The Scarlet Letter Summaries Again.....

Chapters 17-18

Hester decides to confront Dimmesdale about Chillingworth's true identity, and at first Dimmesdale seems to be angry with her. He then forgives her and explains to her that Chillingworth's sin is much greater than both of theirs. Dimmesdale believes he should die since he has no strength left, but Hester tells him that she will be his strength. She then tries to convince him to move away and take a new identity with her by his side. Hester believes that they should flee to Europe. Dimmesdale finds it a little harder to commit to this idea then Hester does because, unlike her, he has been apart of Boston's society for the past 7 years. When he finally agrees to leave Boston behind, he recieves a feeling of being closer to her. While making this decision, she believes that she no longer needs to wear the letter "A" on her bosom and removes it to be thrown in the woods. Once the decision was made, Hawthorne makes a point to note that the whole woods became livelier and the sun was shining where Hester was standing. Hester then believes that Dimmesdale should get to know Pearl better, and decides to call her from the woods where she has been playing with the flowers.

Chapters 19-20

Hester and Dimmesdale both watch Pearl, being decorated in flowers, aproach them from the woods. Dimmesdale is afraid that Pearl won't like him since most little kids weren't comfortable around him in the past. Pearl seems to refuse to listen to Hester's orders to come to her, and she soon realizes that it is because she seems unfamiliar to Pearl with her hair down and without the letter attatched to her bosom. She tells Pearl to look down because the letter is placed right in front of her. Pearl will not pick it up, and makes Hester get it and replace it on her bosom. Once the letter is replaced and her hair is back up, Hester seems to look more like her old self again with a sad look on her face. With this being done, Pearl approaches her mother and kisses both her mother and the scarlet letter. Hester then begins to tell Pearl that Dimmesdale is going to be a part of their life now, and Pearl immediately asks him if he will walk back into town holding both of their hands. Hester soon answers that he will not walk into town holding their hands; not at this moment in time at least. This response makes Pearl hesitant to warm up to Dimmesdale, and when he kisses her on the forehead, she runs to wash it off in the water. Hester's idea causes Dimmesdale to return to town in better spirits. While he arranges his affairs in town, Hester is supposed to take care of the voyage plans. Dimmesdale is pleased that the trip will start after the Election Sermon, but his personality has turned wicked and he is making rude statements to everyone in town. He thinks that he may have just made a deal with the devil. After he returns home, he refuses to take the medicine prescribred by Chillingsworth. This makes Chillingsworth suspect that Dimmesdale knows the truth behind the matter, but neither vocalize his feelings. Dimmesdale spends the rest of the night burning his first sermon and writing a new one.

Chapters 21-22

The following day, Hester and Pearl are standing in the town square waiting to hear the sermons. Hester, dressed in all gray, is asked by Pearl repeatedly if the minister shall greet them this day. Hester tells her that the time has not yet come. Soon after Hester tells Pearl this, the captain of the ship approached Hester and informed her that Chillingsworth would be traveling with them on their trip. Without the time to think of what Chillingsworth might have planned, Hester calls her attention to Dimmesdale, who looks in very good shape. Hester, Pearl, and Mistress Hibbens notice that Dimmesdale has changed, and that he has become full of suffering. While he gives his sermon, Pearl dances on the street. The ship captain asks Pearl to relay a message, telling Hester that the doctor will oversee that Dimmesdale makes it to the ship and that she doesn't have to worry about it. Everyone standing in the audience is entranced by Hester's "A," even if they have seen it before. This causes her much pain because she is so close to the day of getting it removed.

Chapters 23-24

The audience is captivated by Dimmesdale's moving sermon. Following the procession, he walks to the scaffolding, where he calls Hester and Pearl to see him. He ignores Chillingsworth's warning to not speak with Hester and converses with her anyway. After speaking with them, he decides to show the audience his chest to reveal his guilt. He then asks Pearl to kiss him, and then Hester asks about their future. He tells her that she shouldn't expect much and that she should put her full faith in God. Dimmesdale then dies in front of the audience. Soon after his death, many speculations are made about him. One of the major ones being that he was never involved with Hester. During this time, Chillingsworth becomes old and dies within a year. He leaves all of his property to Pearl, who disappears with her mother. Years later, Hester returns to her cottage on the outside of town with the scarlet "A" still on her chest. Although Pearl never returned, it was speculated she married a European man with great importance. Hester remained in the cottage and never had the "A" removed. What was once looked at as a burden was now considered sad. She was used by the women in the town as a counselor because of her troubled past. After some time, Hester dies and was burried next to Dimmesdale. The gravestone was marked with the simple phrase, "On a Field, Sable, the Letter A, Gules."

