Chapter 24- Conclusion

Summary of Chapter 24

As the title of the chapter suggests this last chapters concludes all answered questions in the story of The Scarlet Letter. Throughout the novel Nathaniel Hawthorne weaves many intricate details within the story and this chapter ties them off. In the previous chapter in a moment of catharsis Dimmesdale reveals all his hidden sin and unites on the scaffold with Hester and Pearl. Soon after his release Dimmsdale dies in Hester's arms. Many rumors circulate about Dimmesdale's death and his last sermon. Some people swear they saw a red letter A on his chest. The rumors of this letter were just as great as the rumors around Hester's matching A. The speculations were as varied as they were many.Some believed that it was a wound Dimmesdale inflicted upon himself as punishment. Others theorized it was the result of guilt he felt for his sins. Another theory was that it was from the poison Chillingworth gave him. The people of high status in the town deny him even having a letter a on his skin. They go further to deny that he even committed adultery and fathered Pearl. Soon after Dimmesdale's death Cillingworth's health quickly deteriorated. He died leaving pearl all of him money in his will. Hester and Pearl disappeared after the death's of Dimmesdale and Chillingworth.
Years later Hester returns to town without Pearl. Hester moves back into her house that had been left untouched all the years she had been gone. While she was gone the stigma her letter a held disappeared  Although Hester still felt the sin that was tied to it the others saw it as somewhat of a badge of honor. The women of the town came to her to seek out advice on how to repent for their own sins. When Hester died she was buried in a grave near Dimmesdale sharing a tombstone.

The Scarlet Letter

The meaning behind the Scarlet Letter changes often through out the novel. In the beginning of the novel the letter A stood for the worst imaginable sin in puritan culture, adultery  Hester was given this to set her aside as a reject from society. She had done wrong and was to spend the rest of her life being constantly reminded what she had done and feeling the burning eyes of hate upon her. Hester rebelled against this not outwardly but through her refusal to let it crush her. She instead she bore her punishment and further punished herself. The letter's next meaning is shown when it appears on Dimmesdale's chest. In this scenario the letter stood for the guilt Dimmesdale felt. His guilt stemmed from his denial of Hester and Pearl and from his lies to the people of his congregation. Unlike Hester's a, Dimmesdale's was hidden from the public. Instead of being able to embrace his a it ate him up inside eventually making him physically. Later the symbolism changes yet again  When people unfamiliar with Hester's story see her letter a they assume it stands for some status she has. This transformation is shown when Nathaniel Hawthorne writes on page 203 of The Scarlet Letter, "But in the lapse of the toilsome, thoughtful, and self-devoted years that made up Hester's life, the scarlet letter ceased to be a stigma which attracted the world's scorn and bitterness, and become a type of something to be sorrowed over, and looked upon with awe, yet with reverence, too."  The Scarlet Letter became somewhat of a badge of honor. When she was first forced to wear the A it was meant to shame her but instead over time became a symbol of her strength.

Why did Hester Return?

At the end of the novel Hester returns to the place where she once dreamed of escaping. Her actions seem to not be in line with the way she was treated so why does she return when she finally escaped? Hester realizes at the end of her journey what her purpose is within her society. Hester is not there to be ridiculed or be a warning to children. She instead grows to represent to hope in human kind. Puritans believed that all humans are born evil and only a few can be redeemed  Hester's story proves this wrong. A woman that committed the worst sin imaginable is redeemed in the eyes of her peers. By baring her punishment and refusing to believe she was in fact evil she does not allow the experience to harden her. She never really fully forgives herself but she learns how to forgive others. Her strength set an example for others to live. Through her trials she came to believe that to be good one does not have to be miserable her realization is shown on page 203, when Hawthorne writes, "She assured them, too, of her firm belief  that, at some brighter period, when the world should have grown ripe for it, in Heaven's own time, a new truth would be revealed, in order to establish the whole relation between man and woman on surer ground of mutual happiness." Hester returned because she knew there was nowhere else she belonged. She knew she belonged where she committed the sin that changed her life forever. She stayed not just o remind her of her past to also to let people know forgiveness is always a possibility.

Gossamer Threads-

                                          Pearl

                                          Dimmesdale

                                          Hester

Each of these songs represent how the major characters of The Scarlet Letter are affected by sin and the Scarlet letter.

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

Chapter 22 - The Procession

Summary:
     This chapter begins with the grand celebration of the Election Day in the Puritan society. First in the parade came a company of soldiers dressed in their shining armor that dazzled the crowd. After the soldiers came the esteemed congressmen whom Hester noticed to be especially powerful and strong compared to the soldiers. After the politicians came Mr. Dimmesdale, who looked more alive and spiritually awakened than ever. He had changed so much that Pearl did not recognize him and wanted him to kiss her, which is the opposite of the day before. During the parade Mistress Hibbins confronts Hester about her trip to the forest and how she knows that  Mr. Dimmesdale was a friend of the devil. After this confrontation Pearl begin to dance among the crowd and attract the attention of many different people. At first she encounters a Native American from the surrounding woods who noticed her wild side, then the sailors had the same reaction as the Native American. They all noticed that Pearl had a character that was inhuman and much wilder than the normal human spirit. At the finish of the chapter Mr. Dimmesdale begins to give his sermon to the town.

