Scarlet Letter Chapter Summaries
1:The novel opens with the image of a heavy wooden prison door, studded with iron spikes. Although in a relatively new community, the door’s apparent age is striking, and contrasts sharply with the wild rose bush next to it. The chapter closes with a wistful hope that the lovely rose blossoms may serve as comfort for the dark tale that is to follow.
2: The chapter opens with a large group forming around the entrance of the prison. The blending of religion and law lends an air of solemnity to the gathering. Some of the gathered women discuss Hester Prynne, a beautiful young adulteress, and her seemingly lax punishment to wear a scarlet letter "A" for life. She is forced to stand on a scaffold in the square, and is questioned, though gives no answers.
3: Hester sees a man dressed in Indian clothes staring at her. The two recognize each other, but the man gestures to Hester not to speak. One of the townspeople informs the man that Hester had an affair while her husband, presumed dead, was still in Europe. Hester continues to refuse to reveal her lover.
4: Hester, back in jail, receives a visit from Mr. Chillingworth, a physician and the man from the square. Hester and her daughter take the medicine he brings, but are wary because Hester is fearful of revenge. It is revealed that Chillingworth is Hester's husband. He swears not to harm the pair, but also swears to find Hester's partner.
5: Hester is allowed to leave the prison now that her sentence is over. Immediately, she feels self-conscious about her scarlet letter. Hester contemplates leaving the town, but she can't bring herself to seriously consider the idea. She lives on the edge of town alone and shunned by society, and uses her skill of embroidery to make a living.
6: Hester's daughter, Pearl, is introduced for the first time. She is so named as she is Hester's treasure, and the only thing she has left to live for. Pearl demonstrates the independence of her mother, but also seems to have a dark side. Pearl is viewed as an imp by the towns people, refuses to cooperate, and is fixated on the Scarlet Letter, sometimes seeming malicious in her attention to it.
7: Hester and Pearl go to make a delivery at Governor Bellingham's masnion, as well as to find out if rumors that Pearl could be taken away are true. Public opinion is, if Pearl is a demon, she will keep Hester from repenting and changing her ways. The mansion is large, and in the European aristocratic style; it even features a suit of armor, which the Governor has worn in battle. Upon examination, Pearl points out that the scarlet letter is magnified in Hester's refletion in the armor so that it takes up her whole chest, which horrifies Hester.
8: When Gov. Bellingham and his companions arrive, they question why Hester should be allowed to keep Pearl. She argues that her experiences will allow her to teach Pearl especially well not to sin. The men test Pearl's spiritual knowledge, and she refuses to answer their questions, and the men are ready to take Pearl, but Hester makes a passionate plea, and asks Rev. Dimmesdale to support her. He convinces the men to let Hester keep Pearl.
9: Chillingworth has become part f the community, as there is a shortage of good doctors in America. Rev. Dimmesdale has been growing more and more ill, so the community take it as divine providence that a doctor has shown up. Chillingworth becomes Dimmesdale's companion to help improve his health, and the two both become boarders in the same home. The people are starting to question the motives of Chillingworth, and some go as far as to hypothesize that he is the Devil.
10: Chillingworth has been devoting more and more time to curing his patient; when he isn't picking his brain to find the root of his problems, he is out collecting herbs and medicinal plants. Sparked by an observation of Hester's happiness, Chillingworth and Dimmesdale discuss the importance of not keeping sins buried. However, Dimmesdale refuses to talk about his with Chillingworth. One night, CHillingworth sneaks into Dimmesdale's room and looks under his shirt; what he finds gives him devilish glee, but the reader is left in suspense as to what it is.
11: Chillingworth has been messing with Dimmesdale's mind, tortutring him slowly. Dimmesdale hate CHillingworth more and more, but has no reason to do so, and so ignores his feelings.Dimmesdale's guilt has been growing, and he longs to reveal his scret, even though he can't. He beings to whip himself, starve himself, and stay up light, all of which cause him to hallucinate. Dimmesdale decides that he needs to pay for his sins by getting up on the scaffolding like Hester had to years ago.
