Chapter 1
Chapter One has very little action because it is used to set the scene. This chapter sets the scene in a Puritan community during the Colonial period. Hawthorne uses vivid imagery to paint a very dark picture of the town. He describes a huge prison with giant iron doors in a very dark town that seems to have no hope. However, before the end of the chapter Hawthorne describes one bright rose next to the prison door that serves as a symbol of hope for the town. This chapter sets the scene for a novel in which in extraordinary darkness is overcome by a brilliant light.
Chapter 2
In Chapter 2 the main character, Hester Prynne, is introduced. Hester is introduced to the reader as she walks out of the prison while she is watched by the whole town. When she is first introduced the reader does not know what she has done wrong. However, the reader is able to infer that Hester has committed adultery because of a scarlet A that is embroidered on her chest. Hester stirs the crowd up when they see the beauty of the A, which she must wear for the rest of her life. Many of the women in the crowd are outraged at Hester because she improves the letter with gold stitching and makes it very ornate and beautiful. Hester begins a theme that continues through the book by taking the A, which should shame her, and showing it off with confidence. This makes the community very mad because her punishment is meant to shame her, yet she seems proud of it. The crowd does eventually get to her after she has served part of her other punishment which is to stand on the platform in the middle of town with just her baby, who is a product of the affair, to keep her company. She must stand on the platform all day and she eventually becomes nervous causing her to squeeze the infant and causing the infant to cry out. Hester thinks about her life and can’t believe this is happening to her.
Chapter 3
At the beginning of chapter 3 Hester is still on the platform in the middle of town. Suddenly, she spots her husband who sent her to America from Amsterdam but didn’t follow her over. He motions to her not to reveal his secret. She recognizes him by his unique countenance and his slightly deformed shoulders although he was in a mix of European and Native American clothing because he was kidnapped by the Native Americans. Her husband, now known as Roger Chillingsworth, asks an onlooker what Hester is being punished for. The onlooker tells him that Hester has committed adultery. After this scene three town elders come to Hester and the youngest, Reverend Dimmesdale demands that she reveals the man she had an affair with. Hester refuses and says that her daughter will not know her earthly father, only her heavenly one. After she refuses Reverend Dimmesdale conducts a sermon to the town on sin and uses Hester as an example of what will happen. Then Hester is led back inside the prison.
Chapter 4
In Chapter 4 Hester finally talks to her husband. Since he is a doctor he is sent to her cell to provide medical assistance for Hester. While in the cell Chillingsworth tries to pressure Hester into telling him who her lover is. He also forces her to promise that she will not reveal who he is to protect his new identity from the sin that Hester has committed. When Hester will not tell him who her lover is tells her that he will deduce who it is by observing signs of guilt. Hester notices that her current predicament is making Chillingsworth very happy and she decides that he may be the Black Man, or the devil. The chapter concludes with Chillingsworth telling Hester that she should not be worried about her soul which foreshadows the revenge that Chillingsworth plans to reap on Hester’s unknown lover.
Chapter 5
After a few months in prison Hester is released. She is told that she is allowed to leave Boston and pursue a new life elsewhere, but she chooses to remain in Boston. While she chooses to remain in Boston she is alienated and lives in a small cabin at the edge of town with her daughter Pearl. Even though she remained alienated Hester was able to support herself and her daughter because she was exceptionally talented at embroidery. Even though she was looked down upon for her sin everyone wanted her beautiful embroidery. It was even used for funerals and church events. However, she was unable to embroider for weddings because it was considered wrong to have an adulterer be part of the wedding. To fill her time Hester frequently does charity work even though those that she helps constantly insult her.
Chapter 6
Hester’s daughter, Pearl, is the main subject of chapter six. It starts out with an indirect comparison of Pearl to the rosebush depicted outside of the prison in chapter one. Pearl is a beautiful thing in a dismal situation. Pearl got her name because she was “purchased” with all her mother had. To get Pearl Hester had to give up her husband, life, and reputation. However Hester is not mad and is very glad that she has Pearl as a daughter. Pearl has a strange fascination with Hester’s scarlet letter and constantly tries to play with it. This seems to bring Hester much dismay. Because other children are always mean to Pearl she creates many imaginary friends to keep her company. As the chapter closes Hester starts to believe that Pearl is not a demon child like all of the townspeople have made Hester think.
