Chapter 12-24 Scarlet Letter
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How is the episode of Dimmesdale's midnight vigil on the scaffold structurally significant? (12)
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Foreshadowing from the scaffold scene in chapter 2. It also resembles Hester's time of the scaffold except that the public could not be there to shame him because they couldn't heart.
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What is the significance of Pearl's challenge to Dimmesdale? (12)
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Pearl is giving him a chance to admit the truth. Even though she give him this opportunity he still does not admit to being her father.
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What effect does Dimmesdale's vigil have on his carrer? (12)
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Dimmesdale preached a sermon that was the richest, most powerful, and the most filled with heavenly influences that he had ever preached.
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What is significant about Hester's position in the community now that years have passed? (13)
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The community now sees Hester for her charity works instead of her sin. The letter now means able instead of adulterous.
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Compare the feelings of the general public to those of the community leaders regarding Hester Prynne. Explain why the groups view her differently. (13)
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Most people have forgiven Hester and they now consider her as a part of the community. They are proud instead of ashamed. The older members are less forgiving they stick to their beliefs. Leaders are civil law versus the general is moral law. Leaders feel responsibility to maintain their rules for their culture. It is Black and White.
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What social and philosophical changes is Hawthorne describing in this chapter? (13)
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The people no longer score he on sight but they do not talk to her. Hester herself is now given more reflection on societal order and justice. Hester has become more sympathetic to the human heart. No law governs that. Hester She accepts her sin but it is not all on her. She understand the civil law but she is not remorseful about loving Dimmesdale. Did not go against natural law.
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Explain the statement: "It is remarkable, that persons who speculate the most boldly often conform with the most perfect quietude to the external regulations of society. The thought suffices them..." (13)
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The people who question society the most are conformed the most. They would rather criticize society than do something to change the way society is.
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What is Hawthorne's point comparing Hester's and Dimmesdale's reactions to their sin? (13)
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Sin is represented in Pearl. Hester has accepted her sin while Dimmesdale has not and is dying because of it. His point is to show sin is better when you repent and acknowledge with penance to be able to move on. Taking responsibility and then choosing to do good.
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Notice that Chillingworth is called a "leech" in the chapters in which he interacts with Dimmesdale, buy a "physician" in this interaction with Hester. Considering the definition of "leech," what do you suppose is Hawthorne's point in using these two designations? (14)
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Because Chillignworth represent the evil nature of sin and since Dimmesdale is holding on to his sin he is able to suck the life out of him (he latches on to that). Hester has let go of her sin because there is nothing for him to latch onto. Chillingworth is referred to as the leech with Dimmesdale and with Hester he is the physician. Chillingworth's evilness cannot touch Hester.
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What is Hester's response to the announcement that the Council had debated allowing her to remove her scarlet letter? (14)
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It is that is was not there place to remove it (it is the place of God), but if she was no longer fit for it that it would fall off on its own or change into something. Again she is denying civil law. *on the test (just like Adam and eve once the sin happened what was the result)----You can't go back. We can go forward but we can't go back to the innocent state.
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Look again at what you found out about the Anti-Transcendentalists. Why isn't forgiveness an option? (14)
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They believe that there is good and evil to human nature. Humans all have the possibility for evil and when they sin forgiveness isn't an option because they believe because it isn't a part of their nature.
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How is the doctrine of predestination reflected in this conversation between Hester and Chillingworth? (14)
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Chillingworth states Dimmesdale has increased the debt with suffering. No matter what he does he damns himself in Chillingworth eyes. Claims the Hester and Dimmesdale don't have sin and he is not evil. Predestonation is already determined
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Compare Hester, Dimmesdale, and Chillingworth in terms of their responses to the initial sin. (14)
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Hester admits her sin and accepts her punishment but she doesn't let it dictate who she is. She is freer and independent, stronger, sympathies of the human heart. Dimmesdale hides his sin and it consumes him so his health fails. Deteriorates physically and spiritual. Chillingworth is a leech, he becomes all about revenge and he suffers because of it. He is not able to let go and he becomes like an animal and Satan (ecstasy of soul in hell) *ON TEST
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What does Hester realize about her "repentance"? (15)
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Hester realizes she need to let go of the pain, misery, and anger the scarlet letter has brought upon her. She went against the moral law by marrying Chillingworth in the first place. To her human law she and Dimmesdale are meant to be together.
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Why does Hester hate Chillingworth? (15)
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On page 138, Hester exclaims, "He betrayed me! He has done me worse than I did him!" Chillingworth brought darkness into Hester life through revenge instead of light and repentance. She went against the moral law by marrying Chillingworth in the first place. To her human law she and Dimmesdale are meant to be together.
