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The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne – The Notes

Plot Outline, Then Notes

CONFLICT

Protagonists

The protagonists of the novel are Hester Prynne and Arthur
Dimmesdale, both bearers of a Scarlet Letter of Adultery, one
public and one private. Hester Prynne, the bearer of the scarlet
letter in public, is the central character of the book. However,
the suspense of the story revolves around Dimmesdale and his
private mark of adultery.

Antagonist

The antagonist is the effort to hide the identify of the male
adulterer, who is Pearl's father. Both Hester and Dimmesdale
fight to keep the identity a secret, but for very different reasons.
Hester wants to protect the identity of Dimmesdale as Pearl's
father in order to protect the minister from the public shame of
sin; hers is a totally selfless act of kindness, reflecting her inner
character and strength.

Dimmesdale, in complete contrast, cowardly hides his sin to
protect himself, and for his silence, he suffers inward guilt and
shame that manifests itself in outward, physical deterioration. (It
is ironic that Hester, who openly wears the Scarlet Letter as a
symbol and confession that she is a Sinner, is freed from the
inward destruction of her sin; Dimmesdale, a minister who
openly represents Goodness, is the real Sinner, failing to confess
and claim Pearl as his daughter and suffering both inward and
outward deterioration from his double sinfulness.)

The largest threat to Hester and Dimmesdale's secret is Roger
Chillingworth, Hester's husband. He wants to find out the
identity of Hester's lover, so he can have his revenge. When he
begins to suspect that it is Dimmesdale, he tortures the minister
while pretending to help him. He is the personification of evil in
the novel.

Climax

The climax occurs at the second scaffold scene, when
Dimmesdale stands on the scaffold with Hester and Pearl,
finally divulging his secret, but still in the darkness of night.
Ironically, while standing there, Dimmesdale notices a large
meteor in the sky that appears in the shape of the letter A.
Chillingworth sees it as well, for he has been watching the three
of them on the scaffold. Dimmesdale's sin is a secret no more;
Chillingworth will have his revenge.

Outcome

The novel openly ends in tragedy, for the secret of Hester and
Dimmesdale becomes public knowledge when the minister
reveals his adultery and openly accepts Hester and Pearl, who
have long suffered in silence. Ironically, Hester is "freed" by the
confession, no longing bearing the Scarlet Letter alone. But
Dimmesdale is also freed; although he dies after the confession,
he is finally freed from the guilt of unconfessed, hidden sin and
the evil hold of Chillingworth over him.

Hester's story really ends in comedy. She leaves Boston to live
again in England. When she returns many years later, she is
welcomed in Boston and her advice is sought, showing she truly
escaped.

PLOT (Synopsis)

Clutching her baby to her chest, the beautiful and poised Hester
Prynne stands on the scaffold in the square of the small town of
Boston. She is being punished for the adultery that she has
committed. The townsfolk, especially the women, are not very
happy about the fact that Hester has been punished only by
making her wear a scarlet on her dress and standing on a
scaffold for several hours of public humiliation. The judge has
been lenient on her because the young woman has had a good
reputation until the point of her sinfulness.

Hester has come to Boston from Amsterdam two years earlier.
She is married to a misshapen scholar and physician who is
much older than she. He has sent her alone to New England
with plans to follow her at some later date. Since two years have
passed with no word from him, Hester believes that he has been
lost at sea.

As she stands on the scaffold, Hester notices two people in the
crowd. The first is Arthur Dimmesdale, the leader of the local
Puritan church and Hester's minister. The second man is Roger
Chillingworth, her misshapen husband. When he realizes that
his young wife is being publicly shamed for committing
adultery, his anger knows no bounds. He clearly states that the
man responsible for the act should also be punished along with
Hester. He vows to find the unnamed father of the baby and
have his revenge.

Even after consistent questioning by Reverend Wilson (the
Church) and the Governor (the State), Hester refuses to disclose
the name of the man who has committed adultery with her.
When Chillingworth is admitted to her jail cell as a physician,
he also questions Hester about the father's identity, and she
again refuses to divulge the name. Angered by Hester's
defiance, her husband warns her never to utter the truth about
who he really is. Hester gives him her pledge.

Hester and Pearl move to a little thatched cottage on the
outskirts of the town, where they live in isolation. She provides
for their needs by sewing for both the rich and poor in town.
She also makes Pearl brightly colored and extravagant clothing.
The bright colors are a reflection of the child's very nature. She
is a lively and impish child that her mother has difficulty
controlling. Because of her wild behavior and the sinfulness of
her mother, some of the important people in town suggest that
Pearl should be taken away from Hester. The Governor and
Rev. Wilson are ready to place the child with a guardian when
Rev. Dimmesdale intervenes. He says that Pearl is a gift a God
to her mother; she serves both as a blessing and as a constant
reminder of the sin. As a result, Pearl is allowed to remain with
Hester.

Reverend Dimmesdale, the young and much beloved Puritan
minister, is suffering from ailing health and nervousness.
Chillingworth believes that his illness comes from some deep
sense of guilt and determines that Dimmesdale is Pearl's father.
As a result, he begins his plan of revenge. He moves into the
same house as Dimmesdale, pretending to be his helpful doctor.
All the while he tortures the young minister, whose condition
worsens daily. One day while Dimmesdale is soundly sleeping
in his chair, Chillingworth checks the Reverend's chest and is
shocked to find something very unusual there.

One night Dimmesdale, unable to sleep, goes out for a walk and
climbs the steps of the scaffold. Ironically, Hester and Pearl
walk past. He summons them to stand with him on the scaffold,
hidden by the darkness of night. As the three of them stand
openly together, the Reverend sees a meteor forming a
monstrous A in the sky. As it illuminates the darkness,
Dimmesdale spies Chillingworth, who has been watching the
entire scaffold scene.

Worried about the failing health of Dimmesdale, Hester decides
to approach Chillingworth. She asks him to stop being vengeful,
a request that he denies. He does, however, grant her permission
to reveal his true identity to Dimmesdale. Hester is anxious to
tell the minister the truth and waits for him in the forest, where
he often walks. She reveals to Dimmesdale that the old man is
her husband, bound on revenge. To escape his hold on
Dimmesdale, Hester suggests that the three of them flee Boston
and start a new life elsewhere. Although he does not at first
agree to the plan, Dimmesdale finally tells Hester to make the
arrangements. They will depart on a ship for Bristol on the day
after Election Day, an important Puritan holiday.

On Election Day, the Puritans, the Indians, and the sailors all
gather to have a glimpse of the procession, which will honor the
election of the new governor. Dimmesdale has a place of honor
in the parade, and his appearance is much improved as a result
of his meeting with Hester in the forest; he walks with a strong
gait and seems at peace. After the parade, Dimmesdale delivers
the best sermon of his career, and the congregation is enthralled
by his words. During the sermon, Hester and Pearl stand in a
corner of the town square. While there, standing next to the
scaffold, they are informed that they will be accompanied to
Bristol by an extra passenger on the ship. This extra passenger
is Roger Chillingworth.

After the sermon, the procession begins again. This time
Dimmesdale walks like a man possessed; he is feeble and his
face has a strange expression. Although he almost falls to the
ground, he refuses assistance from Rev. Wilson (the Church) or
from the Governor (the State). Seeing Hester and Pearl near the
scaffold, he turns towards them and asks them to climb the
scaffold with him. With his family by his side, he confesses his
guilt and bares his chest for all to see. He then collapses, asks
God to forgive Chillingworth, and asks his daughter for a kiss,
which she now willingly gives. Dimmesdale then dies
peacefully in Hester's arms. In confessing his sin, he has won
his personal victory.

In a concluding chapter, Hawthorne reveals that Chillingworth
dies within a year and leaves his fortune to Pearl, Hester and
Pearl spend time in Europe, Pearl is happily married and has a
child of her own, Hester returns to Boston to live her last days,
and she is buried next to the grave of Dimmesdale. They share a
common tombstone marked by a scarlet letter A.

CHAPTER SUMMARIES WITH NOTES

PREFACE: Custom House

In the "Custom House," written as an introduction to The
Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne gives an autobiographical description
of his life and times. The detailed descriptions of the scenes and
people not only prepare the reader for the author's style, but also
aim at recreating the author's past. The preface concentrates on
the author's period of service at the Custom House during which
time he came into contact with several people and had the
opportunity to study human behavior. The description of his co-
employees and others shows the author's deft hand at
characterization, which is revealed during the novel. Further, the
preface serves the purpose of giving a background to the novel
and introduces America's Puritanical ancestors. Through the
novel, by taking a favorable view of Hester and Dimmesdale
and by drawing Chillingworth in evil proportions, Hawthorne
attempts to undo the wrong and injustice done by his ancestors.
The reference to the discovery of the scarlet letter and some
papers referring to the incident of a woman condemned like
Hester is to strengthen the author's claim of the authenticity of
the story.

