How does the scarlet letter affect Hester?

As a result of having to wear the scarlet letter, Hester loses all other identity. Even though the interpretation of the letter changes, Hester is inextricably tied to this symbol, so much so that she feels compelled to return to America after having left it with her daughter Pearl.

What does Hester Prynne fear?

Realizing that Chillingworth has transformed himself into a “devil” who has “undertaken a devil’s office,” Hester’s greatest fear is for her beloved Reverend Dimmesdale. When she declares that she has betrayed her duty to the minister by not warning him about Chillingworth she adds, “You search his thoughts!

What happened to Dimmesdale at the end of Chapter 23?

As they move toward the town hall for the evening feast, Dimmesdale sees Hester and hesitates. Deaf to Chillingworth’s attempt to stop him, Dimmesdale mounts the scaffold with Hester and Pearl. He declares that God has led him there.

Why does Pearl Kiss The Scarlet Letter?

So, when Dimmesdale kisses Pearl, he truthfully acknowledges her as his daughter; therefore, Pearl kisses him in like recognition as she ceases to be a symbol of her parents’ adultery and becomes human, in acceptance and forgiveness of Dimmesdale, and in weeping human tears for the first time in the narrative.

How does Chillingworth react to Dimmesdale’s confession?

Chillingworth’s face darkens as he realizes that nowhere else but on the scaffold can Dimmesdale escape him. The minister tells Hester that he is dying and must acknowledge his shame. Then he turns to the crowd and cries out his guilt.

What happens when Hester removes the scarlet letter?

When she removes the letter and takes off her cap in Chapter 13, she once again becomes the radiant beauty of seven years earlier. Symbolically, when Hester removes the letter and takes off the cap, she is, in effect, removing the harsh, stark, unbending Puritan social and moral structure.

How does Hester feel in The Scarlet Letter?

Shamed and alienated from the rest of the community, Hester becomes contemplative. She speculates on human nature, social organization, and larger moral questions. Hester’s tribulations also lead her to be stoic and a freethinker.

What does Dimmesdale keep hidden in his closet?

Locked away in Mr. Dimmesdale’s secret closet was a bloody whip. This Puritan had often whipped himself with it, laughing bitterly while he did, and then beating himself more brutally for his bitter laughter. He also fasted, as did other pious Puritans.