... invites her to a witches meeting. Hester says that if Pearl would have been taken from her than she would have attended. Chapter IX: The Leech This chapter is named The Leech and is about Chillingworth. Chillingworth becomes friends with Dimmesdale who is now very sick. Chillingworth knows about medicine ... move into a widows house and each take half of the first floor. Chillingworth suspects thing about Dimmesdale and hopes to come to a conclusion. Chapter X: The Leech and His Patient Chillingworth is still trying to find out things about Hester from Dimmesdale without being to obviou...

• Word Count: 2183
• Approx Pages: 9
• Grade Level: High School

... of the crowd as she stands upon the scaffold. In the popular version of the saying from the Gospel of John, "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone."" The irony of this situation illuminates that the townspeople are not without sin themselves. While standing on the structure, Hester sees a figure in the distance who, from her earlier description ... revenge. As he feels the impact of this malice, Dimmesdale looks for comfort in the form of a midnight confession. According to The Scarlet Letter: A Student Casebook , however, " The Minister's Vigil' (Chapter 12) takes place at ni...

• Word Count: 1627
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... a great deal of symbolism to discuss various themes throughout the novel. One recurring symbol is the rose-bush which is introduced in the first chapter. This rose-bush grows outside the prison door amidst unsightly vegetation. The rose-bush can be compared to Pearl, who is the gift Hester ... innocent life had sprung, by the inscrutable decree of Providence, a lovely and immortal flower, out of the rank luxuriance of a guilty passion- (81). In chapter six, Hester discusses how the name Pearl came to be. "But she named the infant Pearl, as being of great price, --purchased with all she...

• Word Count: 1487
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... make friends with other children in the town because of her status, thus leaving her only with nature and her mother as companions. In chapter fifteen, Pearl "flirted fancifully with her own image in a pool of water, beckoning the phantom forth, and--as it declined venture-- ... Soon finding however, that either she or the image was unreal, she turned elsewhere for better pastime." Pearl's reflection is very real, and chapter sixteen smoothly continues this concept through another body of water--the brook in the forest. "Pearl resembled the brook, inasmuch as the current of her ... the b...

• Word Count: 2043
• Approx Pages: 8

... appeal- (74). As the story progresses we see Dimmesdale become weaker physically, due to his moral torment ", who's health had severly suffered" (119). In Chapter 8, we see him through Hester's eyes, as a man who "Looked now more careworn and emanciated than as we described him at the scene of Hester's ... friendly care". Chillingworth, Hester's wronged husband pretends to be his friend, but he actually plays an evil game with Dimmesdale throughout the whole story. In Chapter 17 Hester tells Dimmesdale about his so-called friend "Thou hast long had such an enemy, and dwellest with him, ...

• Word Count: 1627
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... to the story and the symbolism. An important concept of romanticism includes a close connection to the earth and natural scenes. A large occurrence of this comes in the first chapter of the book. The chapter mentions a rose bush outside of the prison. The novel then goes on to outline the rosebush as a beautiful thing that rises out of a bad place. The rosebush symbolizes ... asks for forgiveness for her sins nor apologizes for her acts. She stands strong and takes whatever consequences come to her. Hester proves she has complete and utter pride in chapter fourteen when Chillingworth te...

• Word Count: 1687
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

... in the novel, which is quite frequently, Hawthorne conveys formal and proper language which assists the reader in understanding the Puritan culture and the ancestry of the Boston inhabitants. In chapter 23, Roger Chillingworth kneels down toward the dying Reverend Dimmesdale and says "Thou hast escaped me!" In response, the reverend says, "Thou, too, hast deeply sinned! (p.232)" When I began the ... is a witch or a servant of "The Black Man" when Hibbins says, "Will thou [Pearl] ride with me, some fine night, to see thy father?" The mistress is even "present" in chapter 12 when Dimmesda...

• Word Count: 1296
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... ; Hawthorne technique of using symbolism is brilliant and it helps the reader understand the whole concept. In The Scarlet Letter, images increase the reader's understanding of the characters. The first chapter sets the tone for the story. Though the initial settlers of New England set out to establish a "Utopia of human virtue," (Hawthorne 1358) they nevertheless recognized the need to allot ... congenial in the soil that had so early born the black flower of civilized society," the prison (1358). The rose is a symbol referred to throughout the story. In this first chapter it illustrate...

