Chapters 23 & 24

Chapter Summaries

Chapter 23: The Revelation
In Chapter twenty-three of The Scarlet Letter, Dimmesdale has just finished delivering an extremely powerful sermon to the Puritan community. Dimmesdale’s sermon about the relation between God and the community truly inspires the Puritans, to the point where they are transported past physical being into a new realm through his powerful words. Throughout the commanding sermon, there is a continuous hint of anguish, which is the result of Dimmesdale’s death approaching. Dimmesdale stands at the pulpit to deliver his sermon, emitting a brilliant glow of splendor about him, while Hester stands at the bottom of the scaffold. As the procession starts up again, Dimmesdale appears to be extremely faint and delicate. John Wilson steps forward to help steady the minister, but his offer is dismissed by Dimmesdale. Bellingham, a magistrate, also steps forward with the intention of helping the wavering minister, but pauses just before Dimmesdale calls out to Hester and Pearl. Using his strength from God, he yells for Hester and his daughter to join him on the scaffold, which he has not had the courage to do for seven years. The sun has just passed the highest point when Dimmesdale admits his sin to the crowd, and at last reveals his suffering by ripping away the ministerial band which had been covering his chest. As he rips away the band, some say that there was a scarlet “A” burned into his chest. However, his friends, in an attempt to salvage his reputation and honor, say there was no “A” branded onto his chest. In one last attempt to have a kiss from his daughter, he asks her for a kiss, which she then bestows upon his lips. “Pearl kissed his lips. A spell was broken. The great scene of grief, in which the wild infant bore a part, had developed all her sympathies.” Pearl seemed to have had a special connection with the supernatural world, making her personality resemble that of the devil. In this moment however, she adopts the qualities and traits of a person with true emotions, and releases all supernatural attributes. She has finally developed past just a product of a moment of passion. Hester questions Dimmesdale on whether they will see each other once they have both passed away, but Dimmesdale replies that the decision is left up to God.

Chapter 24: Conclusion
Chapter 24 starts off the with different accounts of the scarlet letter on Dimmesdale's chest, if there even was one. There are three theories as to where the letter comes from. Some townspeople think that Dimmesdale personally tortured himself ever since Hester started to wear her A, and thus eventually creating the letter A on his chest as well. Others believe that Chillingworth had a part in the A, and with his treatments and drugs it eventually appeared. Some also thought that due to his spiritual connection with God and his sin, his own body burned the A on his chest from the inside out. These are all merely guesses and the narrator makes it clear that one could be just as plausible as the other. Many people also believe that the letter was never even on his chest. They looked at his death in the arms of Hester not as an act of guilt or connection with her, but as a symbol of the futile sin and how we are all sinners alike, for a minister is dying in the hands of an adulteress, Hester Prynne. In doing this Dimmesdale is showing that even with the universal knowledge one can acquire from such a spiritual position, we need to learn to look past the good and bad humans and just look to God. The help that Dimmesdale receives from many of his fellow ministers, like Bellingham and Wilson, also illustrates the lengths that men of the same power go to to hide the sins of such a spiritual man.
An overall moral of the story that the narrator wishes to convey to the reader is clearly illustrated in the text. He urges, "Be true! Be true! Be true! Show freely to the world, if not your worst, yet some trait whereby the worst may be inferred!” (Hawthorne 231). In this moral, the narrator tells the reader to admit to their sins, maybe not their worst sins but some wrong that they have done that in turn avoids any guilt that they could then encounter.
After the death of Dimmesdale, Chillingworth becomes a different man. He completely vanishes from society and loses all the life that he once had. His one goal of getting revenge on a man has become nonexistent, for Dimmesdale dies. The narrator briefly adds in this that love and hate have the same passion, and that he hopes that when Chillingworth dies his hate that he is currently experiencing turns to "golden love."
After Chillingworth dies a year after Dimmesdale, he gives all of his fortunes, including his properties in Boston and England, to Pearl, making her the richest heiress of the New World. This then makes her a very respected woman in society, however she and her mother disappear from Boston for sometime and the scarlet letter becomes a legend. Hester eventually returns to Boston without Pearl, who has moved on with her life and most likely has a family of her own. Hester comes back to her old, rotted house and spends nearly all of her time in there. It was obvious some outside person was taking care of her, for she frequently received letters and packages of gifts in the mail from England. Many believed that all of this was from Pearl. Upon her death, Hester is buried in the King Chapel's graveyard, next to Dimmesdale but far enough away that they would not intermingle. They did share the same tombstone, however, which is embellished with the letter A.


Character Development
Hester,before Dimmesdale dies, asks if they will be together in the afterlife. Hester's love for Dimmesdale clearly has yet to end, and she will always love him. Because of this, upon Dimmesdale's death, Pearl and Hester leave town. But when Hester comes back, alone, she maintains an isolated lifestyle. She wishes to end her life where she started it. She feels as though because Boston is the place where she sinned and endured her punishments, she should die there as well. Even though the letter was looked at with awe rather than scorn to the towns people, she still continued to wear it and looked at it with sadness. People, especially women, even went to Hester's house to look for advice, which she gave. She once believed that she could be a woman that defied the role of women and made them equal to men, but since her life was nearing its end she knew that it would have to be someone else.