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.

The Scarlet Letter Summaries

Chapters 1-2


The story begins in a seventeenth-century prison in Boston. A gathering of people are standing around the entrance to the prison, which is a dark, bleak place. The only sign of serenity is a rose-bush that is growing next to the gateway. From out of the crowd comes Hester Prynne, a woman who is to be publically humiliated. She is carrying a baby in her arms. It is revealed that the woman has a gold and scarlet "A" sewn on the material covering her chest. It is assumed by the crowd that the letter stands for "adulterer." As she walks in front of the crowd, she sees flashes in her mind of her life, and how she married a man much older than she with whom she followed to Europe. Because of her nerves, she squeezes the baby, making it cry.

Chapters 3-4


Hester notices that her husband is standing in the crowd of people. He had sent her to America from Europe, but failed to follow her after he promised her he would. The husband looks at her in a way that tells her not to give away his true identity to anyone. He then turns to ask a person in the crowd why Hester has been condemed. The husband asks who the father of the child she is holding is. The stranger in the crowd says that the woman will not explain who the father is, therefore being sentenced to the humiliation on the scafolding and the punishment of wearing the "A" on her chest for the rest of her life. Judging Hester on the scaffolding are Reverend Wilson, Reverend Dimmesdale, and Governor Bellingham. Dimmesdale demands Hester to reveal the father of the child, but when she doesn't respond, he quickly discards the issue. After the punishment, they are taken back into the prison. There she meets her husband, who is called there for medical treatment. She is afraid that he is poisoning her, but he explains that he wants to keep her alive. He urges her in their discussion to tell him the identity of the father. When she will not, he tells her that she can not reveal his true identity as well. A grin that he gives alarms Hester, making her state that he is in fact the devil coming to condemn her soul. He assures her he is not the devil and she realizes his arrival is based on vengeance of the father of her child.

Chapters 5-6

After a few months, Hester is released from prison. She decides to stay in Boston, isolated from everyone in town. Hester makes a living by using her skills in needlework. She makes all types of fabrics, but pure brides are not allowed to wear products created by Hester, fearing it will somehow influence them wrongly. While trying to find friendship, Hester works for charity, although she is often insulted by those she is helping. The only positive thing in Hester's life is Pearl, who is described in the story as being a flower grown from sin. Pearl is tormented because of her mother's past. At home, she longs to discover the meaning of the "A" on her mother's clothing. She questions Hester about her father and then proceeds to tell her mother that she has no "heavenly" father, just an natural one. Hester refuses to tell her.

Chapters 7-8

Hearing a rumor that Pearl could possibly be taken from her, Hester makes a visit to Governor Bellingham's house. While there, she delivers to the governor a pair of gloves that she has made. The governor believes that Pearl is some sort of demon-child and that she should be taken away for Hester's protection. On their trip to see the governor, Hester and her child are confronted by a group of children, who Pearl scares away by tossing mud at them. When they enter the house, they approach a suit of armor, which shows the reflection of Hester, whose letter "A" seems to be larger than in real life. Pearl than begins to scream for a rose from the rose bush outside the window. The four judges who were present at Hester's punishment enter the room. They explain to her why she should let the child go and her argument for keeping her doesn't seem convincing. Pearl doesn't answer the questions presented by the judges and this angers them. Hester claims that by letting her keep the child, she could make sure that she doesn't commit the same actions as she did. She then begs Dimmesdale to allow her to keep her child, who has quickly grown attached to him. He convinces two of the other judges to let Hester keep the child. Chillingsworth tries to again bring about the topic of Hester's lover. It is quickly dismissed and Hester leaves the house. While exiting, the governor's sister Mistress Hibbins asks Hester from her window if she will attend a witches' gathering. She explains that if she hadn't been able to keep Pearl, she would have gone.