Point One: Differences between Hester and Dimmesdale
    Hester and Dimmesdale have been connected since the beginning of the novel through their adultery, but both have dealt with the guilt and pain of living with a secret sin very differently. While Hester has to bear the all of the shame and consequences of her sin to the public, Dimmesdale is able to hide himself from the public's judgement, yet he becomes physically weak and cannot bear the thought of his secret sin inside of him. This difference demonstrates Hester's true strength compared to Dimmesdale's cowardice and weakness. Hester is able to bear the pain of having a child that no one approves of, living alone, and facing the wrath and spite of the entire town, but Dimmesdale cannot even handle the sin inside himself, which Hester also has to live with. Hawthorne could be criticizing the Puritan society by having such a prominent figure in their society have no valiant morals or good qualities when trying circumstances came around. Had Arthur Dimmesdale faced their adultery with courage than he would not have to live with the secret sin and his life would have been much better. He would not be followed around by the sinister Dr. Chillingworth and he would no longer have to clutch his heart when any painful memory came about.
     Also, Mr. Dimmesdale had the ability to disconnect his moral life form his public life. He was able to continue to be a minister at the church, while Hester had to sacrifice her entire being for their child. His disconnection from their life together is the main difference between the two. When he needed help he was able to show his feelings through his powerful sermons, but when Hester needed assistance she envied him
"for being able so completely to withdraw himself from their mutual world; while she groped darkly, and stretched forth her cold hands, and found him not." (Hawthorne 185).  Her lack of help from Dimmesdale portrays how Dimmesdale is not honorable and as valiant and incredible as the Puritans make him out to be. Once he is in a trying moral circumstance he abandons the ones he loves to maintain society's respect. His questionable morals display how the Puritan society forced perfection, and when this perfection could not be achieved guilt and anguish would envelop a person. However, once Dimmesdale believes that he is moving to Europe he abandons all of his misgivings and "he exhibited such energy as was seen in the gait and air with which he kept his pace in the procession." (Hawthorne 184). His giddiness demonstrates how his morals were not bound to himself and his spirit, but rather to the society and approval. Hawthorne is clearly criticizing the Puritan society here by displaying their culture as devoid of true values.

Point Two: Pearl as the Devil
     Throughout this chapter Pearl becomes much more of a devilish figure, rather than an elfish or impish figure in the novel. Previously in the novel Pearl had been described as a child that seemed to live in the sunshine of the world and frolic in life, but in this chapter her untamed and wild side is noticed by the townspeople. Mistress Hibbins even goes as far as saying "Wilt though ride with me, some fine night, to see thy father?" (Hawthorne 187). Mistress Hibbins inquiry of Pearl to come join her cult of witches and meet Pearl's father, or the devil, in the woods demonstrates how Pearl represents the devil because she is the spawn of passion and a horrible crime. To the townspeople she is the representation of a crime, and her clothes and demeanor only encourage their speculation. Her vivid clothes draw attention to herself and compare herself to the scarlet letter that Hester wears with shame.
Pearl is also displayed as the embodiment of the devil through her interactions with he townspeople during the parade. At the parade Pearl interacted with Native Americans and sailors, two groups of people who have completely different moral guidelines compared to the strict Puritans. Both groups cannot believe the spirit and wildness that are within her. Her character demonstrates how she is the embodiment of the devil in the novel because their is no way to handle or tame her and she runs on impulses and desires.

Wow Factor: "Love is Greed" - Passion Pit

This song is representative of the Scarlet Letter because it demonstrates Hester's attitudes towards love in the chapter. She is starting to realize that she may have made a larger mistake than she realized in the beginning of the novel. After viewing Dimmesdale and Pearl act as themselves she becomes scared that the love she has been seeking from coming together with Dimmesdale could be an unreal and far-fetched reality. She especially begins to fear her fate when she learns that Dr. Chillingworth had weaseled himself into her plans and she may never be able to escape the stigma that her selfish love had earned her.   

Chapter 21- The New England Holiday

Summary:

In The New England Holiday, Hawthorne describes a large assembly of townspeople in the marketplace, preparing to celebrate the inaugural of a new governor. It doesn't register in the reader's mind as a modern celebration, but for the Puritans it was a festival nonetheless. As they walk to the town square, Pearl is cheerfully skipping and singing, and she asks Hester if Reverend Dimmesdale will join them, as he did in the forest. The chapter concludes with the Spanish captain of the ship on which Hester, Pearl, and Dimmesdale will sail to England approaching Hester and nonchalantly mentioning that Roger Chillingworth would accompany them on the journey. Hester looks across the crowd at the doctor, who is smiling sinisterly back at her.

