In the forest, Hester and Dimmesdale have their first alone time for seven years. They begin to catch up on the basics at first, but then they begin to talk aboit details. Hester reveals how Chillingworth is her husband and how he knows that Dimmesdale is the father of Pearl. This frightens Dimmesdale because he thinks Roger will tell the people of Boston the truth. Hester insists that Dimmesdale not let Roger get to him. They then plan to escape to Europe, where they can live happily with their daugter, Pearl.
They both begin to feel whole again. Hester pulls the thread out of her letter and lets it loose. Dimmesdale claims that he hasn't felt like this for seven years. They want to get up and go right then and there. Then they remember Pearl. How will she react to Arthur? Will she approve of him after living her entire life without him?
There is only one way to find out. Hester calls her over. Before Pearl even realizes what is happening, she notices the scarlet letter missing from Hester's bossom. She throws a hissy-fit, and after she finds the letter, refuses to come across the creek. Finally, she cooperates with Hester, and warily approaches Dimmesdale.
Monday, November 9, 2009
The Scarlet Letter (Ch 15-16)
After Hester and Chillingworth are finished arguing, Hester goes to find Pearl. Pearl finds some leaves and forms the letter A on her chest, like her mother's. She tells her mother how she wants to be like her, and then she compares it to how Dimmesdale always holds his chest in the same place. This is the first time Pearl actually brings a problem to Hester's attention, and discusses is to her. Hester begins to think that Pearl may not be pure evil. However, she knows Pearl is not yet ready for the truth.
Hester and Pearl take a walk through the forest, and Pearl is playing with the sunshine. She teases her mother and shows her how she can "catch" the sunshine. Hester then says that she can, too, but when she steps forth, the sunshine disappears. Pearl continues to being up the scarlet letter, claiming that she knows a story about the Black Man. Hester hushes her, and asks her is she will leave her alone about it if she tells her. Hester tells Pearl that she did, in fact, once meet a Black Man, and the letter is his mark. She does not want to embarrass herself any further, so she tells Pearl to run along and play.
After Pearl leaves, she notices a man across the forest. It was, in fact, Arthur Dimmesdale.
Hester and Pearl take a walk through the forest, and Pearl is playing with the sunshine. She teases her mother and shows her how she can "catch" the sunshine. Hester then says that she can, too, but when she steps forth, the sunshine disappears. Pearl continues to being up the scarlet letter, claiming that she knows a story about the Black Man. Hester hushes her, and asks her is she will leave her alone about it if she tells her. Hester tells Pearl that she did, in fact, once meet a Black Man, and the letter is his mark. She does not want to embarrass herself any further, so she tells Pearl to run along and play.
After Pearl leaves, she notices a man across the forest. It was, in fact, Arthur Dimmesdale.
The Scarlet Letter (Ch 13-14)
These chapters skip a few years. Pearl is now seven years old. Hester is a completely different woman now. She is always giving and giving. She is constantly working with the homeless, giving them food and medicine to help them survive. She has renamed her reputation in the town of Boston from Adultery to Able. Along with being so courteous, Hester's physical self has also changed. On the negative side, she is much less lady-like. She cuts her hair often, or wears a hat to hide it, her clothes are less dressy, and she is losing her beauty. However, "the letter had not done its office." The law feel as though Hester has not taken the letter to the level of punishment as they feel she should have. They want people to learn from Hester, but the people are now beginning to see good in her.
One day, Hester and Pearl go to a creek and find Roger Chillingworth there. His features have also changed significantly. Hester believes that it is the evil taking over him, making him old and hunchbacked. Hester begins to feel anger toward Chillingworth, and tells him that she is going to reveal his identity. Then, she lets him be.
