Scarlet Letter Notes 2

Ignominy
1. Great personal dishonor or humiliation.
2. Shameful or disgraceful action, conduct, or character. An act deserving disgrace; an infamous act.

Chapter 3: The Recognition

• Chillingworth and Hester recognize each other at first sight. He hides his identity to find out about her.
• He has been with the Indians in the New World studying medicine—why not with Hester? Why has he taken so long to meet up with her?
• Dimmesdale (once asked to do so), begs Hester to reveal her partner in sin. He requests eloquently and convincingly, but she refuses
• Why do you think she refuses to tell?
• She will never tell and will never take of the A
• “It is too deeply branded. Ye cannot take it off. And would that I might endure his agony, as well as mine!” 47
• Why does Dimmesdale almost praise her reticence? “Wondrous strength and generosity of a woman’s heart! She will not speak!”

Chapter 4: The Interview

• Reflect on Hester’s encounter with Chillingworth:
• he seems kind, says he won’t reveal her lover’s name and takes half responsibility for her sin—page 51 quotation, but seems obsessed by finding her lover’s name, makes her promise to keep his identity as her husband secret. Carries two secrets now.

Chapter 5: Hester at her Needle

• Why doesn’t she leave the town? 54-55
• Makes money by sewing, although people reject her, they will pay her to make beautiful clothes—irony that she made the ruff that the Governor wears
• People cruel to her, she is all alone
• How has the A affected her?
• Lonely, guilty, constantly feeling the pain of her sin, constantly trying to redeem herself, hoping that the letter and the pain it causes will cleanse her
• She has a sense that she can see through everyone’s facades and see their sins, but thinks she’s just imaging it—probably true though