12: Dimmesdale mounts the podium, delirious in his exhausted state. Hester and Pearl join him up on the scaffold, and they link hands, forming an "electric chain." Pearl asks DImmesdale if he will stand with them on the scaffold tomorrow, and he answers no, but that he will stand with them on judgement day. Suddenly a meteor illuminates the sky, and a red "A" appears. CHillingworth also appears,and he convinces DImmesdale to come down from the scaffold.
13: Chapter 13 cites a major difference in the way the public views Hester Prynne. Earlier on in the novel she was a subject of scorn and fear in the public eye, whereas now her good deeds and her new pious nature have gained her many admirers. This is the first chapter where Hester begins to consider the effect she may have on Dimmesdale by keeping Chillingworth’s identity a secret from him. Hester also continues to try and find the significance behind her daughter, Pearl.
14: At the beginning of the chapter Hester decides to ask Chillingworth to stop being a cruel physician towards Dimmesdale. Hester has a conversation with Chillingworth and it becomes obvious that Chillingworth knows that Hester’s admirer was Dimmesdale, and that Hester realizes that Chillingworth knows her secret as well. What follows is an argument between Hester and Chillingworth, over who caused them to be in their current situation.
15: After her conversation with Chillingworth, Hester realizes that she hates her husband in almost every way. The main event of this chapter is Pearl discussing the Scarlet Letter with Hester. The mother and daughter discuss its meaning and Hester makes the decision to not tell Pearl the truth due to her young age. This only seems to increase Pearl’s curiosity over the “A” on her mother’s chest.
16: Hester decides that she has to act on her dislike for her husband Chillingworth, and decides to tell Dimmesdale the truth. Hester walks to the forest with Pearl in order to catch Dimmesdale on his way back home. An interesting conversation takes place about the “Black Man” that Pearl has heard Mistress Hibbins talk about in public. When Dimmesdale does appear through the woods, Pearl makes a connection between her mother’s Scarlet Letter and Dimmesdale’s habit of touching his chest.
17: In Chapter 17 Hester and Dimmesdale finally get to meet in the forest and talk about past problems and future consequences. Hester tells Dimmesdale that Chillingworth is her husband, and this frustrates and enrages Dimmesdale. At first Dimmesdale blames Hester for all his suffering, but then switches the blame to Chillingworth believing that he is a worse sinner than both he and Hester. Afterwards Hester asks Dimmesdale to relieve himself from the torture he receives from Chillingworth, and they both make plans to board a boat to a foreign country and live together with Pearl.
18: Once Hester and Dimmesdale remove all the grudges from their relationship they begin to love each other again. The decision on trying to leave the country gives them both new life. Dimmesdale starts to feel happy again and Hester takes of her Scarlet Letter and throws it into the forest. In a symbolic moment Hester lets her hair down and regains some of her former beauty. Hester then calls Pearl to officially meet her father for the first time, but Pearl approaches with a skeptical attitude.
19: Pearl meets Dimmesdale with a large amount of suspicion. She also refuses to see her Hester as her mother due in large part to the empty space on Hester’s chest where the Scarlet Letter had been. Hester is forced to tie her hair up and fasten the Scarlet Letter back on before Pearl will cross the creek to join them. Hester wants Pearl to meet her father as well, but doesn’t tell Pearl who Dimmesdale is. When Dimmesdale is unable to travel back with the Hester and Pearl, Pearl effectively dismisses him.
20: On his way back home, Dimmesdale cannot believe that his life could potentially turn around so quickly. He finds himself almost swearing to people who respect him as their pastor. A lot of his pious nature seems to have left him due to his desire for vengeance over Chillingworth. Finally Dimmesdale has a disturbing meeting with Mistress Hibbins, her friendliness leads Dimmesdale to believe that he may have already begun to sin again. Dimmesdale encounters Chillingworth when he reaches home, and relieves him of his duties. He then discards his old Election Sermon, and starts again on a better version.