One day, Hester and Pearl go to a creek and find Roger Chillingworth there. His features have also changed significantly. Hester believes that it is the evil taking over him, making him old and hunchbacked. Hester begins to feel anger toward Chillingworth, and tells him that she is going to reveal his identity. Then, she lets him be.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
The Scarlet Letter (Ch 11-12)
After Chillingworth is revealed to the truth about Dimmesdale, he decides to get into his head. Dimmesdale is not only feeling evil vibes from Chillingworth, he is also getting it at church. He tries to tell his church attendants that he has sinned, without coming out and saying exactly what was done. The people at his church has already looked up to Dimmesdale with great fellowship, and this makes them look up to him even more. They see how this will help him give them advice about their sins and feel their sorrow by being in their shoes. Dimmesdale begins feeling worse and tells them more often about his sin, but it only does exactly the opposite of his intentions. He begins to punish himself by fasting, using a scourge on himself, and staying awake without days of sleep. These punishments are only making his disease worse.
One night, he walks to town to the scaffold where Hester was punished three years before. He meets Hester and Pearl there, and they hold hands. Even though it is in the middle of the night with no people anywhere, they feel as though they are letting everyone know the truth of his identity as Pearl's father. Pearl asks Dimmesdale to hold her hand at the exact place on Great Judgement day to show the people that he is her father. Dimmesdale says no.
The next morning, Dimmesdale convinces himself that the previous night was just a dream. However, a Sexton tells him that his glove was found at the scaffold in town, revealing to him that he was, in fact, there.
One night, he walks to town to the scaffold where Hester was punished three years before. He meets Hester and Pearl there, and they hold hands. Even though it is in the middle of the night with no people anywhere, they feel as though they are letting everyone know the truth of his identity as Pearl's father. Pearl asks Dimmesdale to hold her hand at the exact place on Great Judgement day to show the people that he is her father. Dimmesdale says no.
The next morning, Dimmesdale convinces himself that the previous night was just a dream. However, a Sexton tells him that his glove was found at the scaffold in town, revealing to him that he was, in fact, there.
The Scarlet Letter (Ch 9-10)
Roger Chillingworth becomes the friend and personal physician of Arthur Dimmesdale, whose health continues to decline. Dimmesdale suspects no evil from Chillingworth, whose aspects turns from scholarly to scheming.
One day, Chillingworth comes to Dimmesdale with herbs that have very dark, flabby leaves on them. Dimmesdale asks him where he found them at, and Chillingworth tells him that he found them growing on a grave, probably a sinner's grave. He goes on about how the person burried there must be having a horrible afterlife on behalf of him keeping a dark secret during his life on Earth. Dimmesdale argues back saying that the sinner probably had a good reason for keeping his secret a secret, and that it was probably better for others as well. They begin to go back and forth arguing and Chillingworth begins to use his imagination. He sees that Dimmesdale keeps holding his chest and fighting for the rights of a sinner.
That evening, Dimmesdale falls into a deep sleep and Chillingworth decides to take an action. He lifts Dimmesdale's shirt and can't believe what he sees. "Had a man seen old Roger Chillingworth, at that moment of his ecstasy, he would have had no need to ask how Satan comports himself when a precious human soul is lost to heaven, and won into his kingdom."
One day, Chillingworth comes to Dimmesdale with herbs that have very dark, flabby leaves on them. Dimmesdale asks him where he found them at, and Chillingworth tells him that he found them growing on a grave, probably a sinner's grave. He goes on about how the person burried there must be having a horrible afterlife on behalf of him keeping a dark secret during his life on Earth. Dimmesdale argues back saying that the sinner probably had a good reason for keeping his secret a secret, and that it was probably better for others as well. They begin to go back and forth arguing and Chillingworth begins to use his imagination. He sees that Dimmesdale keeps holding his chest and fighting for the rights of a sinner.
That evening, Dimmesdale falls into a deep sleep and Chillingworth decides to take an action. He lifts Dimmesdale's shirt and can't believe what he sees. "Had a man seen old Roger Chillingworth, at that moment of his ecstasy, he would have had no need to ask how Satan comports himself when a precious human soul is lost to heaven, and won into his kingdom."
