Chapter 19:
71. Why is Pearl unable to share her mother’s joy over the scarlet letter’s removal? Why does she insist that Hester put the scarlet letter on again? Why does she reject Dimmesdale’s kiss?
Pearl cannot imagine Hester without the scarlet letter, and is connected to it. To Pearl, the letter symbolizes her, so when it is removed she feels that Hester won’t love her as much. This keeps Pearl from sharing her mother’s joy over the removal of the letter. She demands Hester to wear it again because she also knows that the letter hasn’t done all that it should have; part of that being that Dimmesdale suffers his confessions. Pearl rejects Dimmesdale’s kiss because he refuses to go back into town holding hers and Hester’s hands. She is unsure if Dimmesdale truly is her father, so this leads to the action she has done.
Chapter 20:
73. What four temptations does Dimmesdale face on his way home? What does Dimmesdale assume is the source of these temptations? What alternate explanation does the narrator offer? What further explanations for Dimmesdale’s “temptation” might be apparent to a modern reader?
The four temptations that Dimmesdale encounters on his way home are: the conversation he had with the Deacon, what Mistress Hibbins spoke into Dimmesdale’s ears about going to the woods with her at night, lusting towards a young woman, and almost teaching bad things to the youth of the town. Dimmesdale thinks these temptations are the result of signing his name over to the Black Man, and doing his work, or that he has gone insane. The narrator gives us the perspective that Dimmesdale might be falling in love, and the romantic traits are taking him over. To the modern reader, these temptations could be caused by his moral conscience taking over, just like any other human being.
74. What does Mistress Hibbins perceive when she meets Dimmesdale? When contrasted against Hester’s meeting with Mistress HIbbins at the end of chapter 8, how does Dimmesdale’s response to her further our understanding of the contrast between the two lovers?
When Mistress Hibbins meets Dimmesdale, she perceives that he was in the forest with the Black Man. Compared to the meeting between Mistress Hibbins and Hester in chapter 8, their reasoning for not going with Mistress Hibbins are different. Hester refuses to go with the witch because of her love for Pearl, but Dimmesdale refuses for his selfish reasons and reputation.
Chapter 21:
78. What bad news does Hester receive from the ship’s captain? How might this news suggest an impending tragedy to the reader?
The captain of the ship has just informed Hester that the ship will be boarded by another physician, Roger Chillingworth, to sail. This shocks her and the reader because their escape to a new life is going to drag a heavy burden with it. Chillingworth going with them gives him the upper hand to his revenge. This shows the reader that Chillingworth not only hates Dimmesdale, but also Hester now.
Chapter 22:
80. How has Dimmesdale’s appearance changed? In what way does he appear separate from the crowd and how does this affect Hester? How does this also foreshadow a possible tragedy?
Dimmesdale appears to have the most substantial amount of energy that anyone has ever seen him have. He also has been eating well, giving him a healthier appearance. The whole crowd is focusing on Hester’s badge, yet Dimmesdale looks to be as if he is in his own little world, and pays no attention. This makes Hester feel like Dimmesdale has become a new person, and foreshadows the tragedy that he might change his thoughts towards their plans.
81. What forbidden questions does Pearl ask when she sees Dimmesdale? What important symbolic contrast is highlighted by Hester’s response?
The forbidden question that Pearl asks Hester is if Dimmesdale can kiss her in broad daylight in front of the townspeople. Hester quickly quiets Pearl, and tells her to not speak of that again. The symbolism shown from Hester’s response is that she tells Pearl that kisses aren’t for her in the broad daylight of the market place. She also embellishes on Pearl that anything spoken in the woods must not be spoken of in the market place.
82. Why does Mistress Hibbins reproach Hester with “fie, woman, fie!”?
Mistress Hibbins reproaches Hester with “fie, woman, fie!” because she knows what has happened in the forest, and is showing her disgust towards Hester in an annoying way. She goes to tell Hester that she knows all about Dimmesdale and the truth, as all witches know the truth.
Chapter 23:
83. How does Hawthorne further develop the symbolic importance
of the scaffold during Dimmesdale’s sermon?
