Which event best describes the climax of the scarlet letter?
The climax of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter ties together the stories of Roger Chillingworth and his revenge, Hester Prynne and her lover, and of Arthur Dimmesdale and his guilt. As he climbs upon the scaffold and publicly admits his guilt, Arthur Dimmesdale robs Roger Chillingworth of his revenge.
Why might love and hate be really the same thing at bottom?
In this way, they are related because they are both passionate. The true opposite of love or hate would be indifference, because in this case, there is no strong emotion. So hate is negative and love is positive, but they both have strong emotion at the core. Indifference does not have strong emotion at its core.
What is the moral of the scarlet letter?
Description: The Scarlet Letter which appeared in 1850 deals with a moral theme. It is first of all concerned with moral guilt and sin. He also realizes that he is doubly a sinner in so far as he continues to conceal his sin; therefore, his sense of sin not only weighs, but preys upon his mind ceaselessly.
What is the main message of the scarlet letter?
In The Scarlet Letter, the idea of sin and punishment is the main theme of the novel and how Hester Prynne, the main character, has been punished for her sin of adultery.
Does Hester regret her sin?
Hester starts by seeing her act as a sin that she is sorry for committing. She changes and no longer feels sorry for the sin. Finally, Hester sees the act as not sinful, but she regrets committing it. This evil deed, in Hester’s eyes, causes Pearl to act sinful, so Hester feels overwhelming guilt.
How did Hester’s sin affect her?
Hester Prynne’s guilt is the result of her committing adultery, which has a significant effect on her life. Hester is publicly seen with the scarlet letter when she first emerges out of the cold dark prison. The lasting effect of Hester’s sin is the shame that she now embodies due to her committing adultery.
How did Dimmesdale punish himself?
To relieve his guilt, Dimmesdale punishes himself in several ways. He goes without food and sleep for long periods of time, and he also whips himself on his back, causing cuts and bleeding. These attempts to atone for his sins do not work.
What was Hester’s punishment?
Because Hester has no husband with her, she is imprisoned, convicted of the crime of adultery, and sentenced to be forced to wear a prominent scarlet letter ‘A’ for the rest of her life.
What is Hester’s sin punishment?
What is Hester’s sin? Punishment? Adultery, to wear an embroidered letter “A” to mark her with a badge of shame.
What is the punishment for adultery in The Scarlet Letter?
The usual punishment for adultery in the Puritan society in The Scarlet Letter is being publicly shamed and then being forced to wear an indication of one’s sin of adultery forever. Hester Prynne is forced to wear a scarlet letter A, representing the sin of adultery, on her chest for the rest of her life.
Why did Chillingworth marry Hester?
In The Scarlet Letter, Chillingworth married Hester because he hoped to find some happiness in married life, and she was young and beautiful. He had lived a pretty lonely and solitary existence for most of his years, and he longed for the happiness that he saw so many others enjoy.
Does Chillingworth still love Hester?
Roger Chillingworth and Hester Prynne Relationship in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s ‘The Scarlet Letter ‘ Roger Chillingworth married Hester into an unnatural and “pseudo” relationship. He did not love her and she did not love him.
Did Hester Prynne love her husband?
No, Hester never loved her husband. Theirs was an arranged marriage. Hester is much younger than Roger and on top of that, the two had different temperaments: she was passionate and affectionate, while he was more intellectual and distant.
Who does Chillingworth blame for Hester’s sin?
Chillingworth blames himself for Hester’s sin because he thinks that it was foolish of him to think that he could have someone as beautiful as Hester. Several revelations in this chapter paint Chillingworth in an undeniably sympathetic way.
Why does Chillingworth want revenge?
Chillingworth does want revenge because, as he says to Hester, this man “has wronged us both!” He feels that he shares some responsibility for Hester’s… (The entire section contains 2 answers and 646 words.)
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 does Hester refuse to name her lover?
Why does Hester refuse to reveal her partner’s sin? Hester wants to protect Dimmesdale because she know that it would be much worse for Dimmesdale than it would be for her. She is proof that Pearl is good for Hester.
Does Hester love Dimmesdale?
Hester realizes that she still loves Dimmesdale, and she courageously tells him this, even as she reveals her silence concerning Chillingworth. Hawthorne contrasts their love — “which had a consecration of its own” — and Chillingworth’s revenge and asks the reader which sin is worse.
Why does Hester refuse to say the father’s name?
Hester keeps secret the name of her illegitimate child’s father (Reverend Dimmesdale) and the true identity of Roger Chillingworth (her husband). She will not reveal Pearl’s father to protect Reverend Dimmesdale’s reputation, as he is the minister of the church.
What does Chillingworth give Hester’s baby?
That evening, when Roger Chillingworth enters Hester’s prison cell, she fears his intentions, but he gives Pearl a draught of medicine that eases the child’s pain almost immediately, and she falls asleep.
What is Chillingworth’s real name?
Roger Chillingworth, fictional character, the vengeful cuckolded physician husband of Hester Prynne, protagonist of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter (1850). Vindictive and sly, Chillingworth ministers to the Rev. Arthur Dimmesdale, with whom his wife has had an affair, after Dimmesdale becomes ill.
What promise does Hester make to her husband?
Chillingworth asks Hester to promise that she will never betray his identity to anyone. In the interest of fairness, since she has chosen to keep the name of her lover secret, Hester must likewise honor his desire for anonymity. Chillingworth orders Hester not to betray him by word, sign, or look.
What are Hester’s feelings toward the stranger?
What are Hester’s feelings towards the stranger? She is scared of him.
Why did Hester name her child Pearl?
Why did Hester name her child Pearl? “she named the infant “Pearl,” as being of great price—purchased with all she had—her mother’s only treasure!” “Pearl was a born outcast of the infantile world.
What seems to particularly disturb the stranger?
What seems to particularly disturb the stranger after he has learned of the sentence imposed on Hester? The stranger is disturbed because someone had to have committed adultery with Hester and they should also be being punished.
What does Hester think that Roger Chillingworth is trying to do?
What does Hester think Roger Chillingworth is trying to do in the prison? He doesn’t want to tell people who the father is, he just wants to know so he can emotionally torture him and Hester. He has no empathy.