CHAPTER 1: The Prison Door

The first chapter gives a description of the dark and gloomy
nature of the prison that was established in the "vicinity of
Cornhill" by the early settlers. The prison is described as an
"ugly edifice" and "black flower of civilized society". Weeds
grow in front of the gloomy structure, where a group of
Puritans, dressed normally in their dull clothing, has gathered.
The only positive image in the whole setting is a single rosebush
that stands beside the weeds. It foreshadows that there will be
some brightness amidst this "tale of human frailty and sorrow."

Notes

The purpose of this opening chapter is to set the scene for the
novel in seventeenth century Boston. A crowd of Puritans has
gathered at the prison and as always, they wear "sad-colored"
clothing. The description of the dark and gloomy prison sets the
mood for the entire story and foreshadows the situations of
Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale. She is outwardly
"imprisoned" for her sin through her alienation and isolation; he
is inwardly "imprisoned" by his mental anguish and
deterioration. Hawthorne obviously chooses to begin his novel
with a prison, an appropriate symbol for the punishment that the
protagonists will suffer.

In the midst of the dark description of the prison, there is a
single rose bush. It is said to spring from the footsteps of Anne
Hutchinson, an actual Puritan woman who questioned the
strictness of her religion and was later judged by some as a
martyr for it. The rose, in its brightness and beauty, is an
obvious symbol for Hester Prynne, who has similarities to Anne
Hutchinson. In spite of the darkness of her situation in the
novel, Hester lives in truth, pride, goodness, and honor, openly
confessing her sin. She becomes like a "martyr", suffering in
silence and refusing to reveal the identify of her partner.

The closing lines of the chapter briefly state that the narrative is
a story of human weakness (the passion between Hester and
Dimmesdale) and the resulting sorrows for their actions.

CHAPTER 2: The Market-Place

A number of people gathered in front of the prison door are
eagerly waiting for the appearance of Hester Prynne. Through
the gossip of some of the women, the reader learns about
Hester, to whom they refer as a "hussy". She has committed the
sin of adultery and has been punished to a sentence of wearing
the letter "A" on her dress as a symbol of her sin. It is also
through their discussion that Reverend Master Dimmesdale, the
pastor of Hester's church, is introduced.

As the prison door is thrown open, Hester is led out by a prison
official. She is described as a tall, young, proud, and beautiful
woman with good features. As she steps out of the prison
clutching her three-month-old baby to her, she appears dignified
and protective of her daughter. What attracts the attention of the
crowd is the letter "A", now elaborately embroidered in gold
thread and attached to her dress. Hester has obviously steeled
herself for this public encounter, for the condemnation and
humiliation do not seem to have any affect on her.

From the prison, Hester is led through the unsympathetic crowd
to the market place. There, she is placed on a scaffold in order
to disgrace her and to reveal the letter "A" on her dress. The
Governor, his counselors, a judge, a general, and the ministers
are amongst the assembled crowd, which has turned "somber
and grave". Hester strengthens herself to bear her disgrace.

As Hester remains on the platform under full and contemptuous
public gaze, her mind turns to her childhood, to her life with her
parents, and to her life with her husband (who is only physically
described as a misshapen scholar without any reference to his
name or current status with Hester). As the "exhibition of these
phantasmagoric forms" flit before her mind's eye, Hester brings
herself back to the reality of her child and her shame.

Notes

As the chapter unfolds, further details are presented about the
Puritanical outlook. The crowd who condemns Hester is harsh,
stern, and cruel. The "goodwives" feel that she should be more
seriously punished. A lone voice speaks in support of Hester's
painful suffering. Hawthorne is obviously critical of the crowd.
The author, however, depicts Hester in sympathetic terms. She
is proud, beautiful, and in control - a picture of "Madonna and
Child" as she stands clutching her daughter. She seems to have
"made a halo of the misfortune and ignominy in which she was
enveloped." Hawthorne also gives additional details of her
physical appearance and her background, and hints at her
strength and defiance, having embroidered the Letter "A" in
gold thread, as if to turn something ugly into something
beautiful and as if to call attention to her shame.

It is important to note that the pious pastor Dimmesdale is
present at the scaffold scene and displays great grief for his
parishioner. The deformed Chillingworth also watches the
events.

CHAPTER 3: The Recognition

From the scaffold, Hester spies a small deformed man in the
crowd and obviously recognizes him. The man also recognizes
her and is horrified at the scene. When the man inquires about
Hester, he is told that about two years ago she arrived in Boston
from Europe without her scholarly husband, who was to join her
later. She has not heard from him in the interim, a fact that
probably helped her cause and lightened her sentence. Her
punishment is a period of imprisonment, a public display on the
scaffold for three hours, and the necessity of wearing the Scarlet
Letter for the rest of her life, "a living sermon against sin." After
telling how he has been held captive by Indians, the deformed
man comments that "the partner of her iniquity should...stand on
the scaffold by her side." He then exclaims several times, "He
will be known!" It is not until later in the book that the reader
realizes that this misshapened man is Roger Chillingworth,
Hester's husband.

Bellingham, the Governor of Boston, and Rev. John Wilson, the
oldest minister, are also in the crowd. The senior churchman
asks Rev. Dimmesdale, Hester's minister, to try and convince
her to confess the name of her partner in sin, which she
adamantly refuses to do. Rev. Wilson then preaches a long
sermon about sin during which Hester tries to quiet the screams
of her baby. Afterwards, she is led back to prison.

Notes

In this chapter, the other two main characters of the novel make
their appearance. Both Chillingworth (Hester's husband, Roger
Prynne, who has chosen this new name for himself) and Arthur
Dimmesdale (Hester's lover) are in the crowd, but neither are
identified in their relationship to her. The chapter also begins to
build tension and suspense. It is obvious that Hester knows the
deformed man in the crowd, and she seems bothered to see him
there. He also recognizes her and signals that he wants his
identity to be kept secret, a fact that reflects his crooked,
scheming mentality. This little man also foreshadows the main
plot of the story when he states that the father of the baby will
be known!

In contrast to this deformed man who seems angered by Hester's
presence on the scaffold, the reader is introduced to Hester's
minister, the Rev. Arthur Dimmesdale, who is truly grieved
over Hester's shame. At the encouragement of a senior minister,
Dimmesdale appeals to Hester to reveal the identity of her
partner. To his unstated relief, the proud and stubborn Hester
refuses to answer him. The rich irony of this scene between
minister and parishioner is later realized when the reader knows
that Dimmesdale is the father of Pearl and a coward who is
afraid to admit his sin. It is one of the most masterful speeches
in the entire novel.

CHAPTER 4: The Interview

For the first time, Chillingworth is introduced by name when he
is brought as a physician to treat Hester in her prison cell for her
nervous agitation. His relationship to her as a husband is also
presented.

When the chapter opens, Hester's traumatic nervousness is
apparent, and a contrast is drawn between her public
maintenance of dignity, as revealed in the previous chapter, and
her painful suffering in private.

Hester's "turmoil" and her "anguish and despair" also negatively
affect the infant Pearl, who is in painful misery. Chillingworth
medicates the infant, and she grows quiet and falls asleep. He
then examines Hester and administers her a sedative. Hester
does not fully trust her husband and wonders if his intentions
are more to kill them than to cure.

After mother and child have grown calmer, Chillingworth
settles down to "interview" Hester to learn the identity of Pearl's
father. When Hester refuses to disclose the information to him,
Chillingworth vows he will discover the man who has violated
his wife; he clearly wants vengeance. Further, he makes Hester
promise not to reveal his true identity or relationship to her. She
does not feel good about the promise and says her silence about
Chillingworth may cause the ruin of her soul. Chillingworth
warns that if she breaks the promise, he will inflict harm on
Pearl's father.

Both Chillingworth and Hester confess that they have wronged
one another. He says his greatest fault was ignoring his age and
deformity and marrying a much younger woman. That this has
been a loveless marriage is obvious to the reader.

Notes

This dramatic chapter has Hester and Chillingworth confronting
one another. The reader learns about the relationship between
the couple through their own conversation. It is very revealing.
The mental trauma that Hester endures in private is presented at
the beginning of the chapter. In turn, her suffering affects her
baby. Both are in need of a doctor. Ironically, the physician that
is summoned is none other than Roger Chillingworth, Hester's
husband that has deserted her. He is also the man that Hester
spied in the crowd on the day of her public humiliation.

Hester's lack of trust in Chillingworth is apparent in her doubts
regarding his medicines and motives. She, however, has nothing
to fear. Chillingworth seeks no revenge against his wife; his
anger is all saved for Hester's lover. When Hester refuses to
reveal the identity of Pearl's father, Chillingworth vows to find
out on his own. As the novel progresses, Chillingworth becomes
obsessed with finding and destroying the unknown man.
Because he is created in such a vengeful light, the reader does
not sympathize with Chillingworth. It is true that his wife has
betrayed him and given birth to an illegitimate child, but Hardy
presents Chillingworth in such a negative way that the reader
cannot identify with him as a sensitive and intelligent scholar.

