the rest of the scarlet letter

Chapters 14-15:
I think Chapter 14 is showing signs of Hester growing away from the shadow of the scarlet letter. I think when Chillingworth talked about her being able to take off the letter, it did not scare her, I took it as she felt it was a part of her that she is no longer ashamed of, and taking it off might show relief, which she does not feel. I personally liked Chillingworth in the beginning, but now he is just plain nasty and evil, and it is nice to see that Hester is picking up on that. "Hester had been looking steadily at the old man, and was shocked, as well as wonder smitten, to discern what a change had been wrought upon him throughout the past seven years." FINALLY HESTER. Basically the rest of the chapter is showing Hester's concern about how hard Chillingworth is on Dimmesdale. And of course Chillingworth is being stubborn. Chapter 15 starts off as Hester watches Chillingworth pick herbs, and she comes to realize she actually hates him, and starts to question if somebody that evil could ever actually heal anyone. I'm proud of her at this moment because she has taken so much poop from EVERYBODY and never said she hated anyone, and this is growth, I believe. At this point in the story I think Pearl is just being annoying with the whole "A" thing. But I also believe this is showing her knowledge of what is happening, and she is always asking why Dimmesdale has a hand over his heart, and I truly think she loves him, and so does Hester.

Chapters 16-17:
I personally found chapter 16 kind of pointless, except for the part where Pearl asked about the Black Man who haunts the forest. I honestly think the Black Man is the devil. I think that since the "witch" Mistress Hibbins met him, and Hester says that the letter is the Black Man's mark. The A is representing a sin she committed, coincidence? And that was basically all I got from that chapter. I was so happy when chapter 17 came around, I think it was so delayed and it was necessary to understand the rest of the book. Right from the beginning, the narrator talks about how they are "intimately connected in their former life" which was true in every aspect. And when Dimmesdale asks Hester if she had found peace, she ignores him and turns the question around on him, and I think that shows that Hester was always concerned about him. Basically he is miserable, and the more time goes on the more miserable he becomes, guilty coincidence much? Hester is actually being logical in this part and telling him that the past is the past and that his sins are in the past as well, but of course he is being stubborn and saying that the scarlet letter was not a secret to her, but he had all of this guilt in secret. Whose fault is that? His. But, later on they are both on the same page agreeing that Chillingworth is evil and that Dimmesdale and Chillingworth should not live together anymore. "It was the last expression of the despondency of a broken spirit." This was when Dimmesdale was talking about going into the world alone. But yet, nobody said he had to go in alone.

Chapter 18-19:
Chapter 18, also I think was long over due. Hester and Dimmesdale talk about running away from town and escaping the criticism that has been present for so long. Hester is more for the idea, which I thought was great for her and I think her life would be a lot better off outside of that tow. Dimmesdale, eh is not so for the idea. He really never had an experience like this before. But after some convincing from Hester, and the realization from Dimmesdale that he "can no longer live without her companionship; so powerful is she to sustain- so tender to soothe." The decision is pretty much made, AND HESTER FINALLY TAKES OFF THE LETTER. F.I.N.A.L.L.Y!! The sun comes out, the birds chirp, it's great. Chapter 19 was kind of a downer after all of that excitement in chapter 18, because Pearl comes in and realizes that those are her parents, (finally) but now Dimmesdale is all upset because kids never liked him, (which I thought was kind of funny) But then here is Hester to the rescue reassuring Dimmesdale that Pearl is very feisty and just needs to warm up to him. The part when Pearl was on the other side of the brook and did not listen to her mom, was probably a huge wakeup call for Hester, that Pearl is not threatened by her in any way, (Pearl reminds me of myself) I also think Pearl asking since Dimmesdale loves her, will they go hand in hand into town is her knowledge of what goes on in the town. I think Pearl is really smart and aware of her surroundings. WHY DOES HESTER PUT THE LETTER BACK ON, WHAT DOES SHE THINK WILL HAPPEN, UGH.

Chapter 20-21:
Chapter 20 confused me a lot. I really did not pick up much from the chapter, and I thought it was really wordy, but did not say much, if that makes sense. All that I picked up on was, that they were going to Europe and Hester knew the ship workers because of her work with charity. When Dimmesdale gets back to town I think he's kind of becoming crazy, and the part where he meets Miss Hibbins was really creepy too, but this entire chapter I really did not get at all. BUT one thing I did pick up on was that Dimmesdale was afraid that since he has sold his soul to the devil, since he chose sin. OKAY, chapter 21 was so annoying to me. But first, I think the setting of this chapter was a lot like the beginning of the story when they are all together in a public event. Oh and congrats on a new governor? What? Anyway, "It might be, on this one day, that there was an expression unseen before, nor, indeed, vivid enough to be detected now." Hester is in a gaze thinking about how different life will be if she gets out of the town. OKAY SO HERE IS THE PART THAT ANNOYS ME. Chillingworth somehow got himself into this situation and is now going on the ship because they need a doctor, like really? Out of all doctors it HAD to be Chillingworth? And then of course he has that evil smirk to give Hester, who does he think he is.

