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Summary Of ' Hester 's ' The Scarlet Red Letter '

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This story begins in 17th century Boston. Hester Prynne the main character in this story is led out of prison carrying a baby in her arms. The child’s name is Pearl. Hester had a scarlet red letter “A” on her chest. This “A” means “able” or “adulteress”. She is then led to a platform for public shame. While she is up there she sees her long lost husband Roger Chillingworth in the crowd. Chillingworth recognizes her and acts like he doesn’t know Hester; he then learns her crime from a man in the crowd. Hester while waiting for Chillingworth to come to the New World, she committed adultery resulting in her having a baby and the scarlet “A” on her chest. Chillingworth poses as a doctor so that he can get inside the prison to talk to …show more content…

Hester is obviously shocked at this; she then looks over and sees Chillingworth smiling at her. Chillingworth will do just about anything to keep Hester unhappy; he indulges himself in making Hester and Dimmesdale mentally and emotionally suffer for what they have done. After Dimmesdale’s speech he walks over to Hester and Pearl who were standing next to the scaffold of the pillory. Dimmesdale then stretches forth his hand and calls Hester and Pearl to come over to him. Pearl immediately comes to him and hugs at his knees. That instant, Chillingworth throws himself through the crowd and grabs hold of Dimmesdale’s arm. Dimmesdale then says that Chillingworth is too late and that he shall escape Chillingworth’s power over him. Dimmesdale calls Hester to come to him; the crowd was in an uproar at this scene. He then tells the crowd that he stands on the spot where he should have stood several years ago with Hester at the time she was shamed. He tears off his shirt and reveals a scarlet letter on his chest! Dimmesdale then kneels down as he felt death come upon him. He asks Pearl to kiss him, and so she does. The spell was now broken and Dimmesdale dies. Hester and Pearl leave Boston not long after this event. Soon after Chillingworth dies and leaves a large amount of wealth for Pearl; she becomes the richest heiress of her day in the New World. Hester then returns to Boston to live the rest of her days in her old cottage. Hester dies several

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