iRA#11

The Scarlet Letter


Chapter 18-19: Summary


In the last few chapters we found out that Hester and Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale were lovers. The chapters mainly focus on how a clergyman deals with his shame and sin. He for the most part feels like there is nothing else for him in this world and wants to end it, but Hester tries to convince him that this is the time  they can be a family. She believes that he does have the ability to love someone even his own daughter Pearl. Pearl is still a little girl and doesn' know who her father is and this seems like the perfect opportunity to tell her. No matter what the minister still feels unloved. When children come up to him, they are scared of him. He is afraid that will happen with his own child. Hester finally rips off her scarlet letter, and lets it flow downstream, but something interesting happens with Pearl when the letter is removed. She starts looking for the letter and feels that her mother is not complete without that symbol of shame and sin. Peal looks in the water, picks it up, and gives it back to her mother. Pearl meets meets the ministers, but for some reason she has to be forced to see the minister, like she can't deal with any holy figure. After watching the child grow up in these past seven years, Arthur has noticed that there is something wrong with the child. There is something supernatural about her. There is foreshadowing that Hester and  may have a problem with her daughter someday. This is the era where superstition, witchcraft, and devil worshiping was common, and that anyone could turn to Satan. The rules of faith are so strict during this time period, that everyone is acting hypocritical towards others lying about their sense of good faith.