Chapter 22-23:
I thought Chapter 22 was really creepy and kind of confusing. The beginning was talking about military music, which I didn't really get why it had anything to do with it. But then we start to see Dimmesdale more lively and healthy, what? Hester and Pearl were not the only ones to notice the change in him. When Pearl asked her mom if Dimmesdale was the same man who kissed her in the forest, you know that the change is noticeable. As if things couldn't get any weirder, Great, Miss. Hibbins again. She is talking some pretty weird stuff, basically she is saying that she knows everything that goes on in the forest, and she says that the "Black Man"(the devil) is actually Pearl's father. Also that Hester does not have to worry about going on the ship with Dimmesdale, just for her and Pearl. At this point, Hester is really down and upset, and at this point I actually feel sympathy for her. And to top it all off, she goes to listen to Dimmesdale's sermon and everyone is starring at her, flashback? Chapter 23 is CRAZY. So Dimmesdale is already sounding a bit crazy in my mind because he is saying that God has made the New England, which I personally find kinda weird. But anyway, he calls up Hester and Pearl to the scaffold, (first bad thing) then Hester helps him up(second bad thing) THEN he rips off his shirt to show that he also has a mark on his chest. I think this is symbolizing the guilt he feels. So then, he collapses and dies. But before he dies, he says that God will decide whether they should be punished any further. And also, Pearl finally kisses him and she grows into a woman (what?)

Chapter 24: The people of the town can't determine whether they saw an A on his chest or not, if you were a witness, you were not allowed to tell. People also believed that Dimmesdale died in the arms of Hester to show that anybody could be considered sinners. I thought it was really weird that Pearl and Hester just disappeared after Chillingworth's death. In conclusion, the scarlet letter was a legend in that town because of Hester, and she comes back to town and lives in a cottage. She does get a semi- happy ending because women were starting to come to her for advice now. She eventually dies and is buried close-ish to Dimmesdale, and there was a scarlet letter on her tomb.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUzYEvWcdWw

^ this song by ed sheeran, I think really shows the separation that Hester and Dimmesdale must feel throughout the story. Though it is not talked about much throughout the story, I felt it, as the reader.  And when he talks about "living forever now" is talking about what life is like after Dimmesdale dies.

scarlet letter chapters 9-13

Chapter 9- The Leech
When reading the beginning of the chapter I was excited to hear more about Dimmesdale and Chillingworth because i thought both characters were not talked about that much in the story so far. I thought Chillingworth was an interesting character when he was talking with Hester earlier in the book. Dimmesdale on the other hand, I was not very fond of throughout, and I was shocked to hear that he became ill. I think this part of the story is when religion really comes into play. I think because Dimmesdale is so religious, people say "if Dimmesdale were really going to die, it wasa cause the world was not worthy to be any longer trodden by his feet." This is showing that Dimmesdale is starting to believe he is above everybody else, which I personally don't like. I also don't think it was necessary for Chillingworth to take Dimmesdale under his "doctor" wing, and I think when Dimmesdale was saying he needs no medicine, was showing that he does not want help from anyone. I also beleive that Dimmesdale being "haunted by satan" is also a representation of him being afraid of a higher power.

Chapter 10- The Leech and His Patient
This chapter was probably the most confusing chapter to take in throughout the story so far. Starting off, the narrator made sure to recognize that Roger Chillingworth was indeed a kind man. I wondered why the narrator made it a point to recognize the nice things Roger has done. When Chillingworth was talking to Dimmesdale about the weeds that he found and he responds with "Some hideous secret that was burried with him, and which he had done better to confess during his lifetime." I think shows that Chillingworth believes that confessing all of your sins will make you a better person. Also throughout the chapter, he seems confused by WHY people don't just confess their problems in the first place, and that is where Dimmesdale starts to make sense. Him talking about how some people keep their secrets in because they do not want to be looked badly upon by God is very true even in today's lifetime.  When Dimmesdale and Chillingworth come in contact with Pearl and Hester, I think this was a huge symbol of Pearl's knowlege of her surroundings, when she pushes her mother along and says that the old Black Man will catch you, it shows that she knows both about Dimmesdale and Chillingworth. Towards the end of the chapter, I think Chillingworth starts to realize that Dimmesdale isn't physically ill, it is a mentally illness that is manifesting itself physically. "A bodily disease, which we look be but a symptom of some ailment in the spiritual part." Also, what did he find unders Dimmesdale's shirt?!

