Why is Chapter 18 called a flood of sunshine?
Chapter 18 is called "A Flood of Sunshine" because as soon as Hester takes off the scarlet letter from her dress and her cap from her head she is showered in sunshine.
What has Pearl been doing in Chapter 18?
Pearl, meanwhile, has been playing alone in the forest, where she fits in well among the wild animals. Hester calls her to come meet Dimmesdale, her father.
Why does Dimmesdale flee with Hester in Chapter 18?
Why does Dimmesdale decide to flee with Hester? He wants to leave with Hester and Pearl so they can live as a family.
What is Chapter 19 in the scarlet letter?
Summary: Chapter 19: The Child at the Brook-Side Hester calls to Pearl to join her and Dimmesdale. From the other side of the brook, Pearl eyes her parents with suspicion. She refuses to come to her mother, pointing at the empty place on Hester's chest where the scarlet letter used to be.
What does Pearl do when Dimmesdale kisses her?
While Hester assures her that this admission will happen in the future, Dimmesdale kisses Pearl's forehead in an attempt to mollify her. Pearl immediately goes to the brook and washes off the kiss.
Why does Pearl wash off Dimmesdale's kiss?
Why does Pearl wash off Dimmesdale's kiss? He smells funny.
Why does Dimmesdale put his hand over his heart?
What is Dimmesdale's idosyncratic gesture? He puts his hand over his heart to "cover" up his guilt and pain for not admitting to the sin he committed. He's trying to hold himself back from not exposing himself.
What is Chillingworth most serious sin?
His obsession with revenge is what makes him — in Hawthorne's eyes — the worst sinner and, therefore, a pawn of the devil.
What is the setting in Chapter 18 the scarlet letter?
Analysis: Chapters 17–18. The encounter in the forest is the first time the reader sees Hester and Dimmesdale in an intimate setting.
What happened in chapter 20 of the scarlet letter?
Dimmesdale leaves the forest first, almost believing what has transpired has been a dream. When he looks back, he sees Hester weighed down with sadness and Pearl dancing because he is gone. Turning over their plan in his mind, he believes that going to Europe is the better choice.
Does Hester still 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.
Where is Hester buried?
the King's Chapel graveyardHester is buried in the King's Chapel graveyard, which is the burial ground for Puritan patriarchs. Her grave is next to Dimmesdale's, but far enough away to suggest that “the dust of the two sleepers had no right to mingle, even in death.” They do, however, share a headstone.
What happened in Chapter 18 in Catcher in the Rye?
Summary: Chapter 18 Holden decides that girls always say that as an excuse to date arrogant boys. Finally, he calls Jane, but no one answers. He then calls a boy named Carl Luce, whom he used to know at the Whooton School, and Luce agrees to meet him for drinks later that night.
Who does Holden talk to in Chapter 18?
Carl LuceHolden telephones Carl Luce, whom he knew during his days at the Whooton School. Carl is three years older and was his student adviser.
What does Holden do in the bar that bothers Luce?
Holden arrives at the Wicker Bar early and manages to find a seat even though it is crowded. While he waits, Holden drinks scotch and sodas and watches some gay guys at the bar. He begins to think about sex, a subject that he expects he will have lots to talk about with Carl Luce.
What does Holden do after Luce leaves the Wicker Room?
Where does Holden go after he leaves the Wicker bar? He walks to the duck pond in Central Park.
What does Hawthorne mean by "the scarlet letter"?
Hawthorne uses a metaphor when he writes, "The scarlet letter was her passport into regions where other women dared not tread." This passport grants her entry into metaphorical regions of the mind (shame, despair, solitude) that other women would avoid. In effect, these emotional regions are real places that Hester visits and comes to know.
What does Hester want from Dimmesdale?
