The Scarlet Letter
Chapters 21 & 22
CHANNING BURLESON AND CALEIGH ANUSZKIEWICZ
Chapter 21 Summary
In chapter 21 there is another Gathering in the marketplace, only this time its to celebrate the
new governor instead of punishing Hester Prynne. They wait in the market place surrounded by
strange faces of towns people even the sailors from the ship Hester and Dimmesdale were going
to ride on to escape to Europe were there. At the celebration Pearl asks her mother if the
minister is going to publically acknowledge her and her mother at the celebration. Hester
ignores Pearl and begins to imagine the escape, finally she will be free from the years of
isolation. Come to find out, Chillingworth will be accompanying Hester on her escape boat. One
of the sailors informs Hester that Chillingworth will be the doctor on the ship. Hester
anticipation for her escape was soon shattered.
Chapter 22 Summary
In chapter 22 the celebration continues with a march of soldiers and town leaders. Dimmesdale
marches with the towns leaders and Hester notices how healthy and energetic he looks. A few
days have pasted since Hester, Pearl, and Dimmesdale met in the forest and Pearl hardly even
recognizes Dimmesdale at the celebration. Pearl tells Hester that if she recognized Dimmesdale
sooner she would have ran to him and kissed him as he had done to her in the forest. Hester
watches Dimmesdale during the march and starts to questions their plan to escape to Europe. At
this time Mistress Hibbins approaches Hester to talk about Dimmesdale his hidden sin will soon
be known to the town. Hester then gets on the scaffold during the sermon, at this time pearl is
wandering the marketplace to send a message to Hester that Chillingworth will bring
Dimmesdale aboard with him and Hester can take care or herself and Pearl. Next thing Hester
knows is that the whole town is staring at her, this reminds her of the sin displayed on her chest.
Themes
o You can never really escape your sins
o People will go through extreme measures for true love
Symbols and their meanings
The author refers to Pearl as being a bird which symbolizes
faith freedom and travel.
The ship symbolizes Hester running away from her sin and
isolation thinking that they will not follow her in her future.
Characters
o Hester- she was once a woman who was isolated from society because of her sin and now she
has gained the strength to put aside her sorrows to try and escape her isolation and move into
freedom.
o Dimmesdale- he was once reluctant to face the public with his sin and now he has decided to
step up and be a father figure to pearl.
o Chillingworth- he has always had an agenda to get revenge and that still hasn’t changed
o Pearl- she is still innocent to the truth of the scarlet letter
Literary Devices
Metaphor- “…to guess that this bright and sunny apparition owed its existence to the shape of
gloomy gray…”
Allusion- Mistress Hibbins is a woman know as Anne Hibbins who is executed for witchcraft
Foreshadowing- when Hester figures out Chillingworth is joining them on their trip it
foreshadows the plans falling apart
QUIZ
1. What is happening in the marketplace?
2. What are the people celebrating?
3.Who will be joining Hester and Dimmesdale on the ship?
4.What message is Pearl supposed to send to her mother?
5. Who looks healthier and more energetic?
Answers
1. A celebration
2. the new governor
3. Chillingworth
4. that Chillingworth will bring Dimmesdale to the ship
5. Dimmesdale