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.
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