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.