Chapters 20-22

When I first started reading the novel, I found it hard to follow, and quite honestly it confused me. Now, while reading the final chapters of the novel, I have begun to have a deeper appreciation for the novel. Nathaniel Hawthorne's writing style may be too wordy and lengthy at times, but I truly admire how he develops his characters and symbols in his novel. It took me a while to fully understand how each character has changed, but once I did I developed a respect for Nathaniel Hawthorne that I had not had before starting The Scarlet Letter. 

As I was reading chapters 20, 21, and 22, I realized that the woods had changed Dimmesdale. Not only did the Reverend look different, but his actions were different too. Walking back from the woods, Dimmesdale is tempted to stop and blurt out "inappropriate" things to multiple people on his way. One interesting part of chapter 20 that really caught my eye was Dimmesdale's interaction with Mistress Hibbins. On his journey back from the woods, she says that she would be glad to escort him to the woods next time he wishes to go. Dimmesdale then says he will, and later regrets is because he believes that he has just made a bargain with the devil. Right after he realizes this he thinks to himself, "He had made a bargain very like it! Tempted by a dream of happiness, he had yielded himself, with deliberate choice, as he had never done before, to what he knew was a deadly sin" (Hawthorne 199). The deadly sin that Dimmesdale is referring to, is making an agreement with the devil. Out of all of the sins to commit, this one is the worst, especially for a minister. Another matter that I wish to bring up about these three chapters is my dislike for Roger Chillingworth. Although Hawthorne puts so many complex elements into his character, I can't help but dislike him. Throughout the novel, he is determined to make Dimmesdale and Hester suffer, and it consumes his life. Everywhere Dimmesdale and Hester go, Chillingworth is always lurking in the shadows. In chapter 21, Hester sees Chillingworth smirking in the corner during the celebration after learning that he will be accompanying Hester, Pearl, and Dimmesdale to Europe. His smug grin and plans to destroy the lives of others just does not sit well with me, which is why I do not like Chillingworth as a person, especially in these chapters. By going to Europe, Hester and Dimmesdale are going to be able to start from scratch, no one will know who they are or what sins they have committed.  By leaving Boston, the two sinners are leaving behind their past, and Chillingworth is a part of their past. He is connected to Hester and Dimmesdale because he is the only one in the Puritan society that knows the truth about Pearl's father. Chillingworth going to Europe means that Hester and Dimmesdale can not escape from their pasts. 

Question 1: What is Hester's plan for Dimmesdale, Pearl, and herself?

Hester's plan is to take a boat back to Europe, and live there with Dimmesdale and Pearl. Hester wants the three of them to leave the Puritan society to help keep their past a secret, and Europe appears to be a better fit for the Reverend, due to his ailing health. By leaving the strict Puritan society, Hester and Dimmesdale are escaping from their past. In Europe, no one will know who they are, let alone what the two of them have done together. Leaving for Europe allows the two of them to leave the past behind, and start with a new foundation. Hester and Dimmesdale will be able to live their lives without suffering from the judgement of others. 

Question 10: What is Pearl doing during the sermon?

During the sermon, Pearl is off playing by herself in the market place. As Pearl is moving to and fro in a peculiar way, she is making the crowd happy. Hawthorne describes Pearl during this moment, saying, "She made the sombre crowd cheerful by her erratic and glistening ray" (Hawthorne 218). Once known as the imp in this Puritan society, Pearl seems to now have some kind of control over the Puritan people. The people fixate on her movements, and they can not help but watch her move around, distracting themselves from the sermon, and changing their moods. 

Connection:

My Rant on Chapters 16-19

I wish not to spend my post raging about Hawthorne's advanced word choice nor his explaining of every detail to ensure that the reader takes from his book the message he had hoped to instill. Rather, I shall focus the reactionary portion of my post complaining about the evolution of Hester Prynne's character - an evolution which I for one is not too fond of. Up until this point in the novel The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, I owed all respect to Hester Prynne - only to be completely swayed by the early events of these chapters. You see, in the past, I regarded Hester as symbol of strength. She may have sinned, but she wore her shame proudly, unlike the rest of the Puritan society. Hester wasn't afraid of what people thought of her - and for the longest time, I didn't think she cared either. She welcomed society's judgement, which I respected - for everyone sins at some point, but she was the only person who was willing to acknowledge what she did. Even in such unforgiving a community, Hester was able to withstand the blunt of damage cast at her by the other settlers. Keep in mind, these were the same settlers that keep their sins to themselves out of fear of what the society would think of them. I admired Hester so solely because she was different in that sense.

Things change though in the sixteenth chapter of the novel. The chapter begins with Hester taking Pearl with her to the forest. She had hoped to meet Dimmesdale there to unveil to him the true identity of Roger Chillingworth and to discuss with him what to do with their lives and their secret. It was in this part of the novel that I came across this passage: "'Doth the universe lie within the compass of yonder town, which only a little time ago was but a leaf-strewn desert, as lonely as this around us? Whither leads yonder forest-track? Backward to the settlement, thou sayest! Yes; but onward, too. Deeper it goes, and deeper, into the wilderness, less plainly to be seen at every step, until, some few miles hence, the yellow leaves will show no vestige of the white man's tread. There thou art free! [...] The future is yet full of trial and success. There is happiness to be enjoyed! There is good to be done! Exchange this false life of thine for a true one [...]. Give up this name of Arthur Dimmesdale, and make thyself another [...] such as thou canst wear without fear or shame'" (Hawthorne 178-79). Ina nutshell, this passage exhibits Hester telling Dimmesdale that they should run away from their shame. They could go elsewhere and pretend as though it never happened. This is like the rest of the Puritan society trying to pretend like they themselves do sin (or as though their own sins never happen). I makes me really angry to hear this from Hester. The whole time, I thought she wore her shame proudly and did not try to shrink away from it out of cowardice. And then, this happens, and she talks about running away from her sins and pretending they never happened like...

