Chapters 16-19

Chapter Summaries

Chapter Sixteen: A Forest Walk

    Chapter Sixteen begins by describing Hester’s resolve to tell Dimmesdale of Chillingworth’s true identity, no matter what the cost to his reputation may be. Unfortunately, she has been having trouble finding a time to privately confess this secret to the Reverend. Finally she gets her opportunity when a parishioner whom Hester was tending to shared that Dimmesdale had gone to visit a community of puritan Native Americans and would be returning by the woods the next day. While Hester and Pearl are on their way to meet up with Dimmesdale in the forest, the canopy of trees above them allows shafts of light to permeate onto the footpath on which they’re traveling. As they walk, Pearl begins to notice that each time Hester is about to reach a shaft of sunlight, it seemingly vanishes. Then, Pearl’s attention becomes temporarily fixated on this fact and she offers to catch the sunlight in her mother’s stead, proposing that she would be able to catch it since she had no scarlet letter for the sunlight to be afraid of. Afterwards, Hester and Pearl sit down on a bed of moss to rest at which point Pearl begins to recite what she knows of the Black Man and the forest and interrogates Hester as to whether she has ever held a meeting with the Black Man. Hester replies by saying that she has met the Black Man only once and that he was the one who put the scarlet letter upon her chest. Partway through this conversation, Dimmesdale begins to approach from the opposite direction, so Hester asks Pearl to go a play in the nearby woods so that she and the Reverend may have few minutes to themselves. As Dimmesdale comes closer, it becomes clear that his haggard form bears little resemblance to the confident and radiant pastor whom Hester once knew. Furthermore, Hawthorne states that Dimmesdale appears to be having suicidal thoughts and tendencies. Dimmesdale, upon noticing Hester, composes himself and conceals his pained expression, yet leaves his hand over his heart, as he would in the midst of society, in order to hide his emotions from Hester.

Chapter Seventeen: The Pastor and his Parishioner

    In this chapter, Hester and Dimmesdale meet in the forest, where they are free from the ever prevalent eye of society. When the two finally meet each other after seven years of separation, they have become so estranged that they first question whether or not the other actually exists. They walk and sit at a spot by the brook, where they engage in some trivial conversation. Eventually, Dimmesdale questions how Hester has been doing. Hester admits that the last seven years for her have been miserable for her, drawing the same response from Dimmesdale. Hester questions as to how he is miserable, given that he is so loved by society and Dimmesdale simply responds saying that the love just makes him feel worse. This is because he is sickened by the fact that people are looking up to someone who seems like one thing, but in reality, is something much worse, something evil. Hester tries to console Dimmesdale but Dimmesdale continues to explain how much worse it has been for him because he has been keeping his sin secret whereas Hester’s scarlet letter does not let her do so. This evokes supreme guilt from Hester, as she knew that she could have admitted his guilt to the public. She also feels guility that she has been allowing Chillingworth to torment him further. Thus, she tells Dimmesdale that Chillingworth is her husband, which evokes a “dark transfiguration” from Dimmesdale (Hawthorne 175). Dimmesdale at first is hurt and shocked, and decides not to forgive Hester. Hester cannot bear this and drives his face into her chest and begs him to forgive her and eventually Dimmesdale, despite his melodrama, forgives her. Dimmesdale is now worried that Chillingworth will expose the two of them to the townsfolk; however Hester devises a plan. Hester believes that Chillingworth can get away from Chillingworth’s grasp by either escaping into the forest or by leaving the town and starting a new life in Europe. Chillingworth is unsure of whether he can do this alone, and in a romantic gesture, Hester assures him that he will not be alone.

Chapter Eighteen: The Flood of Sunshine

    This chapter immediately follows Hester and Dimmesdale’s conversation about what Dimmesdale should do after discovering that Chillingworth was Hester’s previous husband.  Hester’s facial expressions after their conversation suggest that she is thinking of some solution although she cannot articulate it.  Hester then reflects on her thoughts, which she says are the reason why her mind wanders beyond the scope of social authority.  She believes that it is these thoughts that make her look at human institutions with an isolated point of view, and is the reason why she comes up with such an absurd solution for Dimmesdale.  Dimmesdale, however, has not had the burden of wearing a tangible scarlet letter.  If he had, he might have agreed with Hester’s suggestion to leave town.  She then explains how her long years of sorrow and isolation have prepared her for this moment with Dimmesdale.  She says that Dimmesdale has seen a new life, and the guilt that his sin had caused him could never be repaired.  Dimmesdale then reflects on his past seven years.  He tries to think of any time during those years when he was peaceful or hopeful of recovering, but can recall none.  This gives him consideration on Hester’s opinion, and he prays for God to pardon his thoughts.  When he makes his decision to leave, he is exalted and becomes overjoyed at the thought of being free; free from religion, Chillingworth, and the miserable guilt that had been haunting him for the past seven years.  Hester, also happy for Dimmesdale’s decision, takes the clasps off her scarlet letter and throws it upon the leaves in the forest.  She takes the formal cap off her hair as well, and lets her hair fall upon her shoulders.  She explains how free she feels.  Hawthorne explains how “She had not known the weight, until she felt the freedom!” (Hawthorne 182).  All of the freedom that she had lost seven long years ago had come back to her, and the sun brightens the forest with color.  After their exultation, Dimmesdale asks to see his daughter Pearl.  Hester calls for her in the forest, and sees that the sun is gleaming upon her.  She mentions that Pearl almost looks like the spirit of a child more than a living being.  As Pearl approaches, she seems to fit perfectly with the beauty and nature of the forest.  Animals do not scurry when she walks by, but stare and watch her rather curiously.

