Chapters 22-24
The procession finally begins. The most startling fixation of this procession is the health of Dimmesdale. He seems to be glowing with health and enthusiasm. He appears as if he could do anything. The sight of him is startling to all who have known for the past seven years. He had been thin and sickly for several years. The procession finally reaches its destination and Dimmesdale delivers his speech to the crowd. His speech was the best speech he had ever given. It was full of thoughtful inspiration. It glorified the crowd.
After Dimmesdale gives his speech his energy and health seem to abandon him. He is full of life and energy as he marches in the procession and gives his glorifying speech. Afterward, he looks frail and worn again. All of his previous energy has seemed to have lapsed out of him. He tells Pearl and Hester to come to him. Pearl readily accepts his hand. She has waited for so long for him to hold her hand in public and not in the shadow of the forest. Hester helps him climb the steps to the scaffold. As he lays dying he tells everyone the truth about his love for Hester Prynne. Chillingworth tries to stop Dimmesdale but he is determined to tell the truth once and for all. “Is not this better,” murmured he, “than what we dreamed of in the forest (249).” Dimmesdale knew that he would have to tell the truth and get the burden of his off of his heart and soul. He then reveals his scarlet letter to the crowd. He tells the crowd that he has sinned and that all people sin. His address is ended when he dies tragically on the scaffold with the two people in the world that he loves the most.
After Dimmesdale reveals his secret Chillingsworth seems to die spiritually. All of the purpose that he bestowed in his life for the past seven years is gone. His obsession has just died on the floor in front of him. A year later he dies and leaves his fortune to Pearl. He never resented Pearl. She moved away and the text indicates that she got married and started a family. Hester eventually moved back to the puritan village. She lived out the rest of her life there. I am not completely sure what her motivation in doing this was. I think that perhaps part of her died along with Dimmesdale. He was the man she loved and all of her memories of him were in the village where they lived.
The procession finally begins. The most startling fixation of this procession is the health of Dimmesdale. He seems to be glowing with health and enthusiasm. He appears as if he could do anything. The sight of him is startling to all who have known for the past seven years. He had been thin and sickly for several years. The procession finally reaches its destination and Dimmesdale delivers his speech to the crowd. His speech was the best speech he had ever given. It was full of thoughtful inspiration. It glorified the crowd.
After Dimmesdale gives his speech his energy and health seem to abandon him. He is full of life and energy as he marches in the procession and gives his glorifying speech. Afterward, he looks frail and worn again. All of his previous energy has seemed to have lapsed out of him. He tells Pearl and Hester to come to him. Pearl readily accepts his hand. She has waited for so long for him to hold her hand in public and not in the shadow of the forest. Hester helps him climb the steps to the scaffold. As he lays dying he tells everyone the truth about his love for Hester Prynne. Chillingworth tries to stop Dimmesdale but he is determined to tell the truth once and for all. “Is not this better,” murmured he, “than what we dreamed of in the forest (249).” Dimmesdale knew that he would have to tell the truth and get the burden of his off of his heart and soul. He then reveals his scarlet letter to the crowd. He tells the crowd that he has sinned and that all people sin. His address is ended when he dies tragically on the scaffold with the two people in the world that he loves the most.
After Dimmesdale reveals his secret Chillingsworth seems to die spiritually. All of the purpose that he bestowed in his life for the past seven years is gone. His obsession has just died on the floor in front of him. A year later he dies and leaves his fortune to Pearl. He never resented Pearl. She moved away and the text indicates that she got married and started a family. Hester eventually moved back to the puritan village. She lived out the rest of her life there. I am not completely sure what her motivation in doing this was. I think that perhaps part of her died along with Dimmesdale. He was the man she loved and all of her memories of him were in the village where they lived.
posted by Elspeth N at 10:06 PM
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