Www.rockwallisd.com

 Chapter 13Another View of HesterWhen Hester saw Dimmesdale on the scaffold at midnight, she was shocked by the decay of Dimmesdale’s nerve and moral force. She infers that Chillingworth is the cause of his weakened state. Realizing she has allowed this to happen by keeping Chillingworth’s identity a secret, Hester resolves to talk to her husband to try to rescue Dimmesdale from his evil influence.The public’s opinion of Hester had gradually changed over the last several years for several reasons. She had never “battled with the public,” but submitted quietly and uncomplainingly to whatever abuse they gave her. Also, she led a life of “blameless purity,” and she gave food and clothing she had made herself to the poor. Whenever someone was sick or had trouble, Hester was there to comfort.Many people began to say that the A stood for Able because Hester was strong with a woman’s strength.Hester has changed, as well. She is no longer a passionate and tender woman; instead, she has become “a bare and harsh outline” of her former self. She speculates about Pearl, the position of women in Puritan society, and the harm she may be causing Dimmesdale by keeping Chillingworth’s identity secret.Hester resolves to ask Chillingworth to stop torturing the minister. At their first meeting in the prison, she didn’t have the strength to stand up to him, but she feels stronger after years of wearing the scarlet letter, and her husband has brought himself closer to her level, or even below it, because of the revenge he seeks.One afternoon she sees Chillingworth searching for roots and herbs.Chapter 14Hester and the PhysicianHester tells Pearl to play on the seashore, and then she tells Chillingworth that she needs to speak with him. As Hester looks at Chillingworth, she is shocked to see an “eager, searching, almost fierce, yet carefully guarded look.” He seems to be transforming into a devil because he has enjoyed tormenting Dimmesdale.Hester tells Chillingworth she feels responsible for allowing Chillingworth to torture Dimmesdale. Chillingworth says that he has done no evil to Dimmesdale; instead, he has given him the best physical care. Hester says that Dimmesdale would be better off dead, and Chillingworth agrees because “never did mortal suffer what this man has suffered.” Chillingworth reminds Hester that nine years ago he was a kind, true, and just man, and now he has become a fiend. He asks, “Who made me so?”Hester blames herself for the transformation in Chillingworth. Finally, she tells him that she must tell Dimmesdale the truth. Chillingworth tells Hester that he pities her because this evil wouldn’t have happened if she had “met earlier with a better love than mine.” She pities him because he has changed from “a wise and just man to a fiend,” and she urges him to forgive.Chillingworth tells her that “it is not granted to me to pardon” because everything that has happened has been “a dark necessity; it is our fate.” He tells her to do what she wants to with Dimmesdale.Chapter 15Hester and PearlHester realizes how much she hates Chillingworth, even though she knows it is a sin. When she calls Pearl back from the seashore, she sees that Pearl has used green seaweed to make an A on her bodice. Hester asks Pearl if she knows why her mother wears the scarlet letter, and Pearl responds that it is the same reason that the minister keeps his hand over his heart.Pearl asks her mother to explain the meaning of the scarlet letter, why she wears it, and why the minister keeps his hand over heart. Hester realizes that Pearl is too young to know the truth, so she says that there are many things that children should not ask. But Pearl will not give up and asks her mother about the scarlet letter many times over the next few days.Chapter 16A Forest WalkHester has heard that Dimmesdale will be returning from an Indian settlement, so she waits for him in the forest with Pearl. Pearl asks her mother if she has ever met the Black Man, and Hester tells her she met him once, and the scarlet letter is his mark.Hester hears Dimmesdale approach and tells Pearl to go play so that she can speak to the person who is approaching.Chapter 17The Pastor and His ParishionerHester and Dimmesdale join hands and sit by a brook. Dimmesdale tells Hester that she is “happy” because she wears her sin openly while he is the most miserable of men because he has not confessed his sin. Hester blames herself and tells Dimmesdale that Chillingworth is her husband. Horrified, Dimmesdale tells her that he cannot forgive her for keeping the secret because of the suffering he has had to endure. Hester begs his forgiveness. Dimmesdale finally forgives her and tells her that Chillingworth is a worse sinner than either of them because he seeks revenge.Dimmesdale fears that Chillingworth will continue his revenge and asks how he can continue to live with his enemy. She suggests they leave Boston and go to England or Europe. Chapter 