preview

The Scarlet Letter Chapter 13 Answers

Decent Essays
Open Document

1) Chapter 13 is a re-evaluation of Hester not just for the narrator, who is giving us the most detailed examination of her we've seen since the confrontation in the Governor's house, but for the community and for us. What has changed about her and why is that important to her character and to the story? Hester is changing in many different ways. Hester is dull and sad looking compared to what she used to be like. She is very worried for everyone except herself. She is very active in Salem. She goes out into the community and helps sick people, brings food to poor, and gives people support when needed. The A is no longer adulterer, but now it symbolizes “able” for many people she has helped. She is afraid that she is causing Dimmesdale so much pain, so she sets on a quest to make him better. 2) The narrator in chapter 13 spends quite a bit of space on a discussion of the role of women in society. What do you think of his statements and his criticisms of his own culture and earlier ones? What might Hawthorne (or at least his narrator) think of our own society? How much change would he perceive? Discuss. …show more content…

They were supposed to follow the strict rules of the bible and be graceful and controlled. Hawthorne disagrees with this, and uses Hester to show that the society at that time was crazy. Hester makes a living for herself and her daughter through her skills as a seamstress, she is technically single, she gives back immensely to the community, and she is thriving the way she is. She is proving she doesn’t need a man in her life to live. Hawthorne would be pleased at how our society is. Women are mostly equal (not salary) to men these days and can live on their own without a man. Women are far more independent now then in Hawthorne’s time. Women were not allowed to have real jobs back then, and didn’t have the right to vote for 60 more years! Now there is a woman running for

Get Access