• Word Count: 1915
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

... his writing that the truth is what will set people free. Dimmesdale struggles with wanting to live a religious life and dealing with the hypocrisy of his own sinful nature. In chapter twelve, Pearl calls to Dimmesdale asking him to reveal his own connection to herself and Hester. Dimmesdale refused to join Pearl and Hester the following day on the scaffold. When ... exist, their experiences were based upon history and the way Puritans perceived others in that kind of situation. The evidence in the book does sufficiently support the thesis. For instance, chapter twelve demonstrates the m...

• Word Count: 1291
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography

... , the novel opens after the sin has been committed and Pearl, the offspring of the sinful, but natural, union is three months old. As Hawthorne himself states in the opening chapter, the novel is about human weakness and its resulting sorrow. Hawthorne's focus of attention is the effect the sin has on Hester and Dimmesdale. They constantly suffer from shame and ... the fact that the most respected member of this Puritanical society, the Reverend Dimmesdale, is Hester's partner in sin. THE TITLE OF THE BOOK The title is significant to every chapter of the book, as the scarlet letter is di...

• Word Count: 1285
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... it. The first scaffold scene occurs on a Sunday morning so everyone in town can see her. The second scaffold scene takes place right in the middle of the novel in chapter 12. One of the characters that is involved in this scaffold scene is Dimmesdale. The reason why Dimmesdale went to the scaffold was to go and confess his sin. Dimmesdale ... scaffold scene takes place late at night as a sign of fear, cowardness, evil, and concealment. The third and final scaffold scene takes place at the end of the book in chapter 23. One of the characters that is involved in this final scaffold scene ...

• Word Count: 1336
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... haunting tales of human loneliness, frustration, hypocrisy, eccentricity, and frailty. Among his most brilliant stories are "The Minister's Black Veil," "Roger Malvin's Burial," "Young Goodman Brown," "Rappaccini's Daughter," "The Great Stone Face," and "Ethan Brand." Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter is considered by many to be the greatest ccomplishment of an author hailed as the master of the American short story ... ...

• Word Count: 2453
• Approx Pages: 10
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... revolutionary. Hester creates a new identity for herself as a woman, completely devoid of her past sins, and in turn is shown to be a positive and empowering role model. In the final chapter and scene of the novel, Hawthorne indicates that although life for Hester in the past was, at times, a struggle, Boston will always be her home. One of the first remarks ... ...

• Word Count: 1347
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... religious characters and sinful but relatable protagonists. The novel The Scarlet Letter, The Ministers Black Veil and Young Goodman Brown all unite upon this common thread. The opening scene of chapter 2 in The Scarlet Letter describes a gaggle of gossiping women viewing Hester Prynne's punishment. Hawthorne writes, ""The magistrates are God-fearing gentlemen, but merciful overmuch,-that is a truth,' added ... ...

• Word Count: 1379
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... people's attitude does change. It goes through various roller-coasters of positive and negative meanings throughout the course of the novel. The symbolism of the scarlet letter is expanded in Chapter Five, Hester at Her Needle. Whereas at first it represented Hester's adultery and also her needlework skills, it now takes on more meanings. The letter begins to represent the hidden ... ...

• Word Count: 1352
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... implies that he should wear the mask of shame like Hester does, even though the community interprets the "A" in the sky as angel, marking Governor Winthrop's entry to heaven. In Chapter 10 of the novel, Chillingworth discovers what is believed to be an "A" carved into Dimmesdale's chest. However, the reader cannot be sure if it is really there or why. Some ... ...

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

... forgives him and kisses him on the lips to "break the spell". Chillingworth Chillingworht is the protagonist in the story. He is Hester's wife and is introduced in the third chapter where he finds out that Hester has cheated on him and gave birth to another man's baby. From this point on, he has changed into a monster. One single choice, the ... ...

• Word Count: 1619
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... adores the sunlight shining through the stained glass windows. Subsequent to this, Pearl asks her mother for some of her sunlight. Hester simply responds, "I have none to give thee." (Hawthorne, chapter 4) Hester has no sunlight to give thee because she has committed the sin of adultery. Through out the novel Hester is not seen much in the sun. She avoids going ... ...

• Word Count: 1649
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... as almost a living saint to the people she helped. The "A- now became a badge of honor for her to wear and she inspired others to help others. This is evident in chapter 24 when Hester voluntarily wears the letter when she returns from England. This shows that Hester is no longer ashamed of her letter and it has become a big part of ... ...

• Word Count: 1455
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... dire consequences at the end of the novel. In the Scarlet Letter Roger Chillingworth's major flaw is revenge. He first vows to seek revenge on the father of Pearl during chapter 4 saying, "Thou wilt not reveal his name? Not the less he is mine. He bears no letter of infamy wrought into his garment, as thou dost; but I shall read it ... ...

• Word Count: 1529
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School