      

Chapter Nineteen: The Child at Brook-side

Building off of the ending of Chapter Eighteen, Hester and Dimmesdale observe Pearl as she returns to them. They remark at her strange and childish beauty that is only accentuated by the flowers, or pieces of nature, if you will, which she gathered in the forest. Dimmesdale also describes her features and their resemblance to his own, leading to a discussion between the two concerning the fact that Pearl’s features serve as evidence of their undisclosed affair, and that she was what continued to draw them together. Pearl, upon reaching the brook on her way back to Hester, refuses to cross. Instead, she points towards the spot on Hester’s bosom where the scarlet letter used to be fastened. Hester, who initially has no clue why Pearl won’t cross the stream, ignore her actions and pleads with her to come back to the dell. Pearl then breaks into a fit where she gesticulates wildly about and screams shrilly at the top of her lungs. In order to pacify her, Hester follows through on her idea to replace the scarlet letter so that Pearl may “recognize” her once again. As it so happens, this works and Pearl crosses the stream and is told to receive Dimmesdale’s blessing. After much encouragement, she finally does so, but, when Dimmesdale kisses her upon the forehead, she bolts to the brook to wash it away. The chapter then ends with the narrator laying blame for the incident on the melancholy nature of the brook.

Character Development

Hester -

Previously, Hester seemed sad, suicidal, slightly crazy, and all in all, a remnant of her former self. These chapters completely change her character. Hester feels supreme joy and elation that she and Dimmesdale will be together once again and that Pearl will finally have another person in her world who truly loves her. In response to this event, Hester throws off her scarlet letter and lets her hair fall free and all at once, “her sex, her youth, and the whole richness of her beauty, came back from what men called the irrevocable past” (Hawthorne 183). Hester for the first time in so long feels true happiness. Following this event, “forth burst the sunshine” onto Hester, for the first time in the entire book. Hester here goes through an evolution. Hawthorne illustrates that the Puritan punishment has kept Hester bound and unhappy, and that freedom can bring true happiness.

    However, right after this scene, Pearl does not even recognize her mother without the scarlet letter, forcing Hester to be unhappy once again as she dons the symbol. This is further discussed in conflicts.
    On another note, Hester’s character is shown to be morally superior than most other members of her society. Taught by “despair, shame, and solitude”, Hester has grown into a woman who is not so conditioned by societal rules (Hawthorne 180). Hester’s plan to run away is quite radical, and makes Dimmesdale nervous, yet Hester stays calm. It is ironic how, by her society’s rules, the scarlet letter has not taught Hester to be more prone to following rules, but has made her more open to disobeying them as she has been separated from society for so long. This irony adds strength to Hawthorn’s criticism of Puritan society.

Dimmesdale -

Very much like Hester, Dimmesdale finds happiness for the first time in many years. His spirit is revitalized and he feels “joy again” from this situation (Hawthorne 182). This is important for the same reason as Hester’s transformation, as it shows that Puritan society keeps happiness away from people and that freedom brings upon happiness. What is more interesting however is that Dimmesdale, the holy man, seems to be comfortable with leaving the society for which he has done so much good. Dimmesdale would rather flee than admit his crime, to Pearl’s disgust. Dimmesdale here is a coward. Through Pearl’s dissatisfaction with his choice of fleeing rather than openly admitting his guilt, Hawthorne shows that is cowardly to run away from a situation, and that to be truly good, one must throw himself into the claws of society, ready for whatever comes.

Pearl -

Pearl in these chapters seems to stay the same. She is still in tune with nature and has an odd attachment to Hester’s scarlet letter. Furthermore, Pearl continues to demonstrate a unnerving capacity for insight into the thoughts, relationships and conflicts of others.

