are my pastor and are responsible for my soul! You know me better than these
men. You know what is in my heart.

(It only takes a taste / Waitress)

Dimmesdale: There is truth in what she says, God gave her the child and the
instinctive knowledge of its nature and needs, which no one can possess.
Moreover, there is a quality of sacredness in the relation between this mother and
child.

Dimmesdale: This child is a gift from God to this woman, It was meant to be a
blessing; the one blessing in her life! She is meant to be her mother‘s savior, to
save her mother‘s soul. But this chil will also be remind her of her fall. Let us follow
God's wish.
Roger Chillingworth: You speak with a strange earnestness.

(Why did it have to be me / Mamma Mia)

Governor Bellingham: The reverant has spoken well, the child will stay by her
mother, however, must be examined in catechism. And at the right time, she must
go to school and to meeting.

Roger Chillingworth: A strange child. It's easy to see the mother's part in her.
Would it be so difficult to analyze the child's nature and then try to guess who the
father is?

Hester took Pearls hand and left the mansion.

Hester: thank you, you have been really nice to us.

(My love, my life / Mamma Mia)

Suddenly the governors sister, the aparently witch, apeared and ask Hester:

Witch:Will you go to the forest with us tonight? I promised the Black Man that you
would come.

Hester: I must stay at home to look after Pearl. If they had taken her away from
me, I would have gone with you willingly, and I would have signed my name in the
Black Man's book with my own blood.

REFLECTION QUESTION
To what extend is it necessary to hit the rock bottom in order to succeed as Hester
and the chosen character did?

Prudencia Ayala was a Salvadoran woman of indigenous origin who defended a

just and noble cause, which is the right of women to be an elector and occupy high
positions. It is thanks to her that today Salvadoran women can vote and be part of
the Salvadoran government. Prudencia Ayala was the first Salvadoran and
indigenous woman to run for president of the country. Prudencia Ayala, like Hester,
was excluded by society. This woman was discriminated against and excluded by
society at that time just for being a woman, an indigenous woman and for trying to
get involved in politics.

Prudencia Ayala was a Salvadorian and native woman who defended a just and
noble cause, which is the right of women to be voters and to hold high office. It is
thanks to her that today Salvadorian women can vote and be part of the
Salvadoran government. Prudencia Ayala was the first Salvadoran and indigenous
woman to run for president of the country. Prudencia Ayala, like Hester, was
excluded by society. This woman was discriminated against and excluded by the
society of that time just because she was a native woman, who tried to get involved
in politics.

The Salvadoran Society in 1930 was a macho society, that is to say that men were
the only ones who at that time could be in charge of high positions, voting among
other things. I believe that Prudencia Ayala is an admirable character since, like
Hester, they managed to succeed despite the strict society in which they lived, and
they managed to get on with their lives and despite all the obstacles, succeed and
leave a mark on both their lives, from others as in society.

Prudencia Ayala was a strong and persevering woman who, despite being believed
by everyone to be crazy about the fact that a woman wanted to get involved in
politics, never gave up. He always strived to express his opinion and to achieve a
change in the world. That perseverance is the same that can be seen in the play
represented by the main character who is Hester Prynne. That is why we conclude
that these 2 women are admirable women.

Prudencia Ayala is an example, like Hester, that despite being excluded by society,
you can still be successful. They are strong women and they inspire us not to give
up and continue fighting. Prudencia Ayala is a Salvadoran woman who fought for
the vote in El Salvador and managed to do so despite being discriminated against
because she was an indigenous woman who wanted to get involved in politics.

Our conclusion was that you don't need to hit bottom to be successful. However, it
is admirable if, despite hitting bottom and having so many difficulties, you succeed.
That is why this work inspires us to be perseverant and to surpass ourselves to
achieve success just as Hester and Prudencia Ayala did. That despite the strict
society and being excluded, they managed to go on with their lives and succeed.

SOURCES
https://study.com/academy/lesson/the-13-colonies-life-economy-external-influences.html

https://socialstudiesforkids.com/articles/ushistory/13colonieschurch.htm

http://www.let.rug.nl/usa/outlines/economy-1991/a-historical-perspective-on-the-american-
economy/colonial-economy.php