The Scarlet Letter Guided Notes / Part 1

Chapter 17 Hester and Dimmesdale meet in the woods and greet each other strangely (171) “...Art thou in life?...” They slowly open up to each other (172) “Thus they went onward…” Dim. is “most miserable” and mentions his own hypocrisy (173) “I have laughed…”

Chapter 17 cont. H. reveals Chillingworth’s real identity! (173-4) “Thou hast long had such an enemy... H. still loves Dim. (174) “Such was the ruin…” Dim.’s inner demon makes an appearance (175) “The minister looked at her for an instant…”

Chapter 17 cont. Dim. is angry, H. begs for forgiveness (175) “With sudden and desperate tenderness…” He forgives her, yet says Chillingworth is a bigger sinner than both of them (176) “I do forgive you…” H. tells Dim. he can and should leave (178) “Then there is the broad pathway of the sea!...”

Chapter 17 cont. H. shows a beautiful and passionate sense of enthusiasm toward the thought of moving away (179) “The future is yet full...Up, and away! They agree to go together (179)

Chapter 18 The difference between H. and Dim. (180) “The scarlet letter was her passport…” Both are energized by their plan (181- 2) “Neither can I any longer live…”

Chapter 18 cont. MS. AMARO’S FAVORITE PART!!!  Hester removes the scarlet letter and throws it, she takes off her cap and lets down her hair, and all of her beauty shines forth (182-3) H. calls Pearl to meet her father, Pearl adorns herself with nature (185) “The flowers appeared to know it…”

Chapter 19 Pearl represents the union between her parents (186) “In her was visible…” Pearl hesitates to return, doesn’t know where she stands now that H. has another person she openly loves (187) “There was both truth and error…” Pearl creeps her father out...twice (188)

Chapter 19 cont. Pearl has another outburst b/c H. took the letter off (189) “...now suddenly burst into a fit of passion…” H. puts the letter and cap back on and her beauty instantly fades (190) “With these words…” Pearl kisses the letter? (190)

Chapter 19 cont. Dim. kisses Pearl, she washes it off, H. and Dim. remain in confidence (191) “The minister--painfully embarrassed..” Nature imagery, the sad brook (192) “And the melancholy brook…”

Chapter 20 Dim.’s character is falling apart, two- faced (193-4) “We have had...may be the true” He returns to Boston, feels different and everything looks different (194-5) Dim. feels like blurting out blasphemies, but stops himself (196) “...it was only by the most careful self-control…”

Chapter 20 cont. Some examples of Dim. holding himself back from blasphemy: 1.A deacon of the church (195-6) 2.The eldest female member of his church, pious old widow (196) 3.The youngest sister, fair and pure (197)

Chapter 20 cont. Mistress Hibbins (witch) stops Dim. and mentions his visit to the forest (198) “So, Reverend Sir…” Dim. made a deal with the devil? (199) “The wretched minister!...” YGB moment: while Dim. writes election sermon, he reflects on his new knowledge (200) “ He knew that it was himself…”

Chapter 20 cont. Some fakery between Chillingworth and Dimmesdale (201-2) “I thank you from my heart…” Dim. throws away his old speech, and begins another (202) “Then, flinging the already…”

Difficult Words 1.colloquy (180): n. a conversation 2.vicissitude (192): n. a change of circumstances or fortune, typically one that is unpleasant/unwelcome 3.potentate (199): n. a monarch or ruler