Sigh. What more can I say? People will be people I suppose. We are all cowards and disappointments to the ideals that we all have. Moving on to my questions:

2. What significance can be attributed to the play of sunlight on Pearl and Hester?

When I first read through the chapters, I thought it was kind of ironic how the sunlight seems to shun Hester like society does. Almost the whole time in the forest, the sunlight would disappear from wherever Hester was present. Pearl points out at one point "'[The] sunlight does not love you. It runs away and hides itself, because it is afraid of something on your bosom. Now see! There it is, playing, a good way off. Stand you here and let me run and catch it [...].' Pearl set forth, at a great pace, and, as Hester smiled to perceive, did actually catch the sunshine, and stood laughing in the midst of it, all brightened by its splendor, and scintillating with the vivacity excited by rapid motion" (Hawthorne 165-66). Even though the sunlight keeps out of the way of Hester, it does not seem to flee from Pearl when she is near. I think this shows that even though society may shun Hester for her sin, they do not exactly shun Pearl in the same sense. It really isn't her fault that she is intertwined in such a situation - she was but a product of her mother's sin. The detail about Pearl trying to catch the sunlight seems to me like she has a certain power over the sunlight - and thus a certain power over the society. I believe the play of sunlight in the forest is meant to show that Pearl is but a reminder to everyone about their own sins. No matter how hard they try to conceal them, a part of it will always be present to haunt them and control them - like Pearl does to the sunlight.

Pearl holding the sun in her hands.

3. What story does Pearl hear of her mother's involvement with the Black Man of the Forest?

Pearl hears that there is a "Black Man" that dwells in the forest and that he keeps a book of name with him. Whenever he encounters someone new, he asks them to sign the book. From then on, the signer would bear a symbol on his/her chest - just like Hester Prynne and her scarlet letter. Pearl becomes curious as to the whereabouts of her mother's letter and whether or not it has any correlation with this "Black Man" and whether or not Dimmesdale also has one. Hester explains to her after a while that she is obligated to wear her letter because of the "Black Man". She doesn't come out and just say that Chillingworth is the "Black Man", but it is implied. Chillingworth was the reason she wore her letter so miserably in the moment. He was also the reason that Dimmesdale would torture himself day-in and day-out. They have both made a pact with the "Black Man" - the devil - who now comes to haunt them.

The "Black Man's" book of souls.

Chapters 13-15

Although I find Hawthorne’s writing unnecessarily wordy, the plot line is original and I especially enjoyed Hester’s development in these chapters. She is described as strong; she helps those in trouble and seems to overcome this once prominent A. In chapter 13 Hawthorne writes, “many people refused to interpret the scarlet A by its original signification. They said that it meant Able; so strong was Hester Prynne, with a woman’s strength.” (146). This transformation of the A, once a negative connotation representing sin, is now the contrary. A once scorned woman is no longer. Only a few chapters ago Hester was abhorred by society, her title of adulteress has worn off. Hawthorne also writes of the A’s transformation as he states, “Elsewhere the token of sin, it was the taper of the sick-chamber. It had even thrown its gleam, in the sufferer’s hard extremity, across the verge of time. It had shown him where to set his foot, while the light of earth was fast becoming dim” (146). This shows how the A, that once stood out in a negative way, now acts as a guide, or candle to light in way for those in need of help. I really like this quote because it adds more to its appearance. The A, always described as bright and sticking out, remains these things, however the brightness now guides people like a candle. This ties into how Hester's sin helps those who have sinned and are in the dark and struggling to cope. Although set in the 1800’s Hawthorne’s message that nothing lasts forever is relatable even today as in our own lives and in media, what seem like major events, fame or scandal, eventually lose its power as things die down and new events arise.

My connection from the outside has to do with current events. Although very different people, Hester and Malala Yousafzai are somewhat alike. Malala is a young girl from Pakistan who was shot after speaking up for women’s education. Both committed an act that went against the standards of society (although adultery is much different than promoting education). Hester continues to go against her society by raising Pearl despite the public’s wishes and refusing to share who the father of her child is. Malala, despite her tragic injury, continues to help raise awareness and speak up for many other young girls in Pakistan that lack proper education and opportunities because much like Hester, she acts based on what she believes to be morally correct rather than within the constraints of society. Much like Malala, Hester continued to help those in need and became known as a woman of strength. Both women become leaders in their environments and act boldly.

Question 5: The line, “The scarlet letter had not done its office” means that the letter had not served the purpose it intended to. Earlier in the passage Hawthorne writes, “Thus, Hester Prynne, whose heart had lost its regular and healthy throb, wandered without a clew in the dark labyrinth of mind” (150). Hester’s letter was supposed to cause isolation from society and serve as a punishment, which was supposed to further make her realize her wrong doings and learn to follow Puritan standards strictly. However, her isolation has done the opposite, it was made her question society more and to think freely, without society’s restraints to tie her down.

Question 4: Hester believes three things must be done before women would be treated equally in society. Hawthorne writes, “As a first step, the whole system of society is to be torn down, and built up anew. Then, the very nature of the opposite sex, or its long hereditary habit, which has become like nature, is to be essentially modified, before woman can be allowed to assume what seems a fair and suitable position. Finally, all other difficulties being obviated, woman cannot take advantage of these preliminary reforms, until she herself shall have undergone a still mightier change”(150). Summarizing these points Hester Ultimately believes, the society must be rebuilt, gender roles must be eliminated for generations to come, children must be taught different standards of equality in order for this change to last. Finally, she believes these changes must not be abused for progress may regress.

