Chapters 23-24

The last two chapters of this novel left me pleasantly surprised. As most of the story led me to believe that the ending would be ambiguous and displeasing to readers, since that is what most of the novel seemed to consist of. I believe that Hawthorne’s rich ending makes the whole novel almost well worth it as it provides a lot of detail. I was relieved to find that Dimmesdale confessed to his sin before he died. Also, it was appropriate for Hawthorne to write in for Dimmesdale to die, as he no longer is able to support Hester and he has rid himself of the guilt that has plagued him for years. This is also true with Chillingworth because without the ability to torture Dimmesdale, he no longer has any purpose in his life. I feel that these chapters embody what this novel is truly about because Hester, having embraced her sin from the start, was able to move on and eventually live her life in the most normal way possible. Dimmesdale, however, buried his sin from the start and tortured himself in secret, which ultimately led to his downfall as seen in these chapters. This is key to a theme in this novel which is embracing one’s sin allows for healing and mending of oneself. The part of these chapters that stood out the most to me was the sense of closure between Dimmesdale and Pearl. She has never been extremely fond of Dimmesdale, even when he showed compassion toward her in the forest, but now that he has openly expressed his sin as a sign of his love, passion, and respect for Hester and Pearl she has accepted him as her family and gives him a final kiss before he passes.

One quotation I found to be ironic in these chapters is on page 222, which says, “According to their united testimony, never had a man spoken in so wise, so high, and so holy a spirit, as he that spake that day; nor had inspiration ever breathed through mortal lips more evidently than it did through his.” This is ironic because moments later Dimmesdale reveals his long-buried sin to the entire congregation, but in this moment the entire colony believes him to be the most holy man in the settlement. Another quotation in this set of chapters goes along with the motif we have discussed as a class regarding sunlight and darkness. “The sun, but little past its meridian, shone down upon the clergyman, and gave distinctness to his figure, as he stood out from all the earth, to put in his plea of guilty at the bar of eternal justice,” (227). This shows that by confessing his sin he has finally once again become worthy of the sunlight and is able to escape his dark cave of agony. A final quotation that is pivotal to the novel is on page 229, which says, “Pearl kissed his lips. A spell was broken. The great scene of grief, in which the wild infant bore a part, had developed all her sympathies; and as her tears fell upon her father’s cheek, they were the pledge that she would grow up amid human joy and sorrow, nor forever do battle with the world, but be a woman in it. Towards her mother, too, Pearl’s errand as a messenger of anguish was all fulfilled.” This paragraph is critical because it shows that regardless of what reason Pearl was sent for originally, she is now human and capable of human compassion and her days of torturous reminders towards Hester and Dimmesdale are over.

My gossamer thread for these chapters comes from the Disney Pixar movie Finding Nemo. In this movie Nemo is a young clownfish who just wants to get out and experience the world. His dad, however, having lost everything is paranoid and anxious about everything outside of his home. For this Nemo is somewhat rebellious and defiant toward his dad. For example, when he swims out off of the reef and “touches the butt” he has no respect for his father blatantly telling him to return back to the reef. This is like when Pearl is in the forest with Hester and Dimmesdale and will not reciprocate his kiss on her forehead. At the end of Nemo’s journey after returning home, he has a newfound love for his father once he realizes that he is not a coward, but crossed the entire ocean in order to save him. While leaving with his class to go to school he asks his teacher to wait one minute and rushes back to hug his dad and tell him how much he loves him. This compares to the moment in the text when Pearl gives Dimmesdale the kiss which she first withheld from him in the forest.
Finding Nemo Final Scene (1:16:00)

23-24 - King Dimmesdale?

