West Forsyth
Major Works Data Sheet
AP Language and Composition
Title of Work: The Scarlet Letter
Characteristics of the genre
Author: Nathaniel Hawthorne
Date of Publication: 1850
Novels with the gothic genre frequently contain elements of
mystery. Historical novels, demonstrate pieces of prominent
history. And romance novels examine love connections.
Genre: Historical Novel (Time of the Puritans). Fiction,
Romantic, Gothic
Historical Information about the period of publication:
Biographical information about the author
While the Scarlet Letter was written the time was known as
the Transcendentalism movement. They were all about god and
the power of the human mind to determine experience. The
Puritans were a huge group during this time, mostly in
Massachusetts, and they believed in strict social governance
of religion. Everyone wanted to focus on the positive and
everyone was supposed to be perfect and never break any
rules.
On July 4, 1804 in Salem, Massachusetts, the homeland of
his ancestors, Nathaniel Hawthorne was born. His maternal
relatives primarily raised Hawthorne because his father died
when he was four. His family sent him to a private school
that would be suitable for his storytelling talents during his
childhood. Hawthorne later went on to attend Bowdoin
College in Maine, where he studied with future president
Franklin Pierce and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
After graduating in 1825, Nathaniel Hawthorne returned
home to Salem. Upon his return, his family supported him
through a twelve-year literacy apprenticeship. During the
apprenticeship, Hawthorne became a voracious reader and
borrowed anything that might reveal evidence of New
England’s prerevolutionary identity. Hawthorne also kept
notebooks and inner monologues that helped him bring the
stories that he imagined to reality. However, he ultimately
burned a majority of his work that he had produced over the
years, including his first novel Fanshawe (1828), because he
had begun to feel that the pieces of literature were
unworthy of public appreciation.
Eventually, Hawthorne began to emerge from his mental
abyss. In 1839, he began a two-year political appointment in
which he served as an officer in the Boston Custom house.
Around the same time, Hawthorne became engaged to Sophia
Peabody and they got married in 1842. The couple ultimately
settled in the Old Manse in Concord, Massachusetts. There,
Hawthorne became acquainted with Transcendentalist
idealists such as Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David
Thoreau. Between 1846 and 1849, Hawthorne also accepted
a second government position in which he served as surveyor
of the Salem Custom House. This position helped Hawthorne
provide a steady income for his family. After he was
dismissed from his position by the new Whig administration,
Hawthorne began to work on a novel in which he brought into
play all of the fictional techniques that he had perfected
during the literacy apprenticeship.
The Scarlet Letter (1850) became the pinnacle of
Hawthorne’s reputation. Despite the book’s relatively low
production and overall profit, it became known as a literary
classic. The book was appreciated by America for its native
setting in which the story took place in the heart of New
England. After The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne produced
more novels such as The House of the Seven Gables (1851)
and The Blithedale Romance (1852) as well as a collection of
stories known as The Snow-Image (1851). He later went on
to publish several children’s books and wrote a campaign
biography of his college classmate who was running for
president, which became known as the Life of Franklin Pierce
(1852). After Pierce was elected president, Hawthorne was
named United States Consul to Liverpool, England in which he
served from 1853 to 1857. After resigning, Hawthorne,
along with his wife and three children, traveled to Italy.
There, he met poet Robert Browning and began writing his
final novel, The Marble Fawn (1860).
On June 27, 1860, Hawthorne returned to the United States.
Over the course of his final years, illness and a loss of
literary faith prevented him from finishing three novels that
he had already begun. Eventually, Nathaniel Hawthorne died
on a trip to the White Mountains in Plymouth, New
Hampshire, on May 19, 1864, which was meant to restore his
health. Four days later, he was buried closer to his
hometown in the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Concord.
Plot summary:
Chapter 1-The first chapter starts off with the setting that is very symbolic. The structures giant wooden door is the first
image we see and are told that it is a door that leads to the prison of the town. Everything in the first two paragraphs
describes the gloomy and dark life and expectations of the Puritan society. The only thing that has “life” is the rosebush that’s
planted outside the prison. It is said to hope to relieve the human frailty and sorrow.