The Scarlet Letter (Ch 7-8)
In these chapters, Hester makes a visit to Reverend Dimmesdale. She is there to deliver a pair of gloves she made for him, and to talk to him about rumors. She has heard that they are going to try to take Pearl from her, and she wants to prevent it. The reverends decide to test Pearl on her knowledge of God, and she fails. She says that she has no heavenly father and the reverends tell Hester that Pearl needs to be taken from her for the best. Hester becomes irate and Reverend Dimmesdale steps in. He tells them that Pearl is to stay with Hester because God sent her to this world in Hester's care so it was meant to be that way. Hester is pleased to see that someone stands up for her.
As Hester exits the Governor's Hall, Mistress Hibbins calls out to her, asking if she would like to attend a witch's gathering. Hester replys that she would, but she has to take care of Pearl, so she says no thanks.
As Hester exits the Governor's Hall, Mistress Hibbins calls out to her, asking if she would like to attend a witch's gathering. Hester replys that she would, but she has to take care of Pearl, so she says no thanks.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
The Scarlet Letter (Ch 5-6)
After a few months, Hester is released from prison. She is able to leave Boston, but she chooses not to. She finds an old abandoned cabin on the outskirts of town where she can be free of humiliation. She is completely seperated from evey person in town. She does, however, make a living with a talent of sewing things for townspeople. She tries to make herself feel better by doing charity work, but she is often insulted by the few people she sees, so she cuts it off.
Along with her very lonely life, her daughter, Pearl, is also a huge hassel. She is often referred to as a "demon child," and she is very rude. She mocks Hester continuously and will not cooperate with her. Pearl is about three at this time, and she begins question the scarlet letter. Hester tries to explain to her that her father is the heavenly God himself, but Pearl just closes her out and refuses to beilieve her.
Along with her very lonely life, her daughter, Pearl, is also a huge hassel. She is often referred to as a "demon child," and she is very rude. She mocks Hester continuously and will not cooperate with her. Pearl is about three at this time, and she begins question the scarlet letter. Hester tries to explain to her that her father is the heavenly God himself, but Pearl just closes her out and refuses to beilieve her.
The Scarlet Letter (Ch 3-4)
As Hester is coming forth of the stockade, she notices a familiar face in the crowd. It is her husband, now known as Roger Chillingworth, who then motions her to not give his identity. He asks the man next to him what it was that Hester has done. The man is impressed, and tells him about her adultery. Chillingworth tells the man how he was shipwrecked with Indians for almost three years so he had no idea. The stranger then tells him how Hester will not give any information about her fellow sinner.
We are then introduced to the town fathers; Governor Billingham, Reverend Wilson, and Reverend Dimmesdale. Dimmesdale explains to Hester that she should not hide the identity of the father for Pearl's sake, but Hester just tells him that Pearl will have only a heavenly father. Hester is then lead back to her prison cell.
Since Chillingworth is the only known physician in Boston, he is allowed to see Hester to "interrogate" her about the father of Pearl. He brings her some medicine, but she is hesitant to take it because she thinks he is poisoning Pearl for revenge. She finally drinks it, and they begin discussing the sin. Chillingworth tells Hester that he is heartbroken, but it is, in fact, both of their faults. He knows he shouldn't have married her while she was so young and he was so old. He tries to tell her the importance of knowing the father, but she refuses to give in. He tells her that he will, no matter what, get revenge on him.
We are then introduced to the town fathers; Governor Billingham, Reverend Wilson, and Reverend Dimmesdale. Dimmesdale explains to Hester that she should not hide the identity of the father for Pearl's sake, but Hester just tells him that Pearl will have only a heavenly father. Hester is then lead back to her prison cell.
Since Chillingworth is the only known physician in Boston, he is allowed to see Hester to "interrogate" her about the father of Pearl. He brings her some medicine, but she is hesitant to take it because she thinks he is poisoning Pearl for revenge. She finally drinks it, and they begin discussing the sin. Chillingworth tells Hester that he is heartbroken, but it is, in fact, both of their faults. He knows he shouldn't have married her while she was so young and he was so old. He tries to tell her the importance of knowing the father, but she refuses to give in. He tells her that he will, no matter what, get revenge on him.
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