These last chapters were really interesting to me. I have not been a huge fan of the book. In fact, I feel like im going to need a significant amount of review because I found it hard to follow Hawthorn's writing. Often times my mind would start to wander and I found myself taking alot more time reading this book than anything else I have read before. Although, these last two chapters were very interesting and had quite the twist, which I admired significantly. I especially liked what happened to Pearl and Chillingsworth. I found that these chapters wrapped up all of our suspicions about the characters. The book ended without me wanting their to be a sequel which was good in my opinion. I like how Hawthorn also wrapped up our suspicions on page 229, where he said "Pearl's errand as a messenger of anguish was all fulfilled". It explains explicitly why Pearl was brought into this book, and why she was the way she was (creepy, demonic, and all-knowing). I was surprised by the death of Dimmesdale as well. The way Hawthorn displayed it in the mood and the way I saw it in my head was almost that Dimmesdale died from exhaustion. It was an interesting way to address his grief and to conclude the book and I was not expecting it to end that way. I also applaud Hawthorn for how he dealt with Chillingsworth. I had constant suspicions about whether Chillingsworth was the devil or not, and It does not address that in exact words. But, the book does go on to say that the whole reason Chillingsworth was even in the town was to bring anguish to Dimmesdale (pg.232), which sheds some light on who Chillingsworth REALLY is. Overall, I would give the book a 5 out of 10 for keeping my attention (aside from these last two chapters). Although, I did really like the religious symbolism as well. 

For my gossamer thread, I wanted to compare Reverend Dimmesdale and King David from the 9th century B.C. As David grew up, he grew into a strong, and powerful man. After being in battle with a friend of his, he was proclaimed the king of Judah. Much like Dimmmesdale, David spoke for God and worked for His glory. David even was considered a "Man after God's own heart". But just like all great individuals, they have their flaws. During David's kingship, he committed adultery with a woman named Bathsheba who lived outside of the palace courts. David went through everything to try and hide his sin, including purposely send her husband to the front lines during battle so he would be killed. Much the same, Dimmesdale went through lots to try and hide his sin with Hester. Although they were both praised by the people around them, they both fell short and committed adulatory. In both situations, their was someone who was also aware of their sin, other than God himself. Hester was strongly aware of the sin she committed with Dimmesdale, and although David did everything he could to hide his sin, the Prophet Nathan still found out about it and confronted him. In each situation, both were great leaders and teachers. On page 222 of The Scarlet Letter, David delivers a most incredible message to the puritans of the area. He is looked up to, talked about, and admired, yet secretly has an indwelling sin among him that has been building up for years.

