Chapter 13 Analysis:
Seven years after the events of Pearls birth and upbringing,
Hester has become more active in society and that the scarlet "A" on her chest
stands for able not adultery. She brings food to people who are less fortunate,
takes care of the sick, and offers advice too people who need it. Hester has
also changed, instead of being very rebellious and passionate she has become a
bare and harsh representation of her earlier self. She is more curious and
worries that there is something wrong with Pearl. Also, she worries about the
damage being done by Chillingworth on Dimmesdale and if she should do something
to end it for good. This chapter talks about how a strictly Puritan society
defines someone, not through humanity but through spirituality. Over time Hester
is more accepted in the society and the "A" on her chest stands for able and not
the sin she committed. I feel that maybe they will soon allow her to take it off
because of the courage, and self-discipline and acceptance she has performed over
the past years. I think she’ll be free from sin
soon.
Chapter 14 Analysis:
Feeling as if her soul is drawn more to Dimmesdale rather than
to Chillingworth, she wants him to stop what he’s doing, and that it is
literally killing him physically and emotionally. One day they encounter one
another on a nearby beach, when they approach one another he tells her that the
town's minds have changed about her, and that soon they are thinking of taking the
scarlet "A" on her chest off. Not supportive of the idea, Hester says that her
scarlet letter cannot be removed by human authority but rather "divine
providence" or by god’s grace. From this conversation, Chillingworth is sure that
the two were lovers. Suddenly a face of evil comes across him. He notices how
deformed mentally and physically he has become. He also flashes back to his
scholar days. Hester then begs him to stop the torture of Dimmesdale and just
let him live in peace. This causes a confrontation between the two and basically
he tells her that she can do as she wishes, but be ready to “grow black flowers
from your heart in your grave.” I feel that the once couple that was there for
one another from the beginning have now turned into arch enemies. Although many
people didn’t see this coming, including me, until a certain point of the novel, I
could tell it was going to happen because Chillingworth wanted revenge from the
beginning, and Hester wanted not to cause any harm to him anymore than she
already has. I feel that maybe Dimmesdale and Hester may try and run away from
Boston together as a family because Chillingworth will not stop till he reaches
his one goal from the start; revenge at Hester’s lover and fellow
sinner.
Chapter 15 Analysis:
After their face to face meet, Hester searches for Pearl who has
apparently run off. Although she knows it’s wrong, she has started to hate her
husband. She also realizes that instead of ever being happy with him she was
misled. After thinking about her past, she finds Pearl playing in a tide pool
and she is pretending to be a mermaid. This causes her to make an “A” on her
chest made out of green seaweed rather than her mothers. The reason Pearl does
this is because she wants her mother to ask her why she has that and eventually
give her details on how and why she got it. They begin to talk about why Hester
wears the letter but Hester makes sure not to go into too much detail because
she is too young to know the truth. Although Hester dodges all of Pearls
questions, Pearl is consistent in asking her what it means and why the minister
touches his heart. I feel that she will soon be devoted to Dimmesdale because
she has noticed that Roger has been evil and when she thought she was happy she
was just unaware of how much she truly wasn't happy. I think that Dimmesdale is
her true love and that Pearl is now a gift rather than a sin. I think that pearl
will learn the truth of her father and confront
Dimmesdale.
Chapter 16 Analysis:
Because Hester knows that her husband is slowly killing
Dimmesdale, she has the intent to tell him who he truly is. So she waits in the
forest because she has heard that he will be coming back from a Native American
tribe through that location. Pearl also is with her mother at the time and
enjoys playing in the sun. As they wait for him, out of curiosity Pearl asks
about the "Black man" or the devil, and his relationship to the scarlet "A" on
her chest. Hester wonders on how she knows about the relation between the two,
Pearl has overheard the witches discussing that the letter was a direct
relationship with the devil. Suddenly Dimmesdale’s shadow is seen in the
distance and Pearl is afraid that he is the "Black Man", so Hester tries to move
her along and go play but she won't because she is partly afraid and curious on
whom it is in the distance. Worn out by Pearl's actions she explains to her that
he is the minister and not the Black Man. Pearl leaves her mother to herself but
wonders if the Black Man has left his own mark on Dimmesdale's chest and that’s
why he clinches it. Pearl is very smart and notices things quickly. Now Hester
has completely devoted herself to Dimmesdale and that she now knows her true
self. Although her mother knows what is going on, Pearl is very confused and is
starting to understand that her mother’s symbol is a bad thing because it is
related to the "Black Man". I feel that maybe Pearl may find out the truth about
her mother and maybe their bond will break because she knows she has been lying
to her from the beginning. I feel that Pearl will be hurt to find out that she
is the symbol of sin and that she is another reminder like the
letter.