Chapter 7
While on the way to visit Governor Bellingham’s mansion to drop off a pair of ornately designed gloves that Hester had made for the governor a group of children flings mud at Pearl and Hester until Pearl frightens them off. Hester is also visiting to enquire about the fate of Pearl. Many of the townspeople want Pearl to be taken away from her. There are two reasons that they believe Pearl and Hester should be separated. The first is that Pearl is a demon child and is dangerous to Hester. The second is that Pearl is a good child and should be sent to better parents because Hester is a bad influence. Once they have arrived, Pearl and Hester are forced to wait in the mansion. Hester does not like the Governor’s mansion because it reminds her of British mansions and the class structure she left behind. While they are waiting Pearl constantly searches for things to keep her entertained. She eventually finds a suit of armor in which she can see her reflection and she finds great joy in this. When Hester looks in the suit of armor she notices that the scarlet letter is the dominant image in the reflection. This horrifies her. At the end of the chapter a group of men enter the mansion.
Chapter 8
The group of men that entered the room consisted off Governor Bellingham, Reverend Wilson, Dr. Chillingworth, and Reverend Dimmesdale. As they walk in they begin to tease Pearl. Once they noticed that Hester was there they asked her why she believed that she should be allowed to keep Pearl. Hester’s main argument is that she will be able to teach Pearl a very important message because of the lesson that she learned from her sin. The group of men is very doubtful of Hester’s case. When she realizes that she is about to lose Hester she begs Reverend Dimmesdale to convince the rest of the group to allow her to keep Pearl. Dimmesdale is so eloquent in his argument that Pearl is a gift from God that the men decide to let Hester keep Pearl. This angers Chillingworth and he tries to convince the men to reopen the investigation to find Hester’s lover. The other three men quickly shoot down this idea saying that it should be left to God. On the way home from the Governor’s mansion Hester is invited to a Witch Meeting. She says that if she had not been able to keep Pearl she would have gone to the meeting.
Chapter 9
By changing his name upon his arrival to Boston Chillingworth is able to create an entirely new persona since nobody knows who he is. Since he is free to be what he wants he decides to be a doctor. He becomes a doctor because the town has very little access to good medical care so he becomes a valued part of society almost instantly. His first major job is taking care of Reverend Dimmesdale. Dimmesdale won’t marry any of the young women in Boston Chillingworth is presented with a good opportunity to become friends with a town elder. Chillingworth must take care of Dimmesdale because Dimmesdale is constantly clutching at his chest like his heart pains him. Dimmesdale and Chillingworth move into a widow’s house next to a cemetery so that Dimmesdale can contemplate death. As Chillingworth stays longer his face begins to look evil and rumors spread about his past. Many townspeople begin to believe that Chillingworth is the devil and he is trying to attack Dimmesdale.
Chapter 10
Chillingworth becomes obsessed with Dimmesdale and spends all of his time doing something with or about Dimmesdale. Chillingworth constantly pesters Dimmesdale about his past and his personal life, but Dimmesdale is suspicious of him and refuses to divulge any information. Dimmesdale questions Chillingworth when he asks about a plant that Chillingworth has. Chillingworth says that he found in on an old grave and claims it is a symbol of unconfessed sin. One day while talking to Dimmesdale, they hear a scream come from outside in the cemetery. When they look out the window they see that Pearl is playing with Hester and hooking thorns to Hester’s scarlet letter. Once Pearl sees Chillingworth in the window she makes Hester leave because she does not want the “black man” to get them too. Dimmesdale gets nervous when Chillingworth starts to talk about Hester and how she is not afraid to show her sin. Dimmesdale does not want to reveal that he is intimate with Hester or that he is hiding sin. The conversation turns awkward and Dimmesdale apologizes. Then Chillingworth sneaks up to Dimmesdale while he is sleeping and looks at his bare chest. What Chillingworth sees delights him, but what he sees is not revealed.