Chillingworth is planning on staying in Boston. He tells Hester
that she is never to reveal his relationship to her. Although
uncomfortable about it, Hester promises to remain silent about
Chillingworth.

CHAPTER 5: Hester At Her Needle

After her release from confinement in prison, Hester is free to
go anywhere she chooses, but she decides to remain near
Boston. She begins to lead a secluded life on the outskirts of
town. She moves, with her daughter, into an abandoned cottage
set on infertile land near the ocean. She rarely goes into town
and avoids contact with the outside world; in her seclusion, "she
stood apart --- like a ghost." The author suggests that Hester
may have decided to remain near Boston so that the "scene of
the guilt" remains "the scene of her earthly punishment," or
perhaps she wants to be near Pearl's father.

Hester lives an austere existence, spending little money to
survive. Ironically, she tries to give something out of her
meager existence to charitable causes. Her ability to provide for
Pearl and herself depends solely on the needle-work that she
does for the rich as well as the poor. Although many wealthy
people employ her to sew for important occasions, no one has
asked her to work on a wedding gown, as if she might taint it.
Hester's banishment from the world of humans, although she
interacts with them for her livelihood, is an extension of her
imprisonment. She is treated like an outcast and made to endure
constant insults. She suffers daily when someone stares upon
her scarlet letter, but she accepts the humiliation like a "martyr".

As Hester suffers, her lover remains free of public humiliation.
His freedom makes her realize that other honorable people in
town may have committed adultery without others knowing
about it. She begins to feel that her scarlet letter "gave her a
sympathetic knowledge of the hidden sin in other hearts". This
loss of belief in others is, to Hawthorne, "the saddest results of
sin".

Notes

This chapter presents Hester's alienation and her intense
suffering, both self-inflicted and imposed by a society that
shuns her. Her isolation is both physical and emotional. In her
penitential mood and in her little tokens of philanthropy, Hester
emerges as a saint-like figure. By comparing her to a "martyr",
the author bestows upon Hester a place of honor in spite of her
sin. He also creates a sympathetic attitude towards her on the
part of the reader.

Even though her life is hard and miserable, Hester retains her
sense of charity, making contributions to worthwhile causes.
She also begins to understand the sin hidden among others who
brand her a sinner though they are equally sinful. But Hester is
compassionate and forgives them their hidden sins. She also
forgives her lover for hiding his sin.

It is important to note the picture of strength that Hester presents
in this chapter. Although she is free to leave the Boston area,
she chooses to remain and face her accusers. She finds a small
thatched cottage and fixes it up for Pearl and herself. In order to
earn a living, she does sewing for other people, whom she must
shamefully face; she works hard and her products are finely
crafted and in demand. She also sews for little Pearl, always
dressing her in bright and colorful clothing, as if to attract
attention to her child and to state there is no reason for shame.
She herself dresses in dark colored clothing made out of the
plainest and roughest cloth. It is another example of self-
deprivation; but she does not want to attract attention to herself
or her letter "A".

It is also important to note that several months have passed. As
a result, Hawthorne uses this chapter to summarize what has
been going on. He does not go into great detail about this period
of Hester's life; neither does he use dialogue between the
characters to advance the plot as he did in the last chapter.

CHAPTER 6: Pearl

A lengthy description is given of Hester's daughter, who is
named for the first time. Pearl's name was chosen by her
mother, for she was "purchased with all she had, her mother's
only treasure". In this chapter, she is three years old. She is a
lively and beautiful child that Hester dresses in lovely, hand-
sewn clothes of bright colors that match her fanciful nature. In
spite of her radiant being, the child lives in seclusion with her
mother, as an outcast. The presence of Pearl, instead of
providing comfort to Hester, is a constant source of worry.

Pearl's impishness, her waywardness, her stubborn nature, and
her refusal to observe rules fill Hester with a sense of dread. She
feels it is her sin that has affected Pearl's birth and upbringing,
and she has a deep sense of grief about it. Hester's attempts at
controlling the child fail frequently and she is often reduced to
tears that also fail to bring sympathy from the child.

Pearl's solitude is reflected in two ways. She avoids all contact
with other children, never mingling with or talking to them. At
times, Pearl even attacks them. Normally, however, Pearl
spends her time playing by herself and often imagines she is
fighting enemies.

Pearl's attraction to her mother's scarlet letter is also described.
The child is fascinated with it, often touching it or tossing
flowers at it. She is also curious about her birth, often
questioning Hester about it and her lack of a father. Because of
her behavior, Hester increasingly begins to question Pearl's
inner nature and her doubts are further strengthened when Pearl
denies God.

Notes

This chapter provides a description of Pearl and fills in details
of the time span which the author skips. The innocent beauty
and charm of Pearl are in sharp contrast to her rebellious nature.
The significance of Pearl in Hester's life is indicated in the name
chosen for her by Hester. She is a jewel, Hester's only treasure,
purchased with her own honor. Unfortunately, Hester finds little
solace in her daughter, whose stubborn ways increase her
mother's sorrow.

Pearl, like her mother, is treated like an outcast. As a result, she
has been deprived of a normal childhood in the company of
other children. She does not know how to interact with them
and is often aggressive when they come near. She prefers to
play alone, fighting all kinds of imagined enemies. Pearl's
rejection of humanity fills Hester with a sense of guilt and
dread.

When Pearl becomes aware of her mother's scarlet letter, not
understanding its meaning or impact, she plays with it. At such
times, Hester cringes with shame. Hester is also tormented by
and at a loss to answer the child's questions about her birth and
parentage. It is not surprising that Hester sees Pearl as a
constant reminder of her sin, a living form of her scarlet letter;
yet she loves her deeply and dearly, for she is her only
companion and the treasure of her life. It is also not surprising
that the child, deprived of a father and childhood
companionship, questions the existence of a heavenly father.

The author clearly brings out the fact that both society and God
have marked Hester for her sin. "Man has marked this woman's
sin by a scarlet letter, which had such potent and disastrous
efficacy that no human sympathy could reach her. . .God, as a
direct consequence of the sin which man thus punished, had
given her a lovely child." Ironically, the lovely child causes
Hester more torture than joy.

CHAPTER 7: The Governor's Hall

Hester Prynne's visit to the Governor's house is presented here.
Hester is going there with the dual purpose of delivering a pair
of gloves she has sewed for him and imploring him to stall the
transfer of Pearl to a guardian. Hester has heard that some
important townspeople, including Governor Bellingham, are
recommending that Pearl be placed under the guardianship of
some worthy person who is able to lead the child to salvation.
Hester is incredulous that they could be thinking of taking her
child, her only treasure, away from her. Out of love and concern
for Pearl, Hester is determined to plead her case.

Hester dresses Pearl in a crimson dress adorned with gold thread
for the trip to the Governor's house. The child is a visual, living
symbol of the scarlet letter of Hester's dress. Hester's red "A"
and Pearl's radiance attract attention, and mother and child are
both ridiculed along the way. Upon their arrival, Pearl is
fascinated by the size and elaborateness of the Governor's
house, for she is unaccustomed to seeing anything outside her
small thatched cottage. Inside, the child notices the many
objects-de-art. She is particularly fascinated with a suit of armor
whose polished metal reflects an enlargement of everything,
including Hester's scarlet letter and Pearl's impish smile.

Hester is told that the Governor cannot see her, for he is meeting
with two ministers and a doctor; but Hester chooses to wait. It is
not easy to control Pearl, who wants to have a red rose from the
garden and who screams in protest when she is denied. Soon
Hester notices the governor emerging from the garden with
some gentlemen.

Notes

This chapter serves as a quiet pause before the emotional
interchange of the next chapter. It also reveals Hester's deep
love for her child. When she learns that there is discussion of
taking Pearl away from her, Hester is horrified. Even though it
will not be easy for her to go into town and approach the
Governor about the issue, she is determined to save her child at
any cost to herself. The ordeal of Hester walking through the
streets with Pearl is presented. When a group of children mock
them, Pearl hits back. Her bold pursuit of her tormentors shows
her strength. At the same time, Hester's defiance and her
acceptance of her punishment is boldly portrayed as she dresses
Pearl in a red dress, almost a living scarlet letter and symbol of
Hester's sin.

Hawthorne's detailed description of the Governor's house with
its many adornments is very realistic. He tries to picture the
house as a model Puritan dwelling, listing details of its
architecture and design.

CHAPTER 8: The Elf - Child and The Minister

As Governor Bellingham emerges from the garden,
accompanied by Reverend John Wilson, Reverend Arthur
Dimmesdale, and Roger Chillingworth, the men first notice
Pearl and her crimson dress. Because of her flamboyant
appearance, they wonder if she is a Christian child or a
supernatural being.

On noticing Hester and realizing that Pearl is her child, the
Governor informs her that the men have been discussing the
propriety of placing Pearl under the guardianship of some
responsible person so that Pearl will be "clad soberly and
disciplined strictly." Hester argues that she is best suited to
teach and care for Pearl.

