Sunday, November 1, 2009

The Scarlet Letter Chapter Summaries

Chapter 1 and Chapter 2
In chapter one, Nathaniel Hawthorne sets the stage for the story. He tells that a group of people stand outside of a prison. Chapter two continues on from the prison setting. As these people wait outside the prison gate, Hester Prynne egresses the prison gates with a child in her arms. The young lady has been condemned to sit upon a scaffold in the public marketplace for adultery. The women in the crowd slander Hester for her embroiderment of the stitched "A" in gold and scarlet upon her bosom. Hester, standing upon the scaffold, sees a man in the crowd that she confusingly recognizes. Her husband , whom was believed to be dead, was shipwrecked and taken captive from Indians on his journey from Europe to New England.

Chapter 3 and Chapter 4
Upon recognizing her husband, despite him wearing Indian clothing, he signals to her to not expose his identity. As he stares at her, he turns to a local man and asks for the crime and punishment that Hester has been given. The man explains to Hester's husband, whom goes by the identity of Roger Chillingworth, that Hester was married to a man in Europe and they had decided to come to America. He had told her to go to Boston and that he would later come, but he had to finish paperwork before crossing the Atlantic. She waited and he never arrived. "Roger" asks about the baby and the local man explains that Hester never reveals the father of the child. For punishment, Hester has been sentenced to stand on the scaffold for three hours and wear an embroidered "A" upon her chest for eternity. The story continues on with Hester on the scaffold. She is then asked by Reverend Dimmesdale, a magistrate on the judgement board, to reveal the father of the baby. He states she should no longer hide the sinner's name, but she refuses and he does not pursue the father's name anymore. Another magistrate on the judgment board named Reverend Wilson delivers a sermon on sin. Hester patiently waits for the sermon to end, and then returns to prison. While in the prison, Roger Chillingworth is sent to give medical assistance to Hester and the baby. He claims that he can make Hester more apt to give the father's name. Knowing his true identity, Hester refuses the medicine he gives her at first. She believes he will poison her and the baby for revenge. He assures her that he will not poison her nor the baby and actually blames himself for the incident. He asks for the father's name and she refuses to give the name, so he does not push the issue and simply asks that she keep his identity a secret. She believes that he is, in fact, the devil in disguise based on his evil grin and euphoric expressions at her acceptance to the compromise.

Chapter 5 and Chapter 6
After a few months in prison, Hester is released from jail and free to leave the city of Boston. She refuses to do so and lives in a cabin on the edge of town. She remains in solitude, however, she is able to survive based on her amazing ability at needlework. Her talents, in fact, give clothing to the governor. Not only does her work clothe the governor, but it is also used in all major events in life, except for marriage. Although she is successful at her work, she feels alone and separated from society. She even does charity work part of her time although it is more of a punishment than anything due to constant insults from others. Her only companion is her daughter, Pearl, who is named so because Pearl is purchased with everything in Hester's posession. Pearl makes a lot of mischief, which worries Hester. Pearl is aware of being different from other children and believes she has no Heavenly Father. Because she, too, is isolated from others, Pearl must make imaginary friends. Pearl likes the scarlet letter and even, at times, touches it. Hester feels Pearl may, in fact, be a demon child.

Chapter 7 and Chapter 8
In chapter seven, Hester is going to the governor's hall for two reasons: one reason involves the delivery of gloves for the governor, the other involves the discussion of Hester's custody of Pearl. The townspeople's belief of Pearl being a demon causes them to believe Pearl should be taken away from Hester for Hester's safety. They believe Pearl should be given to better parents. On their way to the hall, Hester and Pearl are attacked by children throwing mud. Pearl becomes angry and scares the children off. The two then enter the mansion of Governor Bellingham. The narrator explains the exquisite style of the mansion. As the two look around, Pearl notices a suit of armor that has Hester's reflection. Hester becomes horrified by her distorted figure and the dominance of the scarlet letter. A group of men enter their presence. In chapter eight, Governor Bellingham, Roger Chillingworth, Reverend Wilson and Reverend Dimmesdale enter the same room as Hester and Pearl. The group jokes with Pearl calling her a bird. Bellingham then asks Hester why Pearl should stay with her. Hester replies that she can teach Pearl a lesson from Hester's sin. Reverend Wilson tests the child's knowledge of religion. Pearl refuses to answer which makes Hester feel trapped. This causes Hester to force Reverend Dimmesdale to help her. He tells Reverend Wilson and Governor Bellingham that Pearl was sent from God and that the child was not only a curse, but also a blessing. This persuades the two men and Pearl runs to Dimmesdale and hugs him. Roger Chillingworth, after Hester's success, attempts to cause for an investigation into the father of the child, but Reverend Wilson and Governor Bellingham feel the information will be revealed when He wants it to be revealed. When leaving the governor's mansion, Mistress Hibbins, the governor's sister, invites Hester to a witch gathering, but Hester declines because she must take care of Pearl.

