Posted by Kate on February 24, 19100 at 19:59:11:

In Reply to: Re: I have a question, don't worry, I'm not asking for easy answers because I haven't read the book :o) posted by K. Whelan on February 23, 19100 at 00:33:25:

Hi, thanks for responding,
I never thought of the situation from that angle, but it makes sense. Maybe my teacher isn't as misguided as I thought :) I also was struck with the similarity between the two writers (Hawthorne and Salinger) when I really thought about it from a different perspective. Both authors had a way of locating their fears in a symbolic "place", and both engaged in dangerous play by making their characters sort of stick a toe in the place chosen to represent uncertainty. For Hawthorne, this was most obviously the wilderness and for Salinger (and Holden) the adult world I suppose. Throughout the Scarlet Letter Hawthorne brings his characters into the wildness of the forest, for instance, only to withdraw them immediately, and in the same manner, Holden attempts to enter the adult world (by drinking and lying about his age) only to run away from it. Thanks a bundle for your input. It's nice to have a space like this board for brainstorming.

Best wishes,

---Kate

: Hester and Holden both dare to defy society's rules. whereas Hester bears her "A" with pride, Holden kind of sneaks around knowing he has violated the rules, doesn't see anything wrong with what he did, but he still doesn't want to face trouble. Hester faced the trouble head on of breaking the society's precious rules, Holden refuses to face the trouble. Holden and Hester both face a society that they see as stupid or "phony." Hester's society outlaws her for loving, Holden's for not conforming or being brilliant.

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