Chapters 23- 24

The last two chapters of this novel have left me with many mixed feelings about the novel and how it ended. The first of the two chapters mainly focuses on the end of the Dimmesdale and the impact that he leaves on the puritan society in his final hours. The final chapter of The Scarlet Letter was perhaps one of the most unsatisfying yet one of the most completing culminations of a novel that I have ever read. In Chapter 23 Dimmesdale gives one last sermon written from his heart telling people about the relations of God and mankind. He leaves the people of the town in awe with the holy spirit he seemed to possess while giving this speech. Once he emerges again after the parade, all of the townspeople see that he really is dying and has grown very weak. He gives a few more heartfelt words admitting his guilt but asking for forgiveness, not only for himself but for Hester and Pearl before dying on the scaffold in front of the town. When I first read about the events leading up to his death it reminded me of a cheesy ending to a tragic romance that would leave most people who were looking for a happily ever after, with a bitter aftertaste that would make even the most open-minded and willing of readers want to scream in frustration.
It was a good thing I did not stop there because the final chapter of the novel answered many questions I had while leaving a few more that I would have liked to be answered. The concluding chapter glazed over the rest of Hester Prynne's life in a matter of five pages. The narrator has a more personal voice in the ultimate chapter. The narrator gives his opinion on the message of the novel, and a summery on the rest Hester's life. After Chillingworth dies, about a year after Dimmesdale, he leaves his estate to Pearl, earning her a substantial amount of respect in the Puritan community. Soon thereafter, both Pearl and Hester leave the society and travel to some unknown places until Hester as an older woman return to her cottage after many years. We learn that Pearl has married a rich man and has started a family of her own, while still staying in touch with her mother from a foreign land. Hester herself continued to live on the outskirts of the village, still wearing the scarlet letter, on her own free will. In the end when Hester dies the narrator explains how she is buried next to an older grave, with both of the graves sharing a single tombstone reading "ON A FIELD, SABLE, THE LETTER A, GULES." In heraldry sable is the color black and gules is the color red. This leaves me with one final question: while the the red letter can most likely be assumed to be Hester, who is the one that is described as the black field? Could it be Dimmesdale, the one who was always dresses in black, or could it be Chillingworth, who had been referred to as the black man at a few points in the novel? This major piece of missing information has left me feeling unsatisfied with the novel's ending. Even though I actually likes the novel as a whole, I want more. I want to know who it was that she was buried next to. I want to know if she  was put to rest by her husband, or by the man that she loved.
The first of the two quotations that I plan on discussing is on page 234. "But there was a more [...] with reverence, too." (Hawthorne 234). This quotation  was one of the most profound quotations in these chapters because I think it accurately portrays the development of the scarlet letter. It starts out as a mark of scorn and shame and slowly changes badge of respect. People stop looking at Hester in scorn and start seeking her counsel for their worries and how to fix them. These few sentences show how Hester's refusal to wear this as a mark of shame has changed the perspectives of those around her to that of a badge of knowledge, and wisdom.
The other quotation I want to bring up is on page 228. "'It was on him [...] won a victory." (Hawthorne 228). Dimmesdale in his final hour is admitting to his sins and acknowledging that he also has sinned. What I found most interesting about this passage was that he says that both God and the Devil see his sins. He is finally taking all of the blame away from Hester and her scarlet letter by showing his own on his chest. The moral of the novel according to the narrator is to be free and show your worst, or to show enough for people to be able to guess the worst in you. He does exactly this by showing his own mark of shame that is on his chest. The mark that was hidden under his clothes. a mark that he had been carrying by himself for the last seven years.
The gossamer thread that I will be discussing today is the song "Take Me To Church" by Hozier. During an interview Hozier was asked to discuss the meaning of the song and how is critiques oppressive institutions. Hozier replies to the question by saying: "Take Me to Church" is essentially about sex, but it's a tongue-in-cheek attack at organizations that would … well, it's about sex and it's about humanity, and obviously sex and humanity are incredibly tied. Sexuality, and sexual orientation — regardless of orientation — is just natural. An act of sex is one of the most human things. But an organization like the church, say, through its doctrine, would undermine humanity by successfully teaching shame about sexual orientation — that it is sinful, or that it offends God. The song is about asserting yourself and reclaiming your humanity through an act of love. Turning your back on the theoretical thing, something that's not tangible, and choosing to worship or love something that is tangible and real — something that can be experienced.  But it's not an attack on faith. Coming from Ireland, obviously, there's a bit of a cultural hangover from the influence of the church. You've got a lot of people walking around with a heavy weight in their hearts and a disappointment, and that [stuff] carries from generation to generation. So the song is just about that — it's an assertion of self, reclaiming humanity back for something that is the most natural and worthwhile. Electing, in this case a female, to choose a love who is worth loving." (source)The final line of the interview says that the song talks about being "assertion of self". I think that this properly sums up the main message of the novel, that people should be true to themselves. What Dimmesdale in the end of his life tried to do, and what Hester also did by returning to the Puritan society and refusing to take the label of shame the others tried to keep on her.

Chapters 23-24: Beauty and the Scarlet A

When reading these chapters, I was surprisingly pleased by the way Nathaniel Hawthorne wrapped up this novel. Throughout the course of the story, I assumed that the ending of the novel would be very vague and unclear; however the rich ending was quite the contrary.  When Hawthorne wrote in that Dimmesdale died, I thought it was appropriate, because it led to a clear relationship between acknowledging a sin, versus hiding it. As shown through the rest of Hester’s life, she lives normally; going through her daily tasks and has grown as a person from her experience. People knew about her sin, and although it was difficult at first because she was shunned from the Puritan community, it ultimately benefited her. As for Dimmesdale, since he kept his sin a secret for seven years, he was never able to develop this change of character, and he also was not able to see what it was like to be an outcast from the Puritan society, and then over the course of time be let back in. Dimmesdale kept his secret hidden, and therefore the guilt ate away at him for those seven years, until it ultimately killed him. The idiom “eating away at me” relates highly to this situation with guilt and Dimmesdale. The guilt ate away at Dimmesdale until he was unable to handle it anymore and it eventually killed him. Also, when Hawthorne wrote that Hester returned to her cottage and New England I felt that this was a surprise, but I think it was completely necessary. As the saying goes, people usually “return to the scene of the crime” in this case, Hester back to the scene in which she committed her sin. I feel as though if Hester had never returned to the cottage after leaving with Pearl, she would have never gotten closure with the situation with Dimmesdale. I feel like Hester needed to leave the area for awhile, recollect her thoughts and then was able to revisit New England for closure with the situation between Dimmesdale and her. Lastly, I think the way Hawthorne ended Pearl and Dimmesdale’s relationship is one of closure as well. Throughout the novel, there has never been a strong bond between Dimmesdale and Pearl, since she has always been skeptical of him, because of her supernatural-like powers to know that he is her father, even though he does not admit it. This strong closure between them, and the moment they share before Dimmesdale’s passing, is exactly the way a perfect fairy tale story would go. Even though the rest of the novel is far from fairy tale-like, this ending allowed the hope that Pearl and the rest of the characters, not Chillingworth since he was the villain, would have a happily ever after, even though these past seven years have been more like a horror film.