Chapters 9-10

Chillingsworth establishes himself as a doctor in the town. After some time, Dimmesdale decides to use Chillingsworth as his permanent doctor. During this time, they become friends. Chillingsworth tries to find out everything about him, to completely understand his medical condition. Because of this, they decide to live in the same lodge. At first, the townspeople think that Chillingsworth is noble for helping Dimmesdale, but after some time, they begin to question his loyalty. Chillingsworth has become an angry and bitter man while trying to find the identity of Hester's lover. He makes it his goal to find something undesirable in Dimmesdale. One day, while working in the graveyard, the men have a long discussion about sins and guilt. Chillingsworth refuses to tell Dimmesdale about any of his sins because he will not share his sins with him. Also at the graveyard are Hester and Pearl. The men begin to talk about Pearl. When she notices they are watching them, Chillingsworth tells Hester to stay away from the "black man," fearing that he has infected Dimmesdale as well. That night, Chillingsworth sneaks into Dimmesdale room and looks under his shirt. What he sees amazes him.

Chapters 11-12

Chillingsworth begins to use his knowledge of Dimmesdale's secret against him. Dimmesdale sees that his doctor has become more evil, but he blames his guilt for these feelings. Because of his change of attitude into a depression, his clergy becomes progessively larger. The townspeople feel they can relate to him more now as a person. Dimmesdale begins a spiritual battle. He can not decide whether to keep his secret quiet or let it out to the town. This causes him to cause bodily and mental harm to himself, which makes him feeble. Dimmesdale goes to the scaffolding where Hester once was punished. While there, Pearl and Hester pass by. Dimmesdale asks them to stand beside him on the scaffolding. As they do, Pearl questions if he will stand next to them the following day hand in hand. He tells them that he will stand next to them on Judgement Day. While standing on the scaffolding, a large meteor bursts through the sky. Everyone sees it as a giant "A," but Dimmesdale's perception is different from the others. During the flash in the sky, Chillingsworth appears. Although he has developed a strong hatred for him, Dimmesdale follows him home. The next day, during Dimmesdale's sermom, a sexton approaches him and hands him one of his gloves, which he found next to the scaffolding. He explains that it was left by the devil. The sexton tells him that the "A" seen in the sky the night before was an angel, representing the dead governor. Dimmesdale claims he had not heard about the letter "A" representing the angel.

The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber Summary

The story begins with Francis Macomber and his wife Margaret who are on a safari hunt in Africa, lead by Robert Wilson. They are preparing for lunch and begin to disucss the morning's hunt. Margaret is displeased at her husband for becoming a coward during the lion hunt. While Wilson tries to comfort Francis about the incident, Margaret makes several sarcastic remarks. That same day, they go on another hunt, where Francis feels ashamed about being scared earlier. He does, however, do a good job on this hunt. That night, Francis thinks about being scared of the lions. This leads to several flashbacks showing their hunt with the lions, and how Francis' wife kisses Wilson after her husband fails to kill the lion. It is noted that their marriage has suffered its problems in the past, but she stays with him because of his money and he stays with her because of her beauty. He wakes up and sees that his wife's cot is empty. After several hours, she returns and it is evident that she has been with Wilson. Wilson doesn't feel bad about this, however, because he feels Francis has driven his wife towards him. After breakfast, they go on another hunt to kill buffalo. Margaret insists that she go along. She gets her way. Francis again does very well by shooting the biggest buffalo of the three they find. Francis is happy about his killings, but his wife tries to bring down his spirits, saying that it was unsportsmanlike to kill the buffalo from a car. This doesn't change his happiness, though. Margaret seems threatened by the change in her husband and his new attitude. The group must track and kill the third buffalo, which is wounded. They set up their kill zone, where Francis stands ready to shoot the animal. It begins to charge, and right before getting to him, his wife shoots him in the head, making it look like an accident. Wilson tells her that the world will look at this as an accident, but he will always know it was a murder, and that it was her intention throughout the entire hunt.

