The Scarlet Letter-Ch.13

Chapter thirteen gives us an even better understanding of Hester Prynne’s personality and character. Time has flown by, and Pearl is seven years old now. The townspeople are not so concerned with the scarlet letter on Hester’s bosom. They now see her as a kind and generous person, which to them means that the scarlet “A” on her chest must now symbolize “Able.” She helps the needy, and is always the first one to offer help when it is needed. Yet she will still never be fully forgiven for her past, or gain her reputation back. The scarlet letter has also diminished her physical appearance and femininity.

Hester is going to meet with Chillingworth and talk to him. She will try her best to save Dimmesdale from Chillingworth’s clutches.

The Scarlet Letter-Ch.12

In chapter twelve, the dreadful scaffold appears again. Dimmesdale's frenzied scream and hallucination of talking to Mr. Wilson make me think that he must be mentally ill. Dimmesdale, Hester Prynne and Pearl all stand on the scaffold together. The first time the scaffold is introduced, Hester alone stands upon it for her guilt. Now, Dimmesdale stands on the scaffold for his guilt and punishment. This chapter is also important because it brings all the main characters together. Chillingworth’s appearance has a creepy air to it. He appears suddenly, and stands beside the scaffold holding a light.

Pearl repeatedly asks Dimmesdale if he will take her hands tomorrow and stand on the scaffold with her at noon. Dimmesdale, as usual, demonstrates his fear of confession.

Introduction about Emily Dickinson

Emily Dickinson was an American poet. She was born in Massachusetts in 1830. She was born in a prominent family; her father, was a well-known lawyer and treasurer of Amherst College. Edward Dickinson was conservative about the issue of women’s education. Many of her poems deal with themes of death and immortality.

The Scarlet Letter- The Puritan society

In Puritan society, the people believed in the majesty, righteousness and sovereignty of God. Puritans were very strict when it came to religion. They would criticize and punish those who disobeyed their religion or law, the two of which were very much tied together. Hester is one of the many victims of Puritanism. She fell in love with Dimmesdale, even though she was already bound to another man. In Puritan society, the belief was that women must stay loyal to their husbands no matter what. The way society punishes Hester is by making her wear a scarlet letter at all times, and by displaying her on the scaffold in front of her entire town. These forms of punishment, while meant to chastise Hester, are also meant to warn the townspeople not to commit the same crime. The trouble in Hester’s heart is greatly contributed to by the shame and the emotional pain that come with having to wear the symbol of her crime every day, never being freed from the humiliation or memories. Never being allowed to move forward or gain back her reputation. In Puritan society, people were overly concerned with the lives of others. The actions of individuals were put in the spotlight for the public to judge. Hester’s got the punishment of being isolated from the people around her.

The Scarlet Letter-Ch.11

Dimmesdale is living a miserable life. Chillingworth has no doubt that Dimmesdale has guilt in his heart. Dimmesdale tries to confess every time he speaks to the public, but instead he ends up shrinking back. His anxiety at these times causes him to put his hand on his chest in pain. Dimmesdale tortures himself both physically and psychologically for his crime. For example, he imagines himself standing on the scaffold for his sin. This gives us sympathy for him. But in this chapter, we are shown that Dimmesdale is nevertheless a sinner. The townspeople think of Dimmesdale as a godly youth or a saint on earth. In reality, Dimmesdale is cheating himself and the townspeople. He must confront his past. Dimmesdale’s innermost soul is suffering. This is contributed to by the control Chillingworth has over him, which Chillingworth is using for his revenge.

The Scarlet Letter- Ch.9 and 10

The title of Chapter nine is Leech, which refers to Chillingworth. In real life a leech is a creature that sucks humans’ blood. Chillingworth is like a leech in the sense that he is sucking information from Dimmesdale bit by bit. At first, Dimmesdale didn't accept Chillingworth's help, but afterwards he concluded that God must have sent Chillingworth to him to save him. In chapter nine, Chillingworth shows his devilish side when he and Dimmesdale live together in the widow's house. Some people think that it is best to let Chillingworth live with Dimmesdale for the sake of the reverend’s health, but others don't think that way. They see an ugly expression on Chillingworth’s face that makes them question Chillingworth’s intentions.

