Prynne And Pearl And The Physician Chillingworth example essay topic

+ ENGLISH AP: Scarlett Letter + The Scarlet Letter A Reading Log by Brandon Moeller English AP Fisher-7 8/7/96 CHAPTER 1- The Prison-Door- I found this one page introductory chapter to be very dramatic as it explained the history of the colony by telling the history of the prison-door. From the looks of this chapter, this story will probably be dragged out as much as possible. At first I thought the way Nathaniel Hawthorne approached the latter half of the last paragraph was annoying, but when I read the chapter the second time, it appealed to me. The relationship that Hawthorne is attempting to establish with the reader in this paragraph is very interesting. That pink highlighted section in my book convinced me that even though having students read a book over a very short summer vacation is a bad, misguided idea, the book youre making us read isnt as bad. CHAPTER 2- The Market Place- This chapter tells of Hester Prynne being led through the city and in to the market place with the finely stitched Scarlet Letter.

She walks protecting her young child against her bosom as she is scorned by the crowd. Her punishment is quote as effectual an agent, in the promotion of good citizenship as ever was the guillotine among the terrorists of France, (Page 52, pink highlight). Instead of using the pillory, which would lock a persons head and hands together where they could not move and be forced to not be able to show their humiliation. No outrage more flagrant to forbid the culprit to hide his face from shame, is in Hawthornes commentary on page 53. Hawthornes commentary appears twice on this page (about more than one topic) and you can see them in m highlighted sections. What really got to me was the second highlighted section on that page where Hawthorne is comparing / contrasting the nurturing image of a mother and her son to Prynne.

The passage speaks of Prynnes sin tainting the image, therefore the crowd was lost for Prynnes beauty and the infants innocence. I think the passage is beautiful in that it made me think about how society plays a role in interpreting what is good and bad. CHAPTER 3- The Recognition- The recognition came when a mysterious wanderer met eyes with Prynne. Through the vagabond we find out why Hester Prynne has the Scarlet Letter. The passage that I really like in this chapter is the dialog between the could-be-called city council members and Prynne. My highlighted parts are on page 63 and 64.

On page 63, the reverend Mr. Dimmesdale tries to convince her to give up the name of the man that tempted her by saying that it would be better for him, and that he wouldnt have to revel in his guilt for the rest of his life. He later said, temper raising, Speak- to take the Scarlet Letter off... But Prynne replies that it is too deeply branded to ever be removed. I think that this dialog shows her wondrous strength, and an attitude worthy of the main character in such a riveting book. CHAPTER 4- The Interview- The mysterious wanderer whose presence in the crowd (In chapter 3) had been of such deep interest to the wearer of the scarlet letter was thrown into the same jail cell as Prynne because he knew Indians that would pay a ransom to get him out. (Above quote from page 66, underlined sentence.) He turned out to know something about medicine and soothed the infant, that in the pink highlighted selection on page 66, was in turmoil, anguish and despair.

He also gave something to Prynne which soothed her. Then it became evident to the reader that this mysterious guy- a so called Mr. Roger Chillingworth- was the husband to Prynne when she cheated on him in the act of adultery. Mr. Chillingworth told her that their marriage was really never one of love, and he didnt show any hate towards her in the prison interview. They established that they wronged each other. I think they both have valid points.

He wronged her by marrying her when it wasnt out of love and she wronged him by cheating on him. Mr. Chillingworth continued and said that he wanted to know who her lover was but she didnt tell him so he made a deal. If Prynne would never reveal that he, Mr. Chillingworth, was ever married to her, he wouldnt harm her lover. But if she told her lover who he was, then Mr. Chillingworth will kill her lover.

CHAPTER 5- Hester at her Needle- Here we find Prynnes prison term to be over and she is released back into society. In this chapter it is explained to us why Prynne doesnt just go off to another part in the world where she wouldnt be constricted to wearing the scarlet letter. On page 74, my highlighted text reads Her sin, her ignominy, were the roots which she had struck into the soil. I can compare what Hawthorne is getting across with a rock song by the Smashing Pumpkins called Tonight, Tonight. In the song, lead singer Billy Corgan bellows You can never ever leave, without leaving a piece of you. This is how Prynne feels in the book right now.

