87.Summarize the concluding chapter in terms of character development and final thoughts offered by the narrator.
After Dimmesdale's death, there was a problem deciding wether there was something on Dimmesdale's chest or not. Some say that because of Chillingworth's potions, Dimmesdale had a Scarlet letter on his chest. Other say that there was nothing on his chest at the time of his death. A year after his death, Chillingworth dies and leaves Pearl money. Hester and Pearl dissaper but after many years, Hester comes back without Pearl. She decides to live in a cottage and does what she had done before she left Boston. Years later, Hester dies and is put beside Dimmesdale's grave and share the letter "A" on the headstone.
83.How does Hawthorne further develop the symbolic importance of the scaffold during Dimmesdale’s sermon?
During his sermon, Hester feels the Scarlet letter to burn and us symbolic because it shows what the Scarlett letter has done to her and Chillingworth and making them both feel guilt and regret.
85.Describe and analyze the significance of each of the main characters’ reactions to Dimmesdale’s confession. How is each one changed by his confession?
Roger Chillingworth feels a bit relieved and gets on his knees. Hester supports him because that is something she thought was the best that could happen. Pearl finally kisses him and has sympathy towards him. Most importantly, Dimmesdale feels relieved and finally a feeling of goodness because he has now finally told the truth and has nothing to hide.
86.What are Dimmesdale’s last words? Is there anything significant about these words or the situation in which they are spoken?
Dimmesdale's last words was telling Hester to be quiet and let others say what they want. He tells her that their opinion does not matter because only God has that right to judge others and decide if they can be a family. There is significance because he now knows that nobody can decide wether he should live happily except for God.
80.How has Dimmesdale’s appearance changed? In what way does he appear separate from the crowd and how does this affect Hester? How does this also foreshadow a possible tragedy?
Dimmesdale changes by acting normal again and not showing his suffering. This affects Hester because she feels as if she barely knows him and will never see the old Dimmesdale she knew. This foreshadows tragedy because Dimmesdale will never be like before and he knows that he's life is coming to an end and is trying to change.
76.To what degree and for what reason is Hester isolated from Puritan community during the Holiday? How does Pearl act as a foil to Hester’s condition in this scene? According to the narrator, how is this apparent contrast the result of an underlying connection between mother and daughter?
Everyone in the town is too busy putting their attention on the new Governor and all that Hester thinks about is how she is going to leave New England. In contrast, Pearl is in a good mood while her mother is depressed. This is the result of and underlying connection between mother and daugher because although Pearl is happy, she tries to support her mother and feels bad for her. This is important because the connection that they have, makes them feel a bit of what the other feels too.
78.What bad news does Hester receive from the ship’s captain? How might this news suggest an impending tragedy to the reader?
Hester receives the news that Chillingworth will also be going on the boat with them. This suggests a tragedy because there is no point getting in the boat if the whole reason they were leaving was to get away from Chillingworth.
73.What four temptations does Dimmesdale face on his way home? What does Dimmesdale assume is the source of these temptations? What alternate explanation does the narrator offer? What further explanations for Dimmesdale’s “temptation” might be apparent to a modern reader?
The first temptation was what the Deacon said. The Second was what the female member of the church said to him. The third was wanting to have sex with the young woman. The last temptation he faces was to teach bad words to the children he sees. Dimmesdale knows that it is not his normal self and asks himself if he had make contact with the devil in the forest and is the reason of why he is having these temptations.
74.What does Mistress Hibbins perceive when she meets Dimmesdale? When contrasted against Hester’s meeting with Mistress Hibbins at the end of chapter 8, how does Dimmesdale’s response to her further our understanding of the contrast between the two lovers?
Mistress Hibbins asks Dimmesdale and Hester if they wanted to sign their name in the Devil's book. Hester would have signed the devil's book if they were to take Pearl from her but she didn't because Pearl was the reason she was still on earth and it was her job to take care of her.
71. Why is Pearl unable to share her mother's joy over the Scarlet letter's removal? Why does she insist that Hester put the Scarlet Letter on again? Why does she reject Dimmesdale's kiss?