Hawthorne symbolizes the scaffold as a place for redemption, and
freeing ones’ self. In the beginning of the story, Hester is put on the
scaffold and seems to live her life afterward with no real guilt. When
Dimmesdale finally goes onto the scaffold, all of his burdens and troubles
disappeared, and he could finally live guilt free; although they were his last
minutes.
85. Describe and analyze the significance of each of the main
character’s reactions to Dimmesdale’s confession. How is each one changed by his
confession?
The main reaction to Dimmesdale’s confession is Roger
Chillingworth’s. Chillingworth dedicated his entire life to get revenge on
Dimmesdale, and when he saw that he was going to confess he tried to stop him.
Soon after Dimmesdale’s confession and death, Chillingworth had nothing to live
for and died within that same year. While Dimmesdale was calling Hester to the
scaffold, Hester was very skeptical after the confession that her, Pearl, and
the minister might be killed. This shows that Hester maybe didn’t want
Dimmesdale to confess anymore because of the safety for them.
86. What are Dimmesdale’s last words? Is there anything
significant about these words or the situation in which they are
spoken?
Dimmesdales last words are to Hester, telling her that they
forgot God when they sinned, but he has not forgotten them. He tells her that it
is God’s will if they shall meet again for eternity. Further, he says that
Chillingworth was sent by God to remind him and torure him of his sin. These
words are significant because Dimmesdale goes from being a coward to a man; no
longer hiding his sin, but apologizing and accepting it, just as Hester did
seven years earlier.
Chapter 24:
87. Summarize the concluding chapter in terms of character
development and final thoughts offered by the narrator.
After the scaffold scene where Dimmesdale breathed his last
breaths, the town reminisced on what they saw on Dimmesdale’s chest. To
everyone, it was no doubt that that they had seen a scarlet letter A on his
chest, but many theories were put to play on how the A was put on his chest.
Since Dimmesdale has passed, Chillingworth hath nothing to live for because his
life was dedicated to torturing Dimmesdale, so he died within the same year.
Pearl is left with many treasures that Chillingworth has bestowed upon her such
as land in Boston and Europe, and money. Pearl gets married and lives her life
in Europe happily. Hester ,after disappearing for a while, moves back into her
cottage in Boston, where she lives a happy life continuing to help the less
fortunate.
71. Why is Pearl unable to share her mother’s joy over the scarlet letter’s removal? Why does she insist that Hester put the scarlet letter on again? Why does she reject Dimmesdale’s kiss?
Pearl cannot imagine Hester without the scarlet letter, and is connected to it. To Pearl, the letter symbolizes her, so when it is removed she feels that Hester won’t love her as much. This keeps Pearl from sharing her mother’s joy over the removal of the letter. She demands Hester to wear it again because she also knows that the letter hasn’t done all that it should have; part of that being that Dimmesdale suffers his confessions. Pearl rejects Dimmesdale’s kiss because he refuses to go back into town holding hers and Hester’s hands. She is unsure if Dimmesdale truly is her father, so this leads to the action she has done.
Chapter 20:
73. What four temptations does Dimmesdale face on his way home? What does Dimmesdale assume is the source of these temptations? What alternate explanation does the narrator offer? What further explanations for Dimmesdale’s “temptation” might be apparent to a modern reader?
The four temptations that Dimmesdale encounters on his way home are: the conversation he had with the Deacon, what Mistress Hibbins spoke into Dimmesdale’s ears about going to the woods with her at night, lusting towards a young woman, and almost teaching bad things to the youth of the town. Dimmesdale thinks these temptations are the result of signing his name over to the Black Man, and doing his work, or that he has gone insane. The narrator gives us the perspective that Dimmesdale might be falling in love, and the romantic traits are taking him over. To the modern reader, these temptations could be caused by his moral conscience taking over, just like any other human being.
74. What does Mistress Hibbins perceive when she meets Dimmesdale? When contrasted against Hester’s meeting with Mistress HIbbins at the end of chapter 8, how does Dimmesdale’s response to her further our understanding of the contrast between the two lovers?
When Mistress Hibbins meets Dimmesdale, she perceives that he was in the forest with the Black Man. Compared to the meeting between Mistress Hibbins and Hester in chapter 8, their reasoning for not going with Mistress Hibbins are different. Hester refuses to go with the witch because of her love for Pearl, but Dimmesdale refuses for his selfish reasons and reputation.
