Part VI: Chapters 22-24
As Dimmesdale walks through the crowd during the Election Day procession, you notice a new and confident skip in his stride. While observing Dimmesdale’s new persona, Hester feels scarcely connected with her lover and Pearl cannot recognize the minister. Mrs. Hibbins tells Hester and Pearl that Dimmesdale has a token of the scarlet letter that’s similar to that of Hester. As Dimmesdale begins his sermon, Hester can recognize the pain and anguish below his vibrant and exhilarating words. Hester learns that Chillingworth had booked a room on the ship for both he and Reverend Dimmesdale, making her even more anxious about the couple’s proposed plan. After the Election Sermon, Dimmesdale’s confident stature is replaced by fear and longing, despite the respect and admiration he has gained from his congregation. On the way to celebrate his success, Dimmesdale stops, and taking Hester’s hand, steps on the scaffold to admit his crime and reveal the scarlet letter on his chest. At the same time, Chillingworth tries desperately to stop him. Pearl kisses Dimmesdale and finally, becomes truly human. When Hester asks Dimmesdale whether they will be with one another in heaven, he replies it is all in God’s hands. After uttering his last farewell, Dimmesdale dies. There are several explanations to what happened in the marketplace leading up to Dimmesdale’s death. Most people say they saw an A imprinted on the man’s chest. Some say the minister put it there, some say Chillingworth’s drugs caused it, and others think it was an external sign of Dimmesdale’s conscious. The lesson taught is “ Be true!” Chillingworth dies and leaves his property to Pearl, who moves to England with Hester. Hester eventually comes back to her cottage and lives out the remainder of her days with the scarlet letter as a symbol of help and hope against the strict Puritan laws. Instead of the Puritan colors of scarlet and gray, Hester embroiders baby garments for Pearl’s baby out of luxurious gold material symbolizing new times. When she dies, Hester is buried next to Dimmesdale with the inscription “On a field, sable, the letter A, gules.” This translates to the letter A on a black background.
As Dimmesdale walks through the crowd during the Election Day procession, you notice a new and confident skip in his stride. While observing Dimmesdale’s new persona, Hester feels scarcely connected with her lover and Pearl cannot recognize the minister. Mrs. Hibbins tells Hester and Pearl that Dimmesdale has a token of the scarlet letter that’s similar to that of Hester. As Dimmesdale begins his sermon, Hester can recognize the pain and anguish below his vibrant and exhilarating words. Hester learns that Chillingworth had booked a room on the ship for both he and Reverend Dimmesdale, making her even more anxious about the couple’s proposed plan. After the Election Sermon, Dimmesdale’s confident stature is replaced by fear and longing, despite the respect and admiration he has gained from his congregation. On the way to celebrate his success, Dimmesdale stops, and taking Hester’s hand, steps on the scaffold to admit his crime and reveal the scarlet letter on his chest. At the same time, Chillingworth tries desperately to stop him. Pearl kisses Dimmesdale and finally, becomes truly human. When Hester asks Dimmesdale whether they will be with one another in heaven, he replies it is all in God’s hands. After uttering his last farewell, Dimmesdale dies. There are several explanations to what happened in the marketplace leading up to Dimmesdale’s death. Most people say they saw an A imprinted on the man’s chest. Some say the minister put it there, some say Chillingworth’s drugs caused it, and others think it was an external sign of Dimmesdale’s conscious. The lesson taught is “ Be true!” Chillingworth dies and leaves his property to Pearl, who moves to England with Hester. Hester eventually comes back to her cottage and lives out the remainder of her days with the scarlet letter as a symbol of help and hope against the strict Puritan laws. Instead of the Puritan colors of scarlet and gray, Hester embroiders baby garments for Pearl’s baby out of luxurious gold material symbolizing new times. When she dies, Hester is buried next to Dimmesdale with the inscription “On a field, sable, the letter A, gules.” This translates to the letter A on a black background.
posted by Alexandra W. | 8:35 PM
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Plot Tantalizers
1. Explain the changes in Dimmesdale’s physical appearance throughout the whole section.
2. What does Dimmesdale do and what is Chillingworth’s response?
3. What changes takes place in Pearl?
4. What is the message of Dimmesdale’s death?
5. What happens to Hester? What does she do in her last days? What is it’s meaning?
6. What is the meaning of her Tombstone inscription?
Part VI Discussion Questions:
1. Why does Dimmesdale seem different as he is walking in the parade on Election Day? Why can’t Pearl and Hester associate with this change?
2. What is the significance of Dimmesdale’s physical change after he gives his sermon?
3. What is the “spell” that was broken when Pearl kissed Dimmesdale? What does this signify about Pearl’s life and development?
4. Why does Chillingworth leave his property to Pearl? Does he still love Hester or does he give the land to Pearl because he has no living relatives? Explain.
5. What does the books last statement, “One a field, gules, the letter A, gules,” mean? Why is this important?
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