Ms. Hamden
The Scarlet Letter Test Review
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Hester’s argument for keeping Pearl
 Pearl becomes Hester’s priority
 Pearl is a punishment from God
 Pearl will make Hester a better person
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Dimmesdale and Chillingworth’s relationship
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NAME:
Living arrangements
Chillingworth was living with Dimmesdale to ensure his good health
Their separate apartments focus on sin (Dimmesdale)
Chillingworth, a man of science
(End of Chapter 9)
Discussions
(In Chapter 10) Between Chillingworth and Dimmesdale dark weeds that grew out of grave
(symbolizing secret sin)
Dimmesdale making an excuse for man that perhaps he did not have the courage to confess
If he did confess he would no longer be able to do good works (Pg. 112-114)
Dimmesdale struggles with the fact that he can’t trust any man as his friend
Discovery
(End of Chapter 10 Pg. 119-120) Chillingworth “dances” at the sight of something on Dimmesdale’s
chest
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Chapter 12 scaffold scene
Pearl:
 Pearl asks Dimmesdale if he will stand on the scaffold the following day as they did that night, but he
is not ready. He denies Pearl’s request. He is not ready to confess.
 Pearl is trying to have her father reveal himself and be true, but he’s not ready. (Pg.132-133)
Dimmesdale:
 Goes to the scaffold in the middle of the night. Feels like it’s a mockery of pentenence (Pg. 128).
Chillingworth:
 Actually followed them all to scaffold
 Meteor reveals their connection to sin (he sees them all standing up there)
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Hester confronts:
Chillingworth (Chapter 14) Going to tell Dimmesdale of Chillingworth’s true identity
 (Pg. 150) Quote from Hester to Chillingworth about Dimmesdale’s debt
 Hester discusses the priceless benefit of forgiveness. It sets you free (end of Chapter 14)
 (Chapter 15) Hester feels resentment over Chillingworth and marrying him. She wasn’t true to
herself when marrying him. Hester didn’t follow her heart, and in the end it was a disaster.
 Pearl made herself a green “A” with seaweed. This shows that she could perhaps grow into her
mother’s ways if Hester doesn’t take action. Hester is not on the right path when Pearl asks about
her mother’s “A” (Pg. 158-159)
Dimmesdale LOCATION –forest, the brook (both symbolize sympathy for lovers. Nature- truth. The
brooks knows the hidden secrets of the Puritans)
 Dimmesdale complains that he’s a hypocrite and worries about what the townspeople will
think about him (Pg. 167-169)
 Hester responds by trying to make him feel good. Saying that he does so many good things.
He doesn’t believe her.
 Perhaps the very best option would be to run away.
 Narrator has his own opinions about their idea of running away (beginning of Chapter 18)
 You can’t run away from your problems
 Hester doesn’t follow the “rules” of society
 Not bound by Puritan law. She can think in a different way (she goes where no other woman
would ever think to go) than Dimmesdale who is much more of a classical pure Puritan.
 Dimmesdale can run away if he really wanted to, but inside he feels he cannot. He covers
himself by wearing a “mask”.
 He’s struggling because he knows it’d be wrong to run
 Though the timing would be perfect because the ship to the England is the day after he is to
give a sermon. The perfect ending to his career.
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Chapter 23 scaffold scene: changes in characters
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Pearl
Conflicted by her father.
Dimmesdale doesn’t acknowledge her and her mother out in public, yet they were all so close in the
forest.
Eventually the “spell” is broken between her and Dimmesdale when they get on the scaffold together
Role as parents’ redemption filled.
She cries
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Hester
Transforms
She must do good works
She must earn her place in Heaven
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Chillingworth
Loses his purpose in life (revenge on Dimmesdale)
He has no humanity left
Hidden on the scaffold
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Dimmesdale
His energy is gone
He’s freed
He’s at peace
The public has conflicted views
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Transformation of the A
Adultery, Able, Awe
Awe, because Hester returned to help people like she used to. To find her redemption
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The burial, her tombstone
The Puritans forgave her and Dimmesdale
Love conquers all
BE TRUE
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Fate of characters
 Pearl, while Hester goes back home, she stays and chooses her own path.
 Pearl rejects the Puritans
 Gets money from Chillingworth and property (perhaps because he wronged Hester?)