21: There is a public gathering that takes place to elect a new governor for the town. Hester is preoccupied with escaping with Dimmesdale and Pearl on the ship that has just ported in town to Europe. However this dream is ruined when one of the sailors tells Hester that she is Chillingworth is going to be the doctor on board the ship. Ominously, Hester looks up to see Chillingworth evilly smiling at her.
22: The procession for the new governor takes place at the start of the chapter. During the procession Dimmesdale appears and is notably healthier looking than he has been in a long time. Pearl barely recognizes Dimmesdale from a few days ago, but immediately seems to treat him with more respect than she did before. Hester begins to wonder whether leaving with Dimmesdale would have been a good idea after all. An encounter with Mistress Hibbins confirms that she is seen as a witch and will soon be publicly executed. Hester is standing under the infamous scaffold to listen to Dimmesdale’s sermon, when Pearl returns to let Hester know that Chillingworth would “help” Dimmesdale onto the boat, and that Hester should just worry about herself. This predicament worries Hester greatly.
23: Dimmesdale finishes his sermon, which has a special focus on God and his relationship with the people of New England. Everyone is understandably moved by the sermon. After his sermon Dimmesdale walks over to Hester and finally confesses to the whole crowd that he too is marked by the Scarlet Letter. Already visibly weaker after his sermon, Dimmesdale appears ready to die. Pearl finally gives him the kiss he never received in the forest, and Hester says a few last words. Dimmesdale then promptly passes away, Chillingworth never managed to get the revenge he craved.
24: The final chapter is a conclusion to the book, and a description of the events that took place after the procession. Most people at the procession agree that Dimmesdale possessed a Scarlet Letter exactly like Hester’s, however others say that they didn’t see anything on his chest. Chillingworth dies almost a year after Dimmesdale with nobody to direct his anger against any longer. He leaves a large inheritance to Pearl. Not long after Chillingworth’s death, Hester and Pearl disapper. The Scarlet Letter becomes a story that is passed down to children for generations, so much so that Hester’s cottage and the scaffold are preserved. When Hester dies she is buried with the same headstone as Dimmesdale that bears a single scarlet letter “A” on a black background.
1:The novel opens with the image of a heavy wooden prison door, studded with iron spikes. Although in a relatively new community, the door’s apparent age is striking, and contrasts sharply with the wild rose bush next to it. The chapter closes with a wistful hope that the lovely rose blossoms may serve as comfort for the dark tale that is to follow.
2: The chapter opens with a large group forming around the entrance of the prison. The blending of religion and law lends an air of solemnity to the gathering. Some of the gathered women discuss Hester Prynne, a beautiful young adulteress, and her seemingly lax punishment to wear a scarlet letter "A" for life. She is forced to stand on a scaffold in the square, and is questioned, though gives no answers.
3: Hester sees a man dressed in Indian clothes staring at her. The two recognize each other, but the man gestures to Hester not to speak. One of the townspeople informs the man that Hester had an affair while her husband, presumed dead, was still in Europe. Hester continues to refuse to reveal her lover.
4: Hester, back in jail, receives a visit from Mr. Chillingworth, a physician and the man from the square. Hester and her daughter take the medicine he brings, but are wary because Hester is fearful of revenge. It is revealed that Chillingworth is Hester's husband. He swears not to harm the pair, but also swears to find Hester's partner.
5: Hester is allowed to leave the prison now that her sentence is over. Immediately, she feels self-conscious about her scarlet letter. Hester contemplates leaving the town, but she can't bring herself to seriously consider the idea. She lives on the edge of town alone and shunned by society, and uses her skill of embroidery to make a living.
6: Hester's daughter, Pearl, is introduced for the first time. She is so named as she is Hester's treasure, and the only thing she has left to live for. Pearl demonstrates the independence of her mother, but also seems to have a dark side. Pearl is viewed as an imp by the towns people, refuses to cooperate, and is fixated on the Scarlet Letter, sometimes seeming malicious in her attention to it.