Chapter 21:
78. What bad news does Hester receive from the ship’s captain? How might this news suggest an impending tragedy to the reader?
The captain of the ship has just informed Hester that the ship will be boarded by another physician, Roger Chillingworth, to sail. This shocks her and the reader because their escape to a new life is going to drag a heavy burden with it. Chillingworth going with them gives him the upper hand to his revenge. This shows the reader that Chillingworth not only hates Dimmesdale, but also Hester now.
Chapter 22:
80. How has Dimmesdale’s appearance changed? In what way does he appear separate from the crowd and how does this affect Hester? How does this also foreshadow a possible tragedy?
Dimmesdale appears to have the most substantial amount of energy that anyone has ever seen him have. He also has been eating well, giving him a healthier appearance. The whole crowd is focusing on Hester’s badge, yet Dimmesdale looks to be as if he is in his own little world, and pays no attention. This makes Hester feel like Dimmesdale has become a new person, and foreshadows the tragedy that he might change his thoughts towards their plans.
81. What forbidden questions does Pearl ask when she sees Dimmesdale? What important symbolic contrast is highlighted by Hester’s response?
The forbidden question that Pearl asks Hester is if Dimmesdale can kiss her in broad daylight in front of the townspeople. Hester quickly quiets Pearl, and tells her to not speak of that again. The symbolism shown from Hester’s response is that she tells Pearl that kisses aren’t for her in the broad daylight of the market place. She also embellishes on Pearl that anything spoken in the woods must not be spoken of in the market place.
82. Why does Mistress Hibbins reproach Hester with “fie, woman, fie!”?
Mistress Hibbins reproaches Hester with “fie, woman, fie!” because she knows what has happened in the forest, and is showing her disgust towards Hester in an annoying way. She goes to tell Hester that she knows all about Dimmesdale and the truth, as all witches know the truth.
Chapter 23:
83. How does Hawthorne further develop the symbolic importance
of the scaffold during Dimmesdale’s sermon?
Hawthorne symbolizes the scaffold as a place for redemption, and
freeing ones’ self. In the beginning of the story, Hester is put on the
scaffold and seems to live her life afterward with no real guilt. When
Dimmesdale finally goes onto the scaffold, all of his burdens and troubles
disappeared, and he could finally live guilt free; although they were his last
minutes.
85. Describe and analyze the significance of each of the main
character’s reactions to Dimmesdale’s confession. How is each one changed by his
confession?
The main reaction to Dimmesdale’s confession is Roger
Chillingworth’s. Chillingworth dedicated his entire life to get revenge on
Dimmesdale, and when he saw that he was going to confess he tried to stop him.
Soon after Dimmesdale’s confession and death, Chillingworth had nothing to live
for and died within that same year. While Dimmesdale was calling Hester to the
scaffold, Hester was very skeptical after the confession that her, Pearl, and
the minister might be killed. This shows that Hester maybe didn’t want
Dimmesdale to confess anymore because of the safety for them.
86. What are Dimmesdale’s last words? Is there anything
significant about these words or the situation in which they are
spoken?
Dimmesdales last words are to Hester, telling her that they
forgot God when they sinned, but he has not forgotten them. He tells her that it
is God’s will if they shall meet again for eternity. Further, he says that
Chillingworth was sent by God to remind him and torure him of his sin. These
words are significant because Dimmesdale goes from being a coward to a man; no
longer hiding his sin, but apologizing and accepting it, just as Hester did
seven years earlier.
Chapter 24:
87. Summarize the concluding chapter in terms of character
development and final thoughts offered by the narrator.
After the scaffold scene where Dimmesdale breathed his last
breaths, the town reminisced on what they saw on Dimmesdale’s chest. To
everyone, it was no doubt that that they had seen a scarlet letter A on his
chest, but many theories were put to play on how the A was put on his chest.
Since Dimmesdale has passed, Chillingworth hath nothing to live for because his
life was dedicated to torturing Dimmesdale, so he died within the same year.
Pearl is left with many treasures that Chillingworth has bestowed upon her such
as land in Boston and Europe, and money. Pearl gets married and lives her life
in Europe happily. Hester ,after disappearing for a while, moves back into her
cottage in Boston, where she lives a happy life continuing to help the less
fortunate.