Chapter 2-The entire Puritan community was waiting for Hester Prynne to exit the prison doors. All of the spectators looked
at her in disgust and criticized her while she was on the scaffold. She was wearing the letter “A” embroidered on her chest
that meant “Adulterer.” The spectators see her as a sinner but Hester Prynne simply has learned to accept her mistake and
does not dwell upon it. She holds her daughter; Pearl, close to her as she is being publically humiliated.
Chapter 3- Hester Prynne remains on the scaffold for three hours. While she is being publically criticized, she spots
Chillingworth, her husband from England. Chillingworth decides it is best if Hester Prynne does not reveal his identity to the
rest of the community. He asks different members of the community what is going on as if he was an outsider, and makes a
new name for himself telling others he has just arrived from Boston. The town officials are then introduced, Reverend
Dimmesdale being one of them. Dimmesdale is the father of Hester Prynne’s child although she has not yet revealed to anyone
it is he except for Dimmesdale himself. Dimmesdale continues to demand Hester Prynne to expose the father of the baby, but
she too continues to refuse to reveal the father. Pearl begins to scream and then the Reverend Wilson ends the sermon and
sends Hester Prynne back to the prison.
Chapter 4 - Hester meets Chillingworth and realizes that he is her husband. They both admit that they have wronged each
other and swear to keep each other's secrets. Chillingworth is shown as increasingly more dark and angry. He explains that he
will not tell everyone her secret because God will ultimately punish her for her sins.
Chapter 5 - Hester is released from the prison and goes to an abandoned cabin by the sea. On the way, children gawk at her
and Pearl. Once at the house, she picks up needlework and finds that she is very good at it. She makes very fine clothing and
sells it to rich people and high-up members of the government. There is controversy over whether to buy the clothes made by
Hester Prynne, even though they are the finest around. She makes a living by selling her work.
Chapter 6 - Pearl is introduced in depth to the reader along with the idea of her innocence, since she was born into her
predicament. Pearl, wearing clothes made by her mother, is very beautiful. She seems to be "rude" and does not fit in with the
other children. Pearl has "alien" qualities and is described as an elf. Hester questions whether she is a human child. it becomes
very clear that even though Pearl is odd, Hester loves her. Pearl frequently looks at and plays with the scarlet letter, and it
angers Hester. Hester asks Pearl if she is indeed her child, and Pearl maintains that she is. Pearl then asks where she came
from, and Hester replies "The Heavenly Father sent thee."
Chapter 7-Hester takes Pearl to see Bellingham after hearing that the town might take the child away from her. On the way
an incident between Pearl and the other children occurs where she is outcasted and throws dirt at the other children. Hester
finds it peculiar how Pearl points to a reflection of Hester where the scarlet A is obviously the predominant image created in
the distorted mirror.
Chapter 8-Hester begs for them not to take Pearl away. Wilson, Bellingham, and Dimmesdale subject Pearl to religious tests
which she is unwilling to answer. Hester asks Dimmesdale for her support in her effort to keep Pearl from being taken away,
resulting in Dimmesdale making a charismatic speech to the elders who then decide to allow Pearl to stay with Hester. Hester
turns down an invitation to a mysterious event by Mistress Hibbins.
Chapter 9-Chillingsworth is, by the beginning of this chapter, known among the town as an excellent physician. He is also unique
in that he has lived with Native Americans, acquiring some of their natural and herbal methods of curing ailments.
Chillingworth convinces Dimmesdale to move in with him due to the attitude of despair Dimmsedale’s illness- a pain in the
chest- has cast over the town. As time passes, however, the town slowly begins to dislike Chillingworth.
Chapter 10-Dimmesdale asks Chillingworth’s opinion on medicine as they are collecting plants in the graveyard, but
Chillingworth won’t help him because Dimmesdale won’t share with him, they see Pearl and Pearl warns her mother to come
away from the “black man” and not let him get her like he got Dimmesdale. Then Chillingworth looks under Dimmesdale robe
while he is asleep later that night and is shocked.
Chapter 11- Even though Chillingworth now knows Dimmesdale secret, he wants Dimmesdale to confess it to him. Dimmesdale is
conflicted due to growing admiration from the congregation, he feels as though he doesn’t deserve the adoration and is
contemplating exposing himself.