Chapters 23-24 Response

The final chapters of the novel depicted powerful scenes of Dimmesdale's reveal or confession to the Puritan society.  When I finished reading, I began to think about the last thought that Hawthorne leaves his readers with.  He leaves us with the image of Hester's and Dimmesdale's tombstone with the words, "On a field, sable, the letter A, gules" carved into it.  Even after their death, the letter A still  remains the most prominent figure in their lives, carved into their gravestone for generations to see.  There are two ways that I looked at this.  It could be seen as an everlasting image of their sin, and serve as a punishment after death.  However, because of the proximity between the two graves, this scene could also illustrate the acceptance that Hester and Dimmesdale received after their passing.  Even after Dimmesdale's death, these chapters show the beginning of the acceptance of Hester into their community.  Women begin to reach out to her and ask her for advice about dealing with their own personal sin.  Hawthorne explains, "As Hester Prynne had no selfish ends, nor lived in any measure for her own profit and enjoyment, people brought all their sorrows and perplexities, and besought her counsel, as one who had herself gone through a mighty trouble" (234).  This shows the figure that Hester became, and that women in her community began to look up to for advice.  She was no longer receiving scorn and bitterness, but instead was "looked upon with awe, yet with reverence, too".  Along with the image of their gravestones, Dimmesdale's triumphant death remained a prominent scene in the chapters.  When he reveals to his community who he really is, he feels like a huge burden is lifted off of his shoulders.  The sin that he committed was breaking him down and eating him alive.  On the scaffold, Dimmesdale is a weak and dilapidated man that needs help to ascend the few steps to stand with his family.  The moment of this scene that I felt was the most powerful was when Pearl accepts his presence in her life, and kisses him.  She finally accepts him as her father, once he admits his identity to the society and joins Hester on the scaffold.

Questions:
5) What moral does the narrator say is central to the story?
The narrator states that the moral is, "Be true! Be true! Be true! Show freely to the world, if not your worst, yet some trait whereby the worst may be inferred" (231).  This is a very important message pertaining to the novel.  It is saying to not hold anything back, do not hide anything from anyone, even your worst qualities.  The most important thing is to be true to yourself and others.

10) Are the two lovers ever united?
I talked in more detail about this question in my initial response.  The two lovers are in a sense finally united after their deaths.  Their graves are right next to each other, and both share the same tombstone.  Their unity after death can be symbolic of their acceptance into the society as people to look up to and learn from.

Connection:


Elementary is a crime drama television series.  I chose this as my connection in relation to my answer to question 5.  The main character Sherlock Homes was a drug addict who had difficulties opening up to anyone about his troubles, and in return was unable to heal.  However, once he opened up to his "sober companion" named Joan Watson, she was able to help him recover from his addiction.  Also, because this is a crime drama, there are crimes that need to be solved, often with criminals trying to hide from the police or hide specific evidence to protect themselves.  However, they are always caught, and the evidence is always found.  In these cases, if the criminal was to admit to the crime right away, their punishment could have very well been mitigated.  Both these examples in the show highlight the moral the narrator portrays. Be true, be  true, be true.  Hiding anything will never help. 

Chapters 23-24 Response

Upon finishing the novel my thoughts first turned to Dimmesdale and his revealing of his sin. I began to think about the way the three main characters were affected. For Dimmesdale and Hester I believe Dimmesdale's honesty liberated them. Hester was trapped from the moment she stood upon the scaffold. Although I believe it was honorable of Hester to keep Dimmesdale's secret hidden, I think it caused her to became even more tormented by the Puritan society and even her own guilt because she had to bear the punishment alone. No one else understood the guilt and darkness that stained her heart except for Dimmesdale, but he wouldn't stand by her side. Over the course of the novel Hester became of a shadow of the strong woman who once stood on the scaffold. In the forest Hester seems to return to her old self though when Dimmesdale decides to reveal the truth to the public and leave with her, leaving their sin behind. She sheds her letter, "The stigma gone, Hester heaved a long, deep sigh, in which the burden of shame and anguish departed from her spirit. Oh, exquisite relief!" (Hawthorne 182). She is liberated from her sin because Dimmesdale will reveal the truth with her and leave. Likewise, Dimmesdale is liberated by his actions. In my opinion, Dimmesdale struggled the whole novel with the shame of having Hester bear the burden of their sin alone and the shame of denying his daughter. By revealing his sin he is freed of this shame because he stands with Hester and acknowledges Pearl as his own. Pearl even kisses him. Dimmesdale is also liberated from the tortures of Chillingworth. Chillingworth exclaims to Dimmesdale, "'Thou hast escaped me!' he repeated more than once. 'Thou hast escaped me!'" (Hawthorne 228). By admitting his sin Chillingworth can no longer control him. Chillingworth also was affected. Chillingworth was torturing Dimmesdale but when his sin is revealed Chillingworth looses all his power over him. Over the past 7 years Chillingworth had lived to lived to torture Dimmesdale. It was his reason to live, and without a purpose in life Chillingworth dies.

Question #3:
Where are the four major characters during the final scaffold scene?
Hester, Pearl, and Dimmesdale all stand together during the final scaffold scene as Dimmesdale finally tells the truth and reveals his sin. Chillingworth also is on the scaffold standing with the family.

Question #7:
What is the effect of Dimmesdale's confession on Chillingworth?
In the past 7 years Chillingworth has devoted his whole being to torturing Dimmesdale. When Dimmesdale reveals his sin Chillingworth can no longer torture him. Hawthorne writes, "It is a curious subject of observation and inquiry, whether hatred and love be not the same thing at bottom. Each, in its utmost development, supposes a high degree of intimacy and heart-knowledge; each renders one individual dependent for the food of his affections and spiritual life upon another; each leaves the passionate lover, or the no less passionate hater, forlorn and desolate by the withdrawal of his subject" (Hawthorne 232). This excerpt shows how an individual can become dependent upon hate or love. Chillingworth is dependent upon his hate for Dimmesdale, it fuels his life, and without out he has no purpose and dies.