She doesnt think running away could cleanse her sin and she believes that staying there and living out her punishment is the only way for penance. Also in this chapter, we find that Prynnes handiness with a needle lands her jobs making beautiful costumes for high officials and she quickly becomes the most sought after fashion designer of her time. (Shes comparable with Tommy Hilfiger, who is gay, yet is still one of the most expensive brands of clothing in the malls today, despite his sin.) Hence the name of the chapter, we also find that Prynne stitched a wedding veil, which was very ironic to me since the veil represents innocence and Prynne was looked down upon in her Puritan society for being unclean. The long paragraphs in this chapter is starting to annoy me and sometimes it gets hard to follow due to it. Page 80 is one big paragraph.

If I was an editor of this book I would have probably cut this chapter and just insert the important parts in other places in the book. This chapter, to me, just doesnt have that much significance on its own and doesnt have enough action in it. It seems as if Hawthorne is just dragging this out. CHAPTER 6- Pearl- In this chapter, Hawthorne finally gets around to doing characterization on Prynnes daughter, Pearl.

She was named this as being of great price, - purchased with all she had, - her mothers only treasure! The child grew up to be wild, which might have been due to the lack of spankings the kid had, as it says on page 84, that Prynne didnt believe in such punishment. Pearl often had a look so perverse, sometimes so malicious... that Hester could not help questioning, ... , whether Pearl were a human child. Hawthorne uses dramatic approaches at convincing the reader that this child is not normal, despite her physical beauty. It cites times where Pearl would throw sticks and stones at the Puritan children when they pointed and stared at her in the town square. (The kids would yell back Sticks and stones may break our bones... but yo moth a got a scarlet letter, followed with an abrupt t bth!) But seriously, the kid started to scare me.

In a very unbelievable (When I say unbelievable, I mean I dont think any kid would say this.) dialog at the end of the chapter, Prynne asks the child What thou art, and who sent thee hither The child turns the question back on her mother and Prynne says that the Heavenly Father put her there. The kid replies, I have no Heavenly Father! I dont know what the kid was thinking when she said this and I have no idea if it has any significance except to show the childs defiance. I wonder if this is Gods punishment for Prynne, giving her such a devious daughter for her sins.

CHAPTER 7- The Governors Hall- In this chapter we find our main character taking her daughter to Governor Bellingham's house to deliver some embroidered gloves and to discuss the rumors going around about her daughter being separated from her. This was another chapter that should / could have been cut because it practically just describes the governors hall. A matter-of-fact there wasnt any conversation between the governor and Prynne. The only two good things about this chapter is that it reveals why the population wants to separate Prynne and Pearl and it relates the analogy of the scarlet letter and Pearls gorgeous garb. I found both of these selections (The pink highlights on page 92-93) to be well written, using Hawthornes skill for long sentences and a lot of commas. CHAPTER 8- The Elf-Child and the Minister- In this installation we find Governor Bellingham and company trying to take Pearl away from Prynne.

Their valid argument was that this perverse elf-child could never get the spiritual growth deemed necessary of the times from the scarlet woman. But the highly popular Reverend Dimmesdale came to her cause and said it is good for this poor, sinful woman. What really struck me in this chapter was that it showed that God gave Prynne Pearl so that she may be saved by Pearl, if Prynne raises her right in the Lord. (As on page 105 in my pink highlight at the bottom.) I think that if Mr. Dimmesdale didnt say this, that the Governor would be lessening Prynnes punishment by not letting her see the daily reminder of her sin. I enjoyed this chapter because of the rich dialog, but also because it had a could be parable at the end of it about a witch tempting Prynne to go to a satanic ceremony with her but Prynne declined because of Pearl, and probably wouldnt have if they had taken Pearl away from her.

CHAPTER 9- The Leech- The previously mentioned Roger Chillingworth becomes friends with Reverend Dimmesdale in this chapter. They became friends because they were both smart, yet their fields of interest were different. Chillingworth was a popular physician of the time and due to Dimmesdales deteriorating health condition, they ended up living together. At first the people were happy to see that they were living together, because they didnt want the reverend to die and the physician would always be at his side. Then the people began to see the evil in Chillingworth and prayed that the reverend would overcome it. I predict that the reverend will overcome the evil influence and they will help each other- the minister with Chillingworth spirituality and the physician with the reverends health.

