The Scarlet Letter
Guided Notes / Part 1
Chapter 17
• Hester and Dimmesdale meet in the
woods and greet each other strangely
(171) “...Art thou in life?...”
• They slowly open up to each other
(172) “Thus they went onward…”
• Dim. is “most miserable” and mentions
his own hypocrisy (173) “I have
laughed…”
Chapter 17 cont.
• H. reveals Chillingworth’s real identity!
(173-4) “Thou hast long had such an
enemy...
• H. still loves Dim. (174) “Such was the
ruin…”
• Dim.’s inner demon makes an
appearance (175) “The minister looked
at her for an instant…”
Chapter 17 cont.
• Dim. is angry, H. begs for forgiveness
(175) “With sudden and desperate
tenderness…”
• He forgives her, yet says Chillingworth is
a bigger sinner than both of them
(176) “I do forgive you…”
• H. tells Dim. he can and should leave
(178) “Then there is the broad
pathway of the sea!...”
Chapter 17 cont.
• H. shows a beautiful and passionate
sense of enthusiasm toward the
thought of moving away (179) “The
future is yet full...Up, and away!
• They agree to go together (179)
Chapter 18
• The difference between H. and Dim.
(180) “The scarlet letter was her
passport…”
• Both are energized by their plan (1812) “Neither can I any longer live…”
Chapter 18 cont.
MS. AMARO’S FAVORITE PART!!! 
Hester removes the scarlet letter and
throws it, she takes off her cap and lets
down her hair, and all of her beauty
shines forth (182-3)
• H. calls Pearl to meet her father, Pearl
adorns herself with nature (185) “The
flowers appeared to know it…”
Chapter 19
• Pearl represents the union between
her parents (186) “In her was visible…”
• Pearl hesitates to return, doesn’t know
where she stands now that H. has
another person she openly loves (187)
“There was both truth and error…”
• Pearl creeps her father out...twice
(188)
Chapter 19 cont.
• Pearl has another outburst b/c H. took
the letter off (189) “...now suddenly
burst into a fit of passion…”
• H. puts the letter and cap back on
and her beauty instantly fades (190)
“With these words…”
• Pearl kisses the letter? (190)
Chapter 19 cont.
• Dim. kisses Pearl, she washes it off, H.
and Dim. remain in confidence (191)
“The minister--painfully embarrassed..”
• Nature imagery, the sad brook (192)
“And the melancholy brook…”
Chapter 20
• Dim.’s character is falling apart, twofaced (193-4) “We have had...may be
the true”
• He returns to Boston, feels different and
everything looks different (194-5)
• Dim. feels like blurting out blasphemies,
but stops himself (196) “...it was only by
the most careful self-control…”
Chapter 20 cont.
• Some examples of Dim. holding himself
back from blasphemy:
1. A deacon of the church (195-6)
2. The eldest female member of his
church, pious old widow (196)
3. The youngest sister, fair and pure (197)
Chapter 20 cont.
• Mistress Hibbins (witch) stops Dim. and
mentions his visit to the forest (198) “So,
Reverend Sir…”
• Dim. made a deal with the devil? (199)
“The wretched minister!...”
• YGB moment: while Dim. writes
election sermon, he reflects on his new
knowledge (200) “ He knew that it was
himself…”
Chapter 20 cont.
• Some fakery between Chillingworth
and Dimmesdale (201-2) “I thank you
from my heart…”
• Dim. throws away his old speech, and
begins another (202) “Then, flinging
the already…”
Difficult Words
1. colloquy (180): n. a conversation
2. vicissitude (192): n. a change of
circumstances or fortune, typically
one that is unpleasant/unwelcome
3. potentate (199): n. a monarch or ruler