Pearl does not like the fact that her mother has removed the Scarlet letter and wants her to put it back. She has been used to seeing her mom with the scarlet letter and she feels like she will not be able to recognize her mother from the other women. Pearl rejects the kiss from Dimmesdale because she doesn't like him giving all the attention to his mom, and he doesn't hold their hand when they walk back to town.
69. In the paragraph of Chapter 18, the narrator uses the phrase "a moral wilderness." What is this intended to describe?
This is intended to describe Hester's character because she makes decisions that go against Puritan society. Running away, committing Adultery, and lying about certain character's identities.
70. How does "Nature" react when Hester removes the Scarlet letter? What is the significance of this in light of Pearl's statement in chapter 16 that "the sunshine does not love"Hester? Whate thematic message is solidified in this moment?
After Hester removes the Scarlet Letter, the sun shines on her and leaves gloome. The significance of the statement was Pearl meant that having the Scarlet letter made the sunshine get away from her because of the significance of the letter. Afterwards, Hester removes the Scarlet letter and the sun shines on her like never before. With this, we know that the reason why Hester was not receiving any light in her life was because of what she had done in her past.
66. How do Dimmesdale and Hester disagree over the quality of Dimmesdale’s pastoral work and its effect on Dimmesdale’s life? How do they view repentance and redemption differently?Hester tries to support Dimmesdale by saying that people look up to him and that he has done a good job as a pastor. But, Dimmesdale tells her that he has not done his job because of his sin and that he feels miserable. Dimmesdale thinks bad of himself because he knows that he is suppose to be a good person from the puritans view but knowing that he has committed a sin makes him feel bad.
67. Why does Hester reveal the truth of Chillingworth's identity? How does Dimmesdale react? What is your reaction to his reaction?
Hester reveals the true identity of Chillingworth because of Dimmesdale. Dimmesdale feels stupid because he has been living with this man for a long time and he was not able to recognize who he was. His reaction was that he was surprised and told her that she would never forgive her. My reaction was also surprising because she had Chillingworth that she would never tell who he was and now, Dimmesdale knows.
68. As Hester and Dimmesdale discuss “what to do” to escape Chillingworth, what does their conversation reveal about the nature of their relationship? How is each character strong or weak? In what way does each need the other?
Both of them discuss of leaving to Europe with Pearl and starting over as a family. This conversation reveals that they still want to be together even after everything that happened and also that committing Adultery was because they actually loved each other. Hester is strong because she still tries to find ways to stick together and not let the comments of the puritans keep them apart but she is also weak because her decision to try and run away is not the best. Dimmesdale is strong because he is really trying but he can't no more, he feel so much guilt of what he has done and more because he is a priest and that is also why he is weak. They need each other because they are the only two that still support each other and are the ones that know the reasons of why they did what they did.
60. Why hasen't Hester ever visited Dimmesdale to his study? What does Hester's desired meeting place suggest about the nature of their relationship?
Hester does not visit Dimmesdale in his study because of the amount of air that would be in the room and she thinks they would need more when they talk. Hester's desired meeting place is in the woods and this shows that Hester wants them to meet in a place where nobody will see them and they will be alone with nobody around. Also, it shows that they don't want no more comments and that they still need to keep their relationship a secret due to the reputation of Dimmesdale as a priest.
63. What questions does Pearl repeat throughout Chapter 15 and 16? What do these questions suggest about Pearl and about her relationship with her mother?
Pearl keeps asking what is the big significance of the Scarlet letter and why Dimmesdale always seems to cover his chest up. This shows that the relationship between Hester and Pearl has bad communication because Hester does not want to tell the answers to Pearl, maybe because she is too small to understand or just because she just does not want to.
59. Explains Hester's statement, "If this be the price of the child's sympathy, I cannot pay it." Later, in chapter 16, what does the narrator say Pearl needs in order to "make her capable of sympathy"?
What Hester means by this is that she does not want to tell Pearl what the real meaning of the Scarlet letter is but if Pearl keeps asking, sooner or later she is going to have to reveal the truth to her. The narrator says that Pearl needs a grief to make her capable of sympathy.
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