Chapter 11
Chillingworth keeps tormenting Dimmesdale and Dimmesdale even begins to resent Chillingworth. Even though Dimmesdale is greatly pained by his sin it creates great sermons for his congregation. During this time he delivers his most powerful sermons on the topic of sin. Dimmesdale describes himself as a bad and sinful man which all of the townspeople think is ridiculous and this just pains Dimmesdale more. Dimmesdale wants to confess his sin, but he can’t find the courage to do so. The guilt tears him up inside and he is often unable to sleep. He also begins to have visions that depict Hester and Pearl. He seems to be going crazy and even starts to doubt the bible when it will offer him no consolation for his guilt. Dimmesdale begins to torture himself by inflicting pain. He also begins to hold vigils by himself in which he meditates all night about the sin he has committed. At the end of the chapter Dimmesdale gets the idea to hold a vigil on the scaffold in the middle of town where Hester had to publicly suffer for her sin.
Chapter 12
Dimmesdale goes to the scaffold and takes a seat upon it. His chest begins to hurt and he lets out a scream. He becomes worried that everyone will be woken up and see him in the town’s public place of shame. Right after this Reverend Wilson walks past on his way home, but he does not notice Dimmesdale. After Reverend Wilson has past Dimmesdale laughs out loud and his laugh is answered by Pearl. Hester and Pearl were on their way home from the burial of Governor Winthrop, the same place Wilson was coming from. Once Dimmesdale notices Hester and Pearl he invites them up on the scaffold to stand with him and they all hold hands. A bright flash of light appears in the sky and when Dimmesdale looks up he sees the letter A in a dull red light. Suddenly they see Chillingworth standing some way away. He approaches the group and says that Dimmesdale must have slept walked to the scaffold and that they should return home. Dimmesdale agrees to go with him. The following morning Dimmesdale preaches one of his best sermons on sin. One of Dimmesdale’s gloves was found on the scaffold, but the townspeople assumed that Satan had been up to mischief rather that thinking that Dimmesdale was actually on the scaffold. The townspeople also fail to associate the A in the sky with Hester or Dimmesdale and instead they believe it is a sign that the recently deceased Governor Winthrop has become an angel.
Chapter 13
Hester has begun to change. She constantly takes food to charities and the homeless and even makes clothes for them. However, she is still the subject of verbal attacks even though she is trying to help these people. This has taken a toll on Hester and she begins to become less loving and caring and more contemplative and somewhat of a shell of her former self. Pearl has just turned seven and Hester constantly thinks about Pearl. She is not sure whether Pearl is a normal child or not. She also begins to think about helping Dimmesdale by telling him who Chillingworth is. This is the first time she has even thought about breaking her promise of secrecy. This all comes about because of how Hester has changed. The changes have caused her to think a lot more about life in general and the Puritan society she lives in.
Chapter 14
After a long period of contemplation Hester decides to confront Chillingworth about revealing his true identity to Dimmesdale. One day her and Pearl encounter him at the beach while he is looking for plants to make medicine with. When she first approaches him he begins to tease her about the scarlet letter and even says that the town elders will let her take it off. Hester retorts by saying it is up to God. Then Hester tells him that she wants to tell Dimmesdale the truth. Once she says this Chillingworth sees that he is right and that Dimmesdale was Hester’s lover. He also realizes that Hester is aware that he knows this. Once he realizes this Chillingworth finally sees how much he has changed. He went from being an upper class scholar to an evil doctor whose only goal was to get revenge. Once he takes a step back and sees all this he gets angry and blames Hester for the changes that he has gone through. He also tells Hester that their situation is a matter of fate and that nothing can be done about it. Hester disagrees with him, but they go their separate ways.