One of the quotes from these chapters that I wanted to highlight was when the sunlight beams down on Dimmesdale, right before he says his final goodbyes. Hawthorne writes this as, “The sun, but little past its meridian, shone down upon the clergyman, and gave a distinctness to his figure, as he stood out from all the earth to put in his plea of guilty at the bar of Eternal Justice” (Hawthorne 227). Throughout the course of the novel, light and dark has been a constant motif. Here, the motif is present again, in relationship to Dimmesdale, and professing his sin. Sunlight is a symbol for vulnerability, so the sun shines here because this is the most vulnerable moment for Dimmesdale. His is vulnerable as to admitting his sin finally after withholding it for seven years, and the sunlight signals this. Hawthorne takes the time to include this minuscule detail, because on a literary level it is more powerful than just the sun appearing.

            Another noteworthy point of these chapters is the essence of music in relation to the action. As we have looked at previously in Death of a Salesman, music signals Willy to go back into one of his delusions. This idea is not the same, however it is important to mention Hawthorne’s attention to music. He writes, “Now was heard again the clangor of the music, and the measured tramp of the military escort, issuing from the church-door” (Hawthorne 223) and again writes, “The minister here made a pause; although the music still played the stately and rejoicing march to which the procession moved. It summoned him onward,—onward to the festival!—but here he made a pause” (Hawthorne 224). In both these incidents with music, a change of feeling is occurring, as with Willy and his change of mind. On page 223, music is heard when the crowd begins to roar about Dimmesdale after he has made his speech. This shows the crowd’s excitement because the energy in the crowd is increasing as the music plays. Also, in the second mention of music on page 224, the action and excitement of the crowd builds even more until Dimmesdale is standing on the scaffold, with Pearl and Hester, about to confess his sin. Unlike in Death of a Salesman, when the music symbolizes a delusion or simpler time, in the Scarlet Letter it symbolizes excitement, or increased energy. This is similar to movies, because the music is always a dead giveaway about what is going to happen and causes suspense. The music is causing the suspense between the reader and Dimmesdale, since his confession of sin is building inside of him just waiting to burst out.