Connection:

Chapters 16-19 Response

I have to admit, right after I finished reading chapter 16 I was as lost as one could be. The only thing I seemed to have remembered about the reading was that there was a forest. But after looking at it multiple times, I realized it's one of my favorite chapters of the novel. I love how Hawthorne spends the entire chapter intensely focusing on the forest and the character's relationship with it. It seems like this is the most obvious section of the novel where Hawthorne's true passion shines through; transcendentalism. He doesn't think of the forest as a material, stationary object, he looks at it as an interactive story in the process of being told. Pearl tries to catch the sunshine, the brook babbles, everything seems to be alive and in sync. It did take me a little time though to realize that these lengthy, wordy descriptions told such a complex, unique story when broken down. Everything seemed to have a duality; the brook is an old man constantly telling and seeing history, while at the same time, it's a reflection of whoever's looking at it. I think I'm so drawn to chapter 16 because it's like a puzzle that readers have to decode and figure out. The next chapter, for me, is the moment when everything comes out between Dimmesdale and Hester. Hester is so daring and brave in her endeavor to reach Dimmesdale emotionally that she actually breaks through to him. I think it's kind of interesting to see this new side of Hester that is so optimistic and attuned to helping Dimmesdale. She understands exactly what's going on through his head, and after years of Dimmesdale hating himself, I think it's amazing that she turns that around with one pep talk. That being said, words can't even describe how annoying I found Dimmesdale. He kept saying, "Think for me, Hester! Thou are strong. Resolve for me!...It is too mighty for me to struggle with!...Be thou strong for me!" (Hawthorne 177). He was having the world's biggest pity party for himself, and I absolutely commend Hester for pressing on and still trying to encourage him. She ends her speech with one of the best pep talks I've heard and he is completely inspired afterwards. Soon after, when Hester takes off her Scarlet letter, I love how Hawthorne describes the forest and everything in it as having sunshine fall around it. There's this idea of bursting perfection and radiance, as soon as Hester removes the sin ridden A. This is also when I start to realize how close of a relationship Pearl has with the A. Pearl is undeniably in place and radiating, and the forest recognizes it as well. I really like how Hawthorne epitomizes Pearl's wildness and nature side in these chapters. Overall, while these chapters seem long winded and at times dull, I really like the complex meanings that the reader has to discover.

6) How does Pearl fit into the forest setting?

Pearl seems to be not only acknowledged by other creatures in the forest, but recognized as familiar. The animals don't necessarily like or hate her presence, but they all notice something different about her innate within them as well. Pearl interacts with the forest, it is clear to the reader that she belongs there. She plays with the sunlight and the nature itself. Not only does she speak with the brook, she sees herself in it's reflection. In the wilderness, Pearl has a different air about her; she is somehow gentler and more tender than she is in society. This is also the setting where her impish figure finally turns into a reality that fits well in the forest.

8) Why does Pearl insist that the scarlet letter be replaced?

In these latter chapters, Hawthorne writes of the two separate worlds in which Dimmesdale and Hester, and Pearl live. I think this plays into Pearl's insistence that the scarlet letter be replaced. Pearl refuses to cross the brook until the letter is replaced because she exists in the world where the letter exists. Since it is cast away upon the bank, Pearl almost feels the same way. She doesn't want to cross into her mother's world because the scarlet letter doesn't exist there, therefore Pearl isn't there either. On a plot based level, I think Pearl refuses because she doesn't like change and wants to be stubborn. But I think Hawthorne intends for us to see it as Pearl's correlation with the letter.

Chapters 16-19 Response

       These chapters were easily my favorite ones in the novel. Hawthorne's use of nature, particularly the forest and light, along with the insight into Pearl, and the interaction between Hester and Dimmesdale made for an intriguing read. Pearl stood out the most to me because of her strange intuitiveness of both the characters and of nature. Pearl admonished her mother, "'the sunshine does not love you [...] it is afraid of something on your bosom [...] I am but a child. It will not flee from me, for I wear nothing on my bosom yet!'" (Hawthorne 166). Pearl connects the light as a symbol for happiness, purity, and favor, with Hester, who has sinned and has been shamed. When Hester reaches for the sunlight, it vanishes, which astonished me, as it astonished Hester. That Pearl's teases and fantasies would ring true caused me to really focus on Pearl as a character for the rest of the chapters. In addition to Pearl, Hawthorne's use of nature elements such as the forest impressed me and made me really think about the multiple meanings, or duality of elements of the book. The forest offers both a physical and mental distance from the Puritan society and settlement. It additionally is the symbol of sin and wrongdoing in the novel, so by Hester and Dimmesdale entering and conferring in the forest, they have decided to embrace and face their darkness. Just like when Dimmesdale went on the scaffold at night in the darkness, they meet in the "darkness". The darkness enables them to be open and address their sin and situation. They have crossed into the forest or sin, and they decide to flee to England to attempt to find happiness and peace. This decision illustrates how they believe themselves to already be doomed for eternity, and so they think that they might try for some happiness and redemption on earth. This was the culmination of years of their two different tortures: Hester's shame and Dimmesdales's guilt. At the end of these chapters I actually found myself curious and excited about what would become of their plan.      




  1) Why does Hester prefer to meet with Dimmesdale in the forest rather than in the settlement?
The forest is a place so far removed from the settlement, both physically and mentally. The physical distance provides a favorable place for the discussion Hester has with Dimmesdale because it is concealed, safe, and empty due to the stigma and fear that the forest carries for most of the settlers In addition to the physical distance, the mental distance from the settlement enables Hester and Dimmesdale to drop their facades, as well as it allows them to address their situations without Puritanical or societal pressures. Dimmesdale and Hester have no fear of the forest and place no stigma on it because the forest is a symbol of sin and darkness, and they feel that they have already, metaphorically speaking, crossed into the forest.

     10) What is the significance of Pearl's reaction to the minister?
Pearl is very wary of the minister and she hurriedly washes off his kiss in the brook. I believe that Pearl's strong, negative reaction to Dimmesdale comes from her associating him with Chillingworth, or the Black Man. Chillingworth and Dimmesdale live together, and to Pearl that makes it seem as if Dimmesdale is in consort and contract with the Black Man.
Pearl's reaction also illustrates that she is an intuitive child who is able to discern that the minister is concealing something. Having lived with Hester her whole life, Pearl sees that her mother wears her sin in the open, unconcealed. Pearl sees Dimmesdale as the opposite, someone who hides his secret, or sin. He is inhibited by it, and Pearl wonders if Dimmesdale will free himself and become like Hester.  She asks her mother, "'Will he go back with us, hand in hand, we three together, into the town?"", and "'will he always keep his hand over his heart?'" (Hawthorne 191). These questions, along with her actions, demonstrate that Pearl will not accept the minister unless he wears his sin in the open, as Hester does through wearing the scarlet letter. This ultimately shows that Pearl believes that it is better to wear one's sin on the outside and live with the consequences rather than to keep it concealed.
  