As the days pass, Chillingworth and Dimmesdale grow closer to each other. Dimmesdale reveals his secret nature.

In the beginning of chapter ten, Hawthorne describes Chillingworth in a positive way. "Old Roger Chillingworth, throughout life, had been calm in temperament, kindly, though not of warm affections, but ever, and in all his relations with the world, a pure and upright man."(117). But he nevertheless shows his evil side later in the chapter. Dimmesdale trusts him as his physician in the common, intimate way that patients trust their doctors. Chillingworth asks the reverend many harsh questions to find out if he is truly the sinner he suspects he is. One day when Dimmesdale is in a very deep sleep, Chillingworth sneaks into the room and sees his bare chest. This action apparently gives him everything he needs to know. He maintains his devilish nature, and continues his plan for revenge.

The Scarlet Letter-Ch.8 The Elf-Child and the Minister

All the main characters show up in chapter eight, so we can conclude that this chapter is important. Because church and state are one, the government decides to take Pearl away from Hester because they believe Hester cannot properly take care of Pearl.. Hester Prynne tried to fight back to get her child back. “‘God gave me the child!’ cried she. ‘He gave her in requital of all things else, which he had taken from me. She is my happiness!’”(103). She gets help from Dimmesdale. In his speech, he shows his nervousness and weak condition. Maybe his guilt propelled him to go on the scaffold with Hester. “‘I can teach my little Pearl what I have learned from this!’ answered Hester Prynne” (101). Mr. Dimmesdale protects Pearl who is going to be taken away from her mother. Pearl once again shows her wild nature when Mr. Wilson asks her questions, but she reveals her kindness to Mr. Dimmesdale by holding his hands and laying them against her cheek. This action makes Hester Prynne wonder whether or not Pearl is her child.

Mr. Chillingworth, who becomes Mr. Dimmesdale’s personal doctor, discovers a little something inside Mr. Dimmesdale’s heart when Mr. Dimmensdale passionately defends Hester.

The Scarlet Letter-Ch.3 The Recognition

On the scaffold, Hester Prynne notices a familiar person: Roger Chilingworth, but actually he is Roger Prynne. He is the husband of Hester Prynne. The magistrate begin to ask Hester Prynne the name of the child's father to exhort her to confess the truth, but she wouldn't speak. She tries to protect the child's father because of the position that he holds, scares him lose his highly position.

The next important persons emerge, Rev. Dimmesdale. Hawthorne describes him in many details." He was a person of very striking aspect, with a white, lofty , and impending brow, large, brown, melancholy eyes"(62). On Dimmesdale's speech reveals his nervous. "there was an air about this young minister,-an apprehensive, a startled, a half-frightened look"(62). It makes me thinking about he is the child's father."He now drew back, with a long respiration"(64). He kinds of relax that after Hester Prynne said she will not speak the name, and i think he's too weak.

The Scarlet Letter-Ch.2 The Market-Place

The Puritan society is strict. It can be known as political, moral and religious combining to rule the society. At that time, stepping on the scaffold and becoming the focus among the town people is ashamed and is horrible as to death. In chapter two, it goes to the main story. The main charater, Hester Prynne walks out the prison door with a scarlet letter A on her bosom and carries the three- month old baby. The letter A is a symbol of disgrace. Hawthorne gives a very detail of the appearance of Hester Prynne. "She had dark and abundant hair, so glossy that it threw off the sunshine with a gleam, and a face which, besides being beautiful from regualrity of feature and richness of complexion, had the impressiveness belonging to a marked brow and deep black eyes. She was a lady-like, too"(50). After the days Prynne in the prison, she still looks better than the gossip women. Also, the letter A makes her shown out more.

The Scarlet Letter-Ch.1 The prison-Door

On the first day of the school after Christmas break, in American Lit. class, we started to discuss the book"The Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne. We also watched a short ten minute video tape of "The Scarlet Letter."

In the first chapter of the book, it makes me feel so depressing in a negative way. In the class, Mr. Cook told us that Hawthorne liked to use symbols. The prison symbolizes sin, and the cemetery gives us a feeling of death. The interesting part is in front of the prison door, grows a bush of roses. It gives us hope. The introduction sounds so desperate, but the emergence of roses gives us hope. It makes me think that the main character, Hester Prynne, has hope.