7: Hester and Pearl go to make a delivery at Governor Bellingham's masnion, as well as to find out if rumors that Pearl could be taken away are true. Public opinion is, if Pearl is a demon, she will keep Hester from repenting and changing her ways. The mansion is large, and in the European aristocratic style; it even features a suit of armor, which the Governor has worn in battle. Upon examination, Pearl points out that the scarlet letter is magnified in Hester's refletion in the armor so that it takes up her whole chest, which horrifies Hester.
8: When Gov. Bellingham and his companions arrive, they question why Hester should be allowed to keep Pearl. She argues that her experiences will allow her to teach Pearl especially well not to sin. The men test Pearl's spiritual knowledge, and she refuses to answer their questions, and the men are ready to take Pearl, but Hester makes a passionate plea, and asks Rev. Dimmesdale to support her. He convinces the men to let Hester keep Pearl.
9: Chillingworth has become part f the community, as there is a shortage of good doctors in America. Rev. Dimmesdale has been growing more and more ill, so the community take it as divine providence that a doctor has shown up. Chillingworth becomes Dimmesdale's companion to help improve his health, and the two both become boarders in the same home. The people are starting to question the motives of Chillingworth, and some go as far as to hypothesize that he is the Devil.
10: Chillingworth has been devoting more and more time to curing his patient; when he isn't picking his brain to find the root of his problems, he is out collecting herbs and medicinal plants. Sparked by an observation of Hester's happiness, Chillingworth and Dimmesdale discuss the importance of not keeping sins buried. However, Dimmesdale refuses to talk about his with Chillingworth. One night, CHillingworth sneaks into Dimmesdale's room and looks under his shirt; what he finds gives him devilish glee, but the reader is left in suspense as to what it is.
11: Chillingworth has been messing with Dimmesdale's mind, tortutring him slowly. Dimmesdale hate CHillingworth more and more, but has no reason to do so, and so ignores his feelings.Dimmesdale's guilt has been growing, and he longs to reveal his scret, even though he can't. He beings to whip himself, starve himself, and stay up light, all of which cause him to hallucinate. Dimmesdale decides that he needs to pay for his sins by getting up on the scaffolding like Hester had to years ago.
12: Dimmesdale mounts the podium, delirious in his exhausted state. Hester and Pearl join him up on the scaffold, and they link hands, forming an "electric chain." Pearl asks DImmesdale if he will stand with them on the scaffold tomorrow, and he answers no, but that he will stand with them on judgement day. Suddenly a meteor illuminates the sky, and a red "A" appears. CHillingworth also appears,and he convinces DImmesdale to come down from the scaffold.
13: Chapter 13 cites a major difference in the way the public views Hester Prynne. Earlier on in the novel she was a subject of scorn and fear in the public eye, whereas now her good deeds and her new pious nature have gained her many admirers. This is the first chapter where Hester begins to consider the effect she may have on Dimmesdale by keeping Chillingworth’s identity a secret from him. Hester also continues to try and find the significance behind her daughter, Pearl.
14: At the beginning of the chapter Hester decides to ask Chillingworth to stop being a cruel physician towards Dimmesdale. Hester has a conversation with Chillingworth and it becomes obvious that Chillingworth knows that Hester’s admirer was Dimmesdale, and that Hester realizes that Chillingworth knows her secret as well. What follows is an argument between Hester and Chillingworth, over who caused them to be in their current situation.
15: After her conversation with Chillingworth, Hester realizes that she hates her husband in almost every way. The main event of this chapter is Pearl discussing the Scarlet Letter with Hester. The mother and daughter discuss its meaning and Hester makes the decision to not tell Pearl the truth due to her young age. This only seems to increase Pearl’s curiosity over the “A” on her mother’s chest.
16: Hester decides that she has to act on her dislike for her husband Chillingworth, and decides to tell Dimmesdale the truth. Hester walks to the forest with Pearl in order to catch Dimmesdale on his way back home. An interesting conversation takes place about the “Black Man” that Pearl has heard Mistress Hibbins talk about in public. When Dimmesdale does appear through the woods, Pearl makes a connection between her mother’s Scarlet Letter and Dimmesdale’s habit of touching his chest.
