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SCARLET LETTER LOGS Chapter 1 The Prison Door Summary: This chapter is about the town and the prison that lay upon the soil. The black flower represents the prison. It also talks about the criminal and how nature takes pity on him. A woman named Anne Hutchson is put into Jail, I think. 1. This is one of the most boring and hard to read chapters I ever read in my life. Chapter 2 The Market Place Summary: This chapter is about when Hester comes out and all the good wives ridicule her. She has a baby in her arms and a scarlet letter on her breast. They make here walk through the market place so everybody can see her. She is set upon the scaffold for 3 hours. The baby was 3 months old when she got out of jail. Hester Pryne is her name. She remembers back in England: her parents and a man she liked and is smart. He comes to the town and he looks mad. 2. The women in the crowd are very cruel. Chapter 3 The Recognition Summary: This chapter is about the interrogation of Hester Pryne and how they are asking her whom she slept with. The preacher sort of tells here to confess who did it with her. They keep yelling at here and she never confesses. 5. I predict that the preacher guy is the man who had sex with Hester. Chapter 4 The Interview Summary: This chapter is about how Hester goes back to jail and she starts to feel sick and here baby is sick to a physician is ordered to come. He gives the baby something and she says something like she wished it were poison. Hester's husband comes to the jail and they start talking about what had happened. Her husband tries to find out who did it with her. He finds out that Roger Chillinsworth is her husband. ( He changed his name) 3. Hester's husband is smart and intelligent however he is an ugly hunchback. Chapter 5 Hester at her Needle Summary: Hester is released from prison. She has the option of going back to England but she chooses to stay because of the guy she had sex with is there. Nobody wants to hire her for a seamstress at her job. She helps the poor a lot and the others shun her. Then when she goes to church the sermon changes from something to the sins of adultery when they see Hester. She is good at being a seamstress. The kids make fun of her. She goes to live out in the woods. 1. This was a better chapter than the first because it made more sense to me. Chapter 6 Pearl Summary: This chapter is about Hester's daughter Pearl. It talks about how the stress put on her mother was transferred to Pearl her daughter. There was a part were Pearl grabbed the scarlet letter and that somehow it meant something. Then Pearl and her mother have a weird argument where she says that she is not her daughter and they go back and forth about it. Pear also threw things at the letter. 1. It was a strange chapter, with strange reactions to Pearl and other weird stuff. Chapter 7 Governor's Hall Summary: This chapter is about going to the governor's house. Her mother makes Pearl's outfit and it is very luxurious with velvet and gold thread. Hester had somehow made the scarlet letter into Pearl's outfit. Going to give some embroidered gloves to the governor. There are roomers in the government that the government is going to try to take away Pearl. They start teasing Pearl and she goes after them and yells at the. The suit of armor reflects the large A on the armor. All the people see is the A. 2. I believe those Pearl acts very strange. Chapter 8 The Elf-Child and the Minister Summary: At the governor's hall Dimesdale says where Pearl was from. He talks about how Hester was not worth being Pearls mother because she was too beautiful. Chillinsworht is advising Dimesdale. Pearl answers that she is a rose. They are shocked that she answers this. Dimesdale is given a kiss by Hester and Pearl goes over to Dimesdale and he puts his hand on her head. Chillinsworth is getting uglier. They try to take her child. 1. I think that Dimesdale is the father. Chapter 9 The Leech Summary: Chillinsworth has become freinds with Dimesdale and his doctor. Chillinsworth is very smart and has great medical knowledge. They are best friends. They have offices next to each other. Chillinsworth wants to get closer to Dimesdale so he can find out more about him because he has a suspicion that Dimesdale is the adulterer. Dimesdale is growing weaker and sicker. Chillinsworth is compared to the devil. The graveyard things grow out of heart. 2. I think that Chillinsworth will find out who did it. Chapter 10 The Leech and his Patient Summary: In this chapter Chillinsworth keeps working away at Dimesdale. He keeps hinting at the adulteress claim. There is a part where they are talking about where did Chilligsworth got some weeds and he said on a graceless grave. They were growing out of his heart. Pearl and Hester come along and while Dimesdale is looking out Pearl looks up strangely and throws a prickly thicket at the window where Dimesdale is. She says something about chasing the man in black. Also Chillinsworth finds out that Dimesdale is wearing a scarlet letter on his chest. 3. "I found them on a grave which bore no tombstone." Chillinsworth Chapter 11 The interior of a Heart Summary: In this chapter he is talking in his sermon about adultery and he hints that he is the adulterer. All they do is praise him and tell him he is the best. Dimesdale is trying to confess in someway. He had nightmares. Fasting, He bears himself. 