IRA #10

The Scarlet Letter


Summary: Chapter 14-17


Topics: Evil and "Scarlet Letter"


Hester is almost off probation and will have her scarlet letter removed soon, but she believes that this scarlet letter that was given to her for committing adultery was actually more of symbol of good faith. This makes sense because when you think about it she committed a mortal sin, which is usually punishable by death, but she was lucky and received the scarlet letter. When she became pregnant the scarlet letter was a symbol of vagrancy or pity, but actually this scarlet letter influenced her to take care of her daughter, regain her faith, and get her life back together. She talks to Roger Chillington (physician) and inquires about the old minister Dimmesdale. The minister hasn't been feeling well throughout the last few chapters, and the medical professional is one of the reasons. He is the reason for the minister's suffering and his been finding ways to get the minister to crack and be realistic to the idea that he cannot hide his sin forever. Hester wants Roger to stop hurting Arthur, but he refuses. There is foreshadowing that the  secret between Hester and this malicious man will be revealed: Hester's lover and Roger's real name.

He is depicted as the Devil in human form. This doesn't surprise me considering everyone in the story thought he was a bit wicked with his herbal medicines. I guess that was some foreshadowing that I missed. It also could have been easily missed because when you read books about the puritans and their crazy superstitions, you tend to think that is normal. He doesn't care about anyone or their suffering,. He wants  vengeance for what his ex-wife did. The two people he will go after are Hester and her lover Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale. She doesn''t know what she saw in her ex-husband. They were complete strangers to one another. (Another note is that this was the time period where men and women were arranged to marry someone they barely knew. This included a marriage for benefits). It has been seven years since Hester was accused of adultery and Pearl was born. Pearl thinks she is old enough to know what the scarlet letter means and why she can't have one. There is also a discussion about how Hester supposedly saw the 'Black man".  This interests her daughter for some reason, and she wants to know the whole story. Peal believes that she can move the sunlight, and Hester witnesses this extraordinary event. This has to be some sort of joke that she is playing on her mother. How else could it  be  assumable that she can  move the sun. Prynne tries to tell her ex-lover that he is being betrayed by his good friend Roger.

The truth is finally revealed about Hester and Roger's previous relationship, and now what if the secret between Hester and the minister is revealed. Arthur blames Hester for his suffering and believes that he is the only one that can't repent for his sins.He believes that he is a hypocrite and should have told his secret sooner. Hester should never have begged this confused holy man to lie. This guy cannot forget and forgive despite his profession of granting forgiveness. The tables have finally turned. When Hester was feeling like the object of self-pity, he was feeling great living his life with a secret that is hidden deep into his soul. Now  he is very weak and does not have the energy he should have at his age, and feels like he has lost some of his faith. In contrast, Hester has been closer to her faith ever since the scarlet letter has been embroidered on her chest, and gave birth to a daughter. That scarlet letter was more like Karma. What goes around comes around.