            To relate to chapters 23-24, my gossamer thread is connecting Pearl to the Beast, from Beauty in the Beast. One the surface, these two characters seem completely different; the beast is a gruesome, eerie, and horrifying figure of fictional literature, and Pearl, a small, childish little girl. How is it possible that these two could be related? Well, when looking deeper, it can be shown that Pearl and the Beast both represent evil, or the devil, in their respected fairy tales. The Beast has been held in the secluded castle, hiding, and growing angrier every day that he is not able to be in contact with humans and that nobody likes him. This is because he has been transformed into a beast, and no one wants to befriend him, let alone love him. The same occurs with Pearl. She is secluded in the cottage in the woods with her mother. Also, no one wants to befriend her because she is the product of adultery, and both her mother and father are now receiving unless amounts of guilt. Pearl also grows more evil as the days without much human contact continues. Lastly, Pearl and the Beast both are wealthy, or become wealthy. The Beast has received his money from being a prince, as he was before he became a beast, and Pearl who now has acquired the land left to her from Chillingworth, makes her the youngest heir to a lot of money. So, both these characters withhold money which can be power for them, but yet are still outliers and their money does not generate anyone to love or befriend them. Pearl development of increasingly evil is one that arose throughout the novel, not in these specific chapters. Here, in these chapters, the main relationship between Pearl in the Beast is the passage about Dimmesdale and Pearl’s kiss. Hawthorne writes at the end of chapter 23, “"Pearl kissed his lips. A spell was broken. The great scene of grief, in which the wild infant bore a part, had developed all her sympathies; and as her tears fell upon her father’s cheek, they were the pledge that she would grow up amid human joy and sorrow, nor for ever do battle with the world, but be a woman in it. Towards her mother, too, Pearl’s errand as a messenger of anguish was all fulfilled” (Hawthorne 229). This scene, of when Pearl kisses Dimmesdale relates to the scene of when the Beast kisses Belle. Here, when Pearl kisses Dimmesdale, she is transformed, and no longer withholds her prior evil. Hawthorne writes that she has become a woman, and the spell broke, which means that she is no longer the devil child she was before, with her supernatural powers. Now, Pearl is a beautiful woman, with no powers, but is still able to live a good life without them. Pearl is able to move away, find a man, and develop a normal life full of possibilities. This relates to the kiss between Belle and the Beast. The transformation that occurs with the Beast is definitely more drastic than the transformation with Pearl, especially because it was physical. As the story goes, Gaston, the villain, stabs the Beast in the back in order to kill him because he beholds mystical powers including the mirror and the rose. So, when the Beast is stabbed, he says his final goodbyes to Belle, who loves him. When she professes her love for him and her tears fall to his cheek, similarly to Pearl’s “as her tears fell upon her father’s cheek” (Hawthorne 229) it allows the Beast to come back to life and be transformed into him prior human self. This transformation is one that permits “a spell was broken”, just as Pearl. Belle professed her love to the Beast and caused this transformation to occur, just as when Pearl kissed Dimmesdale. The kiss was a symbol of love for him, although she did not say it out loud, it was understood that since she kissed him, she did really love him. These too transformations are similar in the way they come about, and how love can transform evil into good.

Chapters 20 - 22

Overall, chapters twenty to twenty-two are interesting as the days are counting down to the departure of Hester, Pearl, and Dimmesdale to England. The tensions seem to be growing with escape from the Puritan community so near but Chillingworth refusing the leave Dimmesdale alone. This leads the reader to wonder what Hester and Dimmesdale will do, since they are not able to escape from everyone who knows of their sin and start a clean slate together. However, the part of these chapters that intrigued me the most was chapter 20, more specifically speaking Dimmesdale change in character as his thoughts became more corrupt and sinful.

After Dimmesdale leaves the forest, “[...] he was incited to do some strange, wild, wicked thing or other, with a sense that it would be at once involuntary and intentional; in spite of himself, yet growing out of a profounder self than that which opposed the impulse” (Hawthorne 195). Dimmesdale is becoming more prone to sin after meeting Hester in the forest; to him, his luck has grown and if all goes well, he will be sailing to London with his family in four days. The good fortune he has in this situation and his decision to abandon his position as an authority figure in this small society to pursue happiness put him in a mindset outside of the Puritan values. Unaccustomed to this new way of thought, Dimmesdale, who has sinned not only for committing adultery but also for wanting to forsake a community dependent on him to live happily, wants to inflict harmful thoughts and advice onto others. Throughout his four meetings with his followers and other townspeople, Dimmesdale faces the temptation to taint their thoughts, but also valiantly tries to resist this temptation. I feel like Hawthorne was trying to criticise Puritan society with Dimmesdale’s change in character. Dimmesdale is put on a pedestal for being one of the most influential figures in this community, and the people think he is free of sin. This puts an enormous pressure on him to act perfect; if the townspeople find out that he does something wrong, the community will crumble. In the previous chapters of the novel, Dimmesdale pretends that he has done nothing wrong and continues to do his duties as Reverend while suffering inside. However, when he actively decides to sin and run away with Hester and Pearl, he begins to feel like he wanted to inflict others with wickedness, yet he is happy, full of energy, and healthier. I feel like this is Hawthorne’s criticism of this society, and how happiness and passion and being free of sin and temptation cannot coexist in a society as strict and harsh as this one.