CHAPTER 10- The Leech and his Patient- The relationship between Dimmesdale and Chillingworth is put to the test in this chapter when Chillingworth tells the reverend that his physical weakness must signify him hiding something in his soul. Chillingworth and Dimmesdale even partook in a conversation earlier I n the chapter about what secrets can do to a mans soul. Chillingworth kept pushing in searching for what Dimmesdale was keeping hidden that the reverend became sick again. When Dimmesdale was sleeping, Chillingworth found what Dimmesdale was hiding and he delighted in it as evil as the devil. The description of what Chillingworth felt at that moment is in my highlight on page 127, in my mind can only because Chillingworth found out that Dimmesdale was the one that tempted Prynne into cheating. Chillingworth has found the one he hates so much!

CHAPTER 11- The Interior of a Heart- This chapter is a beautiful voyage into Dimmesdales mind, as it investigates what is torturing him and the ever-failing methods he uses to purify his soul. This chapter also shows how Chillingworth could torment him more because he knows his secret. The reader learns a lot about Dimmesdales character through this chapter and how hes longed to get his burden off his chest, and hated being a hypocrite. An idea came to him one night as he fasted and he left his house...

CHAPTER 12- The Ministers Vigil- The vigil found Reverend Dimmesdale at the scaffold where Prynne was publicly embarrassed about seven years ago. The reverend came there so that maybe someone would come by and see him there and awake the rest of the town so that they may all see his shame but it did no happen this way. The only people that saw him there was Prynne and Pearl and the physician Chillingworth who had followed him there. He even yelled, at such an intensity that it was sure to wake up everybody in the town but it didnt work, nobody came out to see him on the scaffold.

Chillingworth eventually convinced him to come back home and he did, when he realized that he really wasnt ready for public shame. A meteorite fell from the sky that night and painted the sky with a scarlet A. I think the A represents Dimmesdales sin, and although he isnt ready to disclose it, the meteorite-a sign from God- was. I also think that he isnt ready to reveal his shame in front of people because Pearl gave him an opportunity to be judged in front of the people the next day but he declined. I also think the yell that he emitted that he followed with a conspicuous laugh was a cry for help, in which I think only Prynne and Pearl can cater to in the chapters to come. Due to Hawthornes great skill of characterization, and my own part in being able to identify with this reverend so much, I therefore decree that Dimmesdale is my favorite character in this whole book.

CHAPTER 13- Another View of Hester- This is a voyage through Prynnes thoughts and feelings about how society is starting to accept her again as someone who has a big heart full of mercy, sympathy and love. Some of the towns people refused to interpret the scarlet A by its original signification and said that it meant Able instead. (Page 148) My favorite passage in this chapter was on page 153, highlighted in pink of course. The passage states that Prynne had climbed to a higher place through her good deeds, yet Chillingworth has only dropped down to as low as Prynnes because of his vengeful motions and tormenting the poor Reverend Dimmesdale. So Prynne will go and have a chat with the physician about all his hate and try to do something about it. CHAPTER 14- Hester and the Physician- In this chapter Prynne tries to convince Chillingworth in a formal argument to be a little less vengeful to Dimmesdale.

Prynne even stated that it should be her that Chillingworth should be mad at, in my highlighted text on page 158. But Chillingworth rebutted by saying that the scarlet letter was in itself enough punishment for Prynne and that he couldnt do anymore to her, therefore he must seek revenge on the reverend and haunt him daily. Prynne then said in my highlighted text on page 159 that it might be good for Chillingworth to pardon Dimmesdales sin so that they may both live in harmony, but Chillingworth doesnt believe he is privileged enough to do so. I believe that Chillingworth does know how to forgive Dimmesdale, yet he wont until Dimmesdales tortured life is plucked away from him one day at a time. This gives Prynne no other choice but to tell Mr. Dimmesdale who Mr. Chillingworth really is. CHAPTER 15- Hester and Pearl- Im really starting to admire Hawthornes writing style and his skill of using SHOW NOT TELL CHARACTERIZATION.

Its awesome. But anyway, in this chapter Hester spends quality time with her daughter and her daughter asks her what the scarlet letter means. Prynne almost tells her the meaning, but out of fear of her not being able to understand and not wanting to have her feel the shame that shes borne for so long she lets it slide. On page 165, my underlined text says that she shouldnt tell her what it means just to get sympathy.