Chapter 15
Chillingworth leaves Hester on the beach and Hester must find Pearl. When Hester does find Pearl she is playing in the tide pools. Pearl was pretending to be a mermaid and took seaweed and put it on her chest in the shape of an A. Pearl does this because she wants to know the significance behind the A on Hester’s chest. When Hester arrives she ask Pearl why the seaweed is on her chest. In response Pearl asks Hester why she wears the scarlet letter on her chest. Hester begins to tell Pearl the truth about the scarlet letter, but stops because she believes Pearl is too young to know the full truth. However, Pearl does not give up and constantly pesters Hester about it for the next few days. Her main question is whether the scarlet letter has anything to do with the fact that Dimmesdale constantly clutches at his chest. Pearl’s attempts are to no avail however and Hester does not tell Pearl anymore about the scarlet letter.
Chapter 16
Hester decides to tell Dimmesdale the truth about Chillingworth. One day she hears that he is going to visit a Native American settlement, so Hester decides to wait on the trail in the woods and catch him on his way back to Boston. Hester brings Pearl along with her and Pearl continues to probe for information about the scarlet letter. She makes another connection between the “black man” and the scarlet letter because she heard a few older ladies talking about how the scarlet letter is the mark of the “black man”. She asks Hester what they have to do with each other, but Hester quiets her because Dimmesdale is approaching. Pearl asks if the person approaching is the “black man” and will not listen to her mother’s instructions to leave until Hester reveals that it is just Reverend Dimmesdale. Pearl then goes to play in the woods until Hester is done talking to Dimmesdale. As Pearl goes away she wonders if the “black man” has any connection with Dimmesdale.
Chapter 17
Since they are finally out of the public eye Hester and Dimmesdale are finally able to be together. They sit down by a stream and begin to talk. When Hester reveals that Chillingworth is her husband Dimmesdale becomes very upset and blames Hester for all of his suffering. This is too much for Hester to bear and she hugs Dimmesdale until he forgives her. They then talk about whether or not Chillingworth will reveal their secret to the town because he knows of Hester’s intention to tell Dimmesdale of his past. Hester tells Dimmesdale not to worry about it, but Hester insists that Dimmesdale must distance himself from Chillingworth so that something bad does not happen. Hester and Dimmesdale make up fantasies and plans about boarding a ship and going back to Europe to start a new life so that Dimmesdale, Hester, and Pearl can all live as a family.
Chapter 18
The plan to move to Europe has a very positive effect on Hester and Dimmesdale. They begin to return to their former selves. Dimmesdale becomes happy once more because the burden of sin and the guilt has been lifted off his shoulders. Hester also becomes happy and she even takes off her scarlet letter. Then she lets her hair down and she starts to look like her old self again because she is once more the beautiful women that she was before the whole town constantly battered her. Sunlight suddenly floods the forest. Dimmesdale is very excited that he will finally be able to know Pearl and be able to share his knowledge and experience with her. Hester then calls Pearl to come back from playing in the woods to join her and Dimmesdale. Pearl is very cautious about returning because of her fear of the “black man”, but she eventually returns and joins Hester and Dimmesdale by the stream.
Chapter 19
Pearl is very cautious when Hester calls her over. She is across the stream from her parents, but she will not come closer because Hester does not have the scarlet letter on her chest. Only when Hester pins the letter back on her chest does Pearl come over and hug her and kiss the scarlet letter. Hester encourages Pearl to talk to and hug Dimmesdale. Pearl senses that the two adults have done something because they are in such high spirits, so Pearl asks if he is going to go back with them and all three of them show up together and when Dimmesdale says no she runs to the stream and washes off his kiss from her forehead.
Chapter 20
Dimmesdale is in very high spirits when he returns to town. He looks forward to Europe so that he can have a family with Hester and also so that he will have access to better medical care. Hester is also very excited and uses connections that she has made through charity work to find a ship that leaves for Europe in four days. While walking around town Dimmesdale begins to have impulses to do things that are against his nature. He wants to say blasphemous things, teach children wicked words, and make oaths with sailors. Mistress Hibbins offers to be an escort for him and he begins to wonder if he’s made a deal with the devil. When Dimmesdale arrives home he tells Chillingworth that his services are no longer needed. Chillingworth is too nervous to ask Dimmesdale if he knows his true identity so Chillingworth leaves. Dimmesdale also makes a new sermon from scratch three days from his next scheduled sermon because of the new person that he has found within himself.
