Character at the Helm Essay Example

after he has committed to stopping. Prior to discontinuing his drinking, Henchard finished his initial bowl and requested another, the rum being ordered with even stronger measures...

By the conclusion of the initial basin, the man's mood had shifted to peacefulness. In the subsequent basin, he was merry, yet in the third basin he became contentious. Ultimately, in the fourth basin, he displayed domineering behavior and was quite adept at engaging in disputes.

(8) His face turning red immediately reveals that his 20-year commitment to sobriety had ended and he had returned to a time of carelessness. According to the text, he sometimes started his day with rum to get himself in the mood. It was because of his tendency to drink that his descent into ruin began, as he even sold his wife to a sailor while under the influence at a fair.

After experiencing the pain of losing his wife, a man finds solace in a new woman, assuming his wife's death. The novel portrays his fall from grace as the Mayor of Casterbridge to a drunk, highlighting his love for alcohol. His journey shows progression from poverty to riches and back again. Despite 21 years of sobriety, he remains obsessive and ignorant. His obsession with protecting Elizabeth Jane from Farfrae ultimately leads to him losing his business.

Due to his lack of technological knowledge, the man rejected a new agricultural invention that could have saved his failing company. His closed-mindedness ultimately led to his tragic demise, as he had extreme mood swings and did not want Elizabeth-Jane Farfrae to be told about his death.

..so that I am not buried in holy soil..

It is desired that the

bell not be rung by a sexton and no one should want to see my deceased form.

At my funeral, I hope that nobody walks behind me as mourners.

The speaker expressed his desire for no flowers to be planted on his grave and for no one to remember him.

My name is added to this and (321) Edna's character is depicted as entirely moderate.

Despite being Creole, she defies the norm by owning her own "wings" and rejecting obedience towards her husband or maternal figure. Practices such as les convenances, where one must stay home to entertain guests, are dismissed by her. Her defiance is seen when asked by her husband why she was out on such a day and she simply replied that she had no excuses and told the servant to inform the guests of her absence (101). She believes her friend Adele, a typical Creole, leads a "colorless existence" that she pities and believes such a life only leads to blind contentment and nothing else.

According to the quote, the woman has never experienced any moment of distress nor has she ever lacked the thrill of life (107).

To further spice up her life, she develops romantic relationships with two men other than her husband: Robert Lebrun and Alcee Arobin. Mademoiselle Reisz serves as her mentor for independence. Commenting on women who defy societal norms during this era, she states, "the bird that wishes to soar above the level plain of tradition and prejudice must possess powerful wings..."

Although Edna is independent, she still finds comfort in her husband and joy in being with her children. Her statement that "it is a sad spectacle to see the weaklings

bruised, exhausted, fluttering back to earth" (138) seems prophetic. Instead of going on a trip abroad with her husband, Edna chooses to leave her home for a secluded island to be with Robert. Even as she swims out to sea to be with him, thoughts of her husband and children continue to occupy her mind.

Although her life previously involved them, their continued presence is no longer essential.

As mentioned in line 176, the character was consumed entirely by her lover's passion, both physically and emotionally. Nonetheless, she remained partially bound due to her connections with her spouse and children. This epiphany came to light when she opted for drowning as a means of ending her life.

Despite all falling victim to fate due to their character, Edna and Michael have another option: to change their character like Hester. Hester's situation is unique as she adapts her character to improve her situation. Although she was once passionate and daring, a mistake resulted in her being branded with a scarlet letter "A" for adulterer on her chest, visible to everyone in Boston. Following this, she lived a solitary life with her daughter Pearl, becoming more reclusive. The townspeople even taught their children to see Hester as the embodiment of sin, as the scarlet letter on her breast marked her as a woman who had once been innocent, but had committed adultery and now had a child.

The sole memorial of Hester as she lies in her grave would be the dishonor she carries with her. (72) She demonstrates discretion by not revealing to Dimmesdale, her lover, that his physician is actually her spouse, Chillingworth. Gradually, Hester increases her involvement in

the community and engages in benevolent acts. Her benevolence earns her a favorable reputation among strangers who point to her embroidered emblem and exclaim, "That is our Hester."

According to the text, Hester is described as a kind and helpful person who brings comfort to the afflicted. She is even compared to a nun wearing a cross on her bosom, despite some people still gossiping about her scandal. Taking advantage of an opportunity, Hester reveals the truth about Chillingworth to Dimmesdale.

After deciding to move to Europe with Pearl, Hester's passionate personality returns. However, their plans are threatened when they discover that Chillingworth intends to seek revenge and follow them. In a brave move, the Reverend Dimmesdale confesses to the town that he is Pearl's father and Hester's lover, showing the people that even a respected man like him can commit sin. Sadly, just moments later, Dimmesdale passes away.

Following the revelation of the secret, Chillingworth eventually passes away without being able to seek revenge on Hester. After spending some time in isolation and later returning to Boston, Hester also eventually dies. Upon her death, the once-stigmatized "A" transforms into something to be revered and mourned, no longer attracting scorn and bitterness from the world. The scarlet letter transforms into a legend, as although people still view Hester's adultery as wrong, they also deeply respect her dedication to helping others.

While in a difficult situation due to her passion, Hester realizes the importance of allowing time for people to forget about her past and recognize her present good deeds. At the appropriate moment, she decides to live according to her desires. Rather than allowing fate to destroy

her, Hester uses her character to control it. Meanwhile, Michael's unwavering character in The Mayor of Casterbridge places him squarely on one side of an issue or another. Similarly, Edna's character in The Awakening consistently seeks strength and independence, but is weakened by her responsibilities to her husband and sons. Ultimately, Michael confronts his fate head-on while Edna surrenders to hers.

Through a lack of consistency in her character in The Scarlet Letter, Hester is afforded greater control over her destiny and the way she is remembered. As we scrutinize these characters, we recognize that our character determines our fate - we may succumb to it or employ it to acclimate.