Reverend John Wilson is asked by the Governor to examine the
three-year-old child's religious knowledge. Pearl refuses to
cooperate and acts as if she knows nothing, even though Hester
has taught the three year old child much religious information.
Both Wilson and the Governor are horrified to learn that Pearl
does not attribute her birth to Christ. Instead, she replies that she
has been plucked off the rose bush near the prison. At these
utterances, the governor considers the matter settled; he strongly
believes that a child who can not suitably answer 'who made
her' does not deserve to remain with her mother.

Hester grows agitated and declares that she will never allow
Pearl to be separated from her. She appeals to her own minister,
Rev. Dimmesdale, to intervene on her behalf. Dimmesdale
appears shaken by the interchange. He is pale and holds his
heart; but he successfully pleads Hester's case, saying that God
has given the child to Hester as a blessing and as a reminder of
her sin. Chillingworth comments on the minister's earnestness in
the matter and again raises questions about Pearl's father. Hester
feels great relief to know that Pearl will stay with her, and Rev.
Dimmesdale gives the child a kiss on the head.

With the matter amicably resolved, Hester leaves the mansion
with Pearl. On her way out, Mistress Hibbins, another historical
figure who was executed as a witch in 1656, approaches Hester
and invites her to join in some witch merriment in the forest.
Hester refuses her and turns for home.

Notes

This chapter brings all of the major characters of the novel
together in close contact for the first time. The chapter is also
2filled with exceptional irony. As Hester and Pearl wait in the
hallway of the Governor's mansion, the Governor, Rev. Wilson,
Rev. Dimmesdale, and Roger Chillingworth (who has become
the personal physician of Dimmesdale, who is suffering from
nervous agitation and a weak physical condition) are discussing
whether or not Pearl should be allowed to remain with her
mother. When they emerge from their discussion, they
encounter Pearl. The child's scarlet dress, so carefully sewn and
adorned by Hester, causes concern to the Governor and the
ministers, who consider it improper and unchristian for Pearl to
be elaborately dressed in bright colors. The Governor is so
bothered by the child's appearance that he has Rev. Wilson quiz
the child on her religious knowledge.

Because of her guilt, Hester has taken particular care to teach
Pearl right from wrong, forgiveness of sins, and other religious
beliefs. Ironically, when Rev. Wilson quizzes Pearl, she reacts
in her typically impish manner and pretends to know nothing.
When asked "Who made thee," Pearl responds that she was
plucked off the rosebush that grew by the prison door. Based
upon the response from this three year old child, Governor
Bellinghem immediately decides that Pearl should be taken
away from Hester and placed with a guardian who will properly
raise the child.

Hester's hysterical outburst when she is told that Pearl will be
taken away from her indicates the depth of her love for her only
child. In her desperation, Hester appeals to Dimmesdale for
help. He appeals to the Governor for Hester's sake and says that
Pearl has been sent by God as a blessing and a retribution for
her sin; therefore, the child should remain with her mother. As
Dimmesdale makes his appeal, he is pale and holds his heart.
The irony of the interaction is obvious, and Chillingworth does
not miss it. He comments that Dimmesdale appears overly
earnest in his appeal.

It is also ironic that Chillingworth, Hester's husband, has
become the personal physician of Dimmesdale, who suffers
from nervous agitation and a weak physical condition. The
doctor acts like a friend to the minister while trying to gain a
confession from him. It is also ironic that as Hester grows
strong due to her having to openly face her sin and wear the
scarlet letter, Dimmesdale has grown weak and sickly from his
hidden guilt. At the same time, Chillingworth has grown more
ugly and misshapen from due to his overpowering desire for
revenge.

This chapter is extremely important from the point of view that
Hawthorne gathers all the major characters of the novel together
here for a very important cause, the fate of Pearl. The author
also has representatives from all walks of life in this dramatic
chapter. The Governor represents the State; Wilson and
Dimmesdale represent the Church; Hester represents mankind,
in its fallen and sinful state; and Mistress Hibbins, the witch,
represents the dark side of life. Hawthorne also foreshadows the
truth about Dimmesdale, a truth that Chillingworth already
strongly suspects.

CHAPTER 9: The Leech

This chapter depicts the growing familiarity between Roger
Chillingworth, the physician, and the ailing Arthur Dimmesdale.
The townspeople feel that Providence has brought
Chillingworth to Boston to care for their young minister, whose
health is failing. Dimmesdale protests Chillingworth's concern
for him and says he does not need a doctor; the church elders
disagree and give Chillingworth permission to treat
Dimmesdale. The two men begin spending much time together
and finally set up residence in the same house.

Chillingworth's growing interest in learning the truth about
Dimmesdale's ill-health is pointed out in detail. He applies all
the resources at his disposal to learn more about the young
pastor. The harder he works at uncovering the details of
Dimmesdale's life, the uglier and more evil he appears. Before
long the townspeople notice the change in Chillingworth's face
and begin to have suspicions about him. Some think that he
practices the black art of magic, and others think he is Satan's
emissary sent to torture Dimmesdale. No matter who he is,
Chillingworth is obviously not helping the young minister, who
seems to grow sicker and gloomier with each passing day.

Notes

Leech, the chapter title, is a Puritan word for physician, as well
as a blood-sucking worm; both meanings aptly apply to
Chillingworth. He is a medical doctor by profession, but he is
also a man thirsty for revenge, who is striving to suck the life-
blood from Dimmesdale like a parasite. The chapter shows how
Chillingworth at first convinces the parishioners that he should
care for the ailing health of their minister; then it shows how
Chillingworth manages to convince Dimmesdale that they
should live under the same roof so he can constantly care for
him. The irony is that Dimmesdale does not need to have his
body healed; it is his soul that is sick. His hidden and
unconfessed sin is eating away at his being, making him suffer
even more greatly than Hester, who has been forced to openly
confess her sin.

It is not just Dimmesdale who goes through physical changes.
As Chillingworth manipulates the young minister and seeks his
revenge, his appearance also deteriorates; he grows more
twisted and ugly. The evil of his soul is also reflected in his face
to such a degree that the townspeople begin to think he must
practice black magic or be a representative of Satan.

CHAPTER 10: The Leech And His Patient

As Roger Chillingworth spends more time with Dimmesdale, he
becomes more obsessed with learning his patient's secrets. He is
compared to a miner searching for gold and to a sexton digging
a grave in search of some ornament. Dimmesdale notices his
curiosity and begins to grow suspicious of Chillingworth.

During one conversation, Chillingworth mentions a person who
died with an unconfessed and hidden secret in his heart.
Dimmesdale suggests that the man might have desired to
confess but failed to act.

He further adds that at times the guilty heart is compelled to
hide secrets until the day of reckoning. Chillingworth points out
that it is always better to confess sin while one is still alive.
Dimmesdale agrees, but adds that some people fail to do so
because of their reserved nature or because of a sense of
despair; instead, they choose to live in "their own unutterable
torment". As their conversation proceeds, their attention is
ironically diverted by the sight of Pearl playing on the graves
outside. Then they watch her decorate her mother's scarlet "A"
with sticker burrs.

Chillingworth and Dimmesdale discuss Pearl's strange behavior.
The child, upon hearing the men's voices, spies the two. She
tells her mother that they must leave or "yonder old Black Man
will catch you! He hat got hold of the minister already." Pearl's
words are often wise and beyond her age.

Chillingworth tells Dimmesdale that his sickness is a strange
and deeply rooted one. He suspects that the illness is spiritual as
well as physical. He asks Dimmesdale to bare his soul before
him so that he can treat him fully. Dimmesdale, however,
refuses and tells Chillingworth not to meddle in his private
matters. He also tells the physician that only God can heal him,
for his is a spiritual illness. Dimmesdale's outburst and rushing
from the room convince Chillingworth that the minister has
committed some serious sin, the guilt of which is tormenting
him.

One day when Dimmesdale has fallen into a deep sleep in his
chair, Chillingworth opens his shirt and looks at his chest. What
he finds fills the doctor with satanic joy, and he dances in
delight.

Notes

This chapter clearly presents Chillingworth as he tortures
Dimmesdale; it also shows Dimmesdale's self-inflicted suffering
over his silence. Chillingworth, the leech, refuses to leave
Dimmesdale alone until he discovers the truth of his suffering.
Through contrived dialogues, the doctor questions Dimmesdale
about unconfessed sin. Dimmesdale tells him that there are
reasons that people conceal their sins and suffer for them. He
also states that confessed sin is always kinder to the sinner than
unconfessed sin. Dimmesdale knows this well, for his suffering
comes from inability to confess that he is the father of Pearl.

Chillingworth's keen sense of observation and intelligence is
presented in the chapter. He notices 'animal instincts' in the
priest and realizes that the outwardly pious Dimmesdale is not
altogether sinless. He also judges that the minister's sickness is
the result of some deep-rooted spiritual problem.

