Internal Argument: Hester Prynne undergoes an internal argument as
to whether she should tell her daughter, Pearl
, what the scarlet letter “A” means on her bosom. The persuasive appeal in this case in mainly logical; Prynne is considering telling Pearl due to her remarkable precociousness.
What is Dimmesdale’s argument in Chapter 3?
Dimmesdale spoke of such an action in terms of a rape, arguing that
“it were wronging the very nature of woman to force her to lay open her heart’s secrets in such broad daylight, and in presence of so great a multitude
.” The men who sit in judgment of Hester are not only hypocritical but also ignorant.
What is the main message of The Scarlet Letter?
Major theme. The major theme of The Scarlet Letter is
shaming and social stigmatizing
, both Hester’s public humiliation and Dimmesdale’s private shame and fear of exposure.
What is Dimmesdale’s argument to Hester on p 12 about why she should reveal the identity of the father?
First, Dimmesdale argues that
even if the baby’s father “‘were to step down from a high place’
” as a result of the revelation of his identity to the community, it would be better than for him “‘to hide a guilty heart through life.
What is Dimmesdale’s argument?
Dimmesdale first argues that “
God gave [Hester] the child, and gave her, too, an instinctive knowledge of its nature and requirements—both seemingly so peculiar—which
no other mortal being can possess.” In other words, God gave Pearl to Hester as well as the knowledge of how to care for Pearl.
What does The Scarlet Letter teach us?
By teaching The Scarlet Letter, I realized the underlying themes, not the supernatural elements that had enthralled me, are what make the story so powerful.
Sin, forgiveness, and redemption
are timeless ideas. Just like Hester Prynne, young people struggle with the consequences of bad choices.
Who committed the worst sin in The Scarlet Letter?
Roger Chillingworth
is by far the worst sinner in The Scarlet Letter.
Who is the father of Hester’s baby?
Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale
Dimmesdale
is a young man who achieved fame in England as a theologian and then emigrated to America. In a moment of weakness, he and Hester became lovers. Although he will not confess it publicly, he is the father of her child.
What are Hester’s three punishments?
Hester’s punishment was
a judicial sentence
; however, being forced to stand on the scaffold for three hours, and to wear the scarlet letter “A” for the rest of her life. It was socially humiliating. Hester was sent to prison for committing adultery.
Why does Hester not reveal the father?
Hester keeps secret the name of her illegitimate child’s father (Reverend Dimmesdale) and the true identity of Roger Chillingworth (her husband). She will not reveal Pearl’s
father to protect Reverend Dimmesdale’s reputation
, as he is the minister of the church.
How did Dimmesdale punish himself?
Dimmesdale begins to torture himself physically:
he scourges himself with a whip, he fasts
, and he holds extended vigils, during which he stays awake throughout the night meditating upon his sin. … He decides to hold a vigil on the scaffold where, years before, Hester suffered for her sin.
Why does Hester say she should keep custody of Pearl?
Hester argues to keep Pearl by
saying she can teach Pearl the faith through her mistakes and trials
, but also by saying Pearl is a daily reminder of the sin she committed.
What time of day does Dimmesdale hold his vigil in The Scarlet Letter?
Twice, Pearl asks Dimmesdale if he will stand there with them at
noon the next
day; the minister says he will stand there with them on “the great judgment day.” As he speaks, a strange light in the sky illuminates the scaffold and its surroundings.
What does Chillingworth do while Dimmesdale is sleeping?
One day when Dimmsdale is asleep,
Chillingworth sneaks over to him and pushes his shirt aside
. He then sees a mark on the man’s chest. He is thrilled to find what he has been looking for all this time. Now that Chillingworth has the prove that Dimmsdale is the father of Pearl, he can plan his revenge on Dimmsdale.
What was on Dimmesdale’s chest?
He discovers that Dimmesdale, out of the guilt and sadness he feels from what occurs with Hester, has
carved a letter “A”
on his chest. This act of self-mutilation is essentially his own way to “share” the pain of Hester’s humiliation.
Why does Hester Prynne hate Chillingworth?
Hester is afraid of Chillingworth
because she knows what he is capable of doing
. He is a learned man and has devoted his life to the healing arts. Having been with the Indians, he has added herbs and medicinal plants to his sagacious accomplishments.