3. Dimesdale should just get it out and tell the truth. Chapter 12 The Minister's Vigil Summary: In this chapter minister Dimesdale goes in the middle of the night to the scaffold. He yells out and opens his shirt so that the people will come out and he will be free from his sin. This part was a dream. He sees Hester and Pearl while she is up on the scaffold. They come up with him. Pearl asks him if he will come up on the scaffold with them next day and he says no he will stand with them at the great maker or something. There is a comment that makes the letter A in the sky. Chillinsworth watches them up on the scaffold. They blame the glove on the scaffold on the devil. 1. I think that Dimesdale is a coward. Chapter 13 Another View of Hester Summary: This chapter just talks about how the people treated Hester. She helps people and is very kind. Some people think the A stands for "able" but others think very bad of it. She is thinking of telling Dimesdale who Chillinsworth is. 2. Why doesn't she tell Chillinsworth it was Dimesdale? Chapter 14 Hester and the Physician Summary: Hester goes and talks with Chillinsworth, about minister Dimesdale. Then Hester tells Chillinsworth that she is going to tell Dimesdale that he is her husband. He said that was fine with him because he already had Dimesdale's soul. Chillinsworth is becoming more and more evil. Pearl is now 7 years old. 4. " For the hatred that has transformed a wise and just man to a friend!" Hester. Chapter 15 Hester and Pearl Summary: Hester says that she hates Chillinsworth. Pearl asks her mother what the A on her chest stands for and why Dimesdale is always holding his hand over his heart. Hester does not have the courage to tell her. Hester puts an A on her chest and it is made of seaweed and natural stuff. Pearl kills a starfish, jellyfish, and a seagull with a rock. Then she feels bad. 1. Pearl is too smart for her own good. 5. I predict that Pearl will find out soon. Chapter 16 A Forest walk Summary: Hester and Little Pearl go for a walk in the forest. Pearl asks her mother if she has ever met the man in black. Hester replies yes she has. Hester is writing something for Dimesdale at the end and Dimedale walks in and she tells her to go and play. 2. Did Hester Still have feelings for Dimesdale? 4." O brook! O foolish and tiresome brook! Why art thou so sad?" Pearl Chapter 17 The Pastor and his Parishioner Summary: In this chapter Hester talks to Dimesdale for a long time; alone and without Chillinsworth there. Hester asks Dimesdale if he is frightened that he is living under the same roof as he enemy. Dimedale wants to die and they hug each other at the end. Hester can't go into the light, and Pearl can because she is lying to them. Chillisworth is the Husband. 2. Why does Dimesdale beat himself? 4. "Then all was spoken!" Hester. Chapter 18 A flood of sunshine Summary: In this chapter Hester and Minister Dimesdale talk about how their lives are. Hester wants Dimesdale to forget about the past and to look forward. She tells him to watch what is in front of him. Hester calls Pearl in to meet her father. At first she goes to her mother then she looks at Dimesdale and starts screaming. 1. I think that if it weren't for the strict code these people lived by Dimesdale and Hester would be happy together. Chapter 19 The Child at the break-side Summary: In this chapter Hester tries to convince Dimesdale that Pearl will love him but he is afraid she will not like him. Pearl asks Hester why minister Dimesdale is keeping his hand over his heart and if he will walk hand and hand with them in the town. Dimesdale kisses Pearl and she washes it off as hard as she can. The first time Hester takes off the letter . Pearl kisses the letter then her mother. 1. I think that this part in the book is very significant. Chapter 20 Minister Maze Summary: In this chapter Dimesdale comes back with a different way of looking at things. He saw the widow first and he wanted to say something bad to her. Then he meets a virgin who was inspired by his sermon he gave while on his vigil. He wanted to say something bad to her but he just kept walking. Then he ran into the oldest female of church and he wanted to say something bad to her as well. The he ran into the little kid and he wanted to teach the kid all kinds of bad words. When he gets home he rips up the sermon he already wrote and tosses it into the fire. Chillingsworth is they're waiting for him and he offers Dimesdale some medicine and Dimesdale refuses. This is when Chillinsworth knows that Dimesdale knows. He also tries to say something bad to the deacon. After he tears it up he starts writing like mad as if he were inspired. 