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Chapter The Scarlet Letter SummAries Chapter 1: The Prison-Door: The first chapter in the Scarlet Letter the setting is Boston in the 17 th century in front of the prison. The prison was plain colored and the surroundings were very ordinary except for the rosebush that is outside of the prison. All the Puritans dressed in drab, dull colored clothing. Chapter 2: The Market Place: Outside of the Prison the ugly puritan women discuss the adultery of Hester Prynne. Hester is the beautiful woman wearing a bright A on her bosom. She carries her baby (Pearl) in her arms.
While standing on the scaffold she has flash backs of her old life, and the childhood school days, and her mother and father, also the? scholar man? . Chapter 3: The Recognition: While standing upon the Scaffold she recognizes a small distorted? native? man in the background.
While no one in the rest of the town knows him Hester is in shock that he is here. The man (Roger Chillingworth) asks why this woman is standing on the scaffold and what she did to get there. He learns of her crime (adultery) and her punishment to stand on the scaffold for three hours and to wear the letter A on her chest for the rest of her life. Chillingworth also learns that she will not name the father of her baby. His goal is to find out who the father is.
Rev. Dimmesdale try to pry the fathers identity out of Hester. But he does not succeed. After a long sermon she is led back to the prison.
Chapter 4: The Interview: Hester is in her prison cell and is very nervous. Pearl is having convulsions. Then, Roger Chillingworth comes to Hester's cell. He gives Pearl medicine that makes her fall asleep. He then gives Hester a sedative to calm her nerves.
Hester and Chillingworth have conversations over who is to blame for the affair. And we learn that he is Hester? s secret husband who had sent her to Boston before himself, she had taken him as dead at sea. Hester promises not to tell anyone who he is even if it ruins her soul. Chapter 5: Hester at Her Needle: Now Hester is allowed to go anywhere that she wants.
But she chooses not to leave Boston because this is where she committed her crime and this is where she should have her punishment. So she decides to move to a small cottage on the outskirts of town. She gains money for herself and Pearl through her skill as a seamstress. The townspeople like her clothing, and buy it for almost every occasion except for weddings (they fear she will inhabit their marriage with lies and deceit. ) Even though her sewing is very popular she is still a social outcast if the town. She believes that her scarlet A allows her to sense sin and immoral feelings in the other towns people.
Chapter 6: Pearl: Pearl is now 3 years old. Hester feels that her name is so ironic because she came of great price but is so wonderful. She is a beautiful young girl always dressed in beautiful colors and dresses. Hester is reminded of her own sin through Pearls love of mischief. The two are very close. On walks with Hester, Pearl throws stones at the other kids and yells at them.
Instead of having imaginary friends she only has imaginary enemies. Pearl is curious of where she comes from, but says she does not have a Heavenly Father. Chapter 7: The Governor? s Hall: Hester hears a rumor that the citizens of the village feel that Pearl should be taken away from her. So when she takes the gloves that she made for the governor she decides she will talk to him there about how Pearl can not be taken from her. Pearls dressed in a scarlet dress with gold thread (like the scarlet letter).
On the walk there Pearl is made fun of by Puritan children and she yells at them and has a temper tantrum. Inside the Governors mansion there is a picture of Hester in which the scarlet letter and Pearl are distorted. It makes it seem as if the letter A covers up most of Hester's large body. Pearl screams because she wants a rose from the garden, but calms down from curiosity when she hears men walking down the hall. Chapter 8: The Elf Child and the Minister: The men that Pearl calmed down for turned out to be Governor Bellingham, the Reverend John Wilson, Reverend Dimmesdale, and Roger Chillingworth. The governor is shocked at Pearl?
s? scarlet letter? like outfit. Rev. Wilson quizzes Pearl on the catechism. Pearl acts ignorant about it and wont answer any of the questions correctly.
When the Reverend asks her who made thee? she replies that she was plucked off of the bush of wild roses that grew outside the prison door. The Governor then decides to take Pearl off of Hester. Hester pleads that Pearl in her happiness and a constant reminder of her sin. Hester's asks Rev.
Dimmesdale for help because he is her minister and he knows her better than anyone. Dimmesdale says that God has given to hear as both a blessing and a reminder of sin, which allows the Governor to let her keep her Pearl. As Hester is leaving the mansion Mistress Hibbins (the governors sister) asks her if she wants to go into the woods tonight and sign the? black mans? book. Hester refuses the invasion saying that she has to look after Pearl and that if Pearl would of gotten taken away from her, than she would of.
