Scarlet+Letter+Chap+5-18+Summaries+and+Essential+Questions

In groups we read summaries of each chapter and came up with essential questions for each. Please find each summary below along with the question(s) for that chapter.

Please note: we did not make questions for Tuesday night's reading (17 & 18).


 * Chapter 5 **

Hester punishes herself more than anyone else could. Once out of prison she has the choice to move anywhere, and leave her past behind, yet she stays near Boston and lives with the torture of always being an example of sin. She works as a seamstress, saving just enough for herself and her daughter, giving the rest to the poor, who are openly hateful. Daily people stare and talk about her, which takes a toll on her attitude, dress, and behavior. She thinks of all of her past pleasures as sins, and enjoys nothing. She is always conscious of her letter, and is alarmed by the idea that the letter on her breast allows her to recognize sins in others.
 * What does H’s decision to stay and live with her punishment reveal about her character? **

** Chapter 6 ** This chapter describes Pearl as an impish and uncontrollable child. Pearl is a very beautiful child, and her mother dresses her very lavishly. Her first awareness as a child is Hester's scarlet letter, and the letter continues to be a center of Pearl's attention. Pearl makes imaginary playmates into enemies, not friends. Hester is worried when she seems to see an evil, fiend-like face in Pearl's eyes. Pearl does not believe her mother's words that she was sent her by the Heavenly Father.
 * What does P’s imagination reveal about her attitude towards society? **
 * Is P the way she is because of how she was raised or was she born from H’s sin? **

** Chapter 7 ** Hester is concerned about rumors that Pearl is going to be taken away from her. She goes to the Governor's house to question him, under the pretence of delivering gloves. Pearl is dressed in an elaborate gown with golden threads which manages to look just like Hester's scarlet "A". Pearl and her mother are waiting in the hall when they look at their reflections in a coat of armor and Hester's image appears to be distorted so that the "A" is larger than Hester is. When they move out into the garden, Pearl is fascinated with a red rose and screams for her mother to give it to her.
 * Why is P so interested in the SL? **

Hester meets Chillingworth, Dimmesdale, Wilson, and Gov. Bellingham in the garden. She is struck by the changes in Chillingworth and Dimmesdale. Chillingworth has gotten much uglier and Dimmesdale's health has suffered lately from his self-sacrificing labors as a pastor. Billingham tells Wilson to speak with Pearl to decide if she has been raised a good Puritan and can remain with Hester. Wilson is appalled when he asks Pearl about her origins, and she says she was picked from the wild rose bush by the prison. What Wilson takes for ignorance was simply Pearl's contrariness. Wilson wants her removed from Hester's care. Hester desperately appeals to Dimmesdale, who speaks so eloquently on her behalf that Hester is allowed to keep Pearl. Chillingworth suspects Dimmesdale and brings up searching for Pearl's father again to which Wilson replies that every Christian man should show a father's kindness towards her.
 * Chapter 8 **
 * What events, characterizations, symbols, etc. reveal D’s secret? **

** Chapter 9 ** Chillingworth sets himself up as a doctor and completely abandons his former identity. As Dimmesdale's health declines rumors spread, and it is believed that Chillingworth was sent from Providence to help Dimmesdale. Finally Dimmesdale allowes Chillingworth to become his physician and friend. Chillingworth strives to learn everything about him in order to understand his ailments. He even belives that they should lodge in the same house. Even while most citizens continue to believe Chillingworth was a good friend to Dimmesdale, a growing number are beginning to see Chillingworth in a much uglier light, even as an agent of Satan or himself, coming to test Dimmesdale.
 * What are CW’s actual intentions with D? **

** Chapter 10 ** Chillingworth was always, in the past, an honorable man, but in his pursuit of finding the father of Hester's child he has become a more evil, and ugly man. He is determined to find something undesirable in Dimmesdale. As they are collecting plants in the graveyard, they discuss man's nature and the merits of confessing their sins and guilt. Dimmesdale asks Chillingworth his opinion on his ailments, and Chillingworth replies that he can not help because Dimmesdale will not share with him. Dimmesdale then replies that if it were a spiritual problem, he would not ask for Chillingworth's opinion. They catch a glimpse of Hester and Pearl in the graveyard below. They discus Pearl until she hears them and warns her mother to come away from the "black man" before he gets a hold of her as he has gotten a hold of Dimmesdasle. At the end of the chapter Chilligworth enters the room while Dimmesdale is in a deep sleep and he looks under his robe at his bosom, and looks away with a look of wonder, joy, and horror at what he sees there.
 * How is CW further characterized by his reaction to D’s chest? **

** Chapter 11 ** Now that Chillingworth knows Dimmesdale's worst secret he wants Dimmesdale to confess to him, since he has no forgiveness in mind. He uses his knowledge unmercifully against Dimmesdale, who had no clue of his motives. Dimmesdale however begins to sense strong evil in Chillingworth, but blames the evil on his own guilt. Because of his sorrows, Dimmesdale becomes very popular with his congregation, who sees him as more like them than other clergy. Dimmesdale is haunted by their adoration and feels he does not deserve it. He fights constantly with the desire to expose his guilt to them. The more he tortures himself the more they admire him. Dimmesdale begins to punish himself physically and mentally and because of his dishonesty, he becomes even frailer than before.
 * How are characters taken over by the burden of sin? **