1. I think that Dimesdale is too involved in his religion. Chapter 21 The New England Holiday Summary: Not much happens in this chapter. Hester, Pearl, and Dimesdale are going to go to New England and then they find that Chillinswoth is coming too. Pearl is dressed up like a butterfly sort of. They just couldn't get away. 3. " Have you another passenger?" Captain Chapter 22 The Procession Summary: The military comes out, then Dimesdale, then the civil authorities. He is suppose to deliver the election day sermon. Dimesdale did not look at anybody during the sermon. Pearl and Hester were angered that they were not acknowledged. They are both standing near the scaffold listening to the sermon. Mrs. Hibbens comes to Hester and told her that she knew the way to the forest and that there was no escape for Hester. The captain wanted to kiss Pearl because she was so cute but instead he gave her his chain. The lady in that one group of ladies that said that the letter was punishment was enough died. 4. "What imagination would have been irreverent enough to surmise that the dame sorching stigma was on them both!" 1. Poor, poor Dimesdale. Chapter 23 The Revelation Summary: When Dimesdale was still giving the sermon he calls Pearl and Hester to Help him gets to the scaffold and Pearl gives him lots of hugs and kisses. Then he went to the scaffold and told everybody that 7 years ago he had committed sin and then he dropped dead. Chillinsworth keeps telling him not to go. Once he Dimesdale is up on the scaffold he says that he has lost Dimesdale. Before he died he revealed the letter A to everybody on his chest. Pearl's kiss full filled the prophecy. When Hester asked if she would see him again he told Hester that god was merciful and that they would live together in Heaven. 1. Dimesdale killed himself practically. Chapter 24 Conclusion Summary: In the conclusion the author just tells what happened after Dimesdale's death. Pearl becomes a very rich woman from marriage. It also talks about what all the people thought what could have caused the minister's death. Chillinsworth died years later because his whole life was devoted to revenge there was nothing left to live for anymore. Hester and Pearl go to Europe but Hester moves back to the town where her true love rests. Many people believed that the minister was an adulterer, others believe that Chillinsworth did it to him, and then there are others that just don't believe it happened. When Hester dies she is buried next to Dimesdale with a space in between and a one grave stone for both of them and the grave stone had the letter A on it. 1. I am glad Chillinsworth died. He was the devil in this book. 2. What is that part about the letter floating on the waves? The Scarlet Letter The book The Scarlet Letter is all about symbolism. People and objects are symbolic of events and thoughts. Throughout the course of the book, Nathaniel Hawthorne uses Hester, Pearl, and Arthur Dimmesdale to signify Puritanic and Romantic philosophies. Hester Prynne, through the eyes of the Puritans, is an extreme sinner; she has gone against the Puritan ways, committing adultery. For this irrevocably harsh sin, she must wear a symbol of shame for the rest of her life. However, the Romantic philosophies of Hawthorne put down the Puritanic beliefs. She is a beautiful, young woman who has sinned, but is forgiven. Hawthorne portrays Hester as "divine maternity" and she can do no wrong. Not only Hester, but the physical scarlet letter, a Puritanical sign of disownment, is shown through the author's tone and diction as a beautiful, gold and colorful piece. Pearl, Hester's child, is portrayed Puritanically, as a child of sin who should be treated as such, ugly, evil, and shamed. The reader more evidently notices that Hawthorne carefully, and sometimes not subtly at all, places Pearl above the rest. She wears colorful clothes, is extremely smart, pretty, and nice. More often than not, she shows her intelligence and free thought, a trait of the Romantics. One of Pearl's favorite activities is playing with flowers and trees. (The reader will recall that anything affiliated with the forest was evil to Puritans. To Hawthorne, however, the forest was beautiful and natural.) "And she was gentler here [the forest] than in the grassy-margined streets of the settlement, or in her mother's cottage. The flowers appeared to know it" (194) Pearl fit in with natural things. Also, Pearl is always effervescent and joyous, which is definitely a negative to the Puritans. Pearl is a virtual shouting match between the Puritanical views and the Romantic ways. To most, but especially the Puritans, one of the most important members of a community is the religious leader; Arthur Dimmesdale is no exception. He was held above the rest, and this is proven in one of the first scenes of the book. As Hester is above the townspeople on a scaffold, Dimmesdale, Governor Wilson, and others are still above her. But, as the reader soon discovers, Arthur Dimmesdale is his own worst enemy. He hates himself and must physically inflict pain upon himself. "He thus typified the constant introspection wherewith he tortured, but could not purify, himself" to never forget what he has done (141). To Dimmesdale, it is bad that Hester is shown publicly as a sinner, but people forget that. What is far worse than public shame is Dimmesdale's own cruel inner shame. Knowing what only he and Hester know, the secret eats away at every fiber of Dimmesdale's being. As the Puritans hold up Dimmesdale, the Romantics level him as a human. The Scarlet Letter is a myriad of allegorical theories and philosophies. Ranging from Puritanic to Romantic, Nathaniel Hawthorne embodies his ideas to stress his Romantic philosophies through Pearl, Hester, and Dimmesdale throughout all of this.