Scarlet Letter Notes 5

Chapter 11: The Interior of a Heart

• Now that Chillingworth feels that he knows the truth that Dimmesdale is Pearl’s father, he slowly and secretly tortures him
• Dimmesdale senses his evilness, but “was impossible to assign a reason for such distrust and abhorrence, so Mr. Dimmesdale, conscious that the poison of one morbid spot was infecting his heart’s entire substance, attributed all of his presentiments to no other cause.” 97
• The worse he feels, the more he tortures himself, the better he preaches—preaches “in the heart’s native tongue” 97, angelic voice, his heart “vibrates in unison with theirs”
• Seen as “a miracle of holiness”—irony
• “the agony with which this public veneration tortured him” 98
• Tries to tell the truth, says he is evil, but won’t give the specifics, so they just worship him more
• Why doesn’t he confess?
• Constant anguish, tries to punish himself, but nothing will redeem him until he confesses
• Ironically, the more he feels guilty, the better he preaches

Chapter 12: The minister’s vigil

• Stands on the scaffold where Hester stood, with his “scarlet token on his naked breast, right over his heart” 102
• Shriek—he’s losing it. Is Pearl’s devilish side coming from her father rather than Hester?
• Who passes him by and who notices him on the scaffold: Governor, Mistress Hibbins, and Reverend Wilson don’t see him. Hester, Pearl, and Chillingworth do
• More maniacal laughter, then it is returned by Pearl—see the connection--like father like daughter, they join him on the scaffold.
• Pearl—so wise. Asks him if he will stand there with her and her mother at noon. Feels right with the three of them together. When he holds Pearl’s hand: “rush of new life” He’s honest, not until judgment day
• Pearl—seen as a devil child, but what is she like? Like an angel to him. He who is seen as so holy is just like Pearl
• Chillingworth sees them and show full evil self, still Dimmesdale leaves the light of Pearl that comes with the mortifying truth and goes with the dark of Chillingworth and the false safety of secrecy
• Imagery 106- on the scaffold
• Irony and opposites
• Chillingworth vs. Dimmes
• Dimmes vs. Hester
• Sinfulness vs. holiness
• Dimmes connection to Pearl
• Scarlet Letter in the sky—mark of his adultery, interpreted as A for angel—Scarlet A
• How does that effect the symbolism of the A on Hester’s breast, the A that Pearl is
• Best sermon the next day
• The black glove—irony—Satan dropped it there