About the scarlet letter the scarlet letter summary character list glossary themes the custom house chapters 1 4 chapters 58 chapters 912 chapters 16 chapters 1720 chapters 2124 adultery and punishment related links essay questions quiz 1 quiz 2 quiz 3 quiz 4 citations. She is surprised at the changes in chillingworth just as she was shocked by dimmesdales spiritual ailment and aging. Dimmesdale places his hand over his heart when pearl looks at him. One of the first buildings constructed by the settlers of boston was the prison. Quiz topics include where hester and pearl meet chillingworth and who hester says can be the only. Thats the first time shes lied about it, and she can feel the evil creeping in. Chapter summaries 24 the scarlet letter and all its. Summary and analysis chapter 10 the leech and his patient. Get a detailed summary and analysis of every chapter in the book from. The scarlet letter chapter 14 summary and analysis nathaniel. Despite being cleared of all brush, a wild rosebush grows at the threshold of the prison door.
The work centers on hester prynne, a married woman who is shunned after bearing a child out of wedlock but displays great compassion and resiliency. As to why she wears the scarlet letter, she says, i wear it for the sake of its gold thread 15. Start your 48hour free trial to unlock this the scarlet letter study. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. Chapter 14 chapter 15 chapter 16 chapter 17 chapter 18 chapter 19 chapter 20. The scarlet letter readon classics kindle edition by hawthorne, nathaniel. Course heros video study guide provides indepth summary and analysis of chapter 14 of nathaniel hawthornes novel the scarlet letter. Meanwhile, pearl has entertained herself quite well. Throughout nathaniel hawthornes book the scarlet letter, hesters attitudes toward her adultery are ambivalent. Hester prynne and roger chillingworth both undergo personal changes in chapter 14 of the scarlet letter. Nathaniel hawthornes classic literature novel the scarlet letter tells a tale of an.
This ambivalence is shown by breaking the book into three different parts. Set in puritan massachusetts bay colony during the years 1642 to 1649, the novel tells the story of hester prynne who conceives a daughter through an affair and then struggles to create a new life of repentance and dignity. Chapter summary for nathaniel hawthornes the scarlet letter, chapter 14 summary. Another view of hester seven years pass since hesters first time on the scaffold with pearl. It depends on your reading level and your ability to immerse yourself in the book. She has stitched a large scarlet a onto her dress with gold thread, giving the letter an air of elegance. Hester is being led to the scaffold, where she is to be publicly shamed for having committed adultery. The scarlet letter, novel by nathaniel hawthorne, published in 1850. In this and the next few chapters, chillingworth investigates the identity of pearls father for the sole purpose of taking revenge. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools.
Some people begin to suggest that the a stands for able, since hester is such a capable woman. Similarly, chillingworth intended to punish sin, but has instead become sinful himself. The scarlet letter audiobook chapters 1014 youtube. This unhappy person had effected such a transformation by devoting himself for seven years to the constant analysis of a heart full of torture, and deriving his enjoyment thence, and adding fuel to those fiery tortures which he analysed and gloated over. Find a summary of this and each chapter of the scarlet letter. Hester bade little pearl run down to the margin of the water, and play with the shells and tangled seaweed, until she should have talked awhile with yonder gatherer of herbs. Hester is forced to wear the letter a on her gown at all times. Free chapter 14 summary of the scarlet letter by nathaniel hawthorne.
The scarlet letter chapters 16 summary and analysis. As is apt to be the case when a person stands out in any prominence before the community, and, at the same time, interferes neither with public nor individual interests and convenience, a species of. Hester and the physician from nathaniel hawthornes the scarlet letter. A lane was forthwith opened through the crowd of spectators. These free notes consist of about 52 pages 15,407 words and contain the following sections. Though initially this letter a symbolizes the sin of adultery, hester prynne alters its meaning through her hard work and charity. The scarlet letter reflects hawthornes fascination with the idea of sin and its place in puritan ideology. The scarlet letter chapter summary in under five minutes. Preceded by the beadle, and attended by an irregular procession of sternbrowed men and unkindly visaged women, hester prynne set forth towards the place appointed for her punishment. While walking on the peninsula with pearl, hester sees chillingworth and sends pearl down to play by the seashore while she speaks with her husband. A throng of bearded men, in sadcoloured garments and grey steeplecrowned hats, intermixed with women, some wearing hoods, and others bareheaded, was assembled in front of a wooden edifice, the door of which was heavily timbered with oak, and studded with iron spikes.
Come along, madame hester, and show your scarlet letter in the marketplace. The narrator begins to retell the story of hester and the scarlet letter. Characterization and character development hester abrupt chillingworth of not being genuine and moved from power. Prisons are black flowers because they arise out of sin, which theyre intended to contain. Chapter 14 in the scarlet letter will be the main focus of this quiz and worksheet combination. The scarlet letter chapter 14 summary and analysis.
But, besides being a classic, it is also a very good book, and i enjoyed it immensely, though the ending was disappointing in that it was a little vague as to the fates of some of the characters. Summary and analysis chapter 14 hester and the physician. Hester starts by seeing her act as a sin that she is sorry for committing. This unhappy person had effected such a transformation by devoting himself for seven years to the constant analysis of a heart full of torture, and deriving his. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the scarlet letter readon classics. As chillingworth leaves, hester recognizes how evil he has become and realizes she hates him. Setting the beach significant events hester approached chillingworth as a smirk like good tidings for her and town fathers has recently removed the scarlet letter. As you read, youll be linked to summaries and detailed analysis of quotes and themes. The scarlet letter chapter 14 summary and analysis summarystory. The novel is considered a masterpiece of american literature and a. Each generation can interpret it and see relevance in its subtle meanings and appreciate the genius lying behind what many critics call the perfect book. Her mother, with the scarlet letter on her breast, glittering in its fantastic embroidery, had long been a familiar object to the townspeople. Chillingworth and he began telling her of all the good things the people in the town had said about her. One of hawthornes key ideas in the two chapters is the change of hester.
This image reflects hesters disclosed sin and pearl in the light, while hester herself is in the darkness. Hester instructed pearl to go run and play and she went to a pool and saw herself there. The scarlet letter chapter 14 summary and analysis by nathaniel hawthorne. A summary of chapters 14 in nathaniel hawthornes the scarlet letter. The scarlet letter quizzes about important details and events in every section of the book. The symbolism behind the scarlet letter a changes throughout this novel. The scarlet letter by nathaniel hawthorne is a classic. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of the scarlet letter and what it means.
He pities hester because he feels she is not really sinful, and any breach with gods law has been paid many times over by her wearing of the scarlet letter. On the scaffold she is asked to reveal the name of pearls father, but she. Adopting the attitude of a judge seeking truth and justice, he quickly becomes fiercely obsessed by his search into dimmesdales heart. The scarlet letter readon classics kindle edition by. Hester has been getting back into helping the homeless, sick, and the scarlet letter a now stands for able instead of. The scarlet letter book summaries, test preparation. Read the full text of chapter 14 of the scarlet letter on shmoop. Finally, she uses seaweed to make a scarf and then. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The free the scarlet letter notes include comprehensive information and analysis to help you understand the book. Learn the important quotes in the scarlet letter and the chapters theyre from, including why theyre important and what they mean in the context of the book. A romance is a work of historical fiction by american author nathaniel hawthorne, published in 1850.