1. Hiding Inner Emotions and the Irony of Puritanism

 The festivities of the holiday in New England depict the double standard on which Puritanism is based- the idea that what one portrays to the rest of society and their inner thoughts and feelings are two entirely separate entities. This chapter in particular focuses on the differences between one's outward appearance and what one masks from others. Hester in particular is forced to hide her excitement about leaving for Europe in the presence of the town. The chapter opens describing her disguising her emotions behind her impassive face and under her drab cloak. The one element of her that is not actively concealing her mental state is her daughter Pearl, who herself is the result of a catharsis of passion between Hester and Dimmesdale and the discarding of the barriers that the members of the society put up to protect themselves. Pearl dances and skips alongside Hester, conveying "by the very dance of her spirits, the emotions which none could detect in the marble passiveness of Hester's brow" (175). By this statement, Pearl is thus the physical manifestation of Hester's inner feelings. As discussed in chapter 19, Pearl represents an agent of truth, and in this instance, she is showing Hester's actual feelings through her cheerful and lighthearted spirit. The other townspeople also, in a way, project emotion on the day of the festival. The Puritans "compressed whatever mirth and public joy they deemed allowable to human infirmity; thereby so far dispelling the customary cloud, that, for the space of a single holiday, they appeared scarcely more grave than most other communities at a period of general affliction" (177). This bit of satire illustrates that compared to non-Puritan society, the holiday they celebrate is still more serious than times of distress. The irony comes with the fact that the Puritan idea of "letting loose" and showing emotion for a special occasion is still relatively uptight and somber. While not going nearly as far as to reveal their innermost secret sins, the townspeople let down their guard, if only marginally, to create a risque environment, in terms of their society.

2. Outsiders to Society as Sinners

In this chapter, Hawthorne also describes certain characters and groups as being outsiders to the Puritan society- Native Americans, Spanish seamen, and Hester Prynne herself. In each of these cases, there is some sin that causes the separation. At the edge of the marketplace stands a group of Native Americans, observing the scene from afar. By Puritan standards, these "savages" sin by their very way of life, and as such are not welcome to proceed further into the throng. Even more set apart are the Spanish sailors, who spend their lives on the vast, unknown, hellish ocean, and by extension, cannot be pure. However, because of the overall insecurity and terror of their lives at sea, the Puritans overlook the seamen's scandalous behavior. It is interesting that they are all but excused from sin in terms of social standings when they live lives of unrighteousness, whereas Hester repents every day for her sin, and is still punished by the townspeople.
       Ever since she was found to be guilty of adultery, Hester has been shunned by society for being a sinner. This is especially shown in this chapter, when Hawthorne describes her standing alone, with no individual willing to come near her, save the captain of the Spanish ship. He writes, "a small vacant area- a sort of magic circle- had formed itself about her, into which, though the people were elbowing one another at a little distance, none ventured, or felt disposed, to intrude" (180). Hester herself belongs to the society, but because she has grievously sinned, no one dares to come near her and risk being infected by what they see as a form of the devil. This is yet another reminder that although she is about to escape, Hester still serves as a warning and a precedent to others in the town of the consequences of sin and giving into one's desires. In each of these distinct groups, sin is the separating factor that denies them acceptance from society.


Gossamer Thread:

Just as Hester Prynne conceals her excitement about escaping to Europe in front of the townspeople, on race day, rowers must control and camouflage their emotions before the start. If anyone has attended a regatta, he or she will know that the commotion of launching crews, frantic coaches, and thronging spectators forms a connection to the hustle and bustle of the Puritan settlement preceding the procession. In the midst of it all, experienced rowers are calm and focused leading up to the start. The bigger the race, the more excitement, nerves, and adrenaline course through their bodies. Even though every crew on the water that day experiences the same flood of emotion, no one reveals any of it. To show any sign of nervousness drops a crew's intimidation factor tenfold, and over-excitement at the start can lead a crew to "fly and die," a novice mistake almost guaranteed to result in a lost race. Rowers must put on a "mien of calmness" (181) despite whatever excitement, trepidation, or pre-race jitters they might be feeling and save the catharsis for after they take the final stroke, thus exemplifying Hester's serene countenance.

Chapter 20 - The Minister in the Maze (Christina Caviston)

Chapter 20- The Minister in the Maze
 
Summary:
This chapter begins with Dimmesdale returning to town after agreeing to go to Europe with Hester. He is amazed by his regained health and his new view of the town. His agreement with Hester has given him his strength back and he is now realizing different things about the town. He's been gone for a few days and it feels like years. Dimmesdale is relieved that Hester's charity work got his family onto a ship to Europe. He is also ecstatic that it leaves in four days, because he can give a sermon at Election Day before he leaves. As he walks into town, he encounters various church members. With each encounter, he feels as if he can't hold back his corrupting ideas. He feels as if the Devil is trying to make him say things to shatter others beliefs. When Dimmesdale returns home, he tells Chillingworth that he no longer needs his medicine because he is feeling better. Once Chillingworth leaves, Dimmesdale throws his old sermon for Election Day. He starts a new sermon which he writes with passion that he has now found inside himself due too his visit to the woods.

Hester's Effect:

After Dimmesdale's meeting with Hester, he is changed. He sees the town differently and feels different. The decision he made with Hester has changed him. "The excitement of Mr. Dimmesdale's feelings, as he returned from his interview with Hester, lent him unaccustomed physical energy, and hurried him townward at a rapid pace" (166). Dimmesdale is beginning to feel free from his sin because he now has a way out. Now that he has agreed to go to Europe with Hester, he no longer feels the burden. Even though sin is a bad thing, the fact that he is choosing to be good with Hester has helped him and brought him relief that led to physical improvement. Not only has the meeting brought better health, but new a new outlook on the town. Hawthorne describes, "As he drew near the town, he took an impression of change from the series of familiar objects that presented themselves. It seemed not yesterday, not one, nor two, but many days, or even years ago, since he had quitted them" (166). Dimmesdale recognizes familiarities in the town, but he feels as if he has been gone for a while. He feels as if everything has changed since he left. He has a new perspective on things within the town since he met with Hester. Hester is having a positive effect on Dimmesdale. Their meeting has helped him feel a sense of relief from his sin and affected him in positive ways.
 