Chapter 9: The Leech: Chillingworth is now well received by the townspeople. Because he is a physician, and he has taken care of ill Dimmesdale. Some Puritans think that he was? dropped? into the town just as things were starting to fall apart. Dimmesdale says that he wants no medical care, and is perfectly ready to die, but yet he agrees to be put in the hand of Chillingworth's care.
He now lives with Chillingworth but they both have separate apartments. Suspicions about the? Doctor? are being raised in the town, and there are rumors of his past saying he practices?
the black art? with fire. Chapter 10: The Leech and His Patient: Chillingworth becomes obsessed with finding the father of Pearl in this chapter, for revenge. Chillingworth trys to pry Dimmesdale's heart and soul, he thinks he is keeping something from him. Dimmesdale says that he agrees with Chillingworth in the way that Hester is better off with her sin publicly displayed than she would of been if she would of keep it secret.
Chillingworth says that he can never cure Dimmesdale if he doesn? t tell him everything. He blames his sickness on a? sickness of the soul? and Dimmesdale rushes out of the room. Later on Chillingworth sees Dimmesdale asleep in a chair.
He pulls of his vestment and stares at his chest. What he sees excites him very very much! Chapter 11: The Interior of a Heart: Now that Chillingworth knows the secret if Dimmesdale and Hester, he begins to torture the Minister. Dimmesdale doesn?
t know that Chillingworth has motives, but he still starts to fear him. The sicker and weaker Dimmesdale grows, the more popular he becomes. But this love from the parish makes him feel guilty and almost brings him to a public confession that he is the secret lover of Hester. Because of his guilt he whips himself with a bloody whip and keeps frequent all-night vigils during which his mind is plagued by frightening visions.
He dresses in his clerical clothes and leaves the house. Chapter 12: The Ministers Vigil: Dimmesdale walks to the scaffold where Hester stood wearing her scarlet A, and holding her Pearl. Dimmesdale's guilt gets to him and he lets out a terrific scream. He thinks it will wake the whole town up, but it doesn?
t. But Hester and Pearl are walking past and see him on the scaffold, they join him and they link arms. Dimmesdale promises Pearl he will stand there with them on? the great judgment day? .
There is a great red A in the sky. They look to see where Pearl is pointing and see Roger Chillingworth who smiles coming towards the three people. Hester still wont identify the real Chillingworth. The next morning during the sermon the sexton returns the Ministers glove found on the scaffold. He also asks about the great red letter A that appeared in the night, the night before.
Chapter 13: Another View of Hester: Following her talks with Dimmesdale Hester has noticed the changes in him. His nerve is gone, and he is weak. She concludes? a terrible machinery had been brought to bear and was still operating on Mr.
Dimmesdale? s well being and repose. ? Four years later, Hester's position in the community has changed. She has been given credit for living her life in shame. Her scarlet? A?
now stands for? able? . Hester has became a new person, she is now a part of Puritan society, while Dimmesdale's mental balance has suffered. She vows to help him, even if that involves speaking to Chillingworth. Chapter 14: Hester and the Physician: Hester and Pearl are taking a walk down on the peninsula. She sees Chillingworth and sends Pearl down to play by the seashore.
She is shocked at the changes in Chillingworth. She notices that he is in? the grip of the devil? she feels responsible for? another ruin? . She feels that her promise has caused Chillingworth to do evil to Dimmesdale.
Chillingworth admits he allows evil to use him. He believes it was his? fate? to become a fiend. He releases Hester from her vow of silence. Chapter 15: Hester and Pearl: As Chillingworth leaves, Hester recognizes how evil he has become and she hates him.
While Hester was talking to Chillingworth, Pearl has entertained herself by playing with her image in a pool, made boats of birch bark, and threw pebbles at back-birds. Finally she uses sea weed to make a? A? which she places on her chest. Pearl asks what the? A?
means. Hester almost even tells her, b / c she has no one else she can confide in. She lies and says that she wears it? for the sake of the gold ribbon? This is the first time she has lied about the scarlet letter. Pearl does not believe her and continues to ask until Hester threatens her to shut her in a dark closet.
Chapter 16: A Forest Walk: For a few days Hester has been trying to intercept Dimmesdale at the shore, where he frequently takes long walks. When rumor has it that he will be returning from a trip, she goes with Pearl into the forest, hoping to meet him on his walk home. Pearl suggests the sunshine is hiding from Hester and the? A? . Pearl asks Hester about the? Black Man? .
