difficulty paper 1

While reading the Scarlet Letter written by Nathaniel Hawthorne I found the language he used to be the most difficult. When I started reading it I actually got into the story line. I wasn't sure if I was going to like this book when I first picked it up. It took me longer to read the Scarlet Letter because I didn't understand some parts when I first read them. I had to take the time to reread some parts and try to understand what the author was trying to say by using this different language that I'm not used too. I always had trouble with books that are written this way. I try my best to get through the book and to understand it.
One thing that helped me understand this story is my history class I am taking this semester. I have learned a little bit about the Puritans ways and their beliefs. I know they are very strict about religion. They think that if anyone doesn't follow the church that they have evil in them. They punish anyone who disobeys the church or the law. Knowing some of the Puritans background gave me an idea where the story was going. I had no questions about why this was happening the Hester Prynne. I knew she was being punished for the sin she committed. I understand why Nathaniel Hawthorne used evil to describe and symbolize certain things like Pearl and the scarlet letter Hester wears.
In the book they have so much hate towards her but they didn't sentence death to Hester or her daughter Pearl. They only made her stand in front of everyone at the place of dishonor with Pearl for punishment. I was surprised they didn't end up killing her and her child because of the sin she decided to commit. She was placed away from the town and that's the punishment she took. The Puritan society seems like a difficult place to live. Women don't have many freedoms in this society and have to live by the church or suffer the consequences like Hester has.
Another thing that confuses me when I read this was the names of people and the titles given to them. When Nathaniel uses the clergymen or clergyman, minister, and reverend instead of the persons actual name i always get  confused on who the person is when he is describing something. I always have to look back on the actual characters name so I don't mix up people. This stresses me out because I sometimes think the conflict is happening with one character then I find out that it really was happening to some other character. I guess its just how  its written since it was already hard for me to understand the language but with the characters thrown it and given a different title messes me up a little bit. Some of the names are different so its hard to remember all of them and to keep track of what is happening to who and all of the conflicts.