Chapter 12- Dimmesdale goes out and stands on the scaffold, and Rev. Wilson and Gov. Winthrop pass by, but he Pearl and
Hester join him and hold hands. Dimmesdale says that they will not stand on the scaffold the next day in public, but they will
on judgment day. A meteor passes in the sky, but Dimmesdale sees a huge scarlet “A”. Chillingworth appears and leads him
home. The next day Dimmesdale denies it happened.
Chapter 13-Hester goes to Mr. Dimmesdale and finds him looking pretty bad, but with his intellect still intact. Many years had
passed and now Pearl was seven years old. Hester, still wearing the scarlet letter on her chest has become more of a common
sight to the townspeople. However, Hester still does not meddle in public or individual interests and conveniences. Hester
basically became neutral in the eyes of the townspeople by working well with her hands and not asking too much. Hester helped
out people all the time and the people took her to be very humble. Hester’s appearance also changed and she wasn’t as pretty
as she used to be. She thinks maybe the secret she is keeping with Chillingworth is what is making Dimmesdale physically sick.
She feels as if the years she has been through have given her the capability to confront Chillingworth.
Chapter 14-Hester is going to meet with Chillingworth. She sends Pearl away to play near the water. Hester notices the
changes that have befallen Chillingworth. Although he has aged, he has aged well. It seems a bit of his reserved intellect has
vanished in the past seven years. Instead of being more quiet and intelligent, Chillingworth is eager and fake looking. Hester
says she is ready to tell the secret. Chillingworth replies that he has not done anything wrong to Dimmesdale and that he has
been giving him excellent care the whole time. Chillingworth says Dimmesdale’s life is in his hands. Hester asks Chillingworth
why he insists on torturing Dimmesdale and doesn’t do anything to her. Chillingworth answers that he left her to the scarlet
letter. Hester tells Chillingworth that hatred had turned a wise and just man into a monster.
Chapter 15-Chillingworth left Hester and Pearl where he had met them. Hester really hated Chillingworth and stood there
watching him as he walked away gathering herbs and plants along the way. Hester considered her greatest sin in need of
repentance to be her marriage to Chillingworth and how she had endured the marriage. All the while Pearl was busy playing on
the beach. Pearl fashioned a green letter “A” out of seaweed and wanted her mother to ask her about it. Pearl tells Hester
that maybe it is the same reason the minister has to hold his hand over his heart that she has to wear the letter. When
Hester asks what reason that might be, Pearl says she doesn’t know and she has already said all she knows. There was
seriousness in Pearl that was rarely seen when she was asking about the letter. It seemed as if Pearl had a tendency to hover
around the enigma of the letter for her whole life. Pearl then asks her mother about the letter for a third time. Hester plays
it off as being a silly question. Even the next day Pearl woke up asking why the minister keeps his hand over his heart. Hester
just keeps avoiding the question telling Pearl to hush her naughty mouth.
Chapter 16- Hester and Pearl walk in the forest, and Hester anticipates seeing Dimmesdale. She has heard he will be walking
through the woods. While walking, Pearl constantly says things about her mother’s scarlet letter. She says that it’s like the
sunlight is afraid to go near her. This chapter is full of irony because Pearl asks if the reason Dimmesdale holds his heart so
much is because he has been given a negative emblem of his own by the “Black Man”-just as her mother has. Hester sends Pearl
off and notices that Dimmesdale’s appearance is terrible and the action that stands out most to Hester is the very fact that
he has his hand over his heart.
Chapter 17- Hester Prynne calls out to Dimmesdale and they both decide to touch, realizing that they are both still alive and
breathing. Dimmesdale reveals how guilty and miserable he’s been feeling and Hester says he’s being too hard on himself. The
minister goes on about how bad he feels while Hester ponders whether to tell him about the identity of his “doctor”. She
finally reveals that Chillingworth is her husband and tells Dimmesdale to forgive her for keeping this vital information from
him. Dimmesdale receives this news very badly. He falls to the ground, and puts his face in his hand, obviously very upset with
her. She caresses him in her arms, his head on her scarlet letter, and begs him for forgiveness. He eventually forgives her. At
the end of the chapter, Hester proposes that he, and perhaps her and Pearl leave town.