 

Chapters 20-22 Questions

I noticed that during this point in the novel, the story seems to have its focus on a large scale. At first it was looking first at the relationship between Hester and Pearl, with the occasional switch to what happens with Dimmesdale and Chillingworth. Now it is looking the correlation between these two sides, i.e. how they interact with one another. After the creek scene, Pearl feels a connection to Dimmesdale though it is difficult to comprehend for her. The references to the "Black Man" continue so although Hester and Dimmesdale appear to be happy, Pearl is not at all content and for some reason wants Hester to wear the scarlet letter, possibly believing the it is not part of Hester's identity.

Regarding Hawthorne's writing, it is like most say it is; at times going in depth, perhaps a bit unnecessarily. At the same time, the style of writing does a good job of describing everyone's thoughts and ideas racing in their minds. He seems, as a writer, to feel the need to describe everything visible about a person, such as their attire or garment. It makes me think that as a person himself he took notice of things such as what people were wearing and so wrote as if he was in the position of an observer in the scene.

Questions:

1.) When returning to his home, Dimmesdale decides to rewrite his Election Sermon. He had initially already written it but decides against it once he realizes that he himself has changed into another person. He feels happier and more content than before, so he feels that his new self ought to write a sermon more fitting to his current state of mind. He thinks: "That self was gone. Another man had returned out of the forest: a wiser one..." (Hawthorne 200) Then he burns his old version of the sermon, which in a way symbolizes him wanting to get rid of his old life and mind and start fresh.

2.) Dimmesdale seem to walks in with energy and confidence in every step, yet somehow his mind is elsewhere. He is thinking deeply about something else. Meanwhile, Hester, in the crowd, suddenly feels that he is very far and remote from her. And thus she begins to question her own decision to go away with him. She thinks how well she really knows him, contemplating whether he is really the one she could run away with. A change seems to come over her as she thinks: "Her spirit sank with the idea that all must have been a delusion, and that, vividly as she dreamed it, there could be no real bond betwixt the clergyman and herself." (Hawthorne 214) Here Hester seems to be debating within herself as to what conclusion she should arrive at.

(watch until 1:52)

Chapter 13-15 Response

The first thing that caught my attention was the way that Hawthorne described the change in attitude toward Hester. Where she had initially been rejected by the Puritans because she had been an adulterer, she had now become a beloved member of the town. Between trying to continue through the long, but fantastically crafted sentences, these were the chapters in which I could feel the story beginning to pick up a little bit. Things were beginning to turn around for Hester, which was nice, but things were still pretty bad. The way that Hawthorne describes Chillingworth's physical transformation was striking. As much as I dislike Chillingworth's person, he is an amazing character. I've always been fascinated by the villains in stories and Chillingworth is a great one. He is less violent outright than he is just creepy and he makes me slightly uncomfortable when I read his dialogue. He is so well created as a character that I can understand where he would come to represent the Faustian legend and it's awesome. The way that he is manipulating Dimmesdale within an inch of his life but no more is true villain material. I think Pearl really becomes an interesting character in these chapters for me, especially in chapter fifteen. Her constant interest in the "A" on her mother chest is such that she makes an "A" of her own out of seaweed. However hers is different, whether it be for play or as Hawthorne's way of showing that Pearl is Hester both reminder and escape from the baggage that comes with the letter. In all the basic story of this book interests me, even though the structure of Hawthorne's writing isn't really my style anymore.


Question 2: What crime has Hester committed which, if known to the Puritans, would have resulted in her death?
Hester has begun to reject the values of Puritan society. She has begun to speculate on its role in her life and on its beliefs. This was, to the Puritans, the worst crime of all, for to rebel against society fell in the same vein as cardinal sin. The expectation of the time was that rules were meant to be followed religiously, religion reigned supreme, and that religion led the rule makes, therefore rejecting the rules was the worse crime a person could commit.

Question 7: What favors does Chillingworth feel he has done for Dimmesdale?
Chillingworth feels that he has done Dimmesdale a favor by not outing him for his sins. He feels that with one point of his finger, Dimmesdale would be dead or shunned, so he is helping him by keeping silent.

Chapters 13-15 Response

In chapters 13 through 15, I began to get a better understanding of the character Hester. In the earlier chapters, Hawthorne constantly would over kill his descriptions of the characters, but specifically in these chapters, Hawthorne developed her more as a character in relation to Chillingworth. This pulled me in more than any other moment of the novel. Hester noticed that, “…he wore his age well, and seemed to retain a wiry vigor and alertness. But the former aspect of and intellectual and studious man, calm and quiet, which was what she best remembered in him, had altogether vanished, and been succeeded by an eager, searching, almost fierce, yet carefully guarded look” (Hawthorne 153). This moment stood out to me because I took it as though Hester feels as though she is as far from her husband, Chillingworth, as she could possibly be. He sends her away, with no contact at all, and is so surprised by the fact that she had cheated on him. Even though it is a sin, who could blame her? When the love of her life sends her off and says nothing about it, she needs some sort of passion to keep herself from turning to a life of pain and sadness. This feeling of her dislike towards Chillingworth was completely revealed when she literally said she hates him in chapter 15. The narrator states, “And it seemed a fouler offence committed by Roger Chillingworth, than any which had since been done him, that, in that time when her heart grew no better, he had persuaded her to fancy herself by his side.” Then Hester says, “‘Yes, I hate him!...He betrayed me! He has done me worse wrong than I did him”’ (159 Hawthorne). This moment clearly shows how Hester truly feels. She is being tortured by the fact that she has to wear this ‘A’ on her chest for trying to make herself as happy as she was with her husband, but he is getting no punishment for the fact that he deserted her and believed that he could walk right back into her life. All in all, I think Chillingworth is a terrible man for sending his wife away like that.