17: In Chapter 17 Hester and Dimmesdale finally get to meet in the forest and talk about past problems and future consequences. Hester tells Dimmesdale that Chillingworth is her husband, and this frustrates and enrages Dimmesdale. At first Dimmesdale blames Hester for all his suffering, but then switches the blame to Chillingworth believing that he is a worse sinner than both he and Hester. Afterwards Hester asks Dimmesdale to relieve himself from the torture he receives from Chillingworth, and they both make plans to board a boat to a foreign country and live together with Pearl.
18: Once Hester and Dimmesdale remove all the grudges from their relationship they begin to love each other again. The decision on trying to leave the country gives them both new life. Dimmesdale starts to feel happy again and Hester takes of her Scarlet Letter and throws it into the forest. In a symbolic moment Hester lets her hair down and regains some of her former beauty. Hester then calls Pearl to officially meet her father for the first time, but Pearl approaches with a skeptical attitude.
19: Pearl meets Dimmesdale with a large amount of suspicion. She also refuses to see her Hester as her mother due in large part to the empty space on Hester’s chest where the Scarlet Letter had been. Hester is forced to tie her hair up and fasten the Scarlet Letter back on before Pearl will cross the creek to join them. Hester wants Pearl to meet her father as well, but doesn’t tell Pearl who Dimmesdale is. When Dimmesdale is unable to travel back with the Hester and Pearl, Pearl effectively dismisses him.
20: On his way back home, Dimmesdale cannot believe that his life could potentially turn around so quickly. He finds himself almost swearing to people who respect him as their pastor. A lot of his pious nature seems to have left him due to his desire for vengeance over Chillingworth. Finally Dimmesdale has a disturbing meeting with Mistress Hibbins, her friendliness leads Dimmesdale to believe that he may have already begun to sin again. Dimmesdale encounters Chillingworth when he reaches home, and relieves him of his duties. He then discards his old Election Sermon, and starts again on a better version.
21: There is a public gathering that takes place to elect a new governor for the town. Hester is preoccupied with escaping with Dimmesdale and Pearl on the ship that has just ported in town to Europe. However this dream is ruined when one of the sailors tells Hester that she is Chillingworth is going to be the doctor on board the ship. Ominously, Hester looks up to see Chillingworth evilly smiling at her.
22: The procession for the new governor takes place at the start of the chapter. During the procession Dimmesdale appears and is notably healthier looking than he has been in a long time. Pearl barely recognizes Dimmesdale from a few days ago, but immediately seems to treat him with more respect than she did before. Hester begins to wonder whether leaving with Dimmesdale would have been a good idea after all. An encounter with Mistress Hibbins confirms that she is seen as a witch and will soon be publicly executed. Hester is standing under the infamous scaffold to listen to Dimmesdale’s sermon, when Pearl returns to let Hester know that Chillingworth would “help” Dimmesdale onto the boat, and that Hester should just worry about herself. This predicament worries Hester greatly.
23: Dimmesdale finishes his sermon, which has a special focus on God and his relationship with the people of New England. Everyone is understandably moved by the sermon. After his sermon Dimmesdale walks over to Hester and finally confesses to the whole crowd that he too is marked by the Scarlet Letter. Already visibly weaker after his sermon, Dimmesdale appears ready to die. Pearl finally gives him the kiss he never received in the forest, and Hester says a few last words. Dimmesdale then promptly passes away, Chillingworth never managed to get the revenge he craved.
24: The final chapter is a conclusion to the book, and a description of the events that took place after the procession. Most people at the procession agree that Dimmesdale possessed a Scarlet Letter exactly like Hester’s, however others say that they didn’t see anything on his chest. Chillingworth dies almost a year after Dimmesdale with nobody to direct his anger against any longer. He leaves a large inheritance to Pearl. Not long after Chillingworth’s death, Hester and Pearl disapper. The Scarlet Letter becomes a story that is passed down to children for generations, so much so that Hester’s cottage and the scaffold are preserved. When Hester dies she is buried with the same headstone as Dimmesdale that bears a single scarlet letter “A” on a black background.