Chapter 18- Dimmesdale is amazed about what Hester has said about them and Pearl being together. He has a flicker of joy in
his heart and the narrator transitions to Hester’s view of the situation. She had been outside of the public eye for quite some
time and she had gained independent views of her own. She saw how society was and she scorned it. She realized that the
scarlet letter she carried on her chest had made her strong and she was no longer bound to the Puritan society. The novel
reverts back to the wooded scene and Dimmesdale continues to talk about how bad their pasts are. Hester tells him to let the
past be the past and she suddenly removes her scarlet letter and tosses it into the forest and lets her hair down. It was as if
a weight had been lifted off of her, and all she had to do was remove the letter she had carried for so long. Hester tells
Dimmesdale that he needs to meet pearl and he seems a bit uneasy about it. All the while, Hester is calling Pearl and she
returns back slowly because she sees the Minister.
Chapter 19-This chapter opens with Hester and Dimmesdale watching Pearl play by a brook. They are discussing what a
wonderful child Pearl is turning out to be. Hester and Dimmesdale begin to act as parents talking about their child. When
called, Pearl refuses to come to Hester, and throws a tantrum because Hester has removed the scarlet letter from her
clothes. To pacify Pearl and to get the child to return, Hester puts the letter back on her chest. Pearl kisses her mother on
both cheeks and the letter, earning her a scolding from Hester. Hester then tries to get Pearl to talk with Dimmesdale, to
which Peal asks if he is going back to the town with them “hand-in-hand”. Hester explains that he will someday and forces Pearl
to go to the minister. Dimmesdale is very embarrassed but tries to get the elfish child to approve of him and gives Pearl a kiss
on the forehead. Pearl runs to the brook and scrubs the kiss off, and then goes away with her mother.
Chapter 20-This chapter mainly focuses on what is going on inside Dimmesdale’s head as he returns from talking with Hester
and Pearl. As Dimmesdale returns to the town, he is reflecting on the plans he and Hester made to return to Europe. They are
choosing to return to the Old World to protect their anonymity and because the environment in America is not what is best
for the minister’s failing health. Before he gets back to his house, he encounters two women from the congregation that he
speaks to but tries to keep his comments short and to the point for he fears that if he speaks for too long with them he will
corrupt the women with the impure speech he is thinking. He also encounters Mistriss Hibbins who offers to escort him in his
next outing to the woods. After this exchange Dimmesdale is afraid that he has made a deal with the devil.
On his return home, Dimmesdale tells Chillingworth that he will no longer require his medical assistance. Once
Chillingworth has taken his leave, Dimmesdale begins to re-write his Commencement day sermon, with newfound inspiration.
This sermon will be the last thing he does as a minister before he runs away with Hester.
Chapter 21-This chapter takes place during the Commencement day ceremony where the town is electing a new governor.
Hester is towards the back of the crowd gathered in the town square and is lost in thought about how she will be escaping the
town and leaving the scarlet letter behind. Pearl asks Hester if the minister will hold out his hand to them as he did by the
stream, and Hester warns her that she mustn’t acknowledge him. Hester meets a sailor from the ship she and Dimmesdale plan
on using to escape to Europe. He informs her that Chillingworth will be going with them on the trip as the ship’s doctor. The
chapter ends with Hester gazing across the marketplace and seeing Chillingworth smiling at her as if he heard the entire
conversation.
Chapter 22-The music starts as people began to enter for the sermon. As Dimmesdale walks in Pearl asks her mother if he is
the same minister who kissed her by the brook and her mom tells the little girl not to talk about it. She doesn’t but instead
tells Hester about how she wishes she could run up to him and kiss him in front of everyone. Mistress Hibbins reveals to
Hester and Pearl that she has seen Dimmesdale in the forest and knows why he always covers his heart. Dimmesdale starts his
sermon and Pearl wonders of , a seaman asks her to tell Hester that Chillingworth has asked to bring another person along.
Chapter 23-Dimmesdale finished what many people said was his best sermon ever. After the sermon he gets up onto the
scaffold and tells Hester and Pearl to come stand with him. Chillingworth tries to talk Dimmesdale out of what he is doing, but
Dimmesdale keeps going. He admits to everyone in the market place that he is Pearl’s father. He tears off his shirt to reveal
his own scarlet letter on his chest then collapses. He asks Pearl if she would kiss him now and she does. He says goodbye to
Hester and she asks if she will not see him again. Dimmesdale tells her that he does not know because it is God’s decision.
