The Scarlett Letter

Key Plot Points:

  1. Hester stands on the podium, holding Pearl and refusing to give up her acomplice in adultery → forced to wear Scarlet A, but has made it beautiful

  2. Chilingworth (her absentee huband) shows up and Hester recognizes him

  3. Chillingworth visits Hester in prison, heals Pearl, and telling her that the father of Pearl will pay. He makes her promise to keep his identity secret

  4. Hester is really good at embroidery, but has been cast out of society

  5. Pearl is an odd child and is a light in Hester’s life, but is also a constant reminder of Hester’s sin

  6. Hester visits Governor Bellingham’s mansion to convince him not to take Pearl away. Dimmesdale stands up for her, and she gets to keep Pearl

  7. Chillingworth is now Dimmesdale’s doctor and figures out that he is the father. He decides to torture Dimmesdale psycologically for this. Then, Chillingworth tries to get Dimmesdale to confess

  8. Dimmesdale struggles with his guilt, secretly torturing himself physically. He climbs the scaffold and screams, then stand up there at night with Hester and Pearl

  9. Years later, Hester is now the pride of the town (“A” for able). She tries to get Chilingsworth to stop torturing Dimmesdale, and he gives her prmission to reveal his identity

  10. Pearl makes a little letter out of seaweed for herself, and asks what it means

  11. Hester and Pearl find Dimmesdale in the woods. Hester confesses that Chillingworth is her husband, and they decide to escape together. (Yay!) However, Pearl does not like Dimmesdale since he will not publicly acknowledge her. Also, she is the queen of the woods now

  12. Dimmesdale goes a little crazy (with loooove) as he goes back to town to prepare his sermon

  13. Dimmesdale has a greta sermon and everyone loves him, but Hester realizes that Chillingworth has planned to stop their escape.

  14. Dimmesdale publicly confesses his sin and dies as Pearl finally kisses him, on the scaffold surrounded by his family. There is a scarlet “A” burned into his chest. Chilingsworth does a kind of “Nooooo I’m meltiiiiiing”

  15. Hester and Pearl move to England, and Pearl marries a nobleman. Years later, Hester returns alone and continues to wear the scarlet letter as a symbol of her experience and wisdom. She dies and is buried next to Dimmesdale (happy ending…?)

Symbols:

  • rose: hope and rebellion in society

  • scaffolding: shame

  • “A”: adultry→able

  • night: secrets come out

Characters:

  • Hester Pryne: accused of adultry, main character, good person

  • Pearl: Hester’s daughter, wild girl

  • Rev. Dimmesdale: Hester’s lover, struggles with shame of sin, dies just after confessing his love

  • Roger Chillingworth: Hester’s absentee husband, obsessed with revenge on Chilingsworth

  • Mistress Hibbins: Governor’s sister, witch 

  • Gov. Bellingham: governor, hypocrite

Themes:

  1. Sin and Guilt 

    1. sin does not define forever (Hester)

    2. only controls life if you let it (dimmesdale v Hester)

    3. guilt can be a greta motivator to become better

  2. Public vs. Private Shame 

    1. Hester public → resolved of sin and is soon respected in town

    2. Dimmesdale private→sick and in pain, withers away, hurts himself

  3. Hypocrisy of the Puritans

    1. Governor has excess in the gardens and his house, which is not supposed to happen

    2. Hester scorned even though she is the least sinful

    3. Dimmesdale respected despite private sin

    4. Hibbins allowed to practice witchcraft because she is the governor’s sister

  4. Nature vs. Civilization 

    1. Nature is a place of peace and freedom, for both Hester and Hibbins (although they have different ideas of freedom)

    2. civilization is full of watchful eyes, only oppression there