Hester wants her, Pearl, and Dimmesdale to be a family. He doesn't know how to be a father and has long been afraid of Pearl, but brightens at the thought of getting to know the little girl. She seems so happy and carefree while playing in the woods. Many of the animals are friendly toward her, and it's said that a wolf allowed her to pet its head. She plays in the forest for a long time before her mother calls her back.
What is a simile in the book of Hester?
One example of a simile from this chapter can be found in the description of the scarlet letter, which glitters "like a lost jewel" after Hester takes it off. This simile emphasizes both the vivid color of the letter and the fact that Hester has treasured its presence, just as she has treasured Pearl's.
Why does Hawthorne not discuss sex?
For the most part, Hawthorne has avoided discussing sex, no doubt because of the Puritanical restriction against premarital and extramarital sex in this society. In this chapter, however, love and passion are brought to the forefront, and Hester's desire for the minister seems to bring her back to life.
What does Hester's hair mean?
Hester's Hair. Hester's long, beautiful hair is a symbol of her sexuality. When it's hidden underneath her cap, she's passionless and repressed. In contrast, when her hair's down, she's full of love and desire. One could also argue that Hester is free when she has her hair down.
What chapter does Molly teach in The Scarlet Letter?
The Scarlet Letter Chapter 18 Summary. Molly has ten years of middle school teaching experience and two master's degrees in teaching. In chapter 18 of Nathaniel Hawthorne's ''The Scarlet Letter'', the plot takes an exciting twist when Hester Prynne and the Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale decide their fate. Additionally, they plan for Pearl ...
What does the scarlet letter mean in the book Hester Prynne?
In fact, it seems so bold that it takes Dimmesdale by surprise and makes him feel uneasy. But Hester has been outcast by society; the town has turned their back on her, she wears her shame publicly on her chest, and she has nothing left except Pearl. Although the scarlet letter is seen by others as a symbol of sin and guilt, it has been Hester's ticket to freedom. ''Shame, despair, solitude! These had been her teachers...'' Hawthorne states. Hester's punishment has toughened her up and taught her to rely on herself, unlike Dimmesdale whose secret has burned a slow hole into his soul.
What does Hester call Pearl from the woods?
The decision to leave revitalizes Hester and Dimmesdale's spirits and gives them a new sense of hope, something neither of them thought was possible. Hester even throws the scarlet letter from her chest. Happy and revitalized, Hester calls Pearl from the woods to meet her father.
What does Hester want from Dimmesdale?
Hester wants Dimmesdale to be a father to Pearl, so she calls to her to come out of the woods. Pearl has been wandering, playing in the forest, her only friend, when she sees her mother with the Reverend Dimmesdale. Lesson Summary.
What chapter does Hester give up his name?
Chapter 18 : Guilt. Dimmesdale really has to deal with double the guilt. Not only is he as guilty as Hester for their sins seven years prior, but Hester refused to give up his name when asked who Pearl's father is. Hester protected Dimmesdale and took all of the public shame on herself.
Does Dimmesdale feel alive?
He feels as though a weight has been lifted off his chest and that he is already living more than he has in the past seven years. The decision also affects Hester. She takes the scarlet letter off her chest and her cap off her head and lets down her hair.
What does Dimmesdale believe about Hester?
Dimmesdale relies on her to redeem him and believes she can provide the mercy and forgiveness he has not felt at the hands of God. Taking off the scarlet letter, Hester seems to release them both from an earthly prison. But there is one last hurdle to cross: the meeting between Pearl and Dimmesdale.
What does Hawthorne say about Pearl?
She is so closely linked with nature that here, in the forest, the sunlight plays with her, and forest creatures (a partridge, a squirrel, a fox, and a wolf) approach her and recognize "a kindred wildness in the human child." Even the flowers respond to her and, as she passes, seem to say, "Adorn thyself with me, thou beautiful child, adorn thyself with me!" Pearl is "gentler here (in the forest) than in the grassy margined streets of the settlement, or in her mother's cottage," reinforcing that she is in accord with the natural world and not the man-made world. If Hester and Dimmesdale are to pass the test of natural law, they must meet with Pearl's approval. That Pearl advances "slowly; for she saw the clergyman" does not bode well for the reunited lovers.
What does Hester do with courage?
The minister takes courage from Hester's strength and resolves to leave the Puritan colony, but not alone. He reasons that if he is doomed irrevocably, why not be allowed the solace of a "condemned culprit before his execution?" Hester agrees with him and casts off the scarlet letter. She takes off her cap and lets down her full, rich, luxuriant hair. Nature reflects on her passionate action by allowing sunshine to burst forth.
Why did Dimmesdale rationalize his life?
Because the Puritans believe that God allows redemption only for the elect and that salvation is attained solely through faith and the gift of divine grace, Dimmesdale rationalizes that he is a doomed soul and is momentarily attracted to "the solace allowed to the condemned culprit before his execution.".
Does Hester want Dimmesdale to know Pearl?
Now Hester wants Dimmesdale to know Pearl. He is reluctant at first, but she assures him Pearl will love him. While the child slowly comes toward them, all of nature seems to tag along as her playmate and kindred spirit.
What was the scarlet letter?
The scarlet letter was [Hester’s] passport into regions where other women dared not tread. Shame, Despair, Solitude! These had been her teachers, —stern and wild ones, —and they had made her strong, but taught her much amiss.
What does Pearl's unwillingness to respond to her mother suggest?
As Pearl is the one character in the narrative who has access to “truth,” her unwillingness to respond to her mother suggests that there is something wrong with Hester and Dimmesdale’s plan. One could view the couple’s planned escape to Europe as a defeat—they have succumbed to the society that polices them and to the “sin” that has constantly threatened to overtake them.
How do Hester and Dimmesdale escape?
In the forest, Hester and Dimmesdale are finally able to escape both the public eye and Chillingworth. They join hands and sit in a secluded spot near a brook. Hester tells Dimmesdale that Chillingworth is her husband. This news causes a “dark transfiguration” in Dimmesdale, and he begins to condemn Hester, blaming her for his suffering. Hester, unable to bear his harsh words, pulls him to her chest and buries his face in the scarlet letter as she begs his pardon. Dimmesdale eventually forgives her, realizing that Chillingworth is a worse sinner than either of them. The minister now worries that Chillingworth, who knows of Hester’s intention to reveal his secret, will expose them publicly. Hester tells the minister not to worry. She insists, though, that Dimmesdale free himself from the old man’s power. The former lovers plot to steal away on a ship to Europe, where they can live with Pearl as a family.
What does Hester do when she begs for pardon?
Hester, unable to bear his harsh words, pulls him to her chest and buries his face in the scarlet letter as she begs his pardon. Dimmesdale eventually forgives her, realizing that Chillingworth is a worse sinner than either of them. The minister now worries that Chillingworth, who knows of Hester’s intention to reveal his secret, ...
What does Dimmesdale say about Chillingworth's vengefulness?
Here, though, Dimmesdale posits a hierarchy of sin, as he directly proclaims that Chillingworth’s vengefulness is far worse than any adultery. This is the first official recognition in the text of any sort of alternative to the Puritan order, be it natural or intellectual.
What does Hester tell the minister?
Hester tells the minister not to worry. She insists, though, that Dimmesdale free himself from the old man’s power. The former lovers plot to steal away on a ship to Europe, where they can live with Pearl as a family. Read a translation of Chapter 17: The Pastor and His Parishioner →.
Why does Hester decide to flee to Europe?
Because of her alienation from society, Hester has taken an “estranged point of view [toward] human institutions.” She has been able to think for herself, thanks to the scarlet letter and its dose of “Shame, Despair [and] Solitude.” She seems to have developed an understanding of a sort of “natural law,” and it is according to her instinctive principles that she decides that she, Dimmesdale, and Pearl should flee to Europe. A distinction is made between “sin” and “evil.” Sin, as represented by Hester’s past, constitutes an injury against the social and moral order but not against other human beings directly. Although it leads to alienation, it also leads to knowledge. It is a breaking of the rules for the sake of happiness. Evil, on the other hand, can be found in the hearts of those like Chillingworth, who seek no one’s happiness—not even their own—and desire only the injury of others.