Dimmesdale's Encounters:

On Dimmesdale's walk to his house, he encounters many different church members. Each person he meets is younger and more innocent than the first. Dimmesdale wants to let go of everything he is feeling, "at every step he was incited to do some strange wild wicked thing or other, with a sense that it would be at once involuntary and intentional" (167). He first meets with an old deacon. He was shaking and turning pale because he couldn't say what he wanted. He was laughing on the inside thinking about what the deacon would say to his new thoughts. An old widow then talks to him and he thinks, "The instilment thereof into her mind would probably have caused this aged sister to drop dead at once, as by effect of an intensely poisonous infusion" (168). Dimmesdale leaves the old woman with a smile on her face, and he doesn't remember what he told her. His beliefs and ideas are so far from the Puritan ideals that if he told people they would think he was crazy. His last encounter is with a pretty young woman who found relief in the church. As he talks to her he feels as if the devil is trying to sway him to say something to corrupt her. He fights the urge because he does not want to ruin the church for her. He then comes along a group of young children, and he gets an impulse to teach them "wicked words". He fights the urge and his last encounter is with Mistress Hibbins, the rumored witch. She asks him to take her to the woods next time. It is said that she is haunted by the devil, and he feels the same. After he takes in all that has just occurred he exclaims, "What is it that haunts and tempts me thus? [...] Am I mad? or am I given over utterly to the fiend? Did I make a contract with him in the forest, and sign it with my blood? And does he now summon me to its fulfilment, by suggesting the performance of every wickedness which his most foul imagination can conceive?" (170). Dimmesdale thinks that his agreement to leave with Hester is causing the devil to force him to let out his evil. He wonders if going away from the Puritan ideals and beliefs is a bad idea. These new revelations cause him to go home and start a new sermon full of passion.

Gossamer Thread:

I connected this chapter with this clip from Scrubs. Carla has just found out a secret from her friend Elliot, and she is tempted to tell it to everyone. She feels as if she can't keep it bottled in her. She wants to tell but she knows if she does it will have bad consequences. Carla's secret links to the new feelings Dimmesdale has and he is torn whether or not to tell them or not.

Chapter 19: The Child at the Brook-Side

Summary:

            At the end of the previous chapter, Hester arranges for Pearl to meet Dimmesdale as her father. They meet in the woods and Hester calls Pearl over. When Pearl sees Dimmesdale, she moves very slowly towards them. While she is walking, Dimmesdale says that he was afraid that Pearl would look like him and reveal him, which brings about a conversation about how she looks like both of her parents. Hawthorne then points out that they both are suddenly overcome by the idea that Pearl is a physical connection between the two of them, on multiple levels. Hester gives Dimmesdale advice on how to conduct himself, such as to show little emotion because Pearl doesn’t like that. The minister replies that he is very nervous about this meeting. Despite this, he says that Pearl is the only child that has been nice to him (other children seem not to like him).

            Pearl suddenly stops at a small brook and just stands there for a while. Hawthorn describes the symbolic scene in great detail, and even Dimmesdale sees the stream as a boundary having deeper meaning. Hester urges Pearl to come, as Dimmesdale is still very uneasy. Pearl sees Dimmesdale put his hand over his heart, and then Pearl notices Hester is not wearing the scarlet letter and indicates for Hester to put it on.  She does so, and then Pearl comes and kisses the letter, which Hester takes as an insult. Pearl refuses to show any positive emotions towards Dimmesdale. It seems that she wants him to accept them in public, which Hester and Dimmesdale say they cannot do yet.

First Point: Effect of Scarlet Letter on Hester

            When Hester removes the scarlet letter in the previous chapter, she has a brief period where she is free of its effects. It is an immense load being taken off of her shoulders. Its effect was so great that according to Hawthorn, it even changed the weather. Pearl insists that Hester put the scarlet letter back on, so to pacify her, Hester asks Pearl to bring her the letter by the brook. Pearl declares that her mother shout get it, which she does. This action re-affirms the concept of the letter as a burden to Hester by portraying it as a sort of chore to her. As it was in the beginning of the novel, the scarlet letter remains a source of punishment to Hester. When Hester put on the letter and put her hat back on,

“As if there was a withering spell in the sad letter, her beauty, the warmth and richness of her womanhood, departed, like fading sunshine; and a gray shadow seemed to fall across her.” (Hawthorn 163)

Another example of the letter’s supernatural qualities, Hawthorn describes the letter as literally taking away from Hester’s well being. With the letter on her shirt and hair pulled up, Hester appears confined and withdrawn, as if she were in prison. The moment is also described as inclement weather towards the end of the quote, a contrast with Hester’s earlier experience of removing the letter, which brought sunlight.