Pearl learns to love Dimmesdale in the first chapter. When he calls her near once he is on the scaffold, she runs to him like a bird and hugs his legs. She truly loves her father and feels a strong connection towards him. When she kisses his lips after he reveals his sin, she undergoes a complete transformation. Her demon qualities, which were used as punishment for the sins that the couple possessed, completely diminished from Pearl. She then grew up wealthy, due to the fortunes Chillingworth left to her out, and full of joy with a family and children, living in England. While her mother was still living, she reached out and provided for her as best she could. She appreciated all her mother did for her.

Dimmesdale experiences a complete catharsis as he walks out of the church after giving his moving sermon. Before this, he was very lifeless and weak, and he could barely walk to the scaffold. But after his profession of sin to the people of the town, he becomes completely enlivened. He tells Chillingworth that he wishes he finds forgiveness in the sins that he has done. He has officially found acceptance and contentment. The narrator says, "...there was a sweet and gentle smile over his face, as of a spirit sinking into deep repose; nay, now that the burden was removed..." (Hawthorne 228-229). Upon his death, he puts his life in God's hands and is completely content with life.

Chillingworth simply becomes a hopeless and lifeless man. Despite his efforts to prevent Dimmesdale from admitting his sin, he fails. After DImmesdale's death he becomes completely worn down and disappears from the town life. He feels as though he has no purpose in life, since his sole motivation was to seek revenge on Dimmesdale. He gives his fortunes to Pearl, and then dies. The narrator illustrates that when it comes down to it, hatred and love are full of the same passion. Even though Chillingworth's life on earth was full of malice and revenge, he may experience love once he has died. The narrator states, "In the spiritual world, the old physician and the minister- mutual victims as they have been- may, unawares, have found their earthly stock of hatred and antipathy transmuted into golden love" (Hawthorne 232).

Conflict Development

Dimmesdale’s Internal Conflict

The conflict of should he once and for all expose his sin has finally comes to a close in these two chapters. After Dimmesdale gives his last impassioned sermon to an enraptured crowd, he soon thereafter reveals his parallel part to Hester’s scarlet letter. The crowd is shocked, and some are horrified. But Dimmesdale is finally free. He has released this burden that he has held for seven long years. Now he is at peace and is described as such, “there was a sweet and gentle smile over his face, as of a spirit sinking into deep repose; nay, now that the burden was removed…” (Hawthorne 228). After exposing the truth, and relieving his guilt, Dimmesdale is able to die in peace.

Dimmesdale vs. Pearl

This “conflict” is more of a reference to Pearl originally refusing to accept Dimmesdale because he would not stand with her and Hester on the scaffold. But, now that Dimmesdale has indulged this wish of hers, and called Hester and Pearl to him to have them all stand together on the scaffold, Pearl accepts him as her father. Right as he is about to die, he asks her if she would now give him a kiss, and she complies. This kiss is what ends their conflict, and “the spell was broken” (Hawthorne 229). The end to this conflict is symbolic of the three of them, father, mother, and child, all being at peace with their mutual sin being set out in the open.

Dimmesdale and Hester vs. Chillingworth

Ever since Chillingworth discovered Dimmesdale’s role in Hester’s sin, he has been bent on revenge against the sickly clergyman. In these final chapters, their conflict has come to a close too. Chillingworth tries to prevent Dimmesdale from revealing his sin because he wants to follow them back to Europe and exact his revenge, but Dimmesdale has other plans. He shakes Chillingworth off and proceeds to tell the crowd the truth; Chillingworth then loses all strength and falls to the ground. “Old Roger Chillingworth knelt down beside him, with a blank, dull countenance, out of which life seemed to have departed” (Hawthorne 228). Because his source of revenge, and ultimately his reason for living, ceased to exist, he lost his own will to live. Chillingworth finally dies within the year.

Hester and Dimmesdale’s Romance

In the end, Hester and Dimmesdale do not live happily ever after with their daughter Pearl. Dimmesdale dies on the day he reveals his sin, and Hester and Pearl soon move away (only later does Hester return to her cottage). Hester asks Dimmesdale if they are to be together in the afterlife; Dimmesdale responds by saying that God is indeed merciful, but their time together was most likely on earth. In conclusion, the three do make their final stand together on the scaffold as promised, but are not together as a family.

Motifs/Symbolism

Hester and Dimmesdale’s “A”: Hester’s scarlet letter has been a symbol of her sin throughout the novel and reminds everyone, including herself, of her sin/ Pearl. There have been allusions to Dimmesdale having a similar mark; when Chillingworth examined his chest and discovered “something” or a mark to indicate his sin. So as Dimmesdale reveals his sin to the town, and pulls away his minstrel apparel to expose his “mark”, this is the completion of the scarlet letter motif. Dimmesdale revealing his “A” is symbolic of completing the connection that links Hester and him.

