

He then rips open his shirt to reveal a scarlet letter on his flesh. Dimmesdale then tells the people that he is also a sinner like Hester, and that he should have assumed his rightful place by her side over seven years earlier. Hester and Pearl join Dimmesdale on the scaffold. Chillingworth tries to stop him, but Dimmesdale laughs and tells him that he cannot win. Dimmesdale calls Hester and Pearl to come to him.
SCARLET LETTER SUMMARY FULL
He then unexpectedly walks to the scaffold and stands on it, in full view of the gathered masses.
SCARLET LETTER SUMMARY HOW TO
Hester does not know how to get out of this dilemma.ĭimmesdale gives his Election Sermon, and it receives the highest accolades of any preaching he has ever performed. But on the day of the sermon, Chillingworth persuades the ship's captain to take him on board as well. Hester finds a ship that will carry all three of them, and it works out that the ship is due to sail the day after Dimmesdale gives his Election Sermon. He returns to town with more energy than he has ever shown before. He is furious but finally agrees that they should run away together. She comforts him and tells him Chillingworth's true identity. He is surprised to see them, but he confesses to Hester that he is desperate for a friend who knows his secret. Hester takes Pearl into the woods, where they wait for Dimmesdale to arrive. He tells her that Providence is now in charge of their fates, and she may do as she sees fit. She tells him that she is going to reveal the fact that he is her husband to Dimmesdale.

Hester realizes that Chillingworth is slowly killing Dimmesdale and that she has to help Dimmesdale.Ī few weeks later, Hester sees Chillingworth picking herbs in the woods. Dimmesdale tells Hester that he is terrified of Chillingworth, who offers to take Dimmesdale home. When a meteor illuminates the three people standing on the scaffold, they see Roger Chillingworth watching them. Pearl then asks him to stand with her the next day at noon. He asks them to stand with him, which they do. While standing there, Hester and Pearl arrive. He stands on the scaffold and imagines the whole town watching him with a letter emblazoned on his chest. One night Dimmesdale is so overcome with shame about hiding his secret that he walks to the scaffold where Hester was publicly humiliated. Chillingworth eventually discovers that Dimmesdale is the true father of Pearl, at which point he spends every moment trying to torment the minister. He uses his reputation to get transferred into the same home as Arthur Dimmesdale, an ailing minister. Roger Chillingworth earns a reputation as a good physician. Pearl grows up to be wild, even refusing to obey her mother. Hester earns her money by doing stitchwork for local dignitaries, but she often spends her time helping the poor and sick. She and Pearl live there in relative solitude. Hester moves into a cottage bordering the woods. Chillingworth then forces her to promise never to reveal his true identity as her cuckolded husband. He tells her that he will find out who the man was, and he will read the truth on the man's heart. In the crowd Hester recognizes her husband from Amsterdam, Roger Chillingworth.Ĭhillingworth visits Hester after she is returned to the prison. On the scaffold she is asked to reveal the name of Pearl's father, but she refuses. Hester carries Pearl, her daughter, with her. She has stitched a large scarlet A onto her dress with gold thread, giving the letter an air of elegance. Hester is forced to wear the letter A on her gown at all times. Hester is being led to the scaffold, where she is to be publicly shamed for having committed adultery.