Chapter 24-People in the town speculate different reasons about how the “A” got onto Dimmesdale’s chest but no one really
knows. After Dimmesdale’s death Chillingworth loses all of his “strength and energy”. He has no revenge left to seek and
seemed to vanish. He died about a year letter and left a large amount of property to Pearl. Hester and Pearl disappeared
shortly after this. After Pearl married Hester returns to the town and lives to help other people. When she dies she is
buried next to Dimmesdale under a gravestone with an “A” on it.
Describe the author’s style:
Give an example that demonstrates this style, and explain
how it does so:
Memorable Quotations
Quotation (and speaker)
“Hester”, said he, “hast thou found peace”.
Significance:
Mr. Dimmesdale said this quote. This important quote
illustrates his desire to relinquish his sin that he has
committed. He had genuine concern for Hester and wants to
know how she is doing during the trying times that she has
faced. He is interested in knowing if she has let her sin and
her past go. Mr. Dimmesdale however still carries his share
of the burden and is eager to rid himself of it. He just can’t
do so easily because of his position as the minister. It is
something to be frowned upon.
2.
“He might have said to his friends who greeted him,- “I
am not the man for whom you take me!”
The narrator said this quote. The narrator intended it to be
a thought that Mr. Dimmesdale would want to say as people
came to him for spiritual guidance. This illustrates how Mr.
Dimmesdale lost his ability to be a spiritual leader of the
community. He has sinned and now doesn’t feel the
entitlement to be respected as he is in the community. This
also explained how he questions his morals and as the story
continues, he questions every aspect to what feelings he is
experiencing. This is all due to his sin with Hester and he
ultimately wants to not keep it hidden any longer.
3.
“No, my little Pearl!' said her mother. 'Thou must gather
thine own sunshine. I have none to give thee!”
This quote from Hester to pearl is important because Hester
is telling Pearl that she must live her own life and not to be
so concerned with Hester’s. Hester lives the life of a sinner
so she is already forsaken in a way.
4.
“After putting her finger in her mouth, with many
ungracious refusals to answer good Mr. Wilson's
questions, the child finally announced that she had not
been made at all, but had been plucked by her mother off
the bush of wild roses that grew by the prison-door.”
This quote is important because it shows the way pearl acts
with people besides her mother. She has a rather sharp
tongue and never treats what anyone says seriously; she was
considered somewhat of a wild child.
5.
“The physician knew then, that, in the minister's regard,
he was no longer a trusted friend, but his bitterest
enemy."
This quote from Scarlet Letter is important because it is the
moment when Dimmesdale realizes who Chillingworth really is
and what he did in regards to Hester.
6.
“Pearl kissed his lips. A spell was broken. The great scene
of grief, in which the wild infant bore a party, had
This quote is important because this is when Pearl realizes
who Dimmesdale really was and that he was a friend, Pearl
1.
developed all her sympathies; and as her tears fell upon
her father's cheek, they were the pledge that she would
grow up amid human joy and sorrow, nor forever do battle
with the world, but be a woman in it. Towards her mother,
too, Pearl's errand as a messenger of anguish was all
fulfilled."
Loves him in a way.
7.
“with its delicate gems, which might be imagined to offer
their fragrance and fragile beauty to the prisoner as he
went in, and to the condemned criminal as he came forth
to his doom, in token that the deep heart of Nature could
pity and be kind to him.”
This was meant to show how the red sin of the flowers is
always near the jail where those who have sinned are kept
and that in the view of the townspeople one can never rely on
nature or men for help but must go to god.
8.
“When he found the eyes of Hester Prynne fastened on
his own, and saw that she appeared to recognize him, he
slowly and calmly raised his finger, made a gesture with it
in the air, and laid it on his lips.”
Chillingworth does not want to be associated with someone
who has sinned and is now a public spectacle so he tries to
keep his wife silent even though she hasn't seen him in years.
Meant also to represent how appearances are excruciatingly
important in this book.
9.
"The past is gone! Wherefore should we linger upon it
now? See! With this symbol I undo it all, and make it as if
it had never been!"