Hills Like White Elephants Summary

An American man and the girl that was with him sat at a table outside building looking at the hills across the valley of Ebro. They were waiting in the heat for the express from Barcelona to arrive. While waiting, the man suggested they drink beer. The girl remained to look at the hills and said that they look like while elephants. Then, they began to argue about never seeing white elephants. It becomes evident that the girl does not understand the native language. They continue to experiment with the different drinks sold at the station. They continue to argue about the types of alcoholic drinks and the girl states that every drink she has tried tastes like licorice, especially all of the things she has waited so long for, like absinthe. They continue their discussion about the hills and this conversation turns into one about an unknown operation. This leads to the couple discussing how this operation is very simple and wouldn't change their lives. It is noted that the man would like the girl to have this operation, but he says only to do so if that is what she wants. The man stresses this is what he wants done, without completely coming out and stating it. The girl says that she will do this to please the man, and that her wants are less important. The girl continues to look at the surroundings and says that they could have everything they wanted. When the man says that this is true, she changes her outlook and argues that it is impossible that they ever have all they want. She then asked if they could have another beer. Afterward, she states that their conversation should come to a halt. The man continues to talk until she continually asks him to stop. The man takes the bags to the other side of the station. He sees that the train isn't coming so detours into the barroom for another drink by himself. Once he leaves the bar, he goes back to the table and asks the girl how she is feeling. She states that she is fine. The overall meaning behind the story is that the girl is planning on having an abortion just because the man wants her to.

A Day's Wait Summary

A nine-year-old boy comes into the room, where his father notices he looks ill. He says he simply has a headache, and the father suggests he go back to bed. The boy argues that he is fine, and that he doesn't want to go to bed. It is revealed that the boy has a fever, so his father calls the doctor. When the doctor arrives, he takes the boys temperature, which is 102 degrees. The doctor gives the boy some medicine. To make him feel better, his father reads him a book about pirates. The objective of reading the book was to put the boy to sleep, but he simply stared at the foot of the bed. The boy insists the father leave if it is bothering him, but he remains in the room. The father thought that the boy may feel lightheaded, so he left to give the boy some privacy. The father went outside and walked their dog. It was a cold, brisk day so he decided to hunt some quail to kill time until heading back to the house. He killed two quail and missed five during the hunt, but was pleased to have found a covey close to the house and happy there were so many left for a future hunt. When the father returned home, he discovered that the boy wouldn't let anyone in to see him, claiming they would become ill as he was. He took the boy's temperature, which was around 100 degrees. The boy worried that the pills prescribed by the doctor wouldn't be of any help. The father decided to continue reading from the boy's book, but the boy continued not to pay attention. The boy asked how long he had left to live. The father argued that the boy was fine, who continued to say that he was going to die. He believed this because he heard from several boys at school in France that if your temperature reached 44 degrees, you would die. His dad, relieved, said that the boys in France measured temperature with celsius, and that his 102 degree fever was in farenheit. He explained to the boy that he was not going to die. The boy finally relaxed, but became upset easily the following day over little things.

A Clean, Well-Lighted Place Summary

It was late one evening in a small cafe when an elderly, deaf gentlman was sitting outside on a shaded patio. The only people taking care of the cafe at this hour were two waiters. One was said to be an older, patient man. The other was noted to be a younger, impatient man that could only think about getting home and in bed with his wife. Throughout the story, a conversation occurs among the two waiters about the older gentleman that seems to sit in the cafe and drink the night away. The conversation progresses with the information that the man had previously tried to commit suicide by hanging, but was cut down by his niece. During their conversation the younger waiter becomes more and more irritated due to the fact that the old man just sits there and drinks and never seems like he is going to leave. However, the older waiter seems to understand why the old man enjoys sitting and watching his surroundings at night and continually sticks up for him. At the end of the story, the younger waiter kicks the deaf man out of the cafe. When this occurs the older waiter states that a pleasant cafe is nothing like a bodega that is open all night long, and the older waiter soon starts stating the lords prayer with the spanish word for "nothing" in place of any words of importance. This story shows that the older waiter understands what the old, deaf man is going through with nowhere to go to at night and how a person becomes lonely with no friends and no place to feel welcome.