Conflict Development

Chillingworth vs. Dimmesdale & Dimmesdale vs. Dimmesdale

    Dimmesdale decides to get away from Chillingworth physically by running away.

    Dimmesdale resolves his own guilt ridden conscience by understanding that there is someone who knows of his guilt and by his decision to run off and live happily in Europe with Hester and Pearl.

Hester and Dimmesdale’s Romance

    For the first time in the entire novel, Hawthorne delves into the romantic and passionate aspect of Hester’s and Dimmesdale’s relationship. These chapters show the reader that Hester’s and Dimmesdale’s love has persevered throughout the seven years. Now given the intimacy of the moment, Hawthorne displays the cruelty of Puritan society as it has kept these two lovers separate for so long. The two lovers agree to sail off to Europe. However, this is met with much disdain by Pearl who wants Dimmesdale to admit his sin in front of the eyes of society. Hawthorne states that it is a great thing that the lovers have reunited and have found happiness, but through his usage of Pearl, who has an absurd amount of insight, he is suggesting to the reader that Hester’s and Dimmesdale’s plan may not be the best idea or the past route to take. Pearl wants them to go back to their own town and be united there. Through this suggestion, Hawthorne places disdain on fleeing a demanding situation.

Motifs and Symbolism

“Mother,” said little Pearl, “the sunshine does not love you. It runs away and hides itself, because it is afraid of something on your bosom. Now see! There it is, playing, a good way off. Stand you here, and let me run and catch it. I am but a child. It will not flee from me, for I wear nothing on my bosom yet!”

Sunlight is an evident and reoccurring motif throughout these chapters.  In chapter 16, Hawthorne plays around with sunshine to illustrate Hester’s freedom from her image.  At one point, Hester and Pearl are playing in the forest.  During which time, the sun is peeking in through the treetops onto Pearl.  Pearl exclaims how the sun keeps shining on her, and asks Hester to join in by helping her ‘catch’ the sun.  Pearl notices that every time the sun hits Hester, it goes away.  Hester disregards this fact and suggests that Pearl go catch the sunlight herself.  When Hester comes to join Pearl in the sun, however, the light quickly fades away.  So far in the novel, sunlight has represented purity.  For example, when Dimmesdale stands on the scaffold during the night, he is allowing himself to release his guilt without releasing it to the townspeople.  His unwillingness to reveal his guilt in the daytime, however, is keeping his guilt hidden inside and making his soul adulterated.  The light shying away from Hester is Hawthore telling the audience that Hester’s soul, like Dimmesdale’s, is adulterated.  She still struggles with the burden of keeping Chillingworth’s identify a secret.  

Later on in the chapter, after Hester and Dimmesdale had planned his escape, Hester throws off her ‘A’ and lets down her hair.  She feels the weight of the ‘A’ being lifted off her bosom.  Just after, the forest illuminates with sunlight and the colors of the trees and forest floor saturate.  This shows that Hester has lifted the burden of Chillingworth and of the ‘A’ from her mind, making her pure.  

Development of Social Criticism
    After seven long years during which Hester and Dimmesdale were estranged from each other by the restrictions of society, the two lovers finally reunite, yet their first actions are to question the other’s existence. This adds fodder to Hawthorne’s argument against society, as the idea that it can corrupt a passionate relationship to such an extreme degree is unfathomable to most.
    While sunlight is often used in literature to indicate truth and purity, the aforementioned use of sunlight in this novel regularly indicates the harsh judgement and attention, be it positive or negative, of society. Hawthorne uses this highly pervasive method of turning a symbol on its head to generally question the common paradigms of society. 
     One of these common paradigms that prevailed in the Puritan Era instilled the belief that if one were to defy the customs and restrictions of society, they would be struck down or at least disowned by God. In the novel, Hawthorne attempts to dispute this paradigm by demonstrating that for Hester to defy the social restriction of the scarlet letter makes her feel liberated and ecstatic. Furthermore, Hawthorne suggests that society can, in fact, be securely disregarded through Hester and Dimmesdale’s decision to emigrate Boston in favor of a place where they will not be judged for their sin.

Modern Day Connection
     Social and political refugees, by living in a country other than their own, are often able to exercise their freedom to an extent that would have been impossible in their former nation. Canada is a modern day example of this in that it has maintained a steadfast image as a haven in regards to same-sex marriage. This would relate to Hester and Dimmesdale seeking out the solitude of the forest rather than the disdainful attention of society. In doing so, Hester and Dimmesdale experience a similar situation of refuge and are only then able to speak freely and honestly with one another.

Links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Same-sex_marriage_in_Canada
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/justice-minister-declares-all-same-sex-marriages-legal-and-valid/article2301691/
http://parablemania.ektopos.com/archives/2008/11/discr-same-sex.html