Червона літера
Another View of Hester
Itwasdueinparttoallthesecauses,butstillmoretosomethingelse,thatthereseemedtobenolongeranythinginHester’sfaceforLovetodwellupon;nothinginHester’sform,thoughmajesticandstatuelike,thatPassionwouldeverdreamofclaspinginitsembrace;nothinginHester’sbosomtomakeiteveragainthepillowofAffection.Someattributehaddepartedfromher,thepermanenceofwhichhadbeenessentialtokeepherawoman.Suchisfrequentlythefate,andsuchthesterndevelopment,ofthefemininecharacterandperson,whenthewomanhasencountered,andlivedthrough,anexperienceofpeculiarseverity.Ifshebealltenderness,shewilldie.Ifshesurvive,thetendernesswilleitherbecrushedoutofher,or—andtheoutwardsemblanceisthesame—crushedsodeeplyintoherheartthatitcannevershowitselfmore.Thelatterisperhapsthetruesttheory.Shewhohasoncebeenawoman,andceasedtobeso,mightatanymomentbecomeawomanagain,iftherewereonlythemagictouchtoeffectthetransformation.WeshallseewhetherHesterPrynnewereeverafterwardssotouchedandsotransfigured.
MuchofthemarblecoldnessofHester’simpressionwastobeattributedtothecircumstancethatherlifehadturned,inagreatmeasure,frompassionandfeelingtothought.
