• Business
• Hester and the A
• Chillingsworth and Dimmesdale
• HW
– Read through “The Minister’s Vigil” chapter for
Thurs.
– Keep responding. Think of it as you are writing support paragraphs.

• Yesterday we were talking rebellion against vs. embodiment of Puritan logic.
• BUT
• Rather than thinking argument, either/or, proof and counterpoint, let’s think description, both/and, explanation and complexity.
• As Sontag would say, let’s talk how it is and what it is.

“On the breast of her gown, in fine red cloth, surrounded with an elaborate embroidery and fantastic flourishes of gold thread, appeared the letter
A. It was so artistically done, and with so much fertility and gorgeous luxuriance of fancy, that it had all the effect of a last and fitting decoration to the apparel which she wore; and which was of a splendor in accordance with the taste of the age, but greatly beyond what was allowed by the sumptuary regulations of the colony" 47
– my footnote says "sumptuary regulations" were rules of decorum intended to enforce class distinction.

– "it had the effect of a spell, taking her out of the ordinary relations with humanity, and inclosing her in a sphere by herself.”
– crowd is impressed with her needle work:
• "but did ever a woman, before this brazen hussy, contrive such a way of showing it! Why, gossips, what is it but to laugh in the faces of our godly magistrates, and make a pride out of what they, worthy gentlemen, meant for a punishment?” [48]

While on the stage, her mind wanders to other scenes. The chapter concludes with her returning to the present circumstance and the A:
“Lastly, in lieu of these shifting scenes, came back the rude market-place of the Puritan settlement, with all the townspeople assembled and leveling their stern regards at
Hester Prynne, -- yes, at herself, -- who stood on the scaffold of the pillory, an infant on her arm, and the letter
A, in scarlet, fantastically embroidered with gold thread, upon her bosom!
Could it all be true? She clutched the child so fiercely to her breast, that it sent forth a cry; she turned her eyes downward at the scarlet letter, and evne touched it with her fing, to assure herself that the infant and the shame were real. Yes! -- these were her realities, -- all else had vanished!” [53]

5 characteristics, 5 references to the text
1. Chillingworth
2. Dimmesdale
Share with person next to you. Explain your individual.
Together, use textual reference to define their relationship.

• Cold and calculating [65, 69, 68]
• Educated, older, thin [68]
• Obsessive, “terrible fascination” [153]
• Leech, doctor, leeching.
• Ugly, evil [150]
• Recognizes his own blame, we betrayed each other [68-69]
• Satan’s emissary.

• Really good speaker [78]
• Religious, truth-seaker, wishes he could come clean [119]
• Defensive of Hester [79]
• Confused, felt astray [76]
• Held to a high standard, very educated [76]
• Coward [176, 77, 129-130]

• C is D’s doctor. Treating him for a weakening condition, wants to unveil a secret, that D is
H’s a.

• We talked about this book as addressing the sign as it is applied in real life with real stakes.
• Chillingworth + Dimmesdale discussions revolve around questions of inside/outside, public/private, sign/meaning.
• What does their relationship add to our discussion of the sign and the letter A?

• Sickness as symptom:
– “symptom of some ailment in the spiritual part” [122]
• Confession:
– Doctor / Confessor / Diagnosis / Identity
– “wherefore not; since all the powers of nature call so earnestly for the confession of sin…” [118]
• The mark:
– “A rare case!” he muttered. “I must needs look deeper into it. A strange sympathy betwixt soul and body! Were it only for the art’s sake, I must search this matter to the bottom!” [124]
– Discovers the mark: “But with what a wild look of wonder, joy, and horror!” [124]

• Chillingworth asks for comparison:
– “Is Hester Prynne the less miserable, think you, for that scarlet letter on her breast?” [121]
• So, how DO they compare?