Throughout the novel, suspense is skillfully utilized by
Hawthorne to heighten the interest of the reader in the story. For
a long time he withholds the identity of Pearl's father. At the
end of this chapter he also withholds what Chillingworth finds
when he looks at Dimmesdale's chest.

CHAPTER 11: The Interior Of A Heart

Chillingworth, who is convinced he knows Dimmesdale's
secret, becomes more malicious and starts tormenting the
minister discreetly. Ignorant of the doctor's background or
motives, Dimmesdale simply begins to fear him as an evil man.
Since he cannot understand the reason for his own "distrust and
abhorrence" of Chillingworth, he attributes it to his own guilty
conscience.

Dimmesdale yearns to confess his sin to his congregation, but
he can never gather the courage to openly speak about it.
Instead, through his sermons, he indirectly projects himself as a
sinner. The congregation, however, believes he him to be a holy
man incapable of committing sin. They interpret his discreet
confessions as a sign of humility; therefore, their respect and
reverence for their minister are increased. Dimmesdale now
feels even more hypocritical, and his misery swells. In an effort
to purge himself of his sins, Dimmesdale whips himself in
private and fasts for long periods of time. He also keeps all-
night vigils during which he sees frightening visions of demons,
his parents, and Hester with Pearl painting the letter "A" at
Dimmesdale's heart. During one such night of vigil,
Dimmesdale carefully dresses and prepares to go out in his
clerical robes.

Notes

The reason behind Dimmesdale's suffering is more fully
revealed in this chapter, and the reader's attention is focused on
his intense agony as he reels under his guilt and inability to
confess his sin. Since he cannot state his sin openly,
Dimmesdale inflicts physical punishment on himself. At the
same time, Chillingworth is inflicting extreme mental torture.
He is now fully convinced of the nature of Dimmesdale's sin,
and his plan for revenge is put in operation. The result is that
Dimmesdale grows weaker and weaker. His physical being is a
reflection of his inner turmoil.

Dimmesdale's attempts to confess before his congregation by
referring to himself as a "a viler companion of the vilest, the
worst of sinners, an abomination, a thing of unimaginable
iniquity." Ironically, such vague confessions only make the
congregation judge him as humble and more holy. They heap
more praise upon him, making the minister feel even more
guilty and hypocritical.

Hawthorne's differing opinions of Hester, Dimmesdale, and
Chillingworth become apparent here. He continually describes
Hester with sympathy, even considering her a martyr and
comparing her to the Virgin. He judges Dimmesdale much more
harshly, calling him a "subtle but remorseful hypocrite."

He believes the minister's self-condemnation and self-
acknowledged shame are the proper rewards for his unconfessed
sin. Finally, Hawthorne judges Chillingworth the most harshly
of all, "more wretched than his victim."

CHAPTER 12: The Minister's Vigil

Dimmesdale reaches the scaffold and climbs to where Hester
has stood with Pearl some years ago. The dark night offers him
enough cover to remain unseen, but he involuntarily lets out a
scream of pain and torture. He immediately covers his face,
fearing disclosure. Governor Bellingham and his sister, Mistress
Hibbins are awakened by the noise. They look out their
windows, but fail to see Dimmesdale on the scaffold due to the
darkness. Relieved that there has been no public exposure,
Dimmesdale spies Rev. Wilson walking past with a lantern. He
has an urge to speak out to him, but once again cowardice
prevents him from confession. His words remain unspoken as
Rev. Wilson walks away.

Dimmesdale begins to imagine how, standing on the scaffold
and exposed to the cold wind, he might be discovered in a
frozen state the next morning with his shame revealed to all. His
vision brings a laugh to his lips, and there is an immediate
response from Pearl, whose laughter he recognizes. He invites
Hester and Pearl to join him on to the scaffold.

The three of them remain standing on the platform holding
hands, with Pearl in the middle. United with his family,
Dimmesdale has a peaceful moment; but it is broken when Pearl
asks him if he would stand with them again on the next noon.
Dimmesdale replies in the negative and states that they will all
stand together on the Day of Judgment. An offended Pearl
breaks free of his hold.

Just then a flash of meteoric light brightens the sky; when
Dimmesdale looks upward, he perceives the shape of a scarlet
letter "A" illuminated in the darkness. He also notices Roger
Chillingworth standing near the platform. An evil scowl covers
the doctor's face, making him resemble Satan.

Dimmesdale confesses his fear of Chillingworth and asks Hester
if she knows his true identity. Hester wants to tell him the truth,
but she remembers her oath to Chillingworth and remains silent.
Chillingworth comes nearer and convinces Dimmesdale to
return home with him.

The next day is Sunday, and Dimmesdale delivers one of his
best sermons. Ironically, as he descends from the pulpit, the
sexton gives him his glove, which he found on the scaffold. The
sexton interprets the misplaced glove as Satan's mischief, never
doubting Dimmesdale. The sexton also mentions the scarlet
letter seen in the sky the previous night; like the others in the
congregation, he thinks that it stood for Angel, symbolic of
Governor Winthrop who has just passed away.

Notes

This powerful chapter contains the climax of the novel, for it
clearly reveals the relationship between Hester, Dimmesdale,
and Pearl. It is also filled with irony.

In his misery, Dimmesdale is mysteriously drawn to the scaffold
where Hester previously stood seven years ago. Because he
feels certain that the darkness of night will hide him from view,
he mounts the scaffold. As he stands there suffering his shame
and hating himself, he lets out a loud and involuntary scream.
Although it wakes the Governor and his sister, the darkness
hides him from their view.

Dimmesdale then spies Rev. Wilson and longs to openly
confess his sin to him. The words, however, again stick in his
throat, and he remains silent. Instead, he laughs out loud at the
preposterous image that he has of himself, frozen on the
scaffold with his sin revealed to all. His laughter is answered by
Pearl, who is ironically passing by the scaffold with her mother.
Dimmesdale asks them both to join him. He holds their hands
and has one peaceful moment. Pearl, however, interrupts his
peace by asking if he will stand with them in the light of day.
Dimmesdale refused to stand with them and reveal his guilt
seven years ago; he still refuses to do so.

As soon as Dimmesdale admits his cowardice to Pearl, a meteor
ironically appears in the sky to light the darkness. The
illuminated scarlet "A" in the nighttime sky reveals that Roger
Chillingworth has been watching the scaffold scene.

Symbolism plays a major role in this chapter. The scaffold is the
symbol of public acknowledgment of sin; Dimmesdale finally
stands there, but only in the cover of darkness. When he is
afraid that he will be recognized after screaming, he hides his
face. Three people look out on the scaffold and do not see him.

It is significant that the three unknowing observers are Rev.
Wilson (the Church), the Governor (the State), and Mistress
Hibbins (the dark side of life). The letter "A" takes on new
symbolism in the chapter. It flashes across the sky as a meteor
while Dimmesdale stands on the scaffold. The "A" now
becomes a visual symbol for the minister as well as for Hester.
The irony is that other people who see the meteor believe that
the "A" stands for Angel and refers to the recently deceased
Governor Winthrop.

It is important to note that this scaffold chapter is the second of
three and occurs right in the middle of the novel. At the first
one, Hester, clutching her baby, stood alone, but Dimmesdale
and Chillingworth were both in the crowd watching her. At this
second one, Dimmesdale stands with Hester and Pearl, but only
under the cover of night; ironically, Chillingworth again
watches the scaffold scene. It is easy to surmise what will
happen at the third scaffold scene. The novel is perfectly
structured around the three key scaffold scenes; it is Hawthorne
at his best.

CHAPTER 13: Another View Of Hester

Hester is horrified at the change she sees in Dimmesdale's
appearance and behavior. He is a shell of his former self; he
looks tired and defeated, and he is extremely nervous. Hester
resolves to help him in any way she can.

Hester has also changed over the last seven years. Her attitude
to life and the peoples' attitude towards her are presented in this
chapter. She has lived an austere and uncomplaining life,
accepting her situation without malice towards anyone. Her
liveliness and charm have been replaced by seriousness and
practicality. Her beautiful hair is hidden under a cap. She has
learned to ignore the humiliating remarks and looks of the
townspeople and proudly go about her business. She renders
selfless service to the poor, needy, and sick, without expecting
anything in return. Her goodness is noticed by the people of
Boston, who gradually begin to consider her scarlet letter as
representing Able and not Adultery.

The chapter also shows Hester's genuine concern for
Dimmesdale and Chillingworth's proximity to him. She worries
about what the evil Chillingworth is secretly inflicting on him
and about having kept Chillingworth's secret from the minister.
She knows things are not good for Dimmesdale because of his
physical appearance and behavior.

Pearl continues to be Hester's reason for existing. She loves the
child dearly and cares for her with kindness and enthusiasm.
Pearl, however, still gives her mother anxious moments,
sometimes making her wonder if her daughter is really human.
At times, Pearl's strange behavior confuses her so much that she
momentarily contemplates suicide, an unpardonable sin to the
Puritans. The thought is fleeting, for she knows that both Pearl
and Dimmesdale need her. She decides to help Dimmesdale
regain his health, and resolves to meet with Chillingworth as a
first step. The opportunity comes her way when she encounters
him one day collecting herbs.