Pearl: In these chapters, Pearl ends her service as a reminder of the sin Hester and Dimmesdale committed. When she accepts Dimmesdale as her father, because he finally told the truth about them, and kisses him, she ends her tormenting role. This kiss shows that to Dimmesdale and “towards her mother too, Pearl’s errand as a messenger of anguish was all fulfilled” (Hawthorne 229). Pearl is now also free. She can grow up and become a woman free from her role to remind her parents of their sin until both could “come clean” to society about their relations.

Social Criticism

Society and Religion

The townspeople’s reaction to Dimmesdale, on that day, represents Puritan society. When describing how the townspeople react to first his sermon, and then his revelation, Hawthorne is showing that Puritan people are not concrete in their beliefs and do not want to be proven wrong. All of the citizens had believed that Dimmesdale was the utmost holy and pious man in the whole community for years. His sermon made them only continue this belief, but when he reveals his sin, some even forgive it with sympathy! Others even refuse to say they say the “mark” or “A” upon his chest, and that they did not hear him say he was such an impious sinner. They have not even abandoned their values; they instead are actually just making an exception for Dimmesdale. While still they shun Hester for the same sin. They do not want to be seen as oblivious followers who had the “wool pulled over their eyes”. They cannot fathom that their beloved minister was such a sinner.

Modern Connection

Although not an exact modern connection between Hester in The Scarlet Letter, Tiger Woods serves as an adequate example. After committing adultery, Woods faced public humiliation and was criticized by not only the public, but also his fans. He cheated on his wife, Elin Nordegren, with over seven other mistresses. Although Tiger Woods committed adultery to a more extreme extent, Hester and he faced similar outcomes. Hester was forced to stand in front of the Puritan community with her child in her arms. She was also sentenced to wear a scarlet letter “A” pinned to her bosom. Not only was her name tainted by this sin, but she was also ostracized by the community. When Tiger’s infidelity was brought into the light, he faced slandering articles from newspapers and magazines. His name was tarnished by his adultery, and he lost many fans which he had gained throughout his phenomenal golf career. Tiger Woods also attended rehab for sex-addicts as a result of his infidelity. Hester and Tiger Woods may have committed adultery to varying extents, but both faced harsh public outcomes.

source:

http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/tiger-woods-women-linked-alleged-affairs/story?id=9270076#.T2fgxtmaLTo

Chapters 20-22

Chapter Summaries

Chapter 20
When Dimmesdale returns to the town he can hardly believe what it feels like to have good fortunes again. Hester and he have decided to go to  Europe, since it offers more anonymity and a better environment for Dimmesdale’s fragile health. Through her charity work, Hester has become acquainted with the crew of a ship that is to depart for England in four days. Hester and Dimmesdale plan to gain access to a passage on the vessel. Dimmesdale feels that people should know he is a changed man.He finds that things which were once familiar to him are now strange, like his own being.
As he walks back and through the town he encounters a series of people. At first, he passes a church elder which he nearly shouts a blasphemous statement at. Something holds him back. He then passes an elderly woman who was looking for some spiritual comfort. He almost tells her something about the morality of the human soul, but something stops him again and the widow walks away satisfied. After that he ignores a young woman who recently converted to the church because he did not want to plant his seed of evil into her innocent heart. After he counters a group of children, to whom he almost teaches wicked words. He sees a sailor, whom Dimmesdale nearly engages in a round of oaths with. At last he runs into Mistress Hibbins, who volunteers as an escort for him the next time he goes to the forest.
At last he returns to Chillingworth, from whom Dimmesdale asks to have his care removed. Chillingworth becomes wary, but is afraid to query outright whether the minister knows his true identity. Dimmesdale then takes his sermon which he has prepared for election day and plans to rewrite it in order to include his new views.

Analysis:
Dimmesdale is very clearly the main character in this chapter as he is tested between his ties to society and his duty, and his new found revelation or destruction, open for interpretation. His evil impulses can be analysed as revelations, if Hawthorne intented to show the reader that these devilish impulses are the best response to the cruel world. But these impulses can also be seen as a path he is falling down which only leads to his damnation.
As Dimmesdale ignores the woman in the street he holds fast to his old values, those values that made him a part of society, and those values he should reject if his new found beliefs are to be followed. And as he feels it would be proper to save her soul, he forgets that he led her into the church through which he knew upright as sexual attraction she had for him. Therefore it is proper to know that her soul has already been stained.

Chapter 21:
This chapter starts on the morning of the inauguration. The town was filled with people not just from the town but from surrounding areas. Everyone was dressed in their best clothing for this holiday, but Hester wore the same outfit that everyone was accustomed to see her in, a coarse grey dress with the scarlet letter on her chest. Although she was dressed in the same manner, there was something different about her. Before she would bear the scarlet letter because society and religion demanded her to, but today she bore the weight voluntarily because it was going to be the last day she would have the scarlet letter pinned to her chest.
As Pearl and Hester approached the town center, Pearl became more and more restless and she questions why people were behaving differently today. Pearl notices that even the prison guard was smiling at her and she questioned Hester why. Hester respond by simply saying that he remembers her when she first came out of the jail house. Pearl became appalled by this idea because he was an “ugly-eyed man” but he could acknowledge Hester because she wore the scarlet A on her chest. Pearl also asked whether the minister would hold Hester’s and her hands just like in the forest and Hester responded with a no and Pearl found it extremely peculiar that Dimmesdale would be very intimate with when it is dark out like on the scaffold and in the forest but when it is bright out like on the day of the inauguration, the minister would act as though he did not know them.