1. What are the effects of the letter on Hester Prynne over this seven year interval?

Over the seven year interval, Hester never decided to argue with the society. This scarlet letter was like a symbol for her calling. She used her seclusion as a way to make others feel better. She found a place for herself and was able to make some people looked past the 'A' on her chest which they thought stood for adulterer and think of it more as 'able.' (146)

3. What value does Hester place upon her life?

"Much of the marble coldness of Hester's impression was to be attributed to th circumstance, that her life had turned, in a great measure, from passion and feeling, to thought" (148). The value Hester places on her life was thought. She knows that since she is excluded from most of her society, to make her daughters life and her own better, she has to use her own thought and judgement to maintain her life.

In the musical Chicago, six women are put into jail for killing their husband. They are put in for standing up to their husbands because of their annoyances for their husbands bad habits. This is similar to Hester because she finally expresses in these chapters how his betrayal overtook how she felt with him before. She is being scolded for having an affair, which in my opinion is because she needed the love that Chillingworth no longer provided, and he is getting no punishment for leaving her in the dust.... good thing Hester does not take out her hatred for Chillingworth by killing him...

Chapters 9-12

Something that Hawthorne incorporates throughout these 3 specific chapters that stood out to me was the development of conflict within certain characters. The main characters in which he shows this are Roger Chillingworth, and Reverend Dimmesdale. Hawthorne describes Chillingworth as a "pure and upright man"(117).  But throughout the time in which Chillingworth "takes care" of Dimmesdale, he feels the need to get to know more about him as a person, based on his life and just who he is in general. But in his pursuit of trying to learn more about Dimmesdale, Chillingworth starts to develop the feeling that Dimmesdale may be hiding something from him. Eventually, Chillingworth starts to somewhat change who he is in order to get closer to finding about what he theorizes Dimmesdale is hiding. Hawthorne says, "He groped along as stealthily, with as cautious a tread, and as wary an outlook, as a thief entering a chamber where a man lies only half asleep-or, if it may be, broad awake,- with purpose to steal the very treasure which this man guards as the apple of his eye" (118). This shows that Chillingworth is becoming obsessive and needy to find out about what ever it is that he suspects Dimmesdale is hiding from him. I think that this presents an internal conflict for Chillingworth, because he ends up changing who he is himself as a person in order to learn more about Dimmesdale, just because getting to know the patient is part of the process that he takes in order to treat him or her. I think that Chillingworth's actions in this situation help to develop a possible theme that falls along the lines of something like, "it is important to not allow evil and neediness to take over who people are as individuals."
Reverend Dimmesdale is commonly thought of as a somewhat god-like figure, or somebody who would be considered to be too good to be walking around on earth. But soon enough, Roger Chillingworth finds out about Dimmesdale big dark secret that he was the one who Hester committed Adultery. Knowing that Dimmesdale wants to be thought of as a super-religious man who follows the beliefs of Puritans, he decides to punish himself for his wrong-doings. He does this by whipping himself and starving himself. The starvation of himself and the illness that he suffers from causes him to hallucinate things such as ghosts. Hawthorne describes the situation by saying, "Now came the dead friends of his youth, and his white-bearded father with a saint-like frown, and his mother, turning her face away as she passed by" (132). The significance of these ghosts is that they all put him through what seems to be a form of a guilt-trip, so he'll learn. This presents the conflict of Dimmesdale vs. Religion because he decides to torture himself and put himself through misery, for the sole purpose of trying to make up for his sinning. Based on this, it is almost as if Hawthorne is trying to show a central theme that relates to how religion should be or is the most important thing in somebody's life.

5) What is the significance of Chillingworth's examining Dimmesdale's chest?

On page 126, Hawthorne says, "The physician advanced directly in front of his patient, laid his hand upon his bosom, and thrust aside the vestment that, hitherto, had always covered it even from the professional eye. Then, indeed, Mr. Dimmesdale shuddered, and slightly stirred. After a brief pause, the physician turned away. But with what a wild look wonder, joy, and horror!". The significance of Chillingworth's examination of Reverend Dimmesdale's chest is that he finally figures out Dimmesdale's secret that he believed he was hiding from him. The secret ends up being that Dimmesdale is the father of Pearl, and that he was the one who Hester committed Adultery with. Chillingworth realizes this because what he sees on Dimmesdale's chest, is a Scarlet Letter very similar to Hester's.

6) What is the reaction of Dimmesdale's parishioners to his sermons?

The parishioners seemed to be rather amazed by Dimmesdale's sermons. "The next day, however, being the Sabbath, he preached a discourse which was held to be the richest and most powerful, and the most replete with heavenly influences, that had ever proceeded from his lips" (143). This makes it evident that the sermon that Dimmesdale gave was the best one that he as ever given, and that the people loved it.

Chapters 9-12 Reflection

I feel like I'm the only one who doesn't see Roger Chillingworth as the scary guy everyone else does, I see him as just as much a hero as Hester is a heroine. The very beginning of chapter 9 (pg.107) gives a brief recap of Chillingworth's character since the start of the novel. Telling how he ventured out of the woods only to see the one person whom he hoped to find some fragment of his old life with, after being with indians, standing center stage being shamed by the town for committing adultery. It must have felt like someone had tore his heart out to see his wife standing there. Although his choice to take on a new identity way seem horrible, I saw it as a noble sacrifice in a sense. After all, the man just gave up the last pice of his old life that he had. By leaving Hester he may have spared her even more shame from the townspeople and the church, had they known that her husband had returned and she had bore a child with another the scorn that she would receive would be far worse. Especially because Roger would have to act furious with her which would only hurt her all the more, despite seeing that he somewhat understands how she could have cheated on him. Lastly by leaving Hester he was also left in an easier position to infiltrate the town and simply become a regular man as he carried out his manhunt for the man who took his wife. Had he not taken a new alias he never would have been able to get so close with Mr. Dimmesdale, for he would have stayed as far away from Chillingworth in order to hide his sin with Hester.
In addition these chapters further develop the motifs of secret sin as well and guilt. It is not so hard to figure out that Dimmesdale holds a secret sin within him in these chapters. Obviously Chillingworth sees this too and is only assured of this when he stumbles upon Dimmesdale, Hester, and Pearl standing upon the scaffold in the dark of night trying to hide their sin. Guilt is also shown in a physical sense in the deterioration of Dimmesdale and more specifically on his chest.

