Literature
Analysis
Who spoke these lines and why? Why has the speaker used the adjective 'wonder' for both the tree and the girl?
3 Answers
3
answers
Who spoke these lines and why? Why has the speaker used the adjective 'wonder' for both the tree and the girl?
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The lines "That is a real wonder tree. And you are a wonder little girl" are spoken by Roger Chillingworth in Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel, The Scarlet Letter.
Context and Reasoning:
- Context: Chillingworth says this to Pearl, Hester Prynne's daughter, in the forest. He encounters Hester and Pearl while they are gathering herbs.
- Reason: Chillingworth is a complex character driven by revenge. At this point in the story, he's deeply invested in discovering the identity of Pearl's father. His words are layered with meaning.
Use of "Wonder":
- The Tree: The "wonder tree" likely refers to a tree growing in an unusual or unexpected way, perhaps thriving despite unfavorable conditions, which is not expanded upon in the text, leaving it to reader interpretation.
- The Girl: Pearl is consistently depicted as an unusual child who has been marked by the social stigma that also applies to her mother. Her wildness, insight, and uncanny understanding of things beyond her years make her "wonderful" in the sense of being extraordinary and perhaps even a bit mysterious. Chillingworth's using the word "wonder" underscores this perception of Pearl as exceptional, even magical or preternatural.
In summary, Chillingworth uses the adjective "wonder" to describe both the tree and Pearl to acknowledge their unique and somewhat mysterious qualities, while also subtly revealing his complex and manipulative nature, as he is a man seeking vengeance through manipulating others.