Chapter 11- The interior of a Heart
This chapter was rather frustrating to me because we left chapter 10 with this huge question of what Chillingworth found under Dimmesdale's shirt and we still don't know. It must have been pretty important because Chillingworth is ready for revenge. But without even knowing what is under the shirt, we know that Dimmesdale is guilty enough for the both of them. I personally thought this chapter was really wordy and uninteresting. At this point when Dimmesdale was delievering sermons with the topic of sin, I have an idea that he is actually the father of Pearl. He is so incredibly guilty with something that he is literally beating himself up at night and seeing visions of Hester and Pearl. That spells guilty all over it, and I personally believe the guilt he is feeling is literally eating himself up inside.

 Capter 12- The Minister's Vigil
I think Dimmesdale going to the scafold was either a cry out for help or a cry out for attention. I think it is also showing the guilt he feels because he goes to the same scafold where Hester was in the beginning of the story. Also, when he bursted out laughing (which seemed to be for no reasonc cause he's crazy) and Pearl responded, he reacted instantly. I am very strongly convinced that Dimmesdale is in fact the father of Pearl. The meteor passing through was a huge symbol not only to the reader but it seems like Dimmesdale himself! "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 those two." How much more obvious can it get?  The next day when he delivers his next sermon and was handed the black glove that was left at the scafold, I think was really showing how insane Dimmesdale really is. To anybody else, a black glove is just a black glove, but in his mind Satan dropped the glove there, and the A was for angel. Freaky.

Chapter 13-  Another View of Hester

I was actually really happy reading this chapter. I think it was great of Hester to finally start becoming more active in society. I admire Hester in a lot of ways, but throughout this chapter it is obvious she is starting to think of herself a lot differently. In my eyes, she is no longer passionate and headstrong, but more like she is hiding behind the letter and what is stands for, for other people. But, I think her helping out Dimmesdale is a showing of her kind heart, and that has not changed. It was also nice to read that the town's people have grown a respect for Hester, now that Pearl is seven years old. This respect was LONG overdue, and they are now starting to see the "A by its original signifaction. They said that it meant "Able"; so strong was Hester Prynne, with a woman's strength." FINALLY! They are recognizing that she is strong and scolding her for the rest of her life will not change what happened. But, unfortunatley, Hester is starting to realize that the passion she used to feel is almost being taken away by the A, and it is stopping her from ever feeling passion again. And around this time, she seems like she does not want to live anymore. Which I think was a very relatable feeling for people who have given up on feeling a certain way, and I think that feeling can be connected with everyday life.

scarlet letter chapters 5-8

Chapter 5 - It interested me the most so far throughout the book. In my mind, Hester's emotions and feelings were not expressed or talked about enough throughout the story so far and that is what chapter 5 is basically talking about. Starting off talking about her getting out of prison and revealing her scarlet letter set the mood for the rest of the chapter. When the narrator was speaking about how Hester was going to have to wear the letter for the rest of her life, he seemed to feel very strongly about the fact that she shouldn't be shunned out for the rest of her life. I think Hester settling in the outskirts of town shows that she has respected what she has done, and accepts the fact that she is not looked at in the same eyes anymore. I also think her starting to get her life back and doing needlework shows that she is very independent and she will not let little things stop her. Towards the end of the chapter however, it seems that she is having an internal conflict about her wrong doing. "It was not an age of delicacy; and her position, although she understood it well and was in little danger of forgetting it, was often brought before her vivid self-perception, like a new anguish, by the rudest touch upon the tenderest spot." This quote is showing that Hester acknowleges the fact that her own self-perception is now changed because of the scarlet letter.

Chapter 6- Pearl. Right from the beginning of the story, I fert like the narrator was becoming more involved with the story. I felt like when the narrator was talking about Pearl, he was talking about her as if he knew her, and he felt what Hester was feeling. When they were talking about how Hester was worried that Pearl was going to be looked at with sin like Hester was, it seemed like the narrator was scared also. Reading how they described Pearl in the beginning of the chapter, I appreciated the fact that they are giving her all of these great qualities, and she is still very young. I think the narrator already picked up what kind of person Pearl is going to be, and exposed that to the readers early on. I was not expecting Pearl to be disobedient because they talk about her being very similar to Hester. I think that was a good way to represent Pearl as her own person, even though she is very similar to her mother in many aspects. On page 90, i was a little bit confused wehnt hey said that "did pearl arrive at an age that was capable of social intercourse, beyond the mother's ever-ready smile and nonsense words!" I did not know if they meant she was literally growing up in a phyiscal, or mental aspect. When they start to talk about her imaginary friends i didn't know why they talked about it so much. Lastly, I think the part where you see Hester and Pear talking, I think it shows how alike and how different they are as well. Pearl is not outspoken in any way, and i appreciate that.