In addition to the change in characters, an emphasis on the importance of different sceneries and settings is also highlighted in these chapters. During the procession, Dimmesdale had a different aura around him; he was more confident and remote, making him seem like a different person. In the marketplace, Pearl asks Hester if Dimmesdale is the same minister that kissed her forehead at the brook, to which Hester replied, “‘Hold thy peace, dear little Pearl! [...] We must not always talk in the market-place of what happened to us in the forest’” (Hawthorne 215). Hester’s response to Pearl’s curiosity demonstrates how in the marketplace, or more generally speaking in the town, one has to act a certain way to be accepted by society. In the forest, Hester is free to act however she wants, as no one is watching or judging her actions, and she is happier and more carefree. She is free to be with Dimmesdale as a lover, which would be frowned upon in the Puritan community due to the adultery. However, the acts Hester and Dimmesdale did in the beginning of the novel were out of passion; they have feelings for each other. In the marketplace, Hester has to suppress her feelings and desires and cannot express herself. Additionally, though people say that the Black Man, or Devil, comes out of the forest, the forest is the one place where Hester feels free and is possible to be with Dimmesdale. It is ironic how a place associated with the Devil can be full of happy memories and love whereas a place supposedly free of sin and is doing God’s work can be so restrictive and harsh.

The gossamer threads I am relating these chapters to are gay people, more specifically speaking, closeted gays. Although there is nothing wrong with not being attracted to people of the opposite gender, society makes it seem taboo and outrageous. Thus, many gay people will not disclose this information about themselves, in fear of peoples’ reactions. This is similar to Hester and Dimmesdale in the way that they cannot reveal that Dimmesdale is Pearl’s father, even though Dimmesdale and Hester do care for each other and there should not be anything wrong with their relationship. There may be a place or people that the above mentioned people can act like themselves (in the case of someone still mostly in the closet, perhaps with very close friends or online, while for Hester and Dimmesdale, in the forest). However, in society, they must hide who they are and their actions in order to be accepted and that becomes repressive. In conclusion, whether someone loves a boy, a girl, someone who is genderfluid, someone who is transgendered, someone who is cisgendered, someone who is a minister, or any other sort of person there possibly could be, that love should not have to be hidden and only displayed in one area.