Hester says this as she rips the Scarlet Letter from her
chest. This demonstrates to the reader Hester’s frustration
with her constant public shame and the fact that no one is
viewing her as her true self. She throws the letter on the
ground almost as a symbol of her refusal to conform or
acknowledge the label she has been given by society.
This quote is an essence of the minister’s message to others.
The quote is basically saying for people not to worry so much
about other’s perception of them and to be true to
themselves; because others will judge them regardless of
their behavior and true intent.
10. "Be true! Be true! Be true! Show freely to the world, if
not your worst, yet some trait whereby the worst may be
inferred!"
Character’s name:
Major Characters
Role (what role does this person Significance (why is this
have in the story?)
character significant to the
story?)
She takes the most adversity in She is the main character of
the book and is constantly
the book and is in almost every
bombarded over the issue of
page. She never tells who the
her child. Many people in the
true father of Pearl is through
community want her dead, yet
all of her adversity.
she still raises a child.
Dimmesdale is the secret
Dimmesdale is tormented the
father of Pearl and the loved,
most by his sin, feeling more
charismatic minister of Boston.
guilt due to his hiding of the
truth to a degree causing
suicide.
He is Hester’s true husband and He is very cunning and even lies
only Hester know this. He tries to become Dimmsdale’s
and tries to get Dimmsdale to
personal doctor so that he may
convince his sin, and he
watch him at all times. He
eventually does.
never tells anyone of his
relation to Hester, but they
both know.
She also asks many questions
Hester’s child who is the
that force the other characters reason she is secluded and
in the book to think of things in
forced to wear the scarlet
different ways.
letter and is also a constant
reminder of what she did.
Governor of Boston who
Represents the overwhelming
adheres to all Puritanic
power of the church and the
principles and laws
unnecessarily rigid body of
governing laws
1.
Hester
2.
Dimmesdale
3.
Chillingworth
4.
Pearl
5.
Governor
Bellingham
6.
Mistress Hibbins
Widow who is seen as a witch
for having dealings with the
devil
7.
Reverend Wilson
Highest member of clergy who,
like Bellingham, adheres strictly
to Puritanic laws
8.
9.
Shows the hypocrisy of
Puritanic society in that she
“sins” by dealing with the devil
but is pardoned by her relation
with Bellingham
Pushes for harsh punishment of
Hester and adds to the
people’s scorn for her
Character traits (what sort of
person is this?)
Young, beautiful, she remains
strong throughout the entire
book
Committed, just, stern,
charismatic
Very old in stature, cunning and
evil
Very curios and rebellious
Domineering, strict
Mysterious, independent
Unforgiving, imposing
10.
Describe the setting(s) and the mood the setting(s) create:
Middle of the seventeenth century in Puritanical Boston
This setting sets up the mood for the Puritan society. The
people do not believe in having a child outside of wedlock
because of their Puritan ways.
Major symbols, motifs, images:
Pearl: Hester Prynne's daughter Pearl symbolizes Prynne's
refusal to be ashamed of her actions, despite the people's
condemnation of them as sin. Although the townspeople try to
force Prynne to regret her actions by making her wear the
letter A, Prynne does not act ashamed but instead names her
daughter Pearl to emphasize that she is something of great
worth that she treasures. Pearl is also a reference to the
Pearl of Great Price, a parable told by Jesus in the Bible,
which likens salvation to an extremely rare pearl that one
would sell all of one's possessions to obtain. As in the parable,
Prynne must give up everything she has--Dimmesdale, her
home, her social standing--for the sake of Pearl.
The Rose: There is a rose present as Hester is walking out of
the prison for the first time. The juxtaposition of the harsh
jailhouse and the beautiful rose gives the reader and
opportunity to look for the beauty in even the harshest
conditions. This theme carries throughout the story when one
looks at the harshness Hester is afflicted with but then looks
at the reason behind the harshness; Pearl.
What is the significance of the opening scene?
The opening scene of the Scarlet Letter puts into perspective
what Puritanical life was like. The Puritans were rule follower’s
through-and-through. When someone deviated form that path,
they punish him or her. With the opening scene being that it
involves the prison, you automatically know that someone has
seriously deviated from the Puritanical way of life.
What is the significance of the ending/closing scene?