** Chapter 12 ** Dimmesdale leaves his room at night to go to the scaffold where seven years before Hester had stood. He was torn between his remorse of what he had done and his cowardliness for not exposing himself. He feels an even greater pain than usual over his heart and screams out loud. A short time later Rev. Mr. Wilson passes by with his lantern, on his way home from Gov. Wilthrop's deathbed. Once again Dimmesdale is offered an opportunity to save himself, and speak to Wilson, but he dosen't. Hester and Pearl also pass after visiting the Governor's house to measure for his funeral robe. Dimmesdale calls them onto the scaffold with him and is filled with a new energy when he grasps Pearl's hand. Pearl asks if he will stand with them again the next day at noon, but he declines in fear and says that they will stand together again on Judgement Day. As he is saying this a strange light in the sky illuminates the scaffold as a meteor passes, but instead Dimmesdale sees a huge scarlet "A". At this instant Chillingworth appears, though at first Dimmesdale doesn't recognize the man, but recognizes his hatred for him. However he allows himself to be led home by him. After his sermon the following day the sexton gives him his glove, which was found on the scaffold, left presumably by the devil. The sexton advises him to fight the devil (Chillingworth) with out his gloves on. The sexton also tells him of a great "A" seen in the sky last night which was said to represent angel, for the dead governor. Dimmesdale claims to know nothing of it.
 * Do CW’s actions in life—his dedication to his studies, his disregard of H—justify H’s relationship with D? **
 * How does CW’s life affect his hatred for D? **

** Chapter 13 ** Hester has become accepted by the public that once shunned her, even the leaders of the community have a different opinion of her. Hester's appearance has changed dramatically and she is no longer beautiful. Because she has been on the outside of society for so long, she has the freedom of thinking about her life in a non-traditional way. With Dimmesdale's plea for help from the scaffold Hester now has something that is worth her effort. She recognizes that only a portion of his misery was due to guilt, but that Chillingworth has cruelly placed a much larger part there. She feels responsible and decides to do everything possible to help Dimmesdale. She knows that she has grown stronger in the past years and Chillingworth has grown weaker, because of his efforts of revenge. She is determined to speak with Chillingworth as soon as possible.
 * Why didn’t the SL do its job? **
 * Why is H no longer seen as a beautiful woman? **

** Chapter 14 ** Hester talks to Chillingworth, and he congratulates her because he has heard that they may remove her letter, but she disagrees. Chillingworth, in the past seven years, has changed. It was as if his soul was on fire and had been transformed into the devil. Chillingworth is very aware of what he has become, and does not like it. Whatever happens now is their fate, as Chillingworth says, " Let the black flower blossom as it may." Their conversation turns to Dimmesdale, and Chillingworth admits to torturing him. Hester feeling guilty asks to be freed of her promise of concealing his identity, and he says she may do as she wishes. As Hester leaves Chillingworth she wonders that he doesn't ruin every plant he touches. Even though she knows it is a sin, she admits to herself that she truly hates him.
 * Why does H not want the SL to be removed? **

** Chapter 15 ** During the conversation, Pearl, with the aid of her imagination was playing games along the seashore. She arranged an "A" in seaweed on her own bosom, and Hester asks if she knows the meaning of the "A". Pearl replies that it is for the same reason that Dimmesdale keeps his hand over his heart, then asks what it is really for. Hester fights the urge of telling her daughter the truth but decides not to and instead tells her that it is for the gold thread, but Pearl is not satisfied with the answer her mother has given her. Hester sees the possibility that Pearl might truly understand her and become a friend instead of the illusive child that she has always seemed.
 * What was H’s reasoning behind not telling P the truth about the SL at the last minute (as D approached)? **
 * What does P think the SL stands for/represents? **

Hester decides she must tell Dimmesdale Chillingworth's true identity. Hester and Pearl go for a walk in the woods. Pearl plays in the sunlight and tells Hester that it runs from her because of the scarlet "A". Pearl asks Hester if her scarlet letter is from the "black man". Hester tells her that she met him once and that is why she has the "A". As they talk they sit by a babbling brook and Pearl comments that it is so sad. As they are talking Dimmesdale walks up and Pearl asks her mother if he holds his hand over his chest because of the "black man" also, but Hester shoos her off so she can talk with Dimmesdale.
 * Chapter 16 **
 * Why does H wait so long to tell D about CW? **
 * What does P’s curiosity about the Black Man reveal about her character? **
 * What is CW’s motivation for deceiving D and why does H want to tell D? **

Hester tells Dimmesdale about the true identity of Chillingworth. At first Dimmesdale can not forgive Hester, but then forgives her and says that Chillingworth's sin is much greater than both of theirs. Dimmesdale feels he might as well die since he has no strength left. Hester decides to be his strength and tells him so. She tries to convince him to leave and take on a new identity, which he says he hasn't the strength to do. Hester tells him that she will be with him so he wouldn't be alone.
 * Chapter 17 **

** Chapter 18 ** When Hester thought of leaving Boston it was easy because she had not been part of it's society or laws for seven years. For Dimmesdale the decision was harder, but once he makes it he feels free and closer to Hester than he has in a very long time. Hester removes her letter "A" and throws it into the woods. Now that they had both decided to go the whole woods seemed sunnier, and more welcoming. Hester decides that Dimmesdale must get to know Pearl and love her. She calls her from the woods where she had been wandering at peace with the flowers and plants.