Second Point: The Role Pearl Plays

            Throughout the story and especially in this chapter, Pearl exhibits a special quality that defines her role. Pearl demonstrates an insistence that people are truthful. She shows this in two ways in this chapter, starting how she forced Hester to wear the scarlet letter. She had refused to cross the brook until Hester continued to wear the letter. This act demonstrates that she wants Hester to remain in her true identity, even though Pearl doesn’t really even know what that is.

            Pearl also shows her insistence that people be truthful when Hester tells her to go to see Dimmesdale. She asks her mother “Will he go back with us, hand in hand, we three together, into the town?” (Hawthorn 163), to which Hester replies that he will not yet. Pearl then refuses to show any affection for Dimmesdale, even scouring her face with water when his kisses it. She will not accept him as her father while he continues to lie publically about their relation. Finally, Pearl’s very being represents an exposure of truth. Not only did her birth bring about the revelation that her mother had an affair, but her whole life may be a reminder to the puritans about what her mother did. This along with her instinctive rejection of both Hester removing her letter and Dimmesdale’s hypocrisy reveal a major role of Pearl’s as an agent of truth. With this role Pearl promotes truth in many forms throughout the story.

Gossamer Thread: Clear and Present Danger

            In this movie, Jack Ryan, played by Harrison Ford, accuses U.S. President Bennett of orchestrating a cover-up that cost American lives. Despite the damage it could do to his career, Ryan, like Pearl, acts as an “agent of truth” by blowing the whistle on a huge scandal caused by the President. 

Chapter 16 - A Forest Walk

Summary:

During this chapter, Hester has decided to make it known to Dimmesdale the true identity of Roger Chillingworth. She has heard that he takes a walk in the woods around a certain time and has decided to try and meet him on his walk. Hester and Pearl venture into the woods and Pearl asks her mother about the letter A and plays in the sun. Pearl also asks her mother if she has ever met the Black Man and if the letter A is his mark he left on her. Hester ignores answering Pearl's question until eventually Pearl brings it up again and Hester decides to tell her that she has met the Black Man. When the reverend approaches Pearl asks if he is the Black Man and she tells the Pearl that it is the reverend and to go play. Pearl runs off to play but before leaving she wonders out loud if the reverend has met the Black Man too because he holds his hand over his heart where the letter A should be on him.

The Sunlight:

In this chapter, while walking in the woods bits of sunlight show through the trees. As Pearl runs around, she is able to catch up to the sunlight and touch it. But, as soon as Hester tries, the sunlight runs away. Pearl notices this and says, "'Mother,' said little Pearl, 'the sunshine does not love you. It runs away and hides itself, because 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 141). If sunlight is interpreted as truth and happiness, it makes sense that it would run from Hester. Pearl is the embodiment of truth and happiness because she is a child. Unlike Pearl, Hester is neither being truthful about everything nor truly happy with her life at the moment. Hester is also not at peace, so she can not catch the sunlight.

The Black Man

Also during this chapter, the Black Man is brought up by Pearl. Pearl overhears Mistress Hibbins talking about the Black Man and how thousands of people meet him in the woods at night and get the same mark that Hester has. After pestering Hester about it she asks that if she tells her she will leave her alone and Pearl agrees. Hester says "'Once in my life I met the Black Man!' said her mother. 'This is scarlet letter is his mark!" (Hawthorne 142). Hester confirms that she has met the Black Man, but it is not exactly clear to the read who she calls the Black Man, whether it be Dimmesdale or Roger Chillingworth. Pearl sees Dimmesdale in the distance and she asks if it is the Black Man, Hester says no that it is the minister. In both men, one could say that they both are the Black Man. They both are sinful and have lured Hester into making decisions with them that are not of Puritan value. By keeping a secret and lying to society, she has a sinful deal with Roger Chillingworth. By committing adultery, she also has a sinful deal with Dimmesdale. Both men could be considered the Black Man. It is also important to note that sin breeds more sin. 

Gossamer Thread

"Clint Eastwood" by the Gorillaz can be related to chapter sixteen. The chorus talks about having sunshine and the future coming on, which can be related to Pearl and her happiness and being able to move forward without any problems. The second verse of the song talks about lies and corruption which relates back to Chillingworth and Dimmesdale with their lies and secrets that they have to keep.

Chapter 18- A Flood of Sunshine

Summary:

                This chapter begins with the decision for Hester and Dimmesdale to run away together, and finally escape from the guilt of their sins- an easy choice for Hester to make, but more difficult for the minister due to his life of obeying authority. However, he says that since there is no hope of him achieving happiness in the afterlife, there was no reason for him to continue suffering as he has been in the present. As Dimmesdale agrees to the plan, Hester takes off her scarlet letter and tosses it aside. She then continues to let her hair loose, and is portrayed as an attractive woman once again. The sun breaks through the sky and falls upon Hester. Meanwhile, Pearl is off playing in the forest. She gathers berries, interacts with some of the animals, and decorates herself with wildflowers. When Hester calls for her daughter, Pearl reluctantly begins to approach.