Themes:
Femininity
During that time period, women were portrayed as inferior beings in the society. Hester Prynne is portrayed otherwise. Her
emotional and physical strength is illustrated throughout the novel. Hester Prynne bravely accepts the treatment she receives
from the puritans. She stands firm with her decision not to reveal the father of the child, even after she is faced with
punishments like wearing the scarlet letter and spending time in prison.
Ironically, the men are depicted as the weaker ones as they deliberately hid from their real identities. Dimmesdale constantly
grasped his heart whenever he saw Hester or Pearl. He regularly fought with his conscience since he knew that he was the
father of Pearl. Likewise Chillingworth doesn’t reveal his real identity as Hester's husband but seeks revenge instead.
Revenge
Chillingworth seeks revenge after finding out that Hester Prynne had a child with another man. His inability to forgive Hester
Prynne causes him to view Dimmesdale as an enemy too. He plots schemes in which he strives to get revenge on both Hester
Prynne and Dimmesdale and refuses to back down and forgive them.
Forgiveness
Hester forgives her lover for making her pregnant and never reveals his name no matter how much she is prodded. She bares
the shame alone and also raises their daughter alone.
Trust
Hester's husband trusts her to make a new life for him and herself while he waits to come. Her lover trusts her not to reveal
his name.
Guilt and Lack of Confession
Guilt and confession play as big themes in the book because the story, along with the passion and intensity, is carried by the
lack of confession, which is caused by guilt. As the village looks up to Dimmesdale as a holy man of God, he is living with the guilt
of a sinful man with the evidence of Pearl to prove his sinful behavior. This guilt is backed up by the lack of confession that
seems to put a lot stress on him. He gives the best sermons with passion and fire all because he is feeling guilty. This guilt is
causing him to be able to relate more to the sinner and be able to think like one as well; therefore he can produce great sermons
because of this. As Hester is, without a doubt, an outcast to society because of her crime, it raises the tensions as she is faced
with the blame and social restrictions. Her lack of confession is not as bad as Dimmesdale as she is already consider
unacceptable to her people. This guilt and lack of confession creates the intensity of the book and causes one to question the
rights and wrongs of puritanical society. With Chillingworth knowing the secret, the guilt is tearing Dimmesdale apart emotionally
and physically. The guilt and lack of confession creates the intensity and the main points of the book.
Morals and Influences
The book, taking place in a puritanical society, displays the heavy influences and high morals of being pure placed by the
puritans. The morals and influences of the puritans create the mood of the book. The morals and influences of the puritans are
felt by everyone sinning and making people crazy as they think they are living the life of Satan if they are sinning. The influences
makes one in the book question what he or she does or what he or she might say, because he or she doesn’t want to be looked
down on. People in this society feel so dictated by these influences and morals that it puts a burden on everyone to live to life
they feel is right because of the influences. When one commits a sin, people might feel obligated to look down on that one
because that one went against everything that was taught or people might be trying to take frustration out because they were
never aloud to do it. The influences of the puritanical society creates the mood of the book and makes everyone in the book act
and think differently
Appearance vs. Reality
The main three characters in The Scarlet Letter, Dimmesdale, Hester Prynne, and Chillingworth, all have very different natures
from what is seen on the surface by the rest of the townspeople: Dimmesdale is seen as a near-perfect, sinless role model by the
town, while on the inside he cannot stop obsessing over his sins of being with Prynne and keeping the affair a secret from the
people; Chillingworth is highly esteemed as a doctor--a seemingly noble profession--although his true spirit is uncaring and cruel;
and Hester Prynne is shunned by the people and considered a terrible sinner, although she, even with her illicit affair, is the
most upright of them all.
Ambiguity
Another theme is the variability in translation of symbols seen by the Puritans. Although they rely heavily on symbols, such as
the scarlet A they give to Hester, to organize their community and their religion, there is no concrete way that the symbols are
interpreted. Even though they give Prynne the letter with the very specific meaning, it is to be assumed, of "Adulteress", it
eventually changes meaning for the townspeople into "Able". When the meteor appears in the night sky, it too is interpreted in
different ways: Dimmesdale sees it as conviction for his part in the adultery, while the rest of the Puritans take it to mean
"Angel", for the dead governor. The variability in interpretation of these symbols shows the instability and, perhaps, irrationality
of some of the Puritans' beliefs.