The novel then goes on to describe the town and the people there during the holidays. It seemed as though everyone had compressed their joy and happiness into that date. Even on that day of celebration, the Puritans had this inherent bloom that blanketed the town. The Puritan tried to incorporate some of the festivity found in England in this celebration but it was only a sad and diluted version that matched the grayness of their society. All of the Puritans there had a smile on their face, but that smile was described as grim.

Among the throng of people was Roger Chillingworth. He had a suspicion that Hester and Dimmesdale were going to run off by sailing off to Europe and that suspicion led him to ask the ship master of the boat docked in Boston if he could be the doctor for the ship and the ship master agreed to do so. By Roger Chillingworth boarding the ship with Hester, Pearl and Dimmesdale, their plan would be ruinned.

Chapter 22:

The chapter opens with the procession to the place where Dimmesdale will deliver his Election Sermon. The procession is escorted by musicians and soldiers in full armor, followed by “men of civil eminence”, including those in political office. They are followed by young priests, and bringing up the rear is Dimmesdale himself.

The narrator emphasizes Dimmesdale’s body language as he prepares to make his speech; he has energy and confidence, the likes of which he has not exhibited in years; and, more specifically, his hand is not over his heart. It is unclear where exactly he has derived this energy and confidence from, but it seems as though he has gained a sort of “spiritual strength”, for his mind seems to be in another place. Upon seeing him, Hester briefly thinks of their time together in the woods, and is amazed at how differently he behaves, fearing that they may not posses the bond that she imagined.

Meanwhile, Pearl, recognizing the minister from their escapade in the woods, asks her mother if the minister is the same one who kissed her by the brook, stating that she almost ran up and kissed him when she first saw him. Her mother quickly chastises her, ordering her to not mention anything regarding their secret trip into the woods.

Hester encounters another woman in the crowd, Mistress Hibbins, who comments on Dimmesdale’s “saintly” appearance. She also tells Hester that she knows that they met up in the woods, dropping hints that she knows that he is the one with whom she committed adultery. She specifically states that he is “hiding his mark of shame” by holding his hand over his heart, and she tells Pearl that she is the daughter of the “Prince of the Air”.

When Dimmesdale begins his speech, Hester listens attentively, feeling as though there is some deeper meaning for her. Pearl, however, wanders off, trying to charm the crowd. She meets a seafaring man, who tries to kiss her at first, and then asks her to tell her mother that the “hump-shouldered” old doctor, most likely referring to Chillingworth, will bring his friend, “the gentleman she wots of” on the ship with him, and that Hester need only think about herself and Pearl. This concerns Hester, and as she is thinking about this, she suddenly realizes that she is being stared at by everybody, even those who do not know of her Scarlet Letter.

Character Development:

Dimmesdale appears to develop quite a bit in chapter 20 because of his considered attempts at doing blasphemous actions. However he is always prevented by his ties to the society which he has become part of. When he elects not to encounter the girl, whom he recently converted to the church, he is actually electing to have her not be informed on his new revelations. So as he elects to never act upon his new attitude he is in effect electing not to recognize it at all. There may appear to be a change in Dimmesdale, but he is the same man who is unwilling to abandon the society in which he grew accustomed to. In this way Dimmesdale can be accurately described as a stagnant character because he is not capable of change. This was foreshadowed in chapter 19 when Pearl did not accept Dimmesdale. Pearl is a good judge of another character’s truthfulness as she forces Hester to remember her past humiliation and refuses to embrace Dimmesdale until he faces his.
In chapter 22 Dimmesdale worries Hester because his apparent new vigor makes him seem remote to her. It should also be noticed that mistress Hibbins is catching on, to say she has figured out Pearl’s father is Dimmesdale. This can be considered indirect character development. To counter the seeming continuous pulling the society has on Dimmesdale, chapter 22 offers a distinct example of Pearl’s new acceptance of him. In this situation Pearl, who is again a good judge of truthfulness, offers to kiss Dimmesdale who appears to her as a reformed man. In this way it can be interpreted that he has in fact changed. He is changed or not, but it is not possible to deem at this point.


Pearl, as a character, once again shows very little development in this sequence of chapters. She remains the curious, somewhat insolent child that she always has been. However, she changes in her behavior towards Dimmesdale, becoming more “embracing” of him. In chapter 22, when she remarks that she wanted to “run to him, and bid him kiss [her] now, before all the people”, she is contradicting her previous desire to wash off his kiss in Chapter 19.

Hester as a character experiences a tremendous change in chapter 22. This change occurs as she is watching Dimmesdale walk to the meeting house. Dimmesdale walked with a renewed power that he did not possess at that time due to his illness, yet he walked as though he had a force behind him. This energy was derived not from physical energy but from a spiritual energy. He was unaware of his surrounds and the events going on around him because he was submerged in his own thoughts. Dimmesdale’s new behavior bothered Hester a great deal because it seemed almost as though “he seemed so remote from her own sphere, and utterly beyond her reach.”(204) She begins to believe that he was a changed man and she begins to doubt whether what happened in the forest actually occurred or was it a dream. She could hardly recognize Dimmesdale and she felt as though she had no connection with him because of how unattainable he seemed as he walked to the meeting house. Hester could hardly forgive Dimmesdale for isolating himself from Hester and Pearl, but it was worsened by their approaching fate, running of to Europe. Hester feels lost and alone in this society and as she “groped darkly, and stretched forth her cold hands”(205) for reassurance, he was not there.

