03 November 2008

Sinners and Saints

We were invited to a fabulous Halloween party this weekend, the theme of which was Sinners and Saints. Sergio and I, not wanting to play it too straightforward, decided we wanted costumes that were ambiguous in their representation of the notions of virtue and vice. My mom came up with a brilliant idea: Hester Prynne and Reverend Dimmesdale from The Scarlet Letter. It was perfect. A couple of puritans who sinned - one is a reverend while the other wanders in a "moral wilderness" (Hawthorne 183).

It was a costume that any English major could love. And love it I did. But for that matter, so did all the other party-goers with their bouffant hair-do, devil horns, angel wings, metallic face paint, rubber mask and foil wrapper hat. The best moment was when a woman at the party approached me, having not seen the red A on my chest, and said "Ah, you must be a saint." I smiled, shook my head no, pointed at my scarlet letter and said, "I'm a sinner."


Works Cited

Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Scarlet Letter. Bantam Books, Toronto: 1981.

5 comments:

Sergio said...

It was a wonderful idea and I'm so happy I could be a part of it. I loved my breeches and hat! Can't wait to see what we'll go as next year. Nice bloggings.

teresa said...

you two are all too convincing in those costumes!

Anonymous said...

I absolutely love it!! Don't take this the wrong way, but you make a very convincing Hester Prynne. :)

Emily said...

Don't worry - I won't take it wrong. I thought the Puritan look suited me! A or no A!

Anonymous said...

hi emily... i've been so delighted to read your blog. i absolutely LOVE it! and i loved seeing you (and sergio) dressed in puritan garb with a scarlet A. that was beautiful! you guys are the coolest couple EVER!!!!!! love you both. LC from OKC