The Scarlet letter- Nathaniel Hawthorne Detailed summary

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫- 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐥 𝐇𝐚𝐰𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐞

 

Introduction : The Scarlet letter, historical novel,written by Nathaniel Hawthorne in 1850,set in 17th Century Puritan Massachusetts.The novel focuses on the story of " Hester Prynne" who gives birth to a daughter 'Pearl' by cause of an adulterous affair. Hawthorne risked hos career in csntering his novel on such a taboo topic. The Story is more concerned with the effects of the affair,Jester's public shaming as a springboard to explore the lingering taboos of Puritan NewEngland in their contemporary soceity. Characters: Hester Prynne,Arthur Dimmesdale, Pearl, and Roger Chillingsworth.

 

The plot : The novels opens with Hester Prin a new Mother being led to the Scaffold when she is to be publically shamed by her Puritan community about three hours as punishment for committing adultry. Hester has been forced to wear letter 'A' on her dress,stiched a large,scarlet 'A' onto her dress with a golden thread .Hester carries her daughter Pearl onto the Scarfold and later asked to reveals the name of Pearl's father. She refuses but un nerved to see her husband, Roger chillingworth in the crowd,despite her assumptions that he had been lost at sea.

 

The Prison Door : Hester has returned to the prison where she has been kept following her crime masquerading as a physician Chillingworth visits Hester telling her that he is now settled in Boston and intends to find Pearl's father by reading the truth on the man's earth he forces her to promise never ti reveal his true identity as her cuckolded husband threatening to avenge her betrayal by ruining Pearl's father if she does.

 

Hester at her needle : Several years later,Pearl and Hester moves into a cottage bordering the woods ourtside Boston,living relative solitude.Hester earns a living by doing Stuchaork for the local dignitaries but spent her free time helping the needy and hunger ones,poor and sick.Meanwhile her daughter Pearl grows up in a wild and disobedience,she is also obsessed with the Scarlet 'A' that Hester wears.

 

Parish and his Parishioner : Church officials attempts to remove Pearl from Hester's home as a result of her mischievous streak and her adamant stature.Arthur Dimsdale,a young and reputed minister manages to convince the Governor to let Pearl's stay with Hester. Overtime Chillingworth develops a reputation as a talented physician using his standing,as such to be transferred into the same home as "Dimsdale" who is suffering from an unknown disease.Ahike caring for Dimsadale, Chillingworth becomes convinced that Dimsdale's condition is a symptom of his guilty heart.One afternoon while Dimsdale is asleep.Chillingworth discovers a mark of Scarlet letter 'A' on his breast and infers that 'Dimsdale' is indeed Pearl's father. Minister at the maze : From that moment Chillingworth torments the minister in the guise of nursing him back to health.

 

 The guilt : Onenight Dimsdale is so overcome with shame at hus secret that he walks to the Scaffold where Hyster was humiliated and imagines the whole town watching him.At the sametime Hyster and Pearl comes upon.Dimsdale joining him atop the Scaffold. The refusal :When Pearl asks Dimsdale to publically acknowledge her as his daughter,Dimsdale refuses.Just then a meteor in the shape of an 'A' passes illuminating Chillsworth who watches them from a distance.Hester realises that Chillingworth must be slowly killing Dimsdale. 

 

The forest walk : Weeks later encounters Chillingworth picking up herbs in the woods and threatens to reveal her identity, Dimsdale as her husband.He tells her taht Providence is in charge of theirfates and she may do as she sees fit. 

 

The Revelation: Later,Hester arranges to meet Dimsdale in the forest with Pearl telling him of Chillingworth's true face.They decide to runaway together in four days time.The day before their depature Dimsdale delivers,his election sermon receiving overwhelming praise,for his preaching, meanwhile Hester discovers taht Chillingworth has found about their plan to runaway and secured a spot on the very same ship,leaving the church Dimsdale notices Hester and Pearl standing nearby and shocks the crowd by climbing the Scaffold. Dimsdale confesses,Pearl,fathered and reveals the Scarlet's Scared 'A' on his breast taht she should've assumed his rightful place by Hester's side,seven years earlier when she first climbed the scaffold. 

 

Conclusion : After this admission,Dimsdale dies in sudden,his revenge plot forged Chillingworth,dies within a year after Dimsdale's death.Hester and Pearl leaves Boston. After years Hester visits her cottage again,Pearl has move to Europe and started a family.Hester never removed the letter 'A' and she dies there lately and was buried near to her husband, Dimsdale.