Conflict Development:
In these chapters, there is moderate development of the conflict between Roger Chillingworth and Hester and Dimmesdale. After Dimmesdale has returned to his study from the forest in Chapter 20, Roger Chillingworth confronts him in his study. After a few pleasantries are exchanged, it becomes clear to Chillingworth that Hester revealed his identity to the minister. This suspicion is further confirmed as Dimmesdale refuses to receive any further medical care from him. Because of this encounter, Roger Chillingworth does his best to interfere with whatever plans Hester and Dimmesdale had made.
Chilligworth’s meddling is revealed at the end of chapter 21, when the ship captain tells Hester of a new development regarding their voyage. It seems that Chillingworth is not satisfied with the amount of suffering that Dimmesdale has endured, and decided to put himself on the same boat that they will be on as they travel to Europe. This only increases tensions between the two lovers and Hester’s estranged husband; he will stop at nothing to make sure that they are not ever able to be happy in their sins against him and against society. His plans are further illuminated at the end of chapter 22: he plans to bunk with Dimmesdale, so as to make sure that no... unscrupulous actions... are undertaken during the voyage. As a whole, the conflict slowly but surely develops during the chapters, each one adding a new twist to the interference of Chillingworth in the plans of Hester and Dimmesdale.


Motifs:
The continued motif of light and dark is further explored in chapter 22. As the reader is introduced to the procession, the military company stands out. Pearl’s mood is lightened by the reflection of the sunlight on the weapons and armor of the military escort. These military men are then described as gentlemen, and are compared to the Knights Templar. This goes to further show the possible connection between sunlight and truth, justice, and/or the worthy of society. These men have nothing to hide, as shown by their flamboyant helmets, shining armor, and bright swords.
Another interesting development is that when Dimmesdale walks past Hester and Pearl, and Pearl asks whether this minister was the same from the forest, Hester quickly quiets Pearl. She says that “We must not always talk in the marketplace of what happens  to us in the forest” (215). Hester does not wish what happened in the safe darkness of the forest to be revealed in the bright marketplace. This offers a different point of view than the one most commonly discussed in class. Hester’s reluctance to discuss secret matters in the public forum suggests that the Sunlight does have something to do with society. Secrets are flaunted in the darkness and hidden in the daylight.

http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs8/i/2005/296/8/7/Hester_Prynne_by_darkestnight.jpg

Modern Connection:

We didn’t find a modern connection that relates directly to these chapters, but we did find one that relates to the book as a whole (mostly the early chapters). In New Mexico, an eighth grade girl found out that she was pregnant. She told her parents, and together they informed her school’s principal and two other officials. Their immediate action was to kick her out of school. Naturally, they sought legal action, and ran to the nearest branch of the American Civil Liberties Union. The ACLU told the school that her rights were violated, and they reluctantly agreed to let her back into the school. However, a little over two weeks after she was re-admitted, the school had a class-wide assembly, in which the girl was required, by the school officials to tell her entire grade that she was pregnant. Before this, only her parents and sister knew. Even the writers of the article on the ACLU website saw the connection, saying “Adopting one’s moral convictions from the Scarlet Letter is completely inappropriate and fails to take into account a child’s educational needs.”

http://www.aclu.org/womens-rights/new-mexico-teen-kicked-out-school-and-publicly-humiliated-pregnancy

