The Scarlet Letter Summaries Continued

Chapters 13-14

After some time, Hester has been accepted as an equal in the community. The judges in the town have also changed their opinion of her. Hester has become more ragged from living away from the civilized public. She spends most of her time helping others in the community. Hester realizes that most of Dimmesdale's guilt was caused by Chillingsworth, not her situation. Because of all this, she feels partially responsible and tries to help him as much as possible. During her efforts to help Dimmesdale, she plots to speak with Chillingsworth about his revenge plan. When speaking with Dimmesdale she finds out that the judges have discussed removing her letter "A," which was brought up by Chillingsworth during Hester's visit. In the conversation, Chillingsworth appears sad by what he has become. He also confesses to torturing Dimmesdale. Hester than asks him if she can reveal to Dimmesdale who he really is. After she leaves, she realizes how much she truly hates Chillingsworth.

Chapters 15-16


At the time of Hester's absence, Pearl was playing on the seashore. She had constructed the letter "A" with seaweed on her chest. When Hester arrives, she asks her daughter if she is aware what the letter "A" stands for? Pearl tells her that it is for the same reason Dimmesdale puts his hand over his chest, but she doesn't fully understand. For this reason Pearl keeps questioning her mother about what the true meaning of the scarlet letter is. Although she feels that Pearl may become like a friend someday and not the deceptive child she always thought she was, she decides that she is still too young to tell the whole truth to. Hester then makes the decision to tell Dimmesdale Chillingsworth's true identity. While on a walk in the woods, Pearl points out that the sun runs from her mother because of the scarlet "A." Pearl asks her mother if she recieved the letter from the "black man." Hester tells her that she did as they sit by a bubbling brook, which Pearl describes as sad. Dimmesdale arrives at the brook, where Pearl proceeds to ask him if he holds his hand over his chest because of the "black man" as well. Hester tells her to leave her and Dimmesdale alone so they could share words.