Notes

The chapter narrates what has happened in Hester's life over a
seven-year period. The detailed and lengthy descriptive
passages, without dialogue or action, tend to be somewhat
tedious.

Hester has lived an austere life void of complaints. She has
provided for and taught Pearl, whose behavior still troubles her
mother. Hester's helpful and selfless services point out her
goodness and cause a change in attitude that others have about
her. They now see her letter "A" as standing for Ability rather
than Adultery. With typical kindness, Hester decides to help
Dimmesdale and work to restore him to health.

CHAPTER 14: Hester And The Physician

Finding Chillingworth alone, Hester approaches him. He greets
her kindly, compliments her behavior, and says he has heard
talk about allowing her to remove the scarlet letter. Hester says
that if she were worthy not to wear the letter, it would fall off of
its own accord or be transformed into something different. In
truth, it has been transformed, for when the townspeople look
upon it now, they never think about its standing for Adultery.

Hester informs Chillingworth that she would like to break the
vow given to him and reveal the truth of his identity to
Dimmesdale. She implores Chillingworth to stop tormenting the
minister and leave him to divine retribution. Hester truly feels
that Dimmesdale has been made to suffer much more than the
wrong he did to Chillingworth. At the same time, Hester accepts
that Chillingworth has been wronged by her and that his
changed situation from a calm and wise person to a demented
demoniac is due to her. Just as she was shocked at
Dimmesdale's situation, she is horrified at the evil
transformation she sees in her husband. His face is cruel and
fierce and his eyes glow red with his thirst for revenge.

Chillingworth boasts of his hold over Dimmesdale and admits
that he has been scheming against him. He proudly declares that
he allows the minister to lead a life of suffering without the
grace of death; he wants to perpetually torment Dimmesdale,
playing on his psyche and nerves. Finding it hopeless to plead
for mercy on Dimmesdale's behalf, Hester merely begs him to
free her from the oath of secrecy.

Chillingworth finally agrees to her request.

Notes

In this chapter, Hawthorne, through Hester's humility, hints that
Chillingworth is a wronged man. Hester accepts the
responsibility of causing the change in him from a kind and just
person into an evil, vengeful devil. She is horrified, however,
that he boasts about torturing Dimmesdale and derives sadistic
pleasure from the minister's suffering. She tries unsuccessfully
to convince him to leave Dimmesdale alone. She does, however,
gain release to reveal Chillingworth's true identity.

CHAPTER 15: Hester And Pearl

As Hester leaves Chillingworth, she reflects on her past
relationship with him and concludes that he has wronged her
more than she wronged him. He should never have convinced
an innocent, young girl to marry him in his old age. Even
2though she knows it is a sin, she states that she hates him.

The chapter then switches to a description of Pearl, who plays
on the beach while her mother visits with Chillingworth. Pearl
adorns herself with seaweed and uses it to form a green letter
"A," which she proudly wears on her chest, in imitation of her
mother. When Hester notices it, she asks Pearl if she knows
what her scarlet "A" means. Pearl, once again wise beyond her
years, states that her mother wears the scarlet letter for the same
reason that Dimmesdale always holds his heart; but Pearl
demands three times to know the meaning of the scarlet "A" and
why the minister keeps his hand on his heart. When the child is
not given an answer to the questions, she pesters Hester about
the questions for the rest of the day. Hester threatens to lock
Pearl in a closet if she does not quit badgering her.

Notes

This chapter solidifies Hester's feelings about her husband. She
concludes that she has been greatly wronged by him and holds
him solely responsible for all the problems and degradation in
her life. She calls it sinful for an old man to convince a young
girl to marry him. She also admits that, even though it is a sin,
she hates him. Ironically, such feelings are in contrast to the pity
she felt for him in the preceding chapter.

Pearl's playfulness is discussed in detail, revealing a streak of
cruelty, followed by remorse and kindness. Her creation and
wearing of the green letter "A" symbolizes her innocent
interpretation of her mother's scarlet letter. Hester, however, is
bothered by the representation on her child's chest and wonders
if Pearl knows the meaning. When she quizzes her daughter
about it, Pearl wisely links the scarlet "A" with Dimmesdale
holding his hand over his heart. But Hester refuses to explain
the true meaning behind the letter to Pearl; instead, she lies
about the scarlet "A" -- for the first time in seven years.

CHAPTER 16: A Forest Walk

Hester is anxious to tell Dimmesdale about Chillingworth's true
identity. She decides, however, not to go to his residence, where
she might see Chillingworth. She waits for a chance to meet him
on one of his solitary walks. She often takes Pearl in the forest,
hoping to find Dimmesdale. One day, Pearl notices that the
sunshine comes and goes due to heavy clouds. Pearl playfully
says that the sunshine is trying to run away from her mother's
scarlet letter.

Pearl also questions her mother about the Black Man who
supposedly stalks the forest tempting people. She has heard that
Hester's scarlet letter is a mark of the Black Man. When Pearl
questions her mother about it, Hester finally admits to her child
that she once met the devil and "this scarlet letter is his mark!"
Pearl then questions why Dimmesdale, who always clutches his
heart, does not wear his scarlet letter on the outside.

Pearl and Hester sit beside a babbling brook and listen to its
sounds. The quiet is interrupted by the footsteps of the
approaching Dimmesdale. Hester sends Pearl away to play
nearby after assuring the child that it is not the Black Man
coming. Dimmesdale enters, walking with a cane and appearing
feeble, tired, and listless; his hand clutches his heart.

Notes

This chapter, set in the forest, sets the mood and the tone for
Hester's confession. She is eager to reveal the secret about
Chillingworth to Dimmesdale, but she wants to make certain
that no one is around to overhear. As a result, she begins to take
Pearl to the forest, hoping to find him there on a solitary walk.

Pearl's reference to the sunshine avoiding Hester because of the
scarlet letter is again telling of the child's intelligence beyond
her age. It also symbolically indicates that Hester's life is dark
and solemn -- void of sunshine, joy, mirth, and warmth. Pearl,
on the other hand, can easily catch the sunshine and seems to
absorb its warmth. Like the brook, Pearl also sings, but hers is a
happy song.

Pearl questions her mother about the Black Man (Satan) and
asks if he has put the scarlet letter on her chest. When her
mother admits that he has, Pearl wisely asks why Dimmesdale
does not wear a scarlet letter on the outside instead of always
holding his hand at his heart. Ironically, when the minister
approaches, he is indeed clutching his heart.

It is important to note the symbolism of the forest in this
chapter. The damp darkness suggests Hester's dreary life,
devoid of happiness. The narrow forest path reflects the austere
road that Hester has had to tread in her life. The melancholic
sound of the brook reflects her sadness. Ironically, there are two
men in the forest, both of whom are responsible for Hester's
temptation and sin; the Black Man, or Satan, is her symbolic
tempter and Dimmesdale is the real one.

CHAPTER 17: The Pastor And His Parishioner

After several tries, Hester finally manages to meet Dimmesdale,
who is weak and despondent. At first sight, both doubt the
existence of the other; then, reassured by a touch of their cold
hands, they converse about their past love and its consequence.
Dimmesdale admits his misery and despair, telling Hester that
while she openly wears the scarlet letter, "mine burns in secret."

Hester reveals to Dimmesdale that Chillingworth is her husband
and seeks his forgiveness for having kept it a secret.
Dimmesdale is horrified to learn the truth and feels that he has
been exposed before the one who could never sympathize with
him. He, at first, holds Hester responsible for his wretchedness,
but later forgives her. He then declares that Chillingworth is
more sinful than either of them.

Unable to decide his future course of action, Dimmesdale seeks
Hester's advice. She suggests that he leave Boston, change his
name, and settle down in some other country where he could
preach, write, and be in the company of learned men.
Dimmesdale says that he is too weak to escape by himself and
must live, suffer, and die in Boston. Hester assures him that he
will never be alone.

Notes

For the first time, Hawthorne brings the two lovers alone
together for a period of time, and their feelings for one another
are revealed. They express pity for each other for the suffering
and despair each has endured. They acknowledge that their lives
have been listless and void of warmth, as symbolized by their
cold hands. In spite of their sufferings, Dimmesdale and Hester
both have a tenderness for one another. Hester even promises
Dimmesdale that he will never be alone; she is there for him.
She understands that he is weak and needs her strength, which
she willingly offers him.

The revelation of Chillingworth's true identity aggravates
Dimmesdale's agony further. He is horror-stricken that his sin
has been exposed to his worst enemy, who has greatly exploited
his weakness. At first he blames Hester, but quickly forgives her
and places the blame where it belongs--on the evil
Chillingworth.