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

Monday 12, 2012

Chapters 13 - 15

Chapter 13: Another View of Hester

               This chapter goes deeper into Hester’s thoughts and explains her position and contributions to society. It starts out with Hester reviewing her encounter with Mr. Dimmesdale at the platform late at night. She has noticed how much he has changed in his personality and she fears for his mental well-being. Hester describes him as “His moral force was abased into more than childish weakness. It groveled helpless on the ground, even while his intellectual faculties retained their pristine strength, or had perhaps acquired a morbid energy, which disease only could have given them.” (Hawthorne 144) Hester explains how she believes that the reason why Mr. Dimmesdale is at this state is because of Roger Chillingworth’s influencing power. She realizes that during her time with Mr. Dimmesdale he was begging for her help. Hester was taken aback by this gesture because she was the outcast of the community. But, with that position she has also come to her own conclusions of what she believes is right and wrong instead of what society thinks is right and wrong. At this time seven years has passed since she stood on the platform in front of everyone to display her sin. The town has now come accustomed to referring to Hester as, “—who is so kind to the poor, so helpful to the sick, so comfortable to the afflicted!”(Hawthorne 147) They recognize that Hester works every day to earn Pearl’s and her necessities in life. It was also noted how she gave the most to the poor and the needy. Hester began to be acknowledged as the Sister of Mercy. Then, the change in the meaning of the letter was addressed, “The letter was the symbol of her calling. Such helpfulness was found in her,—so much power to do, and power to sympathize,—that many people refused to interpret the scarlet A by its original signification. They said that it meant Able; so strong was Hester Prynne, with a woman’s strength.” Not only did the meaning of the letter change but people began to belief that the letter had given Hester a supernatural form of power. It was described as, “It imparted to the wearer a kind of sacredness, which enabled her to walk securely amid all peril. Had she fallen among thieves, it would have kept her safe. It was reported, and believed by many, that an Indian had drawn his arrow against the badge, and that the missile struck it, but fell harmless to the ground.”(Hawthorne 147)   Hester’s attitude about life shaped a new future for her. She displayed how much power she had within herself when she did not wither away because of her sin. She stepped above it and the townspeople noticed. But, she would not allow for credit to be given to her. When someone would try and greet her she would simply point to the letter and continue with her day. Also, in this chapter Hester’s appearance was noticeably different. Before her sin, Hester was known as a beautiful woman but because of her sin her lovely features began to disappear. Her hair was described to always be pulled tightly back and covered in from the sun. This is a very important symbolism. In novels, allowing a characters hair to be down is usually a symbol of freedom. In this novel the sun stands for the truth. In past chapters the author explains how Mr. Dimmesdale is always hiding in his closet when he punishes himself instead of coming out and admitting his fault. Similarly, Hester does not allow her hair or herself to be forgiven from her sin so that is why she remains as an outcast. Because Hester was an outcast she had a lot of time to think about society and women.  Hester, also often thinks about Pearl, her presence on Earth, and if life was worth it. She questions how her life would be without Pearl and how now that God has given her Pearl she is a reminder of how the world is a difficult place. She then questions the birth of Pearl and if it was positive or not. But, her encounter with Mr. Dimmedale has given her a new topic to think about. She decides that she will help him escape from Roger Chillingworth. The last scene in the chapter is Hester with Pearl approaching Chillingworth who is collecting herbs and roots for his medicines.

Chapter 14: Hester and the Physician
This chapter begins with Hester stumbling upon her old husband along the shore. This is their first official confrontation in years. Chillingworth is searching for herbs to make medicines with when Hester finds him. She sends Pearl away so that she may speak to the doctor in private.
               Pearl’s actions are very interesting when she leaves her mother. She flies away “like a bird, and, making bare her small white feet, [goes] pattering along the moist margin of the sea” (Hawthorne 152). Pearl has been compared to a bird several times throughout the novel so far, showing her free and electric spirit. The then looks into the water and smiles at her reflection. She invites her reflection to play with her, and the image does the same as if to say, “This is a better place! Come thou into the pool” (Hawthorne 152).This could be considered to be another supernatural influence on Pearl. Pearl knows how evil the world is; she has no other playmates and can only trust herself.
               While Pearl is in the water, Hester confronts the doctor. Chillingworth tells Hester that the council has been debating whether or not to remove the scarlet letter from her breast because of her good deeds. She says that the men do not have to power to do so; she believes that if she was truly worthy to have it removed, then it would fall off on its own or transform into something with a different meaning. Hester has lost her passion over the years, and has succumbed to the building guilt for her sin. She has gained excessive guilt for Dimmesdale; she watches how the sin they share destroys him every day.
               As they talk, Hester notices how much Chillingworth has changed. He is no longer old, calm, and studious, but rather has an aggressive and inquisitive look to him. Hester believes that his search for sin has changed him into this evil being. He tries to hide this new attitude, but fails. When he asks Hester what is causing her to stare at his face, she says that it is “something that would make me weep; if there were any tears bitter enough for it” (Hawthorne 154).
               Hester shifts the conversation to Dimmesdale and how she feels that he deserves to know who Chillingworth really is. She regrets her promise to never reveal the identity of her former husband. She feels that it would have been better for Dimmesdale if he were hung in the gallows than to live with this guilt. Chillingworth does not believe he has done any wrong. He says that he is the reason that the reverend is still alive. He has realized that Dimmesdale has a supernatural feeling of suspicion towards the doctor, but knows that Dimmesdale will never reveal it. He has committed his life to tormenting himself for his sin. Hester questions the doctor: “Hast thou not tortured him enough?” (Hawthorne 156), but Chillingworth does not think he has in the slightest. He believes that Dimmesdale has increased his debt, not just for the medical care the doctor has provided, but also because of the disgusting creature the doctor has been transformed into. Hester disagrees and tries to convince him that it is her fault as well. Chillingworth does not take any extra revenge on Hester though, for the scarlet letter she wears takes care of that. She says that the letter has taught her the virtue of truth, and that is why she must tell Dimmesdale who Chillingworth really is. She says that truth burns the soul like an iron, and there is no good for any of them left in this world.
               Chillingworth pities Hester. He believes that if she had married someone who loved her better than he did, then this sin never would have been committed. Hester also pities Chillingworth, because of the horrible demon he has turned into. He has realized that he does not have the power to purge this demonic spirit from him. He tells Hester to do what she will with the reverend, and goes on picking his herbs.