Chapters 20-22

While reading these chapters I had many mixed emotions. Certain aspects of the novel came to a close such as Dimmesdale's transformation, however my distaste for Chillingworth developed more as I completed these chapters. Overall, I have enjoyed reading The Scarlet Letter thus far. I enjoy the way that Hester's dark passenger has developed throughout the coarse of the novel, as each chapter has progressed it has become more and more subtle to society yet more so apparent to her and Pearl. Pearl's on going persistence to the significance to the letter is interesting because I am curious as to how Nathaniel Hawthorne is going to reveal it's ugly face to her. I also found it interesting as to how as soon as it appears that Hester is going to find closure by moving to Europe where she can start again, Hawthorne reveals that Chillingworth will be accompanying them, the one member of society who knows the truth of Hester and Dimmesdale.
     I found a lot of aspects of these chapters interesting, however one aspect that stood out to me was the imagery and symbolism that is apparent between the light of day and darkness. The idea of darkness has been present throughout the novel with the notion of the black man and the darkness inside everyone. These dark images contrast sharply with the lightness apparent while in the public eye where truth is often disguised. A spot in the novel where truth is hidden by the apparent darkness is when Hester and Pearl see Dimmesdale in the market place, it says "'Mother,' said she, 'was that the same minister that kissed me by the brook?' 'Hold thy peace, dear little pearl!' whispered her mother. 'We must not always talk in the market-place of what happens to us in the forest"'(Hawthorne 215). Secrecy is evident in the previous passage where Hester begins to emulate to Pearl that what is said in darkness should remain in darkness. I found this interesting because Pearl continues to inquire about the evident darkness in her life, however she cannot seem to get a solid response from her mother and I think Pearl is becoming suspicious as to why the truth can only be spoken of far away from civilization. This shows how the forest represents Hester's darkness and the forest also gives off a sense of security because it is the only place where it is safe enough to talk about the truth. This passage further illustrates the notion that has been evident throughout the novel that truth can only be found within darkness but when the clouds part and you are in the public eye everyone reverts to lies and secrecy. Another quote that stuck out to me was at the end of chapter 21 when pearl sees Roger Chillingworth across the market-place. This moment and the events leading up to it caused me to develop an even further dislike for Chillingworth because his plot to hatch revenge on Hester and Dimmesdale has completely consumed his whole life. It is like Roger has turned into a different person and may be carrying a dark passenger of his own, everyone has one but his is more significant than before. I found it interesting how Hawthorne decided to have Chillingworth go on the boat to Europe with Hester and Dimmesdale. As a reader your expecting for Hester to find that closure and that is ultimately what you want at this point especially for Pearl. Hawthorne throws the idea at the reader that Chillingworth may be more persistent and have more of a dark passenger than we the readers may have initially thought. The negative aire towards Chillingworth is evident when Hawthorne says "Nothing further passed between the mariner and Hester Prynne. But, at that instant, she beheld old Roger Chillingworth himself, standing in the remotest corner of the market-place and smiling on her; a smile which- across the wide and bustling square, and through all the talk and laughter, and various thoughts, moods, and interests of the crowd- conveyed secret and fearful meaning"(Hawthorne 210). The transformation and gradual sneaky, sinister, evil persona that Chillingworth has developed throughout he coarse of the novel comes to a head at the end of chapter 21. I think that by describing Chillingworth in this way, Hawthorne is ruining some of the hopes for the reader that maybe finally Hester will put her sins and past behind her and in this regard it could limit her from going to Europe and finally breaking off from the puritan society that is seems she has found herself lost in.
     The gossamer thread from the world today that I chose to connect to this book was the scandal that transpired over the past summer with Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice. Since Rice has entered the league, he has established himself as one of the most consistent and dominant half backs while earning his spot on the roster for 3 pro bowls. Over the past summer, Rice's heroic status was shot down when a video was released of him one punching and knocking out his fiancée after she spit on him. This is very similar to The Scarlet Letter because this caused Rice to be shunned and thought down off as the bottom of society for committing such an act. Similarly to Hester, Rice was the talk of the town so to speak and it appeared that there would be no light at the end of the tunnel for the young running back. Another way that Rice is similar to the novel is that when news came out of the incident, Rice was at serious risk of losing his job. Had the information about Hester and Dimmesdale come out then Dimmesdale would be in the same shoes as Ray Rice where his job would be on the line. The last way that Rice's scandal relates to The Scarlet Letter is the idea that time heals all wounds. Ray Rice is no longer the talk of the town and his name and his issues are no longer brought up. Similarly to how after Hester secluded herself, people began to talk of her less and less to the point where it no longer came up. Rice has since re entered the league and will continue to be a dominant force across the field where he is regarded as one of the nations top running backs.

Granger 20 - 22

Having read up through the end of chapter 21 in The Scarlet Letter I have had several mixed opinions about the text. I have enjoyed the main basis of the plot because it involves an interesting problem with no seemingly clear solution and it contains several problems on the side that appear as if they will make the book even more interesting in the following chapters.  What I mean by this is that the main problem of dealing with the rejection of the puritan society for an atrocious sin is interesting in and of itself.  It seems that there is no way for Hester to rid herself of the consequences and I personally enjoy reading the novel just to see if she finds something to live for in her seemingly ruined life.  The reader is also kept in constant anticipation of the impending doom in Dimmsdale’s future.  While the characters struggle with their sin to make up the main part of the plot in the first half of the book, other element are added to make it more interesting.  For example the presence of Chillingworth and his hunt for the father of Hester’s baby keeps the reader invested in the early chapters, and later on the reader is interested in how Chillingworth will exact his revenge and if it can be prevented.  I think the most intriguing side story is that of Pearl.  As the story line develops, the reader can’t help but notice that Pearl is not a normal child, but it has so far been unclear as to how deviant she is from normal and how this will affect the other characters. In chapters 20 through 22 these several story lines all begin to converge into one and I am interested to see how they will all connect.

