Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
Plot summary:
At the beginning of the book, Hester Prynne is publicly humiliated for committing adultery. She was sent to
America by her husband, who was to follow shortly her, but did not show up. In his absence, Hester gave birth
to a child. She is on the scaffolds with her baby, Pearl, and Arthur Dimmesdale, the towns beloved pastor,
because the man involved is left a mystery. Arthur Dimmesdale is trying to get Hester to confess the man
involved in the adultery but she refuses to share her secret. Hester is forced to wear the letter A on her
bosom for all to be reminded of her crime and was ostracized. During the confrontation, a man comes into
town. Roger Chillingworth, a doctor, was Hesters old husband. Upon hearing the news about his old wife, he
creates a false identity and devotes his time trying to find the man responsible. Hester is the only person that
knows Chillingworths true identity and was sworn to secrecy. Hester and Pearl lived in a small cottage outside
of Boston where Hester earned a living by becoming a seamstress. Several chapters later, Chillingworth moves
in with Dimmesdale to help his growing illness. The two develop a strong friendship. Shortly into the
friendship, the reader finds out Chillingworth discovers Dimmesdale is the man responsible for the crime with
Hester. Instead of telling Dimmesdales secret, Chillingworth decides to let his guilty conscience kill him
slowly. It wasnt long until Dimmesdale could not take the guilt, so he went on the scaffold late one night to
confess. Hester and Pearl happen to be out and saw his confession. Dimmesdale, Hester, and Pearl, who was
now seven, all took hands. Pearl questions Dimmesdale about his public confession but Dimmesdale was not
ready to tell his daughter. A meteor went across the sky and made an A, much like the one Hester wore on her
chest. Hester planned a meeting in the forest with Dimmesdale where they discussed plans to move to England
to be a family. Dimmesdale gave an election speech a few hours later but he intended to leave town.
Dimmesdale knows what is right and confessed to the town on the scaffold, with Hester and Pearl at his side.
He revealed a scarlet letter seared into his skin on his chest and fell over dead. Hester and Pearl leave but
return sometime later. On their return they find out Chillingworth had died as well. Chillingworth had left all
of his possessions to Pearl.
Memorable Quotations
Quotation (and speaker)
1.
On the breast of her gown, in fine red cloth,
surrounded with an elaborate embroidery and
fantastic flourishes of gold thread, appeared the letter
A. (Ch 2 p.43)
2.
Be not silent from any mistaken pity and
tenderness for him; for, believe me, Hester, though
he were to step down from a high place, and stand
there beside thee, on thy pedestal of shame, yet
better were it so than to hide a guilty heart through
life. What can they silence do for him, except it
Significance:
This is the set up and introduction of the letter A for
the readers. It acquaints the audience with a symbol
that reappears over and over again.
4.
Calm, gentle, passionless, as he appeared,
This passage indicates for me, just how mean
there was yet, we fear, a quiet depth of malice,
Chillingworth is and how much I do not care for
hitherto latent, but active now, in this unfortunate
him.
old man, which led him to imagine a more
intimate revenge than any mortal had ever wreaked
upon an enemy. (Ch 11 p. 109)
5.
Ye have both been here before, but I was not
with you. Come up hither once again, and we will
stand all three together. (Ch 12 p. 119) -Dimmesdale
6.
And there stood the minister, with his hand
over his heart; and Hester Prynne, with the
embroidered letter glimmering on her bosom; and
little Pearl, herself a symbol, and the connecting
link between the two. (Ch 12 p. 120)
7.
Mother, said little Pearl, the sunshine does
not love you. It runs away and hides itself, because it
is afraid of something on your bosom (Ch 16 p.
144) -Pearl
8.
We are not, Hester, the worst sinners in the
world. There is one worse than even the polluted
priest! That old mans revenge has been blacker
than my sin. He has violated, in cold blood, the
sanctity of a human heart (Ch 17 p. 153)
-Dimmesdale
9.
And will he always keep his hand over his
heart? (Ch 19 p. 167) -Pearl
Characters name:
1. Hester Prynne
2. Pearl
3. Roger
Chillingworth
4. Rev.
Dimmesdale
5.Gov. Bellingham
6.Mistress Hibbins
Major Characters
Role (what role does this
Significance (why is this
person have in the story?)
character significant to the
story?)
Protagonist
The events in the novel
revolve around Hester and
her struggle of being an
adulterer. Hester is also
used to show the poor
treatment of women during
the time of the Puritans.
Hesters daughter
Pearl is unknowingly wise
and is able to realize
things that arent stated so
subtly. She is happy around
her true father and hateful
around others like Roger
Chillingworth.
Hesters husband and major Roger comes into the
antagonist
novel looking for revenge.
He sues the fact that he is a
doctor to make the people
of Boston appreciate him.
He also uses his knowledge
to get closer to Dimmsdale.
Hesters lover
Dimmsdale hurts from
inside because he has to
watch Hester go through
all the pain and turmoil.
His allegiance to the
church is more important
than what he has with
Hester therefore he finds it
hard to confess because it
will not only hurt his
standing, but also his
community.
Leader in the community
As governor, Bellingham
who is in power
is sought as the authority
figure and he makes
decisions such as Hester
being allowed to keep
Pearl
The sister of Bellingham
Hibbins is important
who lives in his house and
because she shows the
sneaks out at night to be a
hypocrisy of the town
witch in the woods
because although she is
known to be a witch, she is
not put on trial because of
who she is related to.
Vengeful, Angry,
Malevolent
Eloquent speaker,
intelligent, troubled
7.John Wilson
Themes:
Evil: Characters debate the "Black Man" which is evil and is linked with Chillingworth and Dimmesdale. Pearl
also represents evil because she is considered to be a devil child. They try to find the causes of evil and reveal
the Puritanical idea of sin.
Sin: Hester and Dimmesdale's situation relates to Adam and Eve's because their sin causes expulsion in both.
Nature: It is the opposite of Puritanism and Hawthorne shows this by contrasting the black flower of the prison
which punishes sin with the red rose bush which Hawthorne thinks forgive the people who are sentenced to
death.
Individuals vs. Society: Hester Prynne and and Dimmesdale are trying to overcome the problems within
themselves for committing adultery while also trying to make peace with the Puritan society they live in.