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Chapter 15 Summary- Hester and Pearl:

The chapter begins with old Roger Chillingworth stooping away from Hester after their conversation. As he is walking he is collecting herbs and medicines to “treat” sick Dimmesdale with. Hester is staring at him and wondering about his maliciousness. She wonders how such an evil man can walk so calmly and undisturbed. Hester imagines that “[…]the tender grass of early spring would not be blighted beneath him, and show the wavering track of his footsteps, sere and brown, across its cheerful verdure”(Hawthorne 158). This shows how Hester believes that he truly is the devil and that the grass should be setting up in flames under each footstep he takes. The flames represent the devil and Hell so therefore, Hester sees the evil which she had not seen in Chillingworth seven years before. She also reminisces on the old days when she used to be married to Chillingworth. This is important because she does not talk about how she used to love him but rather how he deceived her into loving him and tricked her into thinking she was happy. She considers those days to be some of her worst memories and she mentions that marring him was, “her crime most to be repented of, that she had ever endured, and reciprocated, the lukewarm grasp of his hand, and had suffered the smile of her lips and eyes to mingle and melt into his own”(Hawthorne 159). This is extremely significant because by blatantly saying this it shows that Hester is more disappointed in her decision to marry Chillingworth than in her decision to commit adultery. Her crime of adultery was committed with an extreme passion and maybe this is why she is not as regretful of it because her marriage was a misleading passion, one she is not proud of. She also thinks that by Chillingworth tricking her into loving him, he committed a worse crime to her than she did to him. Most importantly, Hester blames Chillingworth for the reason for her sins. This is because if he had never simply made her think that she was in love and married her with no passion, then when someone came along who she actually had feelings for, she could not hold herself back. All this time Pearl is playing freely on the beach. She is still trying to get her reflection to come out of the puddle and play with her and she even tries joining the girl in the puddle, but of course she fails. Pearl once again sees her reflection in the ocean water and she tries to invite it to play but of course it will not play with her. This outlines the fact that she is seen as an outcast in society and has no one else to trust and befriend besides herself. Pearl takes a jellyfish and lies it out in the sun to melt. This is terrible because she is perfectly happy to just kill this jellyfish by letting it fry in the sun, however, the jellyfish may represent acceptance. This is significant because Pearl lets her acceptance in society burn away and she does not care that she is not accepted, just as she does not care that the jellyfish is dying. Pearl only cares about being free to do what she wishes and not being held back by simple means such as acceptance. She later throws white sea foam into the air and attempts to catch it. A flock of sea birds are on the shore and Pearl pelts them with pebbles and eventually stops because one little gray bird with a white chest flys away with a broken wing and this upsets her. The bird is as wild and free as Pearl but then she hurts this freedom and this is why she stops. Finally, she uses seaweed to dress up like a mermaid and takes eelgrass and makes a green “A” on her chest. She is ecstatic to show her mother and see if she asks her what it means. Because it is green, it symbolizes life and by showing it to Hester, Pearl is attempting to show her mother that in her scarlet letter there is life and goodness out of her sin. This goodness includes having Pearl and not living with the guilt of her sin but instead living a life of truth and freedom(even though she does not really accept this ability to have freedom). Not only does it represent life, but it can also represent innocence. Hester sees the letter and tells Pearl that the letter has no significance and asks her what it means. Pearl replies by saying that it is simply the letter “A” from the alphabet but she later says, “It is for the same reason that the minister keeps his hand over his heart!”(Hawthorne 161). This proves that Pearl knows that the sin has to do with the minister and she knows that the minister holds his hand over his heart because of guilt. However, naive Pearl does not know what the sin is because she is too young to understand adultery. Hester is shocked and in her mind she compares Pearl to an April breeze; “which spends its time in airy sport, and has its gusts of inexplicable passion, and is petulant in its best of moods, and chills oftener than caresses you, when you take it to your bosom; in requital of which misdemeanours, it will sometimes, of its own vague purpose, kiss your cheek with a kind of doubtful tenderness, and play gently with your hair, and then begone about its other idle business, leaving a dreamy pleasure at your heart”(Hawthorne 162). This is describing Pearl and talking about how she is wild and unpredictable like an April breeze. At this point, Hester begins to consider that she may be able to now think of Pearl as a friend who she can confide in. During the first few years of Pearls life, Hester believed that Pearls curiosity with the scarlet letter was a way of punishment from God but she now believes that Pearl might have been sent from God to soothe the wild passion and sorrow in her heart. Walking home, Pearl repeatedly asks about the letter and Hester tells her that she wears it because it looks nice with the gold thread. The chapter concludes with Pearl asking her mother and Hester replying by telling her to be quiet or else she will shut her in a dark closet.