Chapter 17 Analysis:
They soon begin to talk to the startled minister, and they find
a private area near a brook to talk to one another away from public
scrutiny. Hester tells him that Chillingworth was really her husband and at
first thought this statement angered Dimmesdale and blames her for the suffering
he has experienced in the past. Soon stopping him in mid conversation, Hester
pulls him towards her scarlet "A" on her chest and begs forgiveness for the
mistakes she has made. Dimmesdale eventually forgives her and claims that their
sin is not as bad as the one Chillingworth is committing right now, revenge.
Dimmesdale soon worries that Chillingworth will try to tell the public that he
was the one that committed the sin as well. Hester says not to worry and says
that they must try and escape from the evil man. The two plot to leave on a boat
to Europe where they can all live together as a family. The moment in the
forest is the true intimate moment between the two in the entire novel so far
apart from making Pearl. They discuss their blame and responsibility in what
happened and also that Chillingworth is really Hester's husband. This angers
him, causing a confrontation. I feel that the argument was more about the
suffering in his life because he has felt Chillingworth’s presence in everyday
of his life. He is mad that Chillingworth is after
him.
Chapter 18 Analysis:
Knowing that they can soon be together as a family and be away from this place excites
the both of them, Hester tells Dimmesdale that she can feel happiness again, and rips
off the scarlet letter on her chest. This represents that Hester has regained
some of her previous beauty and begins to feel young again and let down her
hair. She has confidence once again. Also when walking through the forest it is
noticed that instead of the sun hiding from Hester that the forest is brighter
and this represents that she feels better about herself and that she will soon
be free from all the drama in her life. Hester soon tells Pearl of the idea and
is excited that they will be able to spend time together as father and
daughter. The chapter ends with them calling Pearls name, and she appears to be
a little bit curious and worried. This change in their lives makes them
both feel as if there is hope, a thing that they have not been familiar with in
many years. They both begin to feel more happiness and joy in their lives
and Dimmesdale begins to feel better physically. This is a very significant
part in the novel where you actually feel that there is a chance that
everything can turn out alright. I feel that a lot can go right from here on,
but I think there are still some speed bumps left.
Seven years after the events of Pearls birth and upbringing,
Hester has become more active in society and that the scarlet "A" on her chest
stands for able not adultery. She brings food to people who are less fortunate,
takes care of the sick, and offers advice too people who need it. Hester has
also changed, instead of being very rebellious and passionate she has become a
bare and harsh representation of her earlier self. She is more curious and
worries that there is something wrong with Pearl. Also, she worries about the
damage being done by Chillingworth on Dimmesdale and if she should do something
to end it for good. This chapter talks about how a strictly Puritan society
defines someone, not through humanity but through spirituality. Over time Hester
is more accepted in the society and the "A" on her chest stands for able and not
the sin she committed. I feel that maybe they will soon allow her to take it off
because of the courage, and self-discipline and acceptance she has performed over
the past years. I think she’ll be free from sin
soon.
Chapter 14 Analysis:
Feeling as if her soul is drawn more to Dimmesdale rather than
to Chillingworth, she wants him to stop what he’s doing, and that it is
literally killing him physically and emotionally. One day they encounter one
another on a nearby beach, when they approach one another he tells her that the
town's minds have changed about her, and that soon they are thinking of taking the
scarlet "A" on her chest off. Not supportive of the idea, Hester says that her
scarlet letter cannot be removed by human authority but rather "divine
providence" or by god’s grace. From this conversation, Chillingworth is sure that
the two were lovers. Suddenly a face of evil comes across him. He notices how
deformed mentally and physically he has become. He also flashes back to his
scholar days. Hester then begs him to stop the torture of Dimmesdale and just
let him live in peace. This causes a confrontation between the two and basically
he tells her that she can do as she wishes, but be ready to “grow black flowers
from your heart in your grave.” I feel that the once couple that was there for
one another from the beginning have now turned into arch enemies. Although many
people didn’t see this coming, including me, until a certain point of the novel, I
could tell it was going to happen because Chillingworth wanted revenge from the
beginning, and Hester wanted not to cause any harm to him anymore than she
already has. I feel that maybe Dimmesdale and Hester may try and run away from
Boston together as a family because Chillingworth will not stop till he reaches
his one goal from the start; revenge at Hester’s lover and fellow
sinner.