CHAPTER 18: A Flood Of Sunshine

Amazed at Hester's devotion and willingness to go with him,
Dimmesdale reconsiders her suggestion to leave Boston. It will
not be an easy thing for him to do, for he is a Puritan minister
closely tied to the city where he has always preached. If he
leaves Boston, he will be leaving behind everything that he
knows and a congregation that is very supportive of him. A
move will be much easier for Hester, for she has no real ties to
the city. She was born in England, not a Puritan, and transported
to Boston, where she has been forced to live outside the Puritan
society. Hester is also more flexible and stronger than
Dimmesdale.

Like Hester, Dimmesdale longs for a life with her, for his love
has never died. Once he decides to leave Boston with her, he is
transformed physically and emotionally. Thrilled at the prospect
of a new life, Hester removes the scarlet letter, throws it away,
and immediately feels a sense of freedom. She also discards her
cap and allows her hair to fall around her shoulders, returning
her beauty and youthfulness. As if to reflect their joy, the
sunshine breaks through and lights up the forest.

Hester then tells Dimmesdale that he should get to know their
daughter and informs him that she is a strange child.
Dimmesdale doubts whether Pearl can accept and love him.
Hester, however, is confident that Pearl will adjust. She calls out
to the child, who is busily entertaining herself nearby and comes
reluctantly when summoned. In fact, Pearl seems more at home
out in the wild than she does in the confines of her home.

Notes

Out in the forest, away from judgmental society, Hester and
Dimmesdale can finally relax and rediscover their true feelings
for one another. The naturalness of their relationship is
reinforced by the natural surroundings. As they agree to leave
Boston together and establish a new life, they are both
overcome with a feeling of joy; appropriately, the sunshine
symbolically breaks through the clouds and disperses the dark
gloominess of the forest.

Hester's emotional transformation is reinforced by her
discarding the scarlet letter and letting down her hair. It also
points out how stifled she has been in the past. Dimmesdale,
too, realizes the burden of the past when he discovers a new
avenue suggested by Hester. For the first time in seven years, he
feels exhilarated.

It is important to notice how calmly and naturally Pearl behaves
in the forest; it is as if nature accepts her as she is, clearly
indicating that she is a child born out of a natural union. Hester's
eagerness to bring Dimmesdale and Pearl together in their
rightful bond and Dimmesdale's doubts regarding Pearl's
acceptance foreshadow a new conflict that is to arise. Already,
Pearl slows down when she finds Dimmesdale next to her
mother.

CHAPTER 19: The Child At The Brook-side

As Pearl approaches them with flowers in her hair, Hester and
Dimmesdale discuss how much she looks like her father.
Dimmesdale confesses that he has often been afraid of
discovery through her resemblance. When Pearl see the two of
them together, she refuses to cross the brook and come near,
despite her mother's encouragement. She points to Hester's dress
and goes into a screaming fit of anger. Hester realizes Pearl is
upset about the missing scarlet letter, which she has constantly
worn during the child's lifetime. Dimmesdale says she must do
what is necessary to calm Pearl, so Hester tells the child to bring
her the letter lying on the ground. When Pearl refuses to
comply, Hester retrieves it herself, pins it to her dress, and ties
back her hair. Pearl then rushes to her and gives her kisses;
however, she suspiciously looks at Dimmesdale occupying her
rightful place beside her mother.

Pearl questions Dimmesdale's presence. When Hester says he is
there because he loves both of them, Pearl asks whether he will
walk hand-in-hand with them into town, revealing her distrust
of him. Hester informs Pearl that in the future the three of them
will live together openly.

Pearl asks if Dimmesdale will always keep his hand over his
heart, but Hester scolds the child for the question. She then
forces Pearl to come to her father, who gives her a kiss. Pearl
breaks free of her mother's hold, runs to the brook, washes off
his kiss, and remains aloof while the two adults discuss their
plan of leaving Boston.

Notes

Pearl has never seen Hester without the scarlet letter and loudly
refuses to accept her mother without it. In order to quiet the
child, Dimmesdale suggests that Hester replace the "A" on her
dress. As soon as the mother retrieves it, pins it on, and ties
back her hair, her natural beauty and radiance vanish while a
sadness returns to her face; but Pearl recognizes the mother that
she knows again. As a result, she runs to Hester and smothers
her with kisses. She does not, however, warm to Dimmesdale.
When Hester holds her to him for a kiss, Pearl breaks away and
runs to the brook to wash the kiss away.

Dimmesdale is still not ready to confess his sin in public.
Although he soon plans to escape Boston with Hester and Pearl,
he is not willing to walk into town with them, even though the
precocious Pearl asks him to do it. Hester, however, promises
that the three of them will soon live together openly.

CHAPTER 20: The Minister In A Maze

Dimmesdale leaves the forest ahead of Hester and Pearl and has
to reassure himself that his meeting with them was not a dream.
He also reflects on their plan to leave within the week on board
a Spanish ship bound for Bristol. Hester will discreetly book
their tickets, and on the day after the Election Day sermon, they
will leave Boston for good.

On his way back home, Dimmesdale finds himself completely
changed. He no longer walks feebly, and everything around
him, especially his church, appears brighter. When he passes his
parishioners, however, he is at a loss for words, for he finds that
he wants to say wicked things to them. He is afraid that perhaps
he has sold his soul to he devil. He then encounters Mistress
Hibbins, the witch, who refers to his secret meeting in the
forest, which Dimmesdale denies. She laughs at him knowingly
and tells him she will meet him in the forest at midnight.

When Dimmesdale enters his apartment, everything there looks
changed and unfamiliar. He realizes that the things and people
around him have not changed; instead, the change is within
himself. Just then, Chillingworth appears and inquires about his
trip and his health. He suggests some medicine, which
Dimmesdale turns down. When Chillingworth departs, he tears
up his previously written Election Day sermon and stays up all
night writing a new one.

Notes

After meeting with Hester and planning their departure from
Boston, Dimmesdale is a changed man. He walks with greater
strength and has a new resolve in life. He sends Chillingworth
away, telling him he does not want his medicine. He also tears
up his Election Day sermon and stays up all night writing
another.

Ironically, Dimmesdale, a known sinner, is once again tortured
by the worldly, which he has long suppressed. On his way
home, he is tempted to curse, argue, and show lust, wicked
impulses that he struggles to curb. Until he meets Hester in the
forest, he has been able to keep his natural feelings and
emotions in check; now he realizes that they have resurfaced to
torment him.

CHAPTER 21: The New England Holiday

Election Day, an important Puritan holiday, arrives and the
market place is flooded with people. There is an air of festivity
about, but the people do not seen excited or filled with joy.
Hester, dressed in her typical drab clothing, sets off with her
daughter towards town. Pearl, dressed in particularly bright
clothing, is excited about the holiday and more lively than
usual. Even Hester is filled with joy, knowing that she will be
leaving Boston in a few days.

When Pearl spies the crowd of people, she inquires whether
Dimmesdale will be there and hold out his hand to them. Hester
says that he will be present, but that they must not greet him.
Pearl is mystified as to why he will recognize them at night and
in the forest and ignore them in daylight. She calls him "a
strange, sad man."

In the midst of the Puritans, Indians, and sailors assembled in
the market place, Hester notices Chillingworth, who is talking to
the captain of the ship bound for Bristol. The captain, departing
from Chillingworth, comes to Hester and informs her that
Chillingworth has also booked passage to Bristol on his ship.
When Hester looks at Chillingworth from a distance, he smiles
knowingly at her.

Notes

The description of the festivity in the marketplace without any
excitement points out the rigidity of the Puritans; they do not
allow a complete expression of joy, even on a holiday. The
same kind of contrast is pointed out between Hester and Pearl.
The mother is dressed in drab clothing and appears solemn.
Pearl, on the other hand, is dressed in very bright clothing and is
bubbling with excitement. Ironically, beneath her drab exterior,
the passionate Hester is once again filled with emotion at the
thought of leaving Boston.

The scene painted in this chapter, which should be celebratory,
is plagued by uneasiness. Pearl questions whether Dimmesdale
will acknowledge them. When she is told that he will not and
that she must not greet him, Pearl comments on what a strange
and sad man he is. When Hester sees Chillingworth talking to
the ship captain, she has an uneasy feeling. When the captain
makes a point of telling her that Chillingworth will be sailing
with them to Bristol, she is devastated. Chillingworth obviously
knows of the secret plans that she and Dimmesdale have made,
for he looks at Hester and smiles knowingly.

CHAPTER 22: The Procession

The Election Day procession starts with the military band,
followed by the local troops; next come the eminent civilians,
followed by Dimmesdale. As the minister walks past Hester and
Pearl, he does not even glance at them, an action that hurts
Hester. She, however, cannot keep her eyes off of him. She
immediately notices that he has significantly changed in
appearance. He no longer appears emaciated or weak and walks
with a healthy gait. She also notices that he does not hold his
hand over his heart.

Pearl, like her mother, notices the changes in Dimmesdale and
wonders if it is the same person whom they had met in the
forest. She also notices that he does not look their way. Pearl
feels unhappy and wonders how he would react if she were to
go up to him and ask for a kiss.

