Summary of the Scarlet Letter

Chapter 1 Summary

Many Puritans assembled outside of the prison awaiting the exit of someone. The prison is described in high detail to focus on its gloominess and depressing look. The prison walls are weathered and the iron is rusting. A beautiful rosebush is in full bloom which accents the beauty of it due to its location and makes the prison look worse. The Puritans are left wondering who is going to ext.

Reflection

The first chapter basically shows how detailed the book will be. It leaves us guessing what its all about too. It seems as though that whoever is going to come out will enter the large flock of Puritans. Only by reading on will answer the question of what is going on.

Questions

Why does Hawthorne need to explain the features of the Jail? Who will exit the jail? What will happen when they do? Is there any significance of the rosebush? Why are the Puritans gathered there?

Chapter 2 Summary

The crowd in front of the jail all look upset or angry. The women talk of Hester Prynne, who will not get off easy for her crimes if it were their decision. One is for death of Hester. Hester exit's the prison using lady like gestures holding her three month old daughter Pearl. She is given the scarlet letter to wear as punishment, and chooses to wear it on her bosom. She is led to the scaffold where she then stands in front of the crowd in the position of where her punishment will take place. It is a difficult ordeal for Hester so she tries to remember her past to forget about her present. Hester was born in England and taken to Amsterdam then sent her to America by her husband to await his arrival. She realizes she is alone and clutches the scarlet letter and her baby so hard it cries in pain.

Reflection

The plot slowly begins to unravel but still leaves many questions unanswered. She does not want to deal with her punishment but she does deserve it. It could have been more sever but she was fortunate enough to just have that. The scarlet letter "A" is now a permanent piece of her and it seems to displease her severely. Hawthorne sees fit to make sure to accent her depression by her squeezing her infant child and not hearing its cry.

Questions

Who is her husband? Why did she have the child in prison? Why does she have the letter A on her breast? Why was her punishment so lenient?

Chapter 3 Summary

Hester notices two men in the crowd. One is Roger Chillingworth, her husband, who sent her there in the first place. Hester again clutches her child harder due to her fear. Chillingworth asked who it was and the man tells her story. Chillingworth states that he will find her partner on crime. Reverend Mr. Dimmesdale is told to force Hester to tell everyone who the father is. She refuses telling them she will bear their shame. Reverend Mr. Wilson delivers a sermon on sin and then allows Hester to return to the prison.

Reflection

Hester seems to show a type of remorse for her actions since her child is probably not of Chillingworth since she hasn't seen them in years. Chillingworth seems pretty frustrated to have seen his wife up on the scaffold with a child that does not belong to him. Hester refuses to tell who the father is, possibly to protect his identity but supposedly to bear shame for both.

Questions

Why is Hester hiding the father's identity? Why was her husband not with her? Why is she so fearful of her husband? Why would Chillingworth wnt to find her partner in crime.

Chapter 4 Summary

Hester return's to her prison cell still distracted by the day's events. Pearl begins to cry which allows a physician to come in to check on them. Chilllingworth, pretending to be a physician enters pretending to be a physician, comes in and mixes something for Pearl. He makes something for Hester too. She is afraid he is trying to kill her. She still drinks the potion. Chillingworth claims that he forgives her and takes blame for marrying such a young girl. He asks who the child's father is but she refuses to tell him. He makes her promise to not tell anyone that he is her husband. She becomes afraid of what she got herself into with her.

Reflection

Chillingworth seems to be trying to find any way possible to get closer to Hester. It also is strange that he wants to denounce their marriage.