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Hester refuses to answer Pearl's question about the meaning of the "A." Why does Hester not confide in Pearl? (15)
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Hester thinks Pearl is too young to understand the meaning although she knows it must symbolize something. Also that Hester wants better for Pearl's life. Ambiguity nothing is clearly what it's supposed to be. It doesn't represent that anymore. No clear definition. AGE. Pearl is attached to the Scarlet Letter but no in the ways that the community thinks she should be.
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Why does Hawthorne portray Pearl as such a wild child? (15)
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She is the embodiment of the nature of sin causing her to be shown in a chaotic manner. Shows Hester's passion and she was born in the natural law. Product of following nature law. Nature is meant to be wild and free.
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How have Hester's conversations with Chillingworth and Pearl changed her attitude toward herself and her sin? (15)
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The conversations with Chillingworth have locked Hester into a world of darkness. They make her realize the evil she has done and the evil she is married too. Hester wants better for her daughter, Pearl's life. This is why in conversation with Pearl she hides the true meaning of the Scarlet Letter. Connects back to her seeing her sin in marrying Chillingworth.
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Explain the significance of the sunlight imagery. (16)
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Sunlight is used to symbolize happiness and virtue. The sunlight shines on Pearl but not on Hester and Chillingworth because of the darkness and sin within their hearts.
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When Hester determines to warn Dimmesdale about Chillingworth, why does the meeting take place in the forest? (16)
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The forest represents/a safe haven from judgment and persecution. Hester feels free to speak openly with Dimmesdale in the shadows because it is an open place.
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What positive significance does the forest begin to take on? (16)
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It's a safe haven. A place for emotion to flow free in the streams of the forest. The Puritan law does not follow them. Shows how she could recover from the sin.
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What negative significance does the forest begin to assume? (16)
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It begins to assume the place where evil things and Satan are. The Puritans see it as unlawful and the place where evil dwells. Like with the story of Black Man.
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Explain the distinction Dimmesdale makes between penance and penitence. (17)
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The burnt scarlet letter on his chest is a form of Penance and in previous chapter; Dimmesdale does punish himself for having committed this sin in a hidden manner. Dimmesdale tells Hester, "There is no substance in it! It is cold and dead, and can do nothing for me! Of penances I have had enough! Of penitence there had been non"..."Mine burns in secret! Thou little knowest what a relief it is, after the torment,". Basically, in his repentance or sorrow, being remorseful or feeling bad is not enough to justify his sin, so e torments himself.
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What theme about the nature of sin finally begins to emerge in Hester and Dimmesdale's conversation? (17).
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A pecking order is being revealed as both put down Chillingworth for having a greater sin then themselves, because he used there sins against them, to be in bondage.
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Here is a key question for Hawthorne and the Anti-Transcendentalists: can a "polluted soul" do good for others? (17)
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The polluted soul can still do good.
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This chapter ends on an optimistic note. What is the source of the optimism? (17)
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Hester is encouraging Dimmesdale to change his name and leave the Puritan community. Dimmesdale says alone and Hester replays, "Thou shalt not go alone!". Which means that they are going to go on being with each other.
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What contrast does the narrator point out between Hester and Dimmesdale's ability to leave town? (18)
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"As a preiset, the framework of his order inevitably hemmed him in,". Which is pointing out, that Hester could leave anytime because she is the town out cast, no one really cares. On the other hand Pastor Dimmesdale, if he is to leave it is questionable and therefore his work has him "hemmed" or stuck to the town.
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What is significant about the title of this chapter? (18)
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A flood of sunshine, in the past chapters when Hester went into the forest the sunshine was not upon her. Yet now, Hester is letting down her hair, "Her sec, her youth, and the whole richness of her beauty, came back from what men call the irrevocable past,". Even Dimesdale is happier, full of sunshine in a 180-degree change. "Had the forest still kept gloom, it would have been brght in Hester's eyes, and bright in Arthur Dimmesdale's! Hester looked at him with a thrill of another joy,".
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How does Hawthorne reinforce his idea that nature is sympathetic with the union of Hester and Dimmesdale? (18)
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Hawthorne describes the sudden change in the weather and diction of the forest. "All at once, as with sudden smile of heaven, forth burst, gladdening each green leaf, transmutting the yellow fallen ones to gold, and gleaming adown the gray hitherto, embodied the brightness now,".
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Why would children dislike Dimmesdale? (18)
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Children and adults are different in point of views most of the times, and for Dimmesdale to be a pastor and have lied to himself; makes a big percentage of children not liking him.
