She refused to flee Boston when Pearl was an infant
because at the time she did not believe that her fellow men and women should have the power to judge her. Now, Hester refuses to remove the scarlet letter—she understands that its removal would be as meaningless as its original placement.
Why does Hester put the letter back on?
Hester puts the scarlet letter back on
because it is an important part of her identity
, and it allows her to be defiant and help other women, yet it was Hawthorne's design for her to come back because she is best able to embody these ideals by sacrificing her freedom from the scarlet letter.
Does Hester remove the scarlet letter?
Hester and Dimmesdale's encounter serves to further complicate what is already a morally ambiguous situation.
The sun shines on the couple when Hester removes the scarlet letter
, suggesting that nature, God, or both favor their plan. Pearl, on the contrary, cannot accept this new, happier version of her mother.
What does Hester mean when she says that the scarlet letter Cannot be taken off?
What does Hester mean when she says that the scarlet letter cannot be taken off? She means that
even if she takes the actual letter A off everyone will still know that she committed adultery and her baby will always be around to prove it so
. Taking off the letter will not change or erase what she did.
Why does Pearl Kiss the scarlet letter?
The man is nothing but a figment of what he once was, now all wasted away and ill. This is the price of sin and guilt in one who is himself a leader in his religious community. When this scandal occurs at the scaffold,
Pearl feels sorry for Dimmesdale
and proceeds to kiss him out of mercy.
Why does pearl not recognize Dimmesdale?
Why does she reject Dimmesdale's kiss? Pearl cannot imagine Hester without the scarlet letter, and is connected to it. Pearl rejects Dimmesdale's kiss
because he refuses to go back into town holding hers and Hester's hands
. She is unsure if Dimmesdale truly is her father, so this leads to the action she has done.
Why does Dimmesdale say he is irrevocably doomed?
In The Scarlet Letter, Dimmesdale says that he is irrevocably doomed
because, as a devout Puritan, he doesn't feel worthy of God's grace
. By his own standards, Dimmesdale is a sinner, having committed adultery with Hester. The only way he can achieve salvation is through the grace of God.
How does nature react when Hester removes the scarlet letter?
When Hester removes the scarlet letter,
the forest seems to open up to allow ample sunlight to shine through
. With the sinful representation of the letter gone, it was as if nature unraveled itself and reveals life. The light, often symbolizing truth, shines bright throughout the forest.
What has happened to Hester's appearance?
How has Hester's appearance changed?
She had become sever and austere in her appearance
.
Does Hester still love Dimmesdale?
During the past seven years Dimmesdale has been continually tormented by the dichotomy between what he is and what people believe him to be. …
Hester realizes that she still loves Dimmesdale
, and she courageously tells him this, even as she reveals her silence concerning Chillingworth.
What is Hester coming to realize is the true sin?
What is Hester coming to realize is the true sin she has committed?
Hester is realizing that marrying a man who she truly did not love is a worse sin than adultery
. Hawthorne would consider this worse than adultery because had she not married a man she did not love, maybe she would never have committed 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.
What does pearls kiss symbolize?
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 Pearl become wealthy?
How does Pearl become wealthy?
She discovers pirates' treasure. She marries the governor's son
. She inherits Chillingworth's estate and marries a nobleman.
Why does Pearl make Hester don the scarlet letter again?
Why does Pearl make Hester don the scarlet letter again, and why must Hester pick it up? Pearl makes Hester don the scarlet letter again
because Pearl feels estranged to Hester without it
. Hester must pick it up because she has to go back into the town for a few more days.
How did Pearl react to the minister's kiss on her forehead?
Although only a few days have passed since he kissed her forehead next to the forest brook, Pearl barely recognizes the minister.
She tells Hester that she is tempted to approach the man and bestow a kiss of her own
, and Hester scolds her. Dimmesdale's apparent vigor saddens Hester because it makes him seem remote.
