Raven Racism

Sometimes, I feel bad for Ravens. So many times throughout literature and in movies and in folklore, they are always portrayed as bad. In Edgar Allan Poe's famous poem, "The Raven", the bird's fate is no different.

Why are they considered to be so bad? Devilish and conniving? Is it because they're black? Because that's a bit racist. European folklore associates ravens with death, war, and departed souls (this last one makes sense for Poe's poem). However, many other cultures, like the ancient Greeks and Native Americans, associate the raven's apparent intelligence with light, goodness, and truth.

It's interesting that at the period "The Raven" was written, American writers were trying so hard to find their own distinct writing style, yet Poe used British folklore to inspire his poetry instead of American.

But I think that's just because Poe didn't care.

Third Time's the Charm

The Scarlet Letter is all about groupings of three. It takes three lines to make an "A," there are three main appearances of the letter "A,"there are three words in the title, there are three main characters who deal with the consequences of guilt (Hester, Dimmesdale, Chillingsworth), and there are three scaffolding scenes placed throughout the text. In the last  chapter,s the final scaffolding scene wraps up the excitement, guilt, and unfortunately, Dimmesdale's life.  Three is obviously a significant number in Hawthorne's work, especially illustrated by the third scaffolding scene.

However, not only is three an important number in the text, but it is also a prevalent number on our campus, specifically in Christianity. The Holy Trinity is a grouping of three that I believe is silently underlying the three occurrences on the platform. When Hester is being ridiculed, this reflects Jesus Christ, the Son, and His humiliation. When Hester and Dimmesdale and Pear meet, this reflects the bond of love that is the Holy Spirit. And finally, when Dimmesdale comes to truth within his sermon, he reflects the truth that is found in God.

And obviously, the third scene was the charm as Hester and Pearl finally began to find peace after Dimmesdale's death.