Point 1: Dimmesdale and Religion

                Once Dimmesdale has agreed to run away with Hester, he seems to become a new man. Hawthorne writes, “The decision once made, a glow of strange enjoyment threw its flickering brightness over the trouble of his breast. It was the exhilarating effect—upon a prisoner just escaped from the dungeon of his own heart—of breathing the wild, free atmosphere of an unredeemed, unchristianized, lawless region”  (155). Here, Hawthorne is ultimately talking about religion and puritan society; the religion in this town is what was keeping Dimmesdale prisoner. Reverend Dimmesdale has lived the past seven years harming himself due to the guilt brought on by the prevalent christian values. The strict rules prevented the minister from being with Hester, accepting his daughter, and confessing sins. Hawthornes way of criticizing the religion is to give Dimmesdale a moment to be free from this prison, and experience what it is like to live without the shackles forcing him to live a life of guilt. Dimmesdale is ecstatic, and gets a taste of the wild like he has never had before. 

Point 2:  The Sun, Hester, and Pearl

                Throughout the last few few chapters, the sun has been used to show goodness. Earlier on, the sun would not fall upon Hester. However, once she casts aside the letter “A,” the sun beams down on the transformed woman. “All at once, as with a sudden smile of Heaven, forth burst the sunshine, pouring a very flood into the obscure forest, gladdening each green leaf, transmuting the yellow fallen ones to gold, and gleaming adown the gray trunks of the solemn trees” (Hawthorne 156).  Hester is finally acknowledged as the good soul she is once she has taken off the scarlet letter and let down her hair. Also, Hester is again compared to Pearl through this sunlight. Pearl has always been able to catch the sun, as she does once again in this chapter, “Hester smiled, and again called to Pearl, who was visible, at some distance, as the minister had described her, like a bright-apparelled vision, in a sunbeam, which fell down upon her through an arch of boughs” (Hawthorne 157).This reinforces the similarities between Hester and Pearl. Pearl is often viewed as Hester's internal thoughts and feelings that are hidden by the scarlet letter. Now that the letter has been removed, the natural imagery of sunlight highlights the fact that Hester is able to be herself without the letter upon her chest. The two are equals, at least for a moment.

Wow factor: Hearing Implants

 

The woman in this video hears herself for the first time and is ecstatic. It is something unlike anything she has ever heard before, and the emotion is impossible to miss. Similarly, Dimmesdale has similar feelings as he lets go of his sins for a given moment. He escapes from the shackles of the religious puritan society, and gets his first taste of what it is like to be free. Hester also has similar feelings as she takes the “A” off of her chest. She is relieved, and is experiencing emotions that have been kept hidden all this time. The woman in the video, Aruthur Dimmesdale, and Hester Prynne are each breaking free from different confining elements.

Chapter 17 - The Pastor and His Parishoner

Summary:

During chapter seventeen, Hester finally runs into Dimmesdale in the forest. At first they are surprised to see what each other look like. They make a bit of small talk, but then they start to talk about if they have found peace. Hester avoids the question while Dimmesdale admits that he has found nothing but despair. Dimmesdale explains to Hester how his secret sin has been affecting him and she tries to make him feel better. She then alerts Dimmesdale that Roger Chillingworth is her husband. He is described as to having a black frown and does not take the news lightly. He is upset with her and she convinces him to forgive her and let God do the punishing. Dimmesdale brings up the point about what Chillingworth will now do with their secret since he knew of Hester's motives to tell Dimmesdale who he really was. They discuss what Dimmesdale can do to get away from Chillingworth and the chapter ends with Hester giving Dimmesdale a bit of a pep talk to get through it. 

Dimmesdale Dealing With Sin:

It appears to have been seven years since the Hester and Dimmesdale have properly talked to each other. It is clear that the two have been affected by their shared sin. The narrator describes them to have mutual dread and that their physical appearances have both diminished. They both share cold hands and although Hester's physical appearance has been affected, her mentality has not turned negative.  It is clear though, that Dimmesdale's mental state has been affected by keeping this secret sin that they share. When asked if he has found peace, Dimmesdale replies with, "None!-nothing but despair!" he answered. "What else could I look for, being what I am, and leading such a life as mine?"... "Hester I am most miserable!"(Hawthorne 147). He is leading his life miserably with this secret sin he has to keep. Dimmesdale even mentions the fact that his soul is polluted and that he feels guilty for his sin. He brings up the point about how its wrong that a polluted soul like his is trying to help purify others' souls. Dimmesdale also mentions how Hester wears her sin openly and doesn't have to keep it to herself. Dimmesdale holds his sin bottled up, because if he admits it to anyone, he will face serious consequences. The sin is really eating away at him and has caused him to change.

Hester's Pep-Talk to Dimmesdale:

At this point, it is clear that Hester still feels responsible for - or even a shared burden of their sin. She does not like watching Dimmesdale struggle to stay afloat. At the end of the chapter, Hester tries to reassure him not to worry about anything. She gives him a pep-talk to make him feel a bit better. She suggests that he run away and start new in some other place. Hester advises him to "Preach! Write! Act! Do anything, save to lie down and die!" (Hawthorne 153). She acknowledges that he has been crushed by the weight of seven years of misery. She is trying to support Dimmesdale so he does not suffer from his secret sin. Hester tells him to think for the future and to either go into the woods with the Native Americans or even travel by sea back to Europe. It is interesting to note that she says the woods because that is where the devil is supposed to be. She is desperate to get him back to being well again. It only proves that by being able to deal with her sin in the open, it has not drowned yet. Ultimately Hester convinces Dimmesdale to not give up and to run away, but of course, not alone.