　

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Character Development:

Hester:

    In chapter 13 the readers see Hester develop into a “Sister of Mercy”. She is described as to be the first person at the bed side of a sick person or a person in need. “None so ready as she to give of her little substance to every demand of poverty…” (Hawthorne 146) Hester presence is always notice to be in the shadows when there is someone in need of help. Hester became so helpful and her power to aid and sympathize with others was noted by the townspeople. But, Hester stills continues to obey her position as an outcast in society. After a sickness has come and gone through someone so does Hester and even if an individual tries to confront her on the streets she makes it clear by pointing to her letter that she is still the women who committed adultery and nothing else. Another development in Hester is how she has gained a more authoritative, and powerful strength through the Scarlet Letter. The townspeople speak about how the Letter is compared to a cross on a nun, that nothing evil can try and touch Hester. The audience also sees the development in her real feelings for Mr. Dimmesdale. Once, Hester realizes that he is hurting she wants to help him, even if it means revealing who Chillingworth really is. “She decided, moreover, that he had a right to her utmost aid.”(Hawthorne 144) The audience understands that Hester feels at fault for the position that Mr. Dimmesdale is in and she feels obligated to try and fix it.


Chillingworth:
               In chapter 14, the reader is led in on how much Chillingworth has changed over the years. Hester notices that he has aged well, because his eagerness and vigor shines through his old skin. The old and studios man he used to be has been replaced. He smiles to cover this up, but the smile reveals the darkness inside of his soul. He has a red light in his eyes, as if his soul was on fire. He is described as an example of how a man who spends time doing the devil’s work will eventually turn into a devil. He has devoted the past seven years to tearing apart a sad man’s soul. When he first looks at Dimmesdale’s chest, he is compared to devil. We see his demonic transformation progress in this chapter. There is one point where he realizes how frightful he has become. He raises his hands with horror, for he has never seen himself as he does at that moment. He knows that he has changed into an evil being, but will not take any responsibility for it. He blames the two sinners, Hester and Dimmesdale, for the demon he has become.

Pearl:

In these chapters, Pearl slightly develops as a character. We learn that even though Pearl may just be a naive seven year old, that she knows a lot more about the scarlet “A” than we think. She was always asking Hester what the “A” meant but she knew all along the basics of the situation. She makes the incredible intellectual connection that the “A” on Hester’s chest is there for the same reason that the minister grips his chest in agony. When Pearl makes the green “A” on her chest she is testing Hester by seeing how she reacts and trying to get her to admit to her what the “A” truly means. Later, when Hester sees the green “A” she inquires about the meaning of the scarlet “A” at the beach Pearl says she wears it, “[…]for the same reason that the minister keeps his hand over his heart!”(Hawthorne 161). The scarlet letter on Hester’s chest is a punishment and causes her pain where the minister feels pain in the same spot because he is living in guilt with the same sin. This can also show that Pearl has some sort of supernatural qualities because of her capability to make these sort of connections when she barely knows about the situation.

Thematic development:
    In this section, we see the development of the theme that eventually, all truth must be revealed. This is introduced at the end of chapter 13 when Hester decides that she must tell Dimmesdale the truth about Chillingworth. She made a promise to the doctor to keep this a secret for eternity, but eventually all secrets must be revealed. During chapter 14, she tries to convince the doctor to allow her to reveal his identity to Dimmesdale. Throughout this chapter, Chillingworth’s true character begins to be revealed as well. The reader sees how foul and evil he has become, but he tries desperately to hide this. Hester sees through him, however, showing that he cannot hide the truth. In chapter 15, Pearl interrogates her mother about the letter on her breast. She is determined to find out her mother’s secret. This seems to foreshadow that Pearl will eventually learn the truth about the scarlet letter. Pearl is not going to give up until she knows the truth, adding to the thematic development in these chapters.

Social Criticism :

Hawthorne challenges and criticizes the way that Puritan's live and their beliefs  In these chapters Hawthorne emphasizes on how even though seven years has passed since Hester’s sin and she dedicates her time to help the poor and the needy she still has not been forgiven by some of the townspeople. “ It was only the darkened house that could contain her.”(Hawthorne 146) This shows how they will accept her presence in time of need but they would else wise not associate themselves with her. He portrays the Puritan’s as very selfish people in this scene. Also, Hawthorne highlights how Pearl is playing with herself at the sea shore because all of the other children will not except her. Pearl sees her reflection in the water and wants her to play with her. Of course the image can not and this scene stresses how society has forced Pearl  to become an outcast and only trust herself. Hawthorne wanted to create this novel to accentuate all of the flaws in Puritan’s lives.

Modern Day Connection:

At Kennedy High School, in La Palma, California, students are labeled according to how they perform on their state standardized tests. The students who receive the highest scores(advanced) are forced to wear a black card on their shirts, students with proficient scores must wear a gold card, and  finally, the students with the lowest scores wear a white card. The students who wear the black and gold cards are accepted and idolized where the students who wear the white cards are looked down upon and seen as outcasts. Other students mock the people with the white cards and judge them based purely on the color. This relates to The Scarlet Letter because the students with the white cards are outcasts in society for one bad thing they did where Hester is also ostracized for one mistake. Also Hester has to wear a red “A” representing her crime just as the students who do poorly must wear a white card. Society judges them only on what they are wearing on the outside and they do not even give them a second chance.

Article: http://blogs.ajc.com/momania/2011/10/06/modern-scarlet-letter-school-id-cards-mark-the-smart-kids/
Citation:
Theresa Walsh Giarrusso. “Modern Scarlet Letter: School ids mark the smart kids” Yahoo News 6 October 2011.

Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Scarlet Letter. New York: Dover Publications, 1994. Print.