The Scarlet Letter
By: Nathaniel Hawthorne
Summary
Sources
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The Scarlet letter By: Nathaniel Hawthorne
Characters
Pearl Hester’s daughter Pearl is a young girl with a moody, mischievous spirit and an ability to perceive things differently than others. For example, she quickly discerns the truth about her mother and Dimmesdale. The townspeople say that she barely seems human and spread rumors that her unknown father is actually the Devil. She is very smart for her age and often asks questions.
Roger Chillingworth Roger Chillingworth is Hester’s husband in disguise. He is much older than she is and had sent her to America. He is captured by Native Americans, and arrives in Boston belatedly and finds Hester and her child being put on the scaffold. He wants revenge, and decides to stay in Boston despite his wife’s crime. He is a scholar and uses his knowledge to disguise himself as a doctor, intent on discovering and tormenting Hester’s lover. Chillingworth is self-absorbed and egotistic.
Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale Dimmesdale became famous in England as a theologian and then came to America. He and Hester became lovers. Although he will not confess it publicly, he is the father of her child. He deals with his guilt by tormenting himself physically and psychologically, developing a heart condition as a result. Dimmesdale is an intelligent and emotional man.
Governor Bellingham Governor Bellingham is a wealthy, old man who consults with the other town fathers often. Bellingham tends to strictly adhere to the rules, but he is easily swayed by Dimmesdale. He remains blind to the misbehaviors taking place in his own home. His sister, Mistress Hibbins, is a witch.
Mistress Hibbins Mistress Hibbins is a widow who lives with her brother, Governor Bellingham. She is commonly known to be a witch who goes into the forest at night to converse with the “Black Man.”
Reverend Mr. John Wilson - Boston’s old clergyman, Reverend Wilson is extremely smart. Like Governor Bellingham, Wilson follows the community’s rules but can be swayed by Dimmesdale. Unlike Dimmesdale, his junior colleague, Wilson preaches hellfire and damnation and advocates harsh punishment of sinners.
Favorite passage
“And why not, mother?” asked Pearl, stopping short. . . . “Will it not come of its own accord, when I am a woman grown?" I like this quote because, it shows how outspoken Pearl is. She is not afraid to ask questions and she is observant yet ignorant of their meanings, she sees and recognizes the letter, but does not understand it yet.