Gossamer Thread:

"Feeling Sorry" by Paramore relates to this chapter in a few ways. The song talks about not having time to feel sorry and that one needs to move forward. The song mentions telling lies and about getting out. This relates to the pep-talk Hester gives Dimmesdale to try and get him to not worry about their sin anymore. She wants him to get out and to move forward. 

Chapter 13: Another View of Hester

Chapter 13: Another View of Hester

Summary:

Hester is pondering her recent revelations about Reverend Dimmesdale, who seems to be diminishing due to his guilty conscience. Hester and Dimmesdale are bonded by their sin of adultery and therefore she feels she is obligated to aide him. Time has passed, and her daughter Pearl is now seven. Also, Hester's place in society had matured over the years. She has become more respected due to her charitable deeds and virtuous soul that she has sustained in the face of public shame. Although the needy mocked her for her sin, she continues to sew them clothes and bring them food. She also assists the ill, who saw the Scarlet A as a symbol of comfort in their ailing homes. People begin to associate the Scarlet A with the word "able" to express the kind and warm nature of Hester Prynne. Hester would refuse their gratitude and therefore society acted more kindly towards her. The Scarlet Letter had affected Hester as well, her attractive exterior resembling a more humble and stern appearance. Her mind is no longer restricted by the confines of society because she no longer feels apart of it. Hester questions her existence along with the existence of womanhood in general. Her thoughts conclude that no woman's existence can ever be worth the trouble due to the impossible task of woman obtaining a fair and dignified place in society. As a result, Hester questions if she should send Pearl to heaven immediately and soon follow if fate would allow. The narrator concludes that the Scarlet Letter, which was meant to be a punishment but has turned into a symbol of holiness, has not done what it is meant to do. After seeing Dimmesdale in such a dilapidated condition, she regrets the deal she has made with Roger Chillingworth and decides to correct her error. The thought of revenge has changed Chillingworth into an evil man, and Hester decided to attempt to save Dimmesdale from him. Not long after this revelation, Hester is walking with Pearl when she runs into her former husband collecting herbs for medicines.

1. Hester's Redemption 

While living with the shame of her sin, Hester provides food for the poor and sews them simple clothes out of the kindness of her heart. Despite the warm gestures, the needy still feel it necessary to mock her. Hester also cares for the sick which displays her tenderhearted nature. In spite of her charity, Hester never asks for forgiveness for her crime and she does not expect anything from society in compensation for her good deeds.

"With nothing now to lose, in the sight of mankind, and with no hope, and seemingly no wish, of gaining anything, it could only be genuine regard for virtue that had brought back the poor wanderer to its paths." (pg. 123)

 Hester has come to accept that she will never be able to return to her previous place in society. Being at the bottom of the barrel, so to speak, she simply does these acts to redeem herself in the eyes of God in order to achieve a state of purity once again. Ironically, because of her humbleness, the public begin to respect her more and commend her for her virtuous behavior. 

Also, Hester observes Reverend Dimmesdale continuously diminish due to the presence of Roger Chillingworth. His nerves have become shattered and he is not the man he once was because he is living with guilt and fear. Hester cannot help but feel responsible for his state because of her hand in the scheme devised by Chillingworth. Her guilty conscience makes her realize that she must fix the wrong doing inflicted upon Dimmesdale by taking matters into her own hands. Her readiness to take responsibility for her actions demonstrate her true intentions of cleansing herself of sin.

2. Hester's Appearance 

Over the past seven years, the Scarlet Letter has begun to change not only the internal state of Hester Prynne, but her physical condition as well. Her beautiful long hair is hidden beneath her cap. The warmth and vivaciousness of the young woman seems to have evaporated over the years leaving only the silhouette of the lonely woman Hester has become. The passion that Hester used to embody has been drained from her face and the rest of her features because she has been living with the public shame of her sin, and the Scarlet Letter is a constant reminder.

"All the light and graceful aspects of her character had been burned away by this flame-colored letter. Only a bare, harsh outline remained, like a tree that has lost its leaves." (pg. 125)

 The burden of the symbol she is forced to wear upon her bosom has begun to affect her externally. Her dutiful lifestyle of purity has left no room for the passion and love that used to be part of her character. It is obvious that the result of the Scarlet Letter, which represents the structure and rigid moral standards of Puritan society, has transformed Hester Prynne in to the new drab version of herself. Her lack of companions and ostracism from society has left her going through the motions of life with no vitality in her actions. She is essentially a shell of a human being, trading  her previous life of warmth and tenderness for one of seclusion, devoted to thought. The stigma of the Scarlet Letter and all that it stands for has plagued Hester and is slowly sucking the life out of her which is shown through her declining appearance.

Gossamer Thread

The novel, Defending Jacob, by William Landay, is the story of a father, a district attorney, faced with the challenge of defending his son of 14 who is accused of murdering his classmate. Throughout the novel, the Barber family and their pristine reputation in the quiet suburban town quickly crumbles when they are ostracized due to the allegations against their son Jacob. Their physical state as well as their mental well being begins to deteriorate, especially the health of the mother Laurie. She becomes distant and weary, her looks suffering from the pain she is caused due to the constant scorn she is looked upon with. Laurie questions the existence of her child and soon takes matters into her own hands. 

