Chapter 23 - The Revelation

Summary:  This chapter is the epic climax of the Scarlet Letter in which all conflicts come undone. The Reverend Dimmesdale delivers his final and most wonderful speech of his career about "the relation between the Deity and the communities of man".  The crowd is taken aback and left in awe by the passion and articulated intelligence used to deliver it. Dimmesdale appears holy and angel like to them. When the speech ends he sees Hester and the three of them- Dimmesdale, Hester, and Pearl- go up onto the scaffolding in front of everybody to come clean. Chillingworth tries to stop Dimmesdale but fails. Dimmesdale needs to use Hester as support while he stands on the scaffolding. He spills his guts and reveals the letter "A" carved into his chest. He falls over, dying, and finally receives a kiss from Pearl on the lips. Hester asks Dimmesdale if they will meet in the afterlife and he responds that it is up to God. He says "farewell" and dies.

Point 1: The Broken Spell

When Dimmesdale is near death and Pearl gives her father the kiss he had wanted, a spell is broken. "the pledge that she would grow up amid human joy and sorrow, nor forever do battle with the world, but be a woman in it... Pearl's errand as a messenger of anguish was all fulfilled". Throughout the novel Pearl represented wildness and passion. Her actions served to break the emotional blocks created by society that prevented Hester and Dimmesdale from living freely and happily. It was her mission from birth to achieve this   and when it is achieved, the role of her existence changes.





point 2: The Defeat of Chillingworth

Dimmesdale is finally aware of Chillingworth's evil intentions and is able to repel his temptations. "Thy power is not what it was! With God's help, I shall escape thee now!" says Dimmesdale. Chillingworth follows them atop the scaffold, and after Dimmesdale reveals the "A" on his chest, he kneels next to the dying minister and accepts his defeat. "Thou hast escaped me!" he says.


Gossamer thread:

skip to 3:40

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTvRUSluCRo