Scarlet Letter
Essay by review • December 17, 2010 • Essay • 2,298 Words (10 Pages) • 1,421 Views
There are a group of men and women who seem to be somewhat depressed. They are dressed in gray colors and are gathered around a large oak door, which has been studded with iron spikes. The plot of land which the people are standing on is what as know as the towns cemetery and another portion of it is known as there prison.
The people were on that plot of grass in front of the big door to witness some sort of public disciplinary action. The jail door flings open and out comes an officer who is about to kill a woman I am guessing. The woman opens her arms so that you can what she is holding and in her arms she has a young child.
Hester Prynne is that name of the woman who is on trail. The city is going to behead her, because the sin that she committed is punishable by death. When she gets to the beheading place there is an Indian man and a white man up there. Indian men don't normally come into the village but since the white man and this Indian have been traveling together and they have come upon many mishaps on there journey both on land and on sea. The white man out of the two tries to convince the people of the city not to behead her.
When Hester Prynne went back to the prison she had to be on constant watch so that she would not cause harm to herself. At the prison a man comes in and gives care to the baby and then to her. He gives her this medicine to drink. Once Hester Prynne had drank the medicine the man begins to ask her all kinds of questions looking for the answers.
In Chapter 5, we find out that Hester is out of Prison and is now free to go or do whatever she wants to do. The strange thing is that Hester dose not move out of Boston, instead she moves to the outside boundaries of town. The way that she supports herself and her child is by her becoming a seamstress, she sews for all occasions except weddings. Even though Hester is such a great seamstress she is still a social outcast.
In Chapter 6, Pearls is growing up, she is become a beautiful little girl. She is now 3 years old, and reminds her mother of herself. She likes mischief and has no respect for authority. Her mother is having a hard time controlling her. She is with her mother all the time, and her only friend is her imagination. When surrounded by the curious children of the neighbor hood, instead of making friends with them, Pearl is mean to them.
In Chapter 7, Hester goes to the governor's house to fight for the right to keep her daughter. On the way to his house, pearl meat a bunch of puritan children who make fun of her for the way she is dressed, so again we see pearls temper as she runs them away with her screaming. When they enter the house, they are greeted by a group of men. Pearl becomes quit because she is curious of who they are.
In Chapter 8, we find out that the group of men approaching Hester and Pearl are Governor Bellingham, the Reverend John Wilson, the Reverend Dimmesdale, and Roger Chillingworth. The governor is shocked by Pearls appearance and starts to question the mother ability to raise a child. He tells Reverend Wilson to test the child's knowledge, and she purposefully plays dumb. The governor is highly upset and is about ready to take the child away from Hester, but Hester fights back saying that God gave Pearl to her for a reason. So the Governor lets her keep her child as a blessing and as a reminder of her sin.
In Chapter 9, everybody in the town thinks that Chillingworth has been send to Boston by God to help heal the sick minister. Dimmesdale says that he dose not need a doctor. The town's people don't listen to the minister and give Chillingworth permission to give aid to him. After a while, since Chillingworth spends so much time in Dimmesdale's house he ends up moving in with him. We also see that Chillingworth is trying to find out all he can about Dimmesdale and why he is so ill. As he investigates he becomes more and more evil. The town's people start to notice that change on Chillingworth's face and they see that the minister is not getting better but with each passing day is getting worst. Some of the town's people start to think that Chillingworth is practicing black magic.
In chapter 10, Chillingworth and Dimmesdale are having a deep discussion about, a person ding and not confessing their sins. Dimmesdale is saying that perhaps the person wanted to but failed to act upon it. Chillingworth replies to this but saying that it is better for one to confesses then sins while they are still alive. This conversation made Chillingworth even more curious of Dimmesdale and when Dimmesdale was sleeping Chillingworth opened Dimmesdale's shirt to see a strange mark on his chest, after seeing this Chillingworth dance with delight.
In Chapter 11, Chillingworth thinks he knows Dimmesdale's secret, which indeed he dose. Dimmesdale want to s confesses of his sin but can never gather up enough courage. He tries to indiscreetly confess, but the town's people think of it as him being humble, which makes Dimmesdale feel like even more of a hypocrite. He wipes himself in private as a part of his punishment and he fasts for long periods of times.
In Chapter 12, Dimmesdale is out in town in the darkness where no one can see him. He sees someone walking by and wants to talk to him but again to much of a coward to say anything. The he see Hester and Pearl and asks them to join him. Pearl asks her father is the next day he will publicly announce that he is her father, but he says no. Dimmesdale admits to Hester that he has a fear of Chillingworth and Hester wants to tell Dimmesdale of Chillingworth real identity but doesn't when she remember the oath that she had made to him. The next morning Dimmesdale gives on of hi best sermons.
A lot of change is going on in this chapter. Dimesdale is changing for the worst. His appearance is becoming worst and he is looking Sicker. Hester is changing also. She has become more serious and is helping people in the town. People are no seeing her scarlet letter to mean "able" instead of "adultery". Hester is also worried for the safety of Dimesdale. She is worried of what Chillingworth is going to do to him. Pearl continues to give Hester trouble, causing Hester to wonder is her daughter really human. Hester once thinks of suicide but realizes that her daughter and Dimesdale need her and she thinks better of it.
In Chapter 14, Hester tells Chillingworth that she would like to break the vow that she has made with him, and reveal his true identity. And she wants Chillingworth to stop tormenting the minister. She notices that Chillingworth's appearance is changing as well and is also shocked just was she was to see Dimesdale's appearance change. Chi8llingworth admits to tormenting the Minster and brags about it. Hester begs him to stop
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