Like Hester, she begins as a woman full of life and passion as well as beauty. As a result from being ostracized, Laurie becomes hardened by the punishment of society's disdain. She begins moving through the actions of her daily life as though it were a job she must endure. This is very similar to the actions of Hester, who sews for the needy and tends to the sick with a detached manner because of her suffering from the burden of the Scarlet Letter. Not only do their looks diminish due to the shared ostracism from society, they both question whether their children would be better off going to heaven now instead of suffering on the cruel and unforgiving Earth. Both of their children are associated with sin, one being a product of sin and one allegedly committing a sin. These two women are linked together by the common threads of social ostracism and physical decline. 

Chapter 14: Hester and the Physician

Chapter Summary

The chapter begins as Hester decides to go to Chillingworth and ask him to stop tormenting Dimmesdale. She and Pearl find him by the beach collecting herbs for medicines. As Hester confronts Dimmesdale, Pearl is by the water looking into her reflections in the puddles left behind by the waves. Chillingworth informs Hester that the “council” is considering allowing the removal of Hester’s scarlet letter. However, Hester states that the letter can only be removed by “divine providence,” or the natural escaping of guilt over time. Hester also states that they should tell Dimmesdale about Chillingworth’s identity, in part because Chillingworth now knows the truth about Pearl’s father. Chillingworth’s transformation to a devilish figure is also described by the narrator during the argument. Roger has been watching Dimmesdale closely, tracking his every move. This torture, Hester claims, would make him better off dead, but Chillingworth wants to preserve him so he can fulfill a living hell.

Pearl’s Self-Reflection

            Pearl spends time at the beach during the confrontation trying to find her reflection in the puddles on the shoreline. The waves come in from the sea, and when they recede, they create small puddles on the land. These waves are represented in her life by society, and the external events that shape Pearl’s self-reflection, based on a Pearl’s relevance to the sea. She is looking for her true identity, still unaware of who exactly she is, tainted by society. However, as she looks into her reflection, she does not see that devilish child everyone talks about. She sees only herself and her distinct human-like features that make her more related to beings in society.

“Here and there she came to a full stop, and peeped curiously into a pool, left by the retiring tide as a mirror for Pearl to see her face in. Forth peeped at her, out of the pool, with dark, glistening curls around her head, and an elf-smile in her eyes, the image of a little maid, whom Pearl, having no other playmate, invited to take her hand, and run a race with her” (Hawthorne, 129).

Pearl is being challenged by society to create an image of being a devil-child. However, she looks into this tempting water, seeing her own personal features. Presenting herself to the water, “Stepping in, mid-leg deep, beheld her own white feet at the bottom,” (Hawthorne, 129) she is trying to see herself with the added effect of society’s labeling of her as an outcome of major sin. Pearl is being manipulated by society in the deceiving waters where there “came the gleam of a kind of fragmentary smile, floating to and fro in the agitated water” (Hawthorne, 129). This smile can also be related to the deceiving smile of Chillingworth. He is an internally evil character himself, but his evil can be masked by his unusual smirk.

Dimmesdale and Chillingworth the Devil

            Roger Chillingworth becomes increasingly evil throughout the plot. The narrator even notes, “But the former aspect of an 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, 130). Chillingworth changes his life to devote himself to harvesting guilt and sins to create punishment for the sinners, as a devil would. His disguise as a doctor while using a smirk are the only differences from a devil. He spends much time watching Dimmesdale skeptically, acting as his evil shadow. Through Chillingworth’s watchful eyes, he realizes that Dimmesdale is the father of Pearl.  During the argument, he shares with Hester his findings. “’My finger, pointed at this man, would have hurled him from his pulpit into a dungeon,’” (Hawthorne, 131) Although he is aware of the culprit, he does not want to reveal the secret to society because he believes that keeping Dimmesdale under his watchful eyes is more torture to him than just ending the guilt. This belief, Chillingworth states, is how he will get revenge on Dimmesdale. The guilt and secrecy within oneself is far superior than any punishment that society would give, which Chillingworth understands. For this reason only, he keeps his victim at the edge of The Sea of Fire. Hester states that Chillingworth’s watchful eyes create a living hell for Dimmesdale. “Since that day, no man is so near to him as you. You tread behind his every footstep. You are beside him, sleeping and waking. You search his thoughts. You burrow and rankle in his heart! Your clutch is on his life, and you cause him to die daily a living death; and still he knows you not” (Hawthorne, 131). Hester tries to tell him to stop with the torture and just end it. She and Chillingworth share the same belief; that Dimmesdale would be better off being revealed for his sake, which is why Chillingworth wants to keep it going. Although Chillingworth states to have saved Dimmesdale from torment, he really did the opposite. Dimmesdale is suddenly removed of his previous godly state, and put through torture by the devil after following temptations to sin.

Gossamer Thread

      In this song, “Broken Mirrors,” by Rise Against, many aspects of the chapter are present in the lyrics. The song suggests that one’s “final days are near” from “a fate that we deserve.” Like Dimmesdale, his days are numbered as to when the society will hear his secret, but it is a fate that he deserves for the major sin he has done. This song expresses a similar fate, describing what will happen.

   The aspect of “broken mirrors” also expresses Pearl’s tainted reflection of herself through the influencing eyes of society.