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Beyond Hester's explanation, why won't Pearl come to Hester without the scarlet letter? (19)
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The scarlet letter is what ties Pearl and her mother together. Pearl is a symbol of sultery. Without the scarlet A, Hester gives no other indication that she is an adulteress, therefore breaking the tie between her and her daught causing pearl to burst into a fit of passion.
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Why won't Pearl show any affection to Dimmesdale? Why does she want him to walk with them hand-in-hand in the marketplace? (19)
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According to the speaker, Pearl does not show affection because she is "influenced by the jealousy that seems instinctive with every petted child towards a dangerous rival,". Pearl wants the minister to acknowledge his love in the open at the marketplace, not hidden in the dark forest.
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In terms of Hawthorne's theme contrasting hidden sin versus revealed sin, how can you explain Dimmesdale's change in this chapter? (20)
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Dimmesdale was "tempted by a dream of happiness, he had yielded himself with deliberate choice, as he had never done before, to what he knew was deadly sin." Because of Dimmesdale's interview with Hester in forest, and his plan to leave Boston, the minister transforms from a man burdened with sorrow to a man light with plans of escape.
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Why is the chapter called "The Minister in a Maze"? (20)
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The chapter name is indicative of the minister's struggle to escape the scrutiny of the town of Boston.
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What is the source of Dimmesdale's apparent new strength? (22)
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Some people think that the source is spiritual, others think that it was given by a "potent cordial," and the remaining people think that it is because of the "loud and piercing music,".
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What is Mistress Hibbins saying about the people of Salem Village? (22)
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Mistress Hibbins makes a connection between the townspeople and the devil.
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What clues has Hawthorne offered his reader to prepare him or her for the revelation of the scarlet letter on his chest? (22)
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The final line of Chapter 22 is a huge hint towards the scarlet letter on Dimmesdale's chest. "What imagination would have been irreverent enough to surmise that the same scorching stigma was on them both?"
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Many critics believe the novel is structured around the three scaffold scenes: the ones in Chapters 2 and 12, and this one. Explain how each fits into the typical plot scheme of conflict, rising action, climax, falling action, and conclusion (23)
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The first scaffold scene is obviously the rising action. It shows the reader what is going on, and it bulds suspense. The second scaffold scene I believe is also rising action. It shows the deprecation of the minister's mental state, but it is not the climax of the story. There, the town inhabitants learn and see all.
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What does Chillingworth mean when he says, "There was no one place...where thou couldst have escaped me-save on this very scaffold!" (23)
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Chillingworth means that anywhere Dimmesdale could've gone to escape, Chillingworth would be able to find him. However, the scaffold is the only place of escape, because there, the minister confesses is sin before the public, resolving all inner guilt and turmoil. Therefore, Chillingworth would not be able to torture him.
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In what way is Dimmesdale's sin worse than Hester's? Of Hester, Chillingworth, and Dimmesdale, whose sin is the worst? Why? (23)
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Dimmesdale's sin is worse than Hester's because he hid his true self from the public for so long, Not only was he hypocritical, but he was also not to true t himself, which is seen as the greater sin by the author. I believe that Chillingworth's sin is the worst. Chillingworth allowed rage and the hunger for revenge consume his life in New England. He hungered to kill the soul of someone who did not do anything to him personally. Through Dimmesdale needed to be punished for his sin, he did not deserve to be tortured the way he was by Chillingworth.
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What theories are given about the scarlet letter imprinted in the minister's flesh? (24)
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Theories that it was a sign from God. Also that he had marked it upon himself because of the guilt he feels. Some people say that once Hester first wore the scarlet letter, Dimmesdale inflicted penance or that Chillingworth was the cause of the A or that remore was eating away at his own heart.
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Why does Hawthorne leave the origin of Dimmesdale's mark ambiguous? (24)
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It leaves the reader thinking about how any why Dimmesdale had done it. "We have thrown all the light we could acquire upon the portent, and could gladly, not that it has done its office".
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What happens to Chillingworth? What does he give Pearl? (24)
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Chillingworth withers away and dies shortly after Dimmesdale stands on the scaffold and reveals his "A". He gives Pearl all of his inheritance. He dies because his revenge is all he lives for.
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Why do you suppose Hester returns to Salem? What might be Hawthorne's point about sin, repentance, and redemption? (24)
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Her sin is fully redeemed, when she arrived at Salem she felt hesitation, "but her hesitation was only for an instant, though long enough to display a scarlet letter on her breast". I think that Hawthorne is trying to say that the cycle of sin, repentance and redemption are likely to happen.
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Why would Hawthorne allow the story to end with Hester and Dimmesdale being remembered so ignominiously? (24)
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Although they were redeemed from their sin, their stories ended in shame. Dimmesdale died through his shame and penance and majority of Hester's life was lived through shame by wearing the scarlet letter.