Hester confesses, that she has met that Black Man and the Scarlet Letter is his mark. They hear footsteps on the path and Hester sends Pearl away, but not before she asks if the man approaching (Dimmesdale) is the Black Man, and if he is covering his heart to cover the blind mans mark. Dimmesdale looks as if he has no purpose to live. Chapter 17: The Pastor and His Parishioner: As Dimmesdale walks in the wilderness returning from a visit with Apostle Eliot, he hears Hester? s voice and is surprised she is there. They talk about the past seven years.
Dimmesdale confesses his memory and unhappiness. While Hester tells him how much people love him, that just makes him feel even more guilty. He compares his silence to her public confession and realizes how his hidden guilt is destroying him. Seeing how much Chillingworth has tormented Dimmesdale, she chooses now to tell him of her marriage to human the truth. This torture has led to insanity and?
that eternal alienation from the Good and True of which madness is perhaps the earthly type. ? Hester realizing she still loves Dimmesdale begs for his forgiveness for her silence. His reaction starts out with anger, blaming her for his years of torture. And remembering when he first meet Chillingworth and how he had questioned about Hester. They hug and the compassion makes the 7 years of sorrow for both of them fall away. Dimmesdale forgives her and asks Gods forgiveness on them both.
Dimmesdale believes that Chillingworth is the worst sinner of them all because he violated in cold blood the sanctity of the human heart. They wish to leave the forest and find a place with peace and harmony. This place can not be in the Puritan community. Dimmesdale fears chillingworth's cause and is afraid to live with him now. Hester's plan is for them both to go deep into the wilderness and live off the land. But Dimmesdale does not have enought strength to do that.
He accepts leaving the Puritan colony, but only if he doesnt go alone. Chapter 18: A Flood of Sunshine: Dimmesdale takes courage from Hester's strength and resolves to leave the Puritan colony, but not ALONE. Hester takes off the scarlet letter and lets her h air down, and sunshine bursts through. Hester wants Dimmesdale to know Pearl, he is nervous but she assures him that she will love him. Pearl comes closer to them, and brings the sunlight with her. Chapter 19: The Child at the Brook-Side: Pearl approaches them with flowers in her hair, Hester and Dimmesdale discuss how much she looks like Dimmesdale.
Dimmesdale confesses that he has often been afraid that people resembled them and put two and two together. When Pearl see the two of them together, she refuses to cross the brook and come near, despite her mothers encouragement. She points to Hester's dress and goes into a screaming fit of anger. Hester realizes Pearl is upset because the missing scarlet letter is not on, and Pearl has never seen her mother with out it. Dimmesdale tells her to put the letter back on. Hester tells Pearl to bring the letter to her.
When Pearl refuses to come, 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 mothers hold, runs to the brook, washes off his kiss, and remains aloof while the two adults discuss their plan of leaving Boston. Chapter 20: The Minister in a Maze: 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. Chapter 21: The New England Holiday: This chapter starts out on Election day. There is an air of festivity about, but the people do not seem excited.
Hester is dressed in her typical clothing, as her and Pearl start toward town. Pearl, dressed in 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 crowd 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 tells 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. Chapter 22: The Procession: As the minister walks past Hester and Pearl, he does not even glance at them, 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 weak and walks with confidence. She also notices that he does not hold his hand over his heart. Pearl also notices the changes in Dimmesdale and wonders if it is the same person whom they had met in the forest. Mistress Hibbins joins Hester and tells her that she knows of the secret meeting with Dimmesdale in the forest. She predicts that the ministers 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. 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. 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. Chapter 23: The Revelation of the Scarlet Letter: After Dimmesdale's emotional sermon, the procession moves towards the town hall. The people are amazed by Dimmesdale's words, and judge him as more 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 healthy, 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 realizes the only place Dimmesdale is truly free from him is on the scaffold.
Dimmesdale, however, refuses to be victimized by Chillingworth any longer. He is determined to make a public confession of his sin before he dies. 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. 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. Chapter 24: Conclusion: When Dimmesdale's showed his breast people all saw diffrent things. 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. 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 where they really are.
Hawthorne indicates that have gone to Europe. Then one day Hester returns to her old cottage without Pearl. Once again, different stories are circulated. It is assumed 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. No one expects her to wear the scarlet letter, but she places it on her chest and constantly wears it. 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. That also says? On a field, sable, the letter A, gules. ?
I am a 15 yr. old girl from PA
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