What was the scarlet letter based on?
Hester Prynne and her illegitimate daughter Pearl never existed but Hawthorne, who read extensively about Puritan history, may have based his novel on the story of Mary Bailey Beadle. Mary Bailey emigrated to Kittery, Maine in the 1600s. She married a local fisherman named Robert Beadle and had two children with him.
When did Hawthorne write The Scarlet Letter?
1850
Why does Chillingworth want to know who fathered Hester’s baby?
What do the reverends want to know about Hester’s sin? They want to know who the father is. She says she will never tell because she only wants Pearl to know a heavenly father not an earthly one.
Why should Hester’s marriage be a failure?
Why should Hester’s marriage be a failure? She has committed adultery in the absence of her husband, whom she says she never loved. Quote Hester to support your answer.
Why does Roger Chillingworth feel guilty?
He commits a major sin, of course, when he has an affair with Hester. The guilt about this secret sin ends up destroying him, although his guilt is fueled by Chillingworth’s psychological torment. Compared to the intense emotion Dimmesdale feels about the affair, Chillingworth, while hurt, is much more clinical.
How does Roger Chillingworth see himself?
As his name suggests, Roger Chillingworth is a man deficient in human warmth. His twisted, stooped, deformed shoulders mirror his distorted soul. From what the reader is told of his early years with Hester, he was a difficult husband. Ultimately, Chillingworth represents true evil.
Who is the villain in The Scarlet Letter?
Roger Chillingworth
What is Chillingworth’s most serious sin?
Final Novel Test
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is Chillingworth’s most serious sin | He allows his mind to become overpowered by a desire for revenge |
| What is Dimmesdale’s most serious sin | He preaches to his congregation about sin when he is himself a sinner |
Why was Hester Prynne not executed?
Hester is not executed for committing the crime of adultery because her community cannot actually know if she has committed this crime. She has been in the colony for about two years, and though her husband was supposed to follow her shortly after she arrived, he never showed up.
What was Chillingworth’s revenge?
The act of revenge that Chillingworth began in The Scarlet Letter changed and developed into a ruthless and forever lasting obsession. He explains to his wife, Hester Prynne, that the baby’s father will be confronted and that they will be punished as severely as she was.
Does Dimmesdale show any remorse for his actions?
Mr. Dimmesdale’s ever present guilt and boundless penance cause him an ongoing mental struggle of remorse and his conscience as well as deep physical pain from deprivation and self inflicted wounds.