Scarlet Letter interpretation?

Question

1- "“In our nature, however, there is a provision, alike marvelous and merciful, that the sufferer should never know the intensity of what he endures by its present torture, but chiefly by the pang that rankles after it”

2 - “It is to the credit of human nature, that, except where its selfishness is brought into play, it loves more readily than it hates. Hatred, by a gradual and quiet process, will even be transformed to love, unless the change be impeded by a continually new irritation of the original feeling of hostility”

can anyone interpret those? or discuss how the passage connects to important themes or ideas in the book?

thanks so so much:]

Answer 1

Ok, it's been a while since I read the book, but here are my thoughts:

1) This seems to be stating that guilt is a good thing.  We get caught up in our actions and our motives and often don't feel the gravity of what we do until it's too late.  The lingering guilt is what teaches us and keeps us from doing bed things twice (ideally).  The speaker (and I can't remember which character says this) seems to be celebrating this, calling it both "marvelous" and "merciful."  This could be used as a justification for making Hester wear the letter.  It makes her guilt stay with her.  I think this could be significant because it doesn't speak to redemption in any way.  There's no sense that one can be absolved from one's guilt...just that guilt is what governs us.  (More or less).

2) This statement seems to be saying that humans are, by nature, basically good...except when they're selfish.  I don't really remember the context of this passage either.  Do you think the character is saying that the reason we can't love very well is that we're all innately selfish?  Or is the character saying that we're all inclined to love, as long as we keep our selfishness in check?  (In other words: how big of a problem is selfishness in human nature?)  This connects to the theme of living in community with one another and what our obligations to each other are as friends and neighbors.

I hope that helps.  If you want to tell me who is speaking in these passages and about where they are found in the book I might be able to help a little bit more.