Chapter 9 and Chapter 10
Upon his arrival to Boston, Roger Chillingworth's past has been hidden from everyone. He is welcomed as the town doctor due to little access of medical care. He is not only trained from European medicine, but he also knows many Native American remedies because of his time spent with them. Reverend Dimmesdale is known to be in bad health and, after refusal to marry, lives with Chillingworth. They live next to a cemetery in a widow's house, giving them the chance to talk about sin and death. Initially, the townspeople were grateful for Chillingworth's presence and thought of him as a miracle to help Dimmesdale. Throughout time, he has become thought by the townspeople to be the Devil coming for Dimmesdale's soul. Chillingworth continuously searches for the reason for Dimmesdale's sickness. He becomes very persistent in finding out about Dimmesdale's life, but Dimmesdale will not confide in him. Chillingworth devotes all of his time to Dimmesdale. One day Dimmesdale asks Chillingworth about an anomalous plant. Chillingworth says he found it growing on an unmarked grave and suggests it is a weed of unconfessed sins. This brings up an awkward conversation about redemption and forgiveness. During this conversation, they hear a scream outside and see Pearl and Hester outside. When the men go to the window, Pearl says they should leave and that the devil has already gotten Dimmesdale and that they must not be captured too. Roger Chillingworth claims that Hester does not hide her sin, but wears it openly. As Chillingworth says this, Dimmesdale carefully keeps from revealing any affection towards Hester or any buried sins. Chillingworth then begins to question Dimmesdale about his spiritual health and seems to believe it is affecting his physical health. Feeling aggitated, Dimmesdale says his health is up to God and leaves the room. This act has increased Chillingworth's suspicions. When Dimmesdale apologizes, they become friends again; however, a few nights later, Chillingworth sneaks up on Dimmesdale as he is sleeping and pushes his shirt up to reveal Dimmesdale's chest. The doctor is ecstatic at his findings.

Chapter 11 and Chapter 12
Chillingworth's revenge on Dimmesdale makes Dimmesdale suffer. Although Dimmesdale is oblivious to Chillingworth committing his revengeful acts, he has an unconscious hatred towards his physician. Dimmesdale's suffering, in turn, causes him to preach even greater about sin. His empathy towards human sinfulness causes him to be adored by many. This adorement does not cause him to be more at ease, but, in fact, causes him to suffer even greater. The suffering he endures causes him to be insomnious, which makes him have visions. These visions are of Hester and Pearl. One of his visions involves Pearl pointing at Hester's scarlet letter and then at Dimmesdale's chest. He feels trapped and feels that nothing will help him, not even the Bible. His sufferings are so great that Dimmesdale feels he must inflict pain upon his sinful being. He begins scourging himself and fasting. He believes he must hold a vigil on the scaffold at which Hester and Pearl stood for Hester's sin. In chapter twelve, Dimmesdale is on the scaffold and screams out. He worries the town will awaken and he will be revealed, but he is fortunate. At one point in the night, Reverend Wilson passes the scaffold, having been at Governor Winthrop's deathbed, when Dimmesdale deliriously believes he yells out to the minister, but Reverend Wilson does not notice Dimmesdale. Later in the night, Hester and Pearl, having also been at the deathbed of Governor Winthrop, pass the scaffold. They, however, notice the minister and he is greeted by a laugh from Pearl. The minister asks them to join him on the scaffold and they join and hold hands. Pearl asks Dimmesdale if he would stand on the scaffold with them the next day at noon; however, he says they will never be seen in broad daylight upon the scaffold. A meteor suddenly appears in the sky and forms the letter "A". At this same moment in time, Pearl points out that Chillingworth is also at the scene. Dimmesdale asks Hester who Chillingworth truly is, but she cannot reveal his true identity due to secrecy. Pearl tantalizes the minister and says she knows Chillingworth's identity, but refuses to give the name because he declined standing on the scaffold with her and her mother. Chillingworth makes Dimmesdale get down from the scaffold, claiming the minister must have been sleepwalking. When Dimmesdale asks the physician how he knew where he was, Chillingworth claims he was also at Governor Winthrop's deathbed. The next day, Reverend Dimmesdale preaches his greatest sermon ever. After the sermon, the church sexton gives Dimmesdale a black glove and states he found it on the scaffold. He does not suspect anything and believes Satan mischieviously placed it there. The sexton also reports that the townspeople state the saw a meteor last night in the form of the letter "A" and claim it means "Angel" for the passing of Governor Winthrop to heaven.

Chapter 13 and Chapter 14
Seven years since the birth of Pearl have passed and Hester has become more active within the community. She nurses the sick, brings food to the doors of the poor, and she is a source of aid in times of trouble. Many people have considered the scarlet letter to stand for "Able" now, although some people still look down upon her. She no longer is a passionate person, but rather a vague being of her former self. She now begins to question if her secret of Chillingworth's identity is worth the suffering of Dimmesdale. In chapter fourteen, she attempts to stop Chillingworth's revenge upon Dimmesdale. One day, they meet as he is gathering herbs on the beach. Scarcastically speaking, he states that he hears she has been a "good girl" and may even be able to remove the scarlet letter. When Hester states she wants Chillingworth to stop his revengeful acts, he clearly knows Dimmesdale was the lover of Hester and that she knows he is torturing Dimmesdale. This information causes him to have an evil look about him, which he soon realizes and attempts to change the subject when it is clear that he has become a fiend. He tries to blame Hester on his transformation, and she tries to say for him to "change back". They start an arguement and he tells her that fate has led them to this.

Chapter 15
As Chillingworth leaves, Hester starts to search for Pearl who has been playing in the tide pools down by the beach. As she is searching, she realizes that she hates her husband and that is she ever felt love, it was only a delusion. When Hester finds Pearl, Pearl has an "A" on her shirt made from eelgrass. Pearl hopes Hester will ask her about the letter and Hester does. Hester asks if she understands the meaning of the scarlet letter. They discuss the meaning of the scarlet letter and Pearl connects the letter to Dimmesdale clutching his chest at times. Hester realizes that Pearl is too young to discuss the true meaning of the letter and decides to not explain the letter. Pearl is persistent is asking about the letter and asks Hester about the letter for the next several days.