Chapter 15 Analysis:
After their face to face meet, Hester searches for Pearl who has
apparently run off. Although she knows it’s wrong, she has started to hate her
husband. She also realizes that instead of ever being happy with him she was
misled. After thinking about her past, she finds Pearl playing in a tide pool
and she is pretending to be a mermaid. This causes her to make an “A” on her
chest made out of green seaweed rather than her mothers. The reason Pearl does
this is because she wants her mother to ask her why she has that and eventually
give her details on how and why she got it. They begin to talk about why Hester
wears the letter but Hester makes sure not to go into too much detail because
she is too young to know the truth. Although Hester dodges all of Pearls
questions, Pearl is consistent in asking her what it means and why the minister
touches his heart. I feel that she will soon be devoted to Dimmesdale because
she has noticed that Roger has been evil and when she thought she was happy she
was just unaware of how much she truly wasn't happy. I think that Dimmesdale is
her true love and that Pearl is now a gift rather than a sin. I think that pearl
will learn the truth of her father and confront
Dimmesdale.
Chapter 16 Analysis:
Because Hester knows that her husband is slowly killing
Dimmesdale, she has the intent to tell him who he truly is. So she waits in the
forest because she has heard that he will be coming back from a Native American
tribe through that location. Pearl also is with her mother at the time and
enjoys playing in the sun. As they wait for him, out of curiosity Pearl asks
about the "Black man" or the devil, and his relationship to the scarlet "A" on
her chest. Hester wonders on how she knows about the relation between the two,
Pearl has overheard the witches discussing that the letter was a direct
relationship with the devil. Suddenly Dimmesdale’s shadow is seen in the
distance and Pearl is afraid that he is the "Black Man", so Hester tries to move
her along and go play but she won't because she is partly afraid and curious on
whom it is in the distance. Worn out by Pearl's actions she explains to her that
he is the minister and not the Black Man. Pearl leaves her mother to herself but
wonders if the Black Man has left his own mark on Dimmesdale's chest and that’s
why he clinches it. Pearl is very smart and notices things quickly. Now Hester
has completely devoted herself to Dimmesdale and that she now knows her true
self. Although her mother knows what is going on, Pearl is very confused and is
starting to understand that her mother’s symbol is a bad thing because it is
related to the "Black Man". I feel that maybe Pearl may find out the truth about
her mother and maybe their bond will break because she knows she has been lying
to her from the beginning. I feel that Pearl will be hurt to find out that she
is the symbol of sin and that she is another reminder like the
letter.
Chapter 17 Analysis:
They soon begin to talk to the startled minister, and they find
a private area near a brook to talk to one another away from public
scrutiny. Hester tells him that Chillingworth was really her husband and at
first thought this statement angered Dimmesdale and blames her for the suffering
he has experienced in the past. Soon stopping him in mid conversation, Hester
pulls him towards her scarlet "A" on her chest and begs forgiveness for the
mistakes she has made. Dimmesdale eventually forgives her and claims that their
sin is not as bad as the one Chillingworth is committing right now, revenge.
Dimmesdale soon worries that Chillingworth will try to tell the public that he
was the one that committed the sin as well. Hester says not to worry and says
that they must try and escape from the evil man. The two plot to leave on a boat
to Europe where they can all live together as a family. The moment in the
forest is the true intimate moment between the two in the entire novel so far
apart from making Pearl. They discuss their blame and responsibility in what
happened and also that Chillingworth is really Hester's husband. This angers
him, causing a confrontation. I feel that the argument was more about the
suffering in his life because he has felt Chillingworth’s presence in everyday
of his life. He is mad that Chillingworth is after
him.
Chapter 18 Analysis:
Knowing that they can soon be together as a family and be away from this place excites
the both of them, Hester tells Dimmesdale that she can feel happiness again, and rips
off the scarlet letter on her chest. This represents that Hester has regained
some of her previous beauty and begins to feel young again and let down her
hair. She has confidence once again. Also when walking through the forest it is
noticed that instead of the sun hiding from Hester that the forest is brighter
and this represents that she feels better about herself and that she will soon
be free from all the drama in her life. Hester soon tells Pearl of the idea and
is excited that they will be able to spend time together as father and
daughter. The chapter ends with them calling Pearls name, and she appears to be
a little bit curious and worried. This change in their lives makes them
both feel as if there is hope, a thing that they have not been familiar with in
many years. They both begin to feel more happiness and joy in their lives
and Dimmesdale begins to feel better physically. This is a very significant
part in the novel where you actually feel that there is a chance that
everything can turn out alright. I feel that a lot can go right from here on,
but I think there are still some speed bumps left.