Chapter One
In chapter one of The Scarlet Letter, the setting is set. The scene is described, giving an insight on what is to come. Also, the reader is introduced to the crowd of people outside the prison. These onlookers become an important part in the story. The reader is also introduced to the prison that Hester is being held in. Chapter Two
Chapter two opens with people standing in front of the Prison door waiting for Hester Prynne to emerge from it. The focus then shifts to a group of women who are discussing the consequences that Hester ought to receive. When the door finally opens, the town beadle emerges from it followed by Hester who holds a three-month-old baby in her arms. The author takes note of Hester’s physical appearance as well as the nicely embroidered scarlet A that is on her dress. Hester then makes her way to the scaffold where she was forced to stand and be publically humiliated. While on the scaffold, Hester sees images of her family in her mind and then clutches the baby so tightly that it screams. Hester touches the scarlet letter on her chest and realizes that this is now her reality and everything else is gone. Chapter Three
Chapter three opens with the introduction of a man in the crowd of onlookers that Hester recognizes. The man is later identified as Hester’s husband who goes by Chillingworth. The man asks a townsman about what Hester has done. It is explained that Hester has raised a great scandal and committed adultery. Hester is standing on a scaffold in front of the large crowd. While on the scaffold, Hester is seen carrying her sin born child, occasionally squeezing it so hard that it lets out cries. Reverend Dimmesdale comes out and demands that Hester reveal the name of the child’s father. Hester refuses to do so. She then proceeds to state that her child will only know a heavenly father and not an earthly one. |
Chapter Four
Hester returns to prison where she and Pearl sat in turmoil, anguish and despair. The baby experienced painful convulsions so fiercely that the jailer called in a physician, Roger Chillingworth. The physician asked Hester to administer the medicine but she refused so Chillingworth administered the medicine himself. After seeing the medicine cure the baby’s convulsions, Hester took the medicine that Chillingworth prescribed for her. The author then reveals that Hester and Chillingworth had been married. The characters talk about how the marriage was not true and she asks him to announce their marriage to relieve her from the Scarlet Letter but Chillingworth quickly declines because he doesn’t want to have to encounter the dishonor that comes with being the husband of an adulterous woman. Hester later asks him if he is a devil that will ruin her soul. He responds by saying that it’s not her soul he intends to ruin. Chapter 5
In chapter five, Hester is released from prison and free to leave the city, yet she chooses to stay. The reader learns that Hester and her daughter pearl live in a cabin at the edge of town away from everyone. As her extravagantly embroidered scarlet letter shows, Hester has a talent for needlework and she makes a small living off of embroidering. Hester’s embroidering is used for the major events in a person’s life except for weddings because of the source of the embroidering. Hester is always feeling guilt for her sin. She devotes some time to working for charity, but she gets insulted constantly. Hester is on a path to find out what she is good for. Chapter Six
This chapter is all about Hester’s daughter Pearl. She was named Pearl because it signified that pearl was her mother’s only treasure. The author writes about Pearl’s physical perfection and describes the infant as “worthy to have been brought forth in Eden” (Hawthorne 82). On the other hand, Pearl was prone to defiant moods and a short temper. Most of the time, Hester did not discipline the child and allowed her to do pretty much whatever she wanted. The first thing that Pearl noticed about her mother was the Scarlet Letter which she gazed upon with an impish smile. As Pearl matured, she began to ask her mother who her father was and Hester would respond by saying that her Heavenly Father sent her. This chapter is full of descriptions of Pearl as both an angel and a devilish imp. |