Questions

1. What are the townspeople's reactions to Chillingworth's lodging in the same house as Dimmesdale?
At first they seemed pleased, and perhaps even jubilant that Dimmesdale was going to be healed and continue to be there spiritual leader. However this quickly disappears as people begin to see Chillingworth as Satan himself or at least his servant come to battle for Dimmesdale's soul.

 2.What changes have taken place in Chillingworth over the years?
Chillingworth slowly grew more sinister and cold as he aged, I saw this as him growing at an accelerated rate due to the stress and pain he bore as he searched for his wife's partner in adultery. However the townspeople see him as taking on a look of evil.

Chapters 9-12

Mr. Mahoney, I hate to break it to you because I know how big of a Chillinworth fan you are, but chapters 9 through 12 made me creeped out, annoyed and a bit loathing of him. What has been standing out to me throughout the novel is the association Hawthorne gives between Satan and Chillingworth, and it was these chapters that embody it the most thus far. (especially bottom of pg 126) Much of these chapters develop the relationship between Chillingworth and Dimmesdale. Chillingworth now lives with the reverend under the pretext of a desire to heal him, however, in reality, Roger is seeking analyze and destroy the man. On page 118 Hawthorne describes the doctor's eyes as having a "light glimmering...burning blue and ominous." There is evil in Roger Chillingworth's "friendly" actions toward Dimmesdale. Though he does not fully understand why, the reverend senses this malevolence in their friendship, but the physician hides it well. Dimmesdale is intuitively concerned but when he looks at Chillingworth, "There the physician [sits]: his kind, watchful, sympathizing, but never intrusive friend" (Hawthorne 118). Roger is actually very intrusive in subtle, manipulative ways that Dimmesdale does not consciously notice. For instance, Roger prompts a conversation (pg120) about Hester, sin and secrecy with Dimmesdale in order instill terrible guilt in the reverend because he believes that he is Hester's partner in adultery. While appearing sympathizing, Roger is really dissecting Dimmesdale's responses for information and literally killing him with guilt.

Also, I interpreted from these chapters that the scaffold holds a similar but slightly different meaning and symbolism for Hester and Dimmesdale. For Hester, the scaffold is a symbol of the shame she was subjected publicly by the puritans years ago and also the public shame sh continues to feel as a result. For Dimmesdale however, the scaffold is a symbol of guilt, a more internal disapproval of himself that is not known to others. He is not subjected to shame but he is the victim of guilt. 

What actions does Dimmesdale take to punish himself?
Dimmesdale keeps a secret whip in his closet which he violently whips himself with as a form of punishment for his sins. In addition to this, he fasts for the same reason. He does not fast like others to cleanse his body, but instead he fasts until he can no longer even stand as a means of self punishment. (pg 132)

Why is Chillingworth called a "leech," and why, at another point, does the narrator compare him to  a miner?
First of all I love that Hawthorne chooses to call Chillingworth a leech because it has a double meaning. Roger is literally a leech because at that time "leech" was a word which referred to physicians because there was a practice which involved using leeches to drain blood to heal people.In a more figurative sense, Chillingworth is a leech because he has attached himself to Dimmesdale in a destructive, parasitical manner. The way Chillingworth subtly tortures Dimmesdale literally drains life from him in the way a leech does. Day by day, Dimmesdale looks more emaciated and closer to death.
The narrator also compares Chillingworth to a miner. This is an accurate comparison because, like a miner, Chillingworth is in search of something very specific and something of great value to him. He searches and searches in manipulative ways to find an answer like a miner digs and digs to find gold or coal etc.

Response to 5-8

I find this book challenging to read. The level of detail in which Hawthorne describes everything in the throughout the book makes it difficult to follow. He regularly takes multiple pages to describe a single object. For example, Hawthorne takes an entire chapter to describe Pearl's appearance and personality. While reading the lengthy pages that lack dialogue or any real action, I often find my concentration fading. Hawthorne's word choice makes it difficult for me to get through the book, because I end up spending a long time re-reading pages multiple times to understand what is happening. Although I do not particularly like his writing style I enjoy the way he includes his own ideas towards the puritan society. It is not hard to find throughout the story. Hawthorne frequently includes comparisons of modern life to puritan life. For example, in chapter 7 he compares the way they deal with personal matters. “It may appear singular, and, indeed, not a little ludicrous, that an affair of this kind, which, in later days, would have been referred to no higher jurisdiction than that of the selectmen of the town, should then have been a question publicly discussed, and on which statesmen of eminence took sides”(91). Also, I actually like the way that Hawthorne describes the symbols that he incorporates into the story because I like how he lets the reader know exactly what he was thinking while he was writing. He leads the reader by describing exactly what a symbol represents.

9. How does Pearl behave when questioned by the men?

When Pearl is questioned by the men she is very stubborn. She escapes through a window when Mr. Wilson tried to talk to her. Mr. Wilson asks Pearl who made her, and even though she knows the right answer because her mother has taught her everything about religion, she refuses to say anything to him. Pearl eventually makes something up and claims that she was plucked from a rose bush that grows by the prison door.

10. How does Hester succeed in her mission, and how does this relate to her conversation with Mistress Hibbins?

Hester's mission was to convince Governor Bellingham that she was capable of raising Pearl because she heard that people were debating whether or not they should take Pearl away from her. Hester succeeded this mission because she begged Master Dimmesdale to convince the rest of the men that they should not change the way Pearl is living. This relates to her conversation with Mistress Hibbins because Hester said she would have gone with Mistress Hibbins if Pearl had been taken away from her, so even though Pearl is young she saved Hester from the devil.