Chapter 7- The Governor's Hall
I think the fact that Hester was brave enough to come out into the public and give the embrolled gloves to the Governor shows her strength and growth throughout the story. A part that really interested me was when Hester and Pearl were walking and the Puritan children were making fun of Pearl and saying she was going to get the scarlet letter next. I think Pearl defending herself at such a young age is showing her character, and I now personally think she is a lot different than her mother. I admire her for sticking up for herself. Another part that I found interesting was when they were walking past the mirrors and "the scarlet letter was represented in exaggerated and gigantic proportions, so as to be greatly the most prominent figure of her appearance." The fact that Pearl now is recognizing the scarlet letter, and saying "mommy that's you!" is the necessarily a bad thing?

Chapter 8- The Elf-Child and the Minister
This chapter was a lot to take in at once. Meeting the new characters, Arthur Dimmesdale, and Mr. Wilson was one thing. But also when Hester hid behind the curtains when they were approaching makes me wonder, what was she so afraid of? I also think the govenors talk to Pearl as if she is an adult at some points, which I thought was really interesting. I thought when Hester was saying that she can teach Pearl from her scarlet letter was a big risk, because they all already think badly of her to begin with, she is almost adding fuel to her own fire. When Pearl was asked who made her and said she was plucked by her mother off the bush of wild roses, I thought was a huge turning point in the entire story. It is showing how smart and independent Pearl is, and this could come and bite Hester in the back. It did in the chapter also, when Pearl was threatened to be taken away from Hester. When that happened, you could see how Pearl is Hester's entire world, and that a mistake, can lead to a blessing. I thought that both Arthur, Wilson, and the Governor all had very strong personalities, but I did not see much significance in their parts in this chapter, but I hope their characters grow throughout the rest of the story because I find them all interesting.

scarlet letter chapters 1-4

In chapter 1 of the Scarlet Letter, I felt like the narrator was trying to give the reader some type of background information on what was going to happen in the story. Hester was not introduced yet, and they were talking mostly about a jail that would be relevant to the story. "finding it so directly on the threshold of our narrative, which is now about to issue from that inauspicious portal, we could hardly do otherwise than pluck one of its flowers, and present it to the reader." I thought the narrator was saying here that if they did not give you some type of background information on the prison and what it represents, the reader would not understand the story. In the second chapter it was mostly talking about how the women of the town were reacting to Hester Prynne. The narrator was also making it clear that even back then during that time, women still talked about each other, and most of the women at this time were happy to see that Hester Prynne was getting punished. One part of the story that I found really interesting was when Hester emerged from the prison door, and she was being manhandled and she fought back. "Until, on the threshold of the prison door, she repelled him, by an action marked with natural dignity and force of character, and stepped into the open air, as if by her own free will." (50) I think this really showed how strong of a women Hester really was, regardless of her wrong doings. Chapter 3 really focused on the recognition of the scarlet letter that Hester was wearing. Something I have also realized throughout all of the talking and staring, Hester has not let go of her baby once. It seems like people want her to be ashamed of her baby because of her wrong doings, but she is not ashamed, she seems to be proud of her child. Also I have noticed that Hester has not spoken in the story yet, this could be seen as her being "guilty" but I see it as she does not want to respond to negative statements being said about her. On pages 64-65 when the clergyman was addressing Hester about her wrong doings, I was a little bit confused on why he or his brother Dimmesdale had to "deal with the poor sinner's soul". In chapter 4, I felt things got interesting. I think this chapter was showing how easily somebody's real emotions could be mistaken for mental instability. I personally don't believe Hester even needed a doctor to begin with. After the physician gave the baby the medicine, it says, "with calm and intent scrutiny, he felt her pulse, looked into her eyes- a gaze that made her heart shrink and shudder, because so familiar, and yet so strange and cold- and finally, satisfied with his investigation, proceeded to mingle another draught." I was wondering why the stare between the two of them was so familiar and made Hester's heart sink. Could this be a clue that maybe the physician is the child of the baby?  Even though the physician was the one interrogating Hester to reveal who the father of the baby was. Also the doctor is telling Hester that he is going to find out who the father is anyway because he is going to become ill.