            I have a couple criticisms on the novel as well.  One of these is that I dislike the way in which Hawthorne injects himself into the text and brings the reader along as well. There are many areas in which Hawthorne includes his own opinions and ideas in the narration of the story. At other points he even includes the reader in his opinionated statements using statements with “us” in which the reader is then being told by Hawthorne that they share his same opinion and outside view of this story.  For me, this makes it hard to tell if I am supposed to be reading the story and interpreting the plot for myself, or if I am supposed to be analyzing this story from an outside point of view, not as an actual story but more like a piece of data. My other criticism takes me to one of the topics I wish to discuss in class, this being the sudden switch from the realistic world to the world of fantasy.  Up until chapter 16 or 17 the story seems believable.  Even if some small elements seem to be a little over-dramatic such as the timing of Chillingworth’s appearance, they are still humanly possible and imaginable.  However the novel quickly begins to tie into its legendary roots and loses some of my respect.  At first it just begins with Pearl and her truly inhuman behavior. But then the entire setting becomes less rooted to reality.  At the end of chapter 22 Hester finds herself in this seemingly unreal scenario.  She had just listened to this music that seemed otherworldly and it had strange effects on here conscience. Then she finds herself surrounded by a strange crowed of people including Majestically dressed native Americans, unknown foreigners, and even a crew of the Spanish Main, who are described as pirate-like.  All of these people seem to be drawn to the scarlet letter like they have never been before. Some characters such as mistress Hibbins all of a sudden possess mythical powers of perception, and the rumors mentioned earlier of witches and other kinds of magic from the woods are now more than rumors.  In conversation with Pearl mistress Hibbins says, “They say, child, thou art of the lineage of the Prince of the Air! Wilt thou ride with me, some fine night, to see thy father?” (Hawthorne 217)  At this point the reader is questioning the true origin of Pearl. Is she literally some creature of the devil or some imp as suggested by her mother earlier in the novel? I personally dislike this inclusion of mythical sense in the plot. I find that it makes the themes of the novel less applicable to the reader.  I feel like I am no longer reading a story about people, but a fairytale.  I wish to discuss with the class Hawthorne’s motives for this sudden inclusion of a mythical sense.  I specifically want to analyze this new information about Pearl. I am fairly certain that “The Prince of Air”, referred to by mistress Hibbins, is the devil. Satan is sometimes referred to as a Prince in the Bible and he is said to have power over the air with his evil spirits.  I however, am not sure what a visit to this prince would entitle, and I wish to discuss this with the class.

            Another topic I wish to discuss with the class is the sudden transformation of Dimmsdale upon departing from the forest.  As he journeys home from the forest he has urges to sin and even to preach sin to the people around him. Near the end of his journey home Dimmsdale wonders to himself, “‘What is it that haunts and tempts me thus? …Am I mad? or am I given over utterly to the fiend? Did I make a contract with him in the forest and sign it with my blood?”’(Hawthorne 198) Once again this theme of a deal with the devil is brought up. I believe Dimmsdale is partially correct in his beliefs, however I don’t think he just made the deal with the fiend in the forest.  I believe that He made the deal with the fiend when he began his relationship with Hester over seven years ago, but now, after committing to renew this relationship with Hester in the woods, he is finally acting on his part of the deal and the devil seems to be immediately acting on his side as well. Now that Dimmsdale has fully given in to his sin he seems to have little control over himself, he also seems to be blessed with strength but I believe this is strength from the devil and not from his god.

          As I read these chapters, I could not help but notice the similarities between reverend Dimmsdale and Darth Vader or Anakin Skywalker. From a young age, both of these characters were viewed as young powerful leaders of the up and coming generation:  Dimmsdale a renowned minister for his young age, and Anakin with incredible power in the force as a child.  Both of these men were trained in their fields to bring good to their people. Dimmsdale learned to avoid sin and to preach and save others from the grasps of hell.  Anakin, in his Jedi training, was taught to be spiritually clean as well.  Both of these men were to avoid relationships and passionate sins, however, they both failed.  Dimmsdale’s relationship led him to a life of torture and poor physical health.  Anakin’s relationship turned him into a desperate crazed maniac and ultimately left him dying and limbless and then confined to a robotic body.  Now, as Darth Vader, Anakin was taught to use his passion and his anger to his strength. He became incredibly powerful physically and was fueled by evil.   It appears that Dimmsdale may be undergoing a similar change.  There is also a disturbing similarity between "the black man" and Emperor Palpatine. Finally, I am interested to see if the similarities continued.  Darth Vader, nearing the end of his life, made a change back to good again to save what was truly important to him.  I am interested to see if some similar scenario plays out with Dimmsdale.