Mistress Hibbins joins Hester and informs her that she knows of
the secret meeting with Dimmesdale in the forest; she also
implies that the outwardly pious minister is guilty of the same
sin as Hester. Finally she predicts that the minister's mask,
obviously implanted by the devil, will be removed, and the truth
about him will soon be revealed to the world. Pearl will then
know why he has held his hand over his heart.

The service begins in the meeting house. The sound of
Dimmesdale delivering the sermon is heard by Hester, who
chooses to remain outside at the scaffold. The Puritans, the
Indians, and the sailors pass by her and look at the scarlet letter,
each with a different emotion. In the crowd, Hester sees some of
the people who had been there when she was first made to stand
on the scaffold.

Pearl moves among the crowd, keeping herself busy and
spreading her joy. The Puritans consider her to be a demon child
and are not pleased with her excitement. The Indians recognize
a wildness in her, and the sailors admire the child's spirit. Pearl
is given a message from the captain of the ship for her mother.
She is to inform her that Chillingworth will lead Dimmesdale to
the ship, and that Hester and Pearl should take off themselves
without waiting for Dimmesdale.

When Hester hears the message, she feels depressed and senses
that her plan to escape with Dimmesdale will fail.

Notes

This chapter centers on the events of the Election Day holiday.
There is a detailed description of the procession and the place of
honor bestowed upon Dimmesdale. It is ironic that Pearl's father
is so honored while her mother is considered an outcast sinner.
As she stands by the scaffold remembering the day that she had
to stand on it, the Puritans, Indians, and sailors pass by her and
stare questioningly at the scarlet letter. At the same time, the
people in Dimmesdale's church stare at him adoringly as he
delivers his Election Day sermon. As long as Dimmesdale
continues to act pure and holy, there will always be a gulf
between him and Hester in this Puritan community.

Hester is unnerved when she is joined by Mistress Hibbins, the
witch who is always to be avoided. She tells Hester that she
knows of the meeting in the forest and predicts that
Dimmesdale's mark is soon to be revealed to the world. She
laughs eerily and then departs. Then Hester learns of
Chillingworth's evil intention of accompanying them to Bristol
and escorting Dimmesdale to the ship. She realizes that her
husband is "in charge" and feels panicky about it. She has a
premonition that the plan to escape Boston with Dimmesdale
will never come to pass, a thought that fills her with sadness.

By presenting Hester standing near the scaffold amongst the
same crowd that had stood there seven years ago to witness her
ignominy, Hawthorne recreates a familiar scene and prepares
the reader for the final dramatic scaffold scene.

CHAPTER 23: The Revelation Of The Scarlet Letter

After Dimmesdale's inspiring and emotional sermon, the
procession moves towards the town hall. The people are
enthralled by Dimmesdale's words, revere his seeming holiness,
and judge him as more pious and honorable than ever. As he
walks past in the procession, the spectators cheer him
triumphantly and think he is the best preacher of all of New
England.

There has been a significant change in Dimmesdale's
appearance since the earlier procession. Ironically, after his
triumphant sermon he no longer walks with a healthy gait, but is
once again feeble and tottering. There is also a strange
expression upon his face. As he nears the scaffold, Dimmesdale
leaves the procession and seeks Hester's help in climbing up the
steps with Pearl. Chillingworth tries to intervene and warns him
of the consequences of a public disclosure. Dimmesdale,
however, refuses to be victimized by Chillingworth any longer.
He is determined to make a public confession of his sin before
he dies.

As the crowd, with its distinguished guests, stands aghast,
Dimmesdale climbs the scaffold with Hester and Pearl. Standing
in full public gaze, he addresses the people and confesses his
guilt. He declares that, like Hester, he too wears the mark of sin.
Before collapsing, Dimmesdale bears his chest for all to see. He
then forgives Chillingworth and asks Pearl to kiss him.

For the first time, Pearl truly reveals her love for Dimmesdale.
As her tears fall for the first time in the novel, she undergoes a
transformation that will enable her to lead a normal life. No
longer will she feel the need to shun companionship or insist
that her mother wear the scarlet letter. Her questions have been
answered, her humanity has been established, and she will no
longer be the impish child she has been throughout the book.

Dimmesdale bids a final farewell to Hester, for he doubts he can
be united with her for eternity because of his sinful nature. The
minister then dies, leaving the people with a sense of awe.

Notes

When Dimmesdale decides to stand on the scaffold with Hester
and Pearl, he finally gains his personal victory and succeeds in
breaking Chillingworth's hold over him. Dimmesdale's self-
exposure of his sin, coming immediately after being placed on
the pinnacle of glory by his Puritan congregation, reflects not
only his courage to reveal the truth at the height of personal
fame but also serves to lend tragedy to the scene. Dimmesdale's
public confession is an act of bravery for him; he considers the
public acceptance of his guilt better than the cowardly escape
from Boston that he had planned. When he reveals the scarlet
letter on his chest, he is freed to die a peaceful man.

Before departing from this world, Dimmesdale fulfills all his
responsibilities as a priest, as a husband, as a father, and as a
sinner. In his Election Day sermon, he has inspired and moved
his congregation. In his public acceptance of Hester and Pearl,
Dimmesdale offers them some respectability, which is long
overdue. He even asks God to forgive his enemy, Chillingworth.
Most importantly, as a Puritan sinner, he has confessed his sin
before God and mankind.

It is very significant that he asks Hester to help him on to the
scaffold, for he has spurned the aid of Rev. Wilson (the Church)
and the Governor (the State). These institutions cannot come to
his assistance. It is only Hester's strength and his own belief in
himself that can get him through the confession. It is significant
that after he bears his chest and collapses, he leans upon Hester,
who has always been willing to support him. It is also
significant that he asks Pearl for a kiss after the confession. For
the first time in the book, the child willingly goes to him and
shows her affection. The kiss that Pearl gives Dimmesdale is
symbolic of the fact that his daughter has finally accepted him;
the kiss also shows Pearl's humanity.

Chillingworth's attempt at preventing Dimmesdale from
climbing the scaffold reflects his truly evil nature. He still
wishes to hold Dimmesdale in his clutches and feels bitter when
he loses the opportunity of further exercising his evil over him.
He definitely does not want Dimmesdale to have the peace of a
confession.

With this final scaffold scene, the novel reaches its dramatic
conclusion, and the reader is aware that Hawthorne has
masterfully woven his entire novel around a trinity. The plot of
the novel revolves around three key characters -- Hester,
Dimmesdale, and Chillingworth -- whose lives are inextricably
intertwined.

Throughout the book, he has representation of the three walks of
life, the Church, the State, and the People. Finally, he weaves
the dramatic moments of the play around three key scaffold
scenes.

CHAPTER 24: Conclusion

Dimmesdale's exposure of his breast is interpreted differently by
the people. Some believed that there was really a scarlet letter
there, a mark of his sinfulness. Some said the devil put it there;
others believed that Dimmesdale had carved it there himself as
self-inflicted punishment; others felt that Chillingworth had
caused it. Others, especially those representative of the Church
and the State, believed that there was no such sign on his heart
and that he had no personal sin; they interpreted Dimmesdale's
ascending the scaffold with Hester and Pearl as a symbolic
lesson in the sinfulness of all men. In God's view, everyone is a
sinner in need of mercy.

Hester and Pearl remain in Boston until Chillingworth's death,
which occurred within a year. Driven by his revenge, after
Dimmesdale's death, he no longer had a reason for existing.
Pearl inherits a large sum of money and property from him, his
only noble act in the book.

Later, mother and daughter disappear, and the people often hear
rumors about their whereabouts. Hawthorne indicates that have
gone to Europe. Then one day Hester returns to her old cottage
without Pearl. Once again, different stories are circulated.
Hawthorne discloses, however, that Pearl has married well, has
a child of her own, and is constantly in touch with her mother.
She, therefore, becomes the only bright spot in a gloomy novel.

Hester returns to Boston to end her days in the place of her love,
sin, suffering, and penitence. No one expects her to wear the
scarlet letter, but she places it on her chest and constantly wears
it of her own free will. She is comfortable with her suffering,
and the people of Boston come to her for advice about
problems. She never becomes a Puritan and hopes for a new
time when unreasonable morality and sternness will be replaced
with rationality and happiness. When she dies, she is placed
near Dimmesdale's grave with one tombstone marking both
their graves. It is marked with a scarlet letter "A".

Notes

This expository chapter is intended to bring the novel to a
logical conclusion. However, with his use of ambiguities,
Hawthorne merely gives suppositions and leaves the reader to
decide what to believe. The sense of suspense that pervaded the
novel continues even after the conclusion, for several questions
are not fully answered.

At the end of the novel, like its opening, the focus of attention is
Hester. She is seen returning to Boston and living a peaceful
life. When she dies, she is buried in the cemetery mentioned in
the opening chapter. In the conclusion, Hawthorne attempts to
tie all the loose ends together while still leaving a sense of
mystery at the end of the novel.