... his guilt and from Chillingworth's hold over him, which allows him to die peacefully? Mood The prevalent mood of this tragic novel is dark and gloomy, especially developed in the characters of Dimmesdale and Chillingworth. Hawthorne only prevents the darkness from touching Pearl, who is an embodiment of joy, life, and warmth. Hester, however, is allowed to rise above the gloominess ... his revenge. When he begins to suspect that it is Dimmesdale, he tortures the minister while pretending to help him. He is the personification of evil in the novel. CHARACTERS Major Characters Hester Pryn...

• Word Count: 1929
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

... symbol, there are several others which have great importance as well. The most important symbol in the novel is the scarlet letter, which affects each character in a different way. The characters who are affected by the letter are Arthur Dimmesdale, Roger Chillingworth, Pearl, and Hester Prynne (Schneider). The scarlet letter is a sign by which the colonial authority seeks to fix the ... sins of the Puritan community, including its hypocrisy, its iron attachment to the law, and its merciless. (Fossum 46-47) In addition to the larger symbols, there are also many minor symbols which are v...

• Word Count: 1366
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School