Chapter 21
Chapter 21 imitates the structure of the first chapter in the novel. It depicts of public gathering in the town square, but this time it is a joyous occasion for the induction of the new governor as opposed to the punishment of Hester. The scene is very festive and splendid. It is a joyous time for all the people of Boston. Pearl starts to ask Hester about Dimmesdale, but Hester is lost in her thoughts and somewhat ignores Pearl’s questions. Hester is daydreaming about escaping the life she has lived and going to Europe with Dimmesdale. At this time, however, a sailor from the ship informs Hester that Dr. Chillingworth will be joining them on the ship because they are in need of a doctor. This devastates Hester and when she looks up she sees Chillingworth laughing at her from across the crowd.
Chapter 22
A procession of soldiers and town elders comes through town. Hester is disappointed that this Puritan society and the town elders would put so much emphasis on wealth. Everyone in the town notices that Dimmesdale looks much healthier than he has in a very long time. Pearl informs Hester of her desire to speak to Dimmesdale, but Hester will not allow her to do so. Dimmesdale’s new vigor saddens Hester because he seems different than the man she talked to just a few days before at a stream in the forest. Then Hester encounters Mistress Hibbins who begins to talk about the devil. Mistress Hibbins also tells Hester that all will soon see Dimmesdale’s mark. Hester does not know what to think of this conversation and it makes her question the plans that she has made with Dimmesdale.
Chapter 23
In chapter 23 Dimmesdale woes his onlookers with a powerful sermon predicting that Puritan New England will thrive the true chosen land by God. Dimmesdale’s performance is amplified by his personal sickness and that has once again settled on him and made it clear he was verging on death. After his triumphant sermon,Dimmesdale sees Hester and Pearl in front of the scaffold. He asks them to approach him at the scaffold.Chillingworth warns Dimmesdale not to “blacken” his fame.On the scaffold, Dimmesdale turns toHester and says: “Is this not better than what we dreamed of in the forest?” He tells her God is merciful, and begs her to let him take responsibility for his shame. Supported by Hester and Pearl, Dimmesdale turns to the crowd and announces that he is guilty of the same sin for which they have punished Hester. As Chillingworthlooks on in despair, Dimmesdale tears away his clothing to reveal ascarlet letter carved into his breast.Dimmesdale falls to the floor and asksPearl for a kiss. She kisses him and cries, and narrator says her tears were a pledge that “she would grow up amid human joy and sorrow, nor forever do battle with the world, but be a woman in it.”Hester tells Dimmesdale they will meet again in the afterlife. Though Dimmesdale is not so sure, he dies crying out that God is merciful and thanking Him for putting him through the terrible trials and ordeals that led to this moment, his confession. The watching crowd murmurs in awe.
Chapter 24
Chapter 24 begins with the mysterious letter A on Dimmesdale's chest. Various explinations are offered from the public. Certain citizens bellieved the scarlet letter was self inflicted as a sacrifice for sin. Some citizens belived still that it was naturally occuring as if his internal suffering and remorse birthed the scarlet letter upon his chest. The town authorities stated that there had been no letter on his skin at all, and that Dimmesdale confessed not for a personal sin, but simply to teach his flock that all men are born sinners.The narrator says the story he’s told has one moral: be true, and show the world your worst, or at the least, “some trait whereby the worst may be inferred.”After Dimmesdale’s death, Chillingworth lost his vitality and died within a year, leaving Pearl a share of his property in England and New England. No one knew for sure what happened to Pearl, but clues point to her having married a man, for love, in Europe.Hester returned years later to her cabin in Boston. She lived there for many years before her death and still wore the scarlet letter, which had taken on its own legend over time. She was buried next to Dimmesdale. Their shared tombstone bore a single scarlet letter on a field of black.