Scarlet+Letter

= = Scarlet Letter


 * Chapters 1-3**


 * Imagery/Symbolism**
 * The rosebush and the prison are symbols of the hidden sense of evil in ever person. They seem normal on the outside, but up close, there is evil inside them.
 * Character behavior or psychology**
 * Chillingsworth (Hester's Husband), came back and saw that his wife is being shamed. Instead of standing up and saying something though, he was quiet and didn't draw much attention to himself.
 * Hester shows strength as she refuses to reveal the baby's father.
 * Interesting passages**
 * The males in the community were taunting Hester a lot, because they think that she did something very bad as well (49).
 * Questions/Predictions**
 * Why didn't Hester reveal the identity of the father of the child?
 * Connection to your life**


 * Chapters 4-8**


 * Imagery/Symbolism**
 * Pearl is a symbol of Hester's sin and a symbol of the only thing Hester has positive in her life.
 * The Scarlet Letter A is also a symbol of Hester's sin


 * Character behavior or psychology**
 * Hester goes crazy when the people try to take her daughter away from her
 * Hester feels like she has to keep Chillingworth's true identity a secret since she is keeping the true identity of her baby's father a secret.
 * Pearl grows up into a very fiery little girl. She is considered the devil because she is a sin
 * Chillingworth is very mean and hostile towards Hester and actually scares her because he acts like the devil.


 * Interesting Passages**
 * I found it interesting when Hester was questioning her daughter about where and how she was born. Pearl is only 3, and I find it weird how her mother questioned her on that. If my mom did that I would of as a kid probably have been very confused.


 * Questions/Predictions**
 * We think that Dimmesdale is the father and she is trying to not tell anyone about it because he is the minister and that would look very bad on him.
 * I also believe that they are going to continually try to get Pearl out of Hester's possession because they think Hester is an unfit mother


 * Connection to your life**
 * Hester is starting to lose it when she is being humiliated. This is like a lot of celebrities today who go to rehab because they are followed constantly.


 * Chapters 9-12**


 * Imagery/Symbolism**
 * Dimmesdale's physical condition is a symbol of his emotional condition. He is very sick and no one can figure out what is wrong with him. This is like his emotional condition where he is hurting on the inside and no one knows about.


 * Character behavior or psychology**
 * Chillingsworth stays around Dimmesdale a lot throughout these chapters. At first it is more about his medical condition, but soon it turns to him trying to find out who had the affair with Hester. He tries to get Dimmesdale to spill it out by asking him deceiving questions. So he is really helping Dimmesdale to help himself. He is acting like the devil.
 * Dimmesdale is breaking down emotionally, and it is becoming very obvious that he has committed some kind of crime. He probably is Pearl's father. This is emotional breakdown is also having an affect on his physical condition.
 * Pearl calling Chillingworth the "old black man", meaning he was the devil.


 * Interesting Passages**
 * Dimmesdale goes on the scaffold in the center of town and stands there. He is punishing himself by imitating being publicly shamed. This is because he feels guilt about his sin.


 * Questions/Predictions**
 * What is the sin that Dimmesdale is guilty about?
 * What did Chillingsworth find on Dimmesdale's chest?
 * What is Dimmesdale physical condition.


 * Connection to your life**
 * This can be found today in people with depression. They are in such an emotionally state, that they are fatigued and are literally sick because of depression.

Chapters 13-15


 * Imagery/Symbolism**
 * The scarlet letter on Hester's chest, which is supposed to stand for adultery, is now being re-evaluated as "able" because she is becoming more active in society.


 * Character Behavior or Pchycology**
 * Hester is becoming less scorned in society. While she still wears the letter "A" on her chest, people are beginning to see a hard working woman in her.
 * Chillingsworth has become a shadow of his former self. He has become almost evil in the sense that the goal of his life is to seek revenge on Dimmesdale. He used to be a brilliant scholar.
 * Pearl has grown and is considered a "devil". She also, starts asking her mother more and more about the letter on her chest and what it means.

> “Something that would make me weep, if there were any tears bitter enough for it,” answered she. “But let it pass! It is of yonder miserable man that I would speak.” > > **Questions Predictions**
 * Interesting Passages**
 * Chillingworth talks about how he has changed and examines the different aspects of his life.
 * “Mother,” said little Pearl, “the sunshine does not love you. It runs away and hides itself, because it is afraid of something on your bosom. . . . It will not flee from me; for I wear nothing on my bosom yet!”
 * It's interesting that Pearl makes the connection between the Scarlet Letter Hester wears and the way Dimmesdale keeps putting his hand on his chest.
 * When will Hester tell Pearl about the meaning of the scarlet letter?
 * Will Chillingsworth get revenge on Dimmesdale?
 * Has Chillingsworth Changed?


 * Chapters 16-24**


 * Imagery/Symbolism**
 * A good example of symbolism in these sections is when Dimmesdale rips open his shirt and the crowd gasps. The crowd is in awe and does not want to believe what they see. This is symbolic for how every person has sin and no one is perfect. Even Dimmesdale, the great minister is capable of sin.
 * The forest is a symbol of nature, wild, savages lived there, very unlike the strict Puritan culture.


 * Characters Behavior or Psychology**
 * Hester has became more knowledgable and seems to accept her sin more
 * Chillingworth is still torturous towards Dimmesdale
 * Dimmesdale's sin eats away at him and slowly kills him
 * Dimmesdale decides to reveal his sin, so hopefully God can forgive him and he can be with Hester in the after life.
 * The townspeople are in disbelief when they see Dimmesdale's sin
 * After Dimmesdale dies, Chillingworth has nothing to live for since his life became about revenge. He died soon after.

" But there was a more real life for Hester Prynne here, in New England, than in that unknown region where Pearl had found a home. Here had been her sin; here, her sorrow; and here was yet to be her penitence. She had returned, therefore, and resumed,—of her own free will, for not the sternest magistrate of that iron period would have imposed it,—resumed the symbol of which we have related so dark a tale. Never afterwards did it quit her bosom. But . . . the scarlet letter ceased to be a stigma which attracted the world’s scorn and bitterness, and became a type of something to be sorrowed over, and looked upon with awe, and yet with reverence, too."
 * Interesting Passage**

Hester was buried by Dimmesdale, so since they couldn't be together in life, they can be together in death.


 * Questions Predictions**
 * How did Dimmesdale get the A on his chest?
 * Dimmesdale and Hester are going to surprised when they both go to heaven?
 * Was there really an A carved into Dimmesdale's chest?