18A Flood of SunshineThe plan to move away from Boston energizes both of them. Dimmesdale says that he can feel joy again, and Hester removes the scarlet letter and lets down her hair. The “richness of her beauty” comes back to her. Hester wants Dimmesdale to know Pearl and calls her to come to them. Pearl approaches slowly because she sees the minister.Chapter 19The Child at the Brook-SideHester is sure that Dimmesdale will love Pearl. Dimmesdale says that many times he worried that someone would see his features in Pearl’s face, but she looks mostly like Hester. Hester says that soon he won’t have to worry about how much Pearl resembles him.When Pearl sees her mother without the scarlet letter and with her hair down, she refuses to come back until Hester puts the scarlet letter back on and pins her hair back up, transforming herself back into her old, sad self. Pearl kisses her mother, and spitefully kisses the scarlet letter. Hester tells Pearl that Dimmesdale loves her mother and loves Pearl, as well. Pearl asks, “Doth he love us? Will he go back with us, hand in hand, we three together, into the town?” Hester tells her that someday they will have a home of their own, and Dimmesdale will love Pearl. Pearl asks if Dimmesdale will always keep his hand over his heart. Pearl will not show any sign of love to Dimmesdale. Dimmesdale kisses her on the forehead, and Pearl runs to the brook to wash off the kiss. Chapter 20The Minister in a MazeUpon returning to the village, Hester will make arrangements to travel to Europe on a ship that is in the harbor. As Dimmesdale make his way home, he fights off the urge to tell everyone that he is not the man they think he is.Once he is home, Dimmesdale tells Chillingworth that he no longer needs the physician’s medicine.Dimmesdale burns the Election Day sermon that he had already written and sits down to write a new sermon.Chapter 21The New England HolidayThere will be a public gathering in the market-place to celebrate the installation of a new governor.As Pearl and Hester wait among a crowd of townsfolk, Indians, and sailors from the ship, Pearl asks Hester if the minister will hold out his hands to her in public as he did at the brook. Hester tells her that the minister will not greet her and she is not to greet him.The commander of the ship on which Hester and Dimmesdale will sail stops to speak to her. He tells her that Chillingworth will sail with them. In fact, Chillingworth told the commander that he is a member of their group. At that moment, Hester sees Chillingworth smiling at her with “a secret and fearful meaning.”Chapter 22The ProcessionHester cannot warn Dimmesdale of this new development because the Election Procession, of which he is a part, is beginning. Dimmesdale looks healthier and more energetic than he has in some time, so Pearl asks Hester, “Was that the same minister that kissed me by the brook?” Mistress Hibbins asks Hester if Dimmesdale is the same man “that encountered thee on the forest path?” Hester says that she doesn’t know what Mistress Hibbins is talking about. Mistress Hibbins asks, “What is it the minister seeks to hide, with his hand always over his heart?” Pearl eagerly asks, “What is it? Hast thou seen it?” Mistress Hibbins tells Pearl that she will see it someday, and she departs.As Hester is listening to Dimmesdale’s sermon, Pearl returns to give Hester a message from the ship’s master: Chillingworth will bring Dimmesdale on board the ship himself, so Hester should attend only to herself and Pearl. While Hester worries about this new development, she suddenly realizes that everyone around her, including those who know her and those who don’t, is staring at her.Chapter 24ConclusionThe spectators disagree about what they saw on Dimmesdale’s chest. Most say is was a scarlet letter like Hester’s imprinted on his chest. Some think Dimmesdale had inflicted “a hideous torture on himself.” Others say that Chillingworth’s poisonous drugs had caused it to appear. Still others say that guilt made the letter appear. There are still other people who say that there was nothing on the minister’s chest.Dimmesdale is buried in the village cemetery. Roger Chillingworth dies within the year because he has lost his purpose for living. He left Pearl “a very considerable amount of property, both here and in England,” so Pearl becomes the richest heiress of her day in the New World.Hester and Pearl leave Boston, but years later, Hester returns, wearing the scarlet letter, and takes up residence in her old cottage. Throughout the remainder of her life, she receives letters, expensive presents, and beautiful ornaments. And once, Hester was seen making “a baby-garment with a lavish richness of golden fancy.” She is buried next to Dimmesdale, and although their graves do not touch, they share a common gravestone on which is engraved “ON A FIELD SABLE, THE LETTER A, GULES.” ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download