The Scarlet Emotions

"It was as if the mark on her face bound he to something much deeper than its reality, something that she could not put into words" (Lucy 25).

"There's no way I could be viewed as second best. She is not me, there is no way she could ever do the things I do. There is no way I can be a mere footprint on the sand that will quickly fade away without a second thought. Yes, I am tired. But here I am, still begging, still wishing there was something I could do for you not to lump me with her." -- Sylvie about the other lover

[On page 25, the narrator speaks of her mother's friend Sylvie -- the quote about the mark on her face really reminded me of the Scarlet Letter. But in addition to the striking similarity of the situation Sylvie has to Hester Prynne, as Lucy progressed, I couldn't help but draw similarities to the narrator herself. The narrator says on page 36 that she'd rather be dead than be "an echo" of her mother. I felt like this is how Sylvie would feel about the other woman. We all know the jealousy that is felt when the guy you like is torn between you and another girl, and if he ever compared you to her the anger and resentment you feel-- like HOW DARE HE... .... So I guess what I'm trying to say is that the narrator is wearing an outward facade not showing how she truly feels like how Hester Prynne personality was portrayed in the Scarlet Letter. Hester Prynne never let the anger and the hurt she felt from her neighbors outside, as if the letter locked all of her emotions inside. Granted, Sylvie does not bottle up her emotions, but she's the flip side of the story, she shows what could happen if emotions become unchecked, and I feel that as soon as you loose control over your emotions, regrets flow freely. ]

(I hope this makes sense.. :)