Chapters 5-8 Reflection

After finishing these chapters I find that Hawthorne's language has become easier to read. Although it became a little boring at times, lacking dialogue and character interactions throughout most of the chapters, Hawthorne's character descriptions and symbols made it more interesting. One symbol that stood out to me was the rose bush in front of the prison door that was described in the first chapter and brought back up in the seventh. Pearl is cries for it because it is so beautiful compared to the flowers in the forest that she usually see. Then when Mr. Wilson is questioning the beliefs of Pearl  asking who made her and Hawthorne describes her response: "The child finally announced that she had not been made at all, but had been plucked by her mother off the bush of wild roses that grew by the prison-door" (102). Pearl, at the age of only 3, responds that she has been plucked from a ross bush, the symbol for something beautiful blooming from some thing dangerous and covered in thorns. She is the result of this scorned sin but she her appearance is described as perfect and beautiful. Also, Pearl coming from the sin is symbolized in the fact that the rose bush is directly in front of the prison door. Pearl's birth is accurately represented by the rosebush because she is the result of the sin symbolized by the thorns and she is represented by the flower.
Another thing that stood out to me is the kindness of Reverend Dimmesdale towards Pearl. In a society where everyone looks down on both Hester and her daughter, Dimmesdale stands out. When everyone else wants to take Pearl away from Hester, he speaks out for her saying that she is there to bring her some joy but also remind her of her sin. This convinces the other men to let Hester raise Pearl as she wishes. He even gives Hester a little hope of redemption saying: "If she shall bring the child to heaven, the child will also bring its parent thither!" (105). All of the women at the scaffold wanted her to be condemned to death because of her sin, but here he is going as far as saying that she could go to heaven. Then in chapter eight, he holds Pearl's hand and kisses her head showing his impressive kindness yet again.

Pearls's Personality and Appearance:
 Pearl is described at first as having a "perfect shape" and that there was "an absolute circle of radiance around her" (82). Her beautiful and capturing appearance even as an infant is clear as soon as Hawthorne begins describing her. She has dark brownish black hair and black eyes. As far as her personality, Pearl reflects a lot of her mother's characteristics such as her defiant, sometimes depressing mood, and her volatile temper. Also she gives her mother looks that are completely unsympathetic and she never acknowledged Hester's sorrow. Pearl is described multiple times as capricious showing that she is fitful and moody. At points Hester thinks that she is devilish and she is described as an imp and and an elf.

Pearl's Reaction to the Scarlet Letter:
 The first thing Pearl notices about her mother is the scarlet letter embroidered on her bosom and she reaches for it. Then as she grows older, she appears to resent it thawing flowers at it and smiling whenever she was able to hit it. Then when Hester and Pearl are in the Governor's house, she points out the letter in their reflection where it appears to almost overshadow her mother because of the concave mirror.

“The church is the great family of children of God. Certainly it has human aspects from the members who comprise it, pastors and faithful. They have defects, imperfections, sins. Even the pope has them — and he has many — but what is beautiful is that when we become aware that we are sinners, we find the mercy of God. God always forgives. Don’t forget this. God always forgives.”

—Pope Francis beginning a series of meditations on the church May 29

I wanted to find a quote from the Pope to contrast a modern day religion to that in the Puritan society. The Pope openly admits that he has sins, which they would never do in that time so they could look like they were in God's grace. Also, he says that God always forgives, but Hester is so severely punished because of one sin and no one will forgive her.  

Ch 5-8: Reflection

One thing that I really noticed while reading these chapters is the extent to which Hawthorne describes a character or an idea. He uses incredibly precise language to evoke a certain image and feeling when describing any situation; he explains every little detail. By being so specific and writing such vivid descriptions, Hawthorne doesn't allow readers to have very much leeway in putting their own interpretation. In addition, many times Hawthorne seems very long-winded because he spends so much time to describe everything. One instance of Hawthorne being very direct and precise with the reader is the beginning of chapter five on page 72 and 73. Another more prominent example is that he spends all of chapter six thoroughly describing Pearl and the way she affects Hester. He spends more than a page describing why Hester felt more vulnerable walking out of the prison than during her time on the scaffold. Despite those downsides, it is amazing how clearly he imagined these fictional situations and characters while writing the novel. Furthermore, it is even more amazing that he is able to write down his ideas so exactly and eloquently. At first it was hard to keep track of all the information, details, he tells us, but gradually it becomes easier to follow Hawthorne's language.While I also noticed how much Hawthorne keeps on associating Pearl with imps and sprites along with the color scarlet red. By describing Pearl as beautiful yet terrifying and as a product of Hester's sin (82-83), Hawthorne implies that Pearl is a physical representation of sinning itself. Indulging in one of the seven sins, although satisfying and tempting like Pearl's beauty, leads to detrimental consequences and tarnishes the soul of an individual. Furthermore, he explicitly says, "It [Pearl wearing a crimson tunic] was the scarlet letter in another form; the scarlet letter endowed with life!" (93) Pearl is a living representation of Hester's sin.
Pearl reminded me of a siren-type of figure to Hester. Sirens were beautiful creatures; however, they were actually monsters that killed sailors by luring them in with their beauty and mesmerizing voices. Similarly, Pearl's beauty mesmerizes Hester, and by attempting to care for Pearl, Hester only suffers from her daughter's cruelty and witnesses the demon inside of her.

Chapters 5-8: Answers to Question 1-2

After her ordeal, where did Hester choose to live? Why?

Hester had an option of moving away from Boston to some other settlement or even back to England and start anew under a different identity in order to escape from her notoriety in Puritan society. Despite being publicly ashamed, she decided to remain close to Boston. Hester found a cottage in the woods on the outskirts of Boston that was abandoned because it was located on infertile land. She decided to remain in Boston for a few reasons. One reason being that Hester, through her sinning and public humiliation, formed an deep bond with the Boston society: "The chain that bound her here was of iron links, and galling to her inmost soul, but could never be broken" (74). Another reason that she may have remained in Boston is that she hoped that by staying there, she would be able to see Pearl's father. She hoped that together they could withstand the judgement of society together as if they were husband and wife (74). A third reason that Hester stayed in Boston is that she should remain in the place that she sinned for her punishment. By enduring her shame, Hester believed she could have regained her purity and become saint-like(74).

What occupation did Hester take up?

Hester became a seamstress in Boston because of her incredible talent in needle work. She made highly desired ornate clothing for governors, for the poor, and for funerals. However, nobody would hire her to make wedding clothing because people thought it was inappropriate to be wed using clothing made by a woman that committed adultery. (76)