What chapter is the Scarlet Letter?
Course Hero's video study guide provides in-depth summary and analysis of chapter 18 of Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel The Scarlet Letter.
What does Hester tell Dimmesdale about Pearl?
Hester tells Dimmesdale that he must finally meet Pearl so their family can be united. Hester calls to Pearl, who is playing happily in the forest with "wild things," including red berries, birds, squirrels, and a fox. The narrator backs down from his claim that Pearl is playing with a wolf, saying it is not likely to be true. Hearing her mother call to her, Pearl approaches slowly.
What are the symbols of Hester and Dimmesdale?
By removing the letter and throwing it away, Hester is symbolically rejecting the Puritans' judgment of her affair with Dimmesdale and the guilt she has felt as a result. The second symbol is the sunlight breaking through the thick leaves in the forest. The sunshine is a symbol of happiness and hope, so the sun shining down on Hester and Dimmesdale shows they are being blessed. The third symbol is Hester's hair: by releasing it, she is revealing her youth and vitality. But a close look at these symbols foreshadows that Hester and Dimmesdale's plan is doomed to failure: water traditionally washes away sin and guilt, as seen in baptism ceremonies. The fact that the scarlet letter lands on the side of the stream and so is not carried away by the water suggests that Hester's sin and guilt cannot be discarded easily.
What does Dimmesdale think of Hester?
Dimmesdale is shocked at Hester's boldness but also hopeful and happy that his misery will end with their escape. The narrator explains that being alone for so long has made Hester strong, while hidden guilt has made Dimmesdale weak. Nonetheless, Dimmesdale gathers his courage and resolves to run away with Hester.
What does Pearl's play with a wolf mean?
The detail at the end of the chapter about Pearl playing with a wolf suggests that she, like her mother, has the wildness and sacred knowledge found in nature.
What was the scarlet letter?
The scarlet letter was her passport into regions where other women dared not go. Shame, despair, and solitude had been her stern and wild teachers. They had made her strong, but they had often guided her poorly.
Who gazed into Hester's face with a look of hope and joy?
Modern Text. Arthur Dimmesdale gazed into Hester’s face with a look in which hope and joy shone out, indeed, but with fear betwixt them, and a kind of horror at her boldness, who had spoken what he vaguely hinted at, but dared not speak. Arthur Dimmesdale gazed into Hester’s face with a look of hope and joy—yet there was fear and a kind ...
Was Hester Prynne outlawed?
But Hester Prynne had a naturally active and courageous mind. She had been outlawed from society for so long that she had become used to a freedom of thought that was altogether foreign to the clergyman.
What is the title of chapter 18 of The Scarlet Letter?
Hawthorne, N. (1850). Chapter 18: “A Flood of Sunshine”. The Scarlet Letter (Lit2Go Edition). Retrieved November 25, 2021, from https://etc.usf.edu/lit2go/127/the-scarlet-letter/2285/chapter-18-a-flood-of-sunshine/
Who gazed into Hester's face with a look in which hope and joy shone out?
Arthur Dimmesdale gazed into Hester’s face with a look in which hope and joy shone out, indeed, but with fear betwixt them, and a kind of horror at her boldness, who had spoken what he vaguely hinted at, but dared not speak.
What was Pearl's vision like?
Hester smiled, and again called to Pearl, who was visible at some distance, as the minister had described her, like a bright–apparelled vision in a sunbeam, which fell down upon her through an arch of boughs. The ray quivered to and fro, making her figure dim or distinct—now like a real child, now like a child’s spirit—as the splendour went and came again. She heard her mother’s voice, and approached slowly through the forest.