The child keeps asking and Prynne keeps rebuking her. This is a short chapter, but it describes Prynnes love for her daughter, because she doesnt want her to feel the shame she has for the seven long years that pearl has been alive. Motherly love at its best. CHAPTER 16- A Forest Walk- Prynne takes Pearl into the forest in this chapter so that she may bump into the minister as he comes back from one of his trips. As Prynne makes her way through the forest, Pearl asks her about the Black Man, who is a disciple of Satan and who has people sign their name into his black book with their own blood. Prynne then tells her that she has met the Black Man once and that the scarlet letter is his mark on her.

(Page 170) This chapter also gives an analogy between Pearl and the brook running through the forest. Hawthorne compares them because they came forth from a mysterious place and some of the things that theyve been through have been heavy with gloom. But in contrast, Pearl was free to go wherever she wanted to and therefore change the outcome of her life in any way that she chooses. I thought this analogy was very effective for this elf-child, and I cant wait to see what becomes of her in the next seven chapters.

CHAPTER 17- The Pastor and his Parishioner- This chapter is one of my favorite because of the interview that Prynne and Dimmesdale have in the forest. After breaking the ice Dimmesdale has his question about finding peace turned back upon him to which he can only answer that hes never found it. He also says that the good deeds that he does only brings more misery. The pastor also relates that if he could have only had his shame open to all people like in the form of the scarlet letter upon his breast, he would be much better off. They comfort each other, Dimmesdale especially as Prynne tells him of his enemy. Hawthorne also goes into how Chillingworth made the reverend go insane (In my highlighted text on page 177) and how he alienated him from every thing that was Good and True.

The reverend reluctantly forgives Prynne after he realizes that it is not doing him any good not to forgive and that it is only making him sicker. The reverend also realizes that Chillingworth is more of a sinner than he is due to is vengeful actions and tearing his heart apart. So with all of this burden off the reverend, yet with Chillingworth still around to cause him pain, Prynne tells the reverend to run to a distant land where Chillingworth could never follow him and under another name continue to do Gods work. But the reverend says I am powerless to go!

Then the reverend said he could never venture out alone into the wide world at which Prynne said and I quote, Who was talking about being alone I think they will now do what I would have done from the start- run like hell, which reminds me of a classic Pink Floyd song of the same name which some of the lyrics are You better make your face up in your favorite disguise / With your button down hips and your rather blind eyes / With your empty smile and your hungry heart / Feel the bile rising from your guilty past / With your nerves in tatters as the cockleshell shatters / And the hammers batter down the door / You better run. CHAPTER 18- A Flood of Sunshine- Here Dimmesdale decides to go with Prynne out of this Puritan city where they dwell to pursue a new life. Dimmesdale questions in ecstasy on page 185 why they hadnt done this sooner and Prynne takes the scarlet letter off and flings it close to the brook. I pity the man that might find this bright colored decoration and be haunted with the former evil spirit of Hester Prynne. On page 186 it says that Love must always create a sun shine, and for Prynne and Dimmesdale, their sunshine is Pearl who seems to attract all of the animals. Dimmesdale ponders if the young girl will accept him and love him, something the mother is sure of.

CHAPTER 19- The Child at the Brook-side- I didnt expect the child to act as it did in this chapter. It did not know its mother without her scarlet letter and her head cap. And feeling threatened by the reverend, would not show him any love. And when the reverend kissed her in an effort to be welcome in her heart, she ran to wash it off in the brook. I dont think the relationship with these three will work.

Something, somehow will go wrong. I think Pearl will play a big part in it but it wont be all her fault. CHAPTER 20- The Minister in a Maze- As the minister found his way back to town, his thoughts drifted from their escape plans to how he could no longer be two different people. Hawthorne put it richly on page 197 by writing, No man for any considerable period, can wear one face to himself, and another to the multitude, without finally getting bewildered as to which may be true. So as the minister walked into town, he felt lighter and he saw every thing in a different light as well. He saw one of his deacons and was tempted to spit forth blasphemous things but barely kept himself from it.

He also whispered some strange things in an old elderly womans ear about an argument against the immorality of the human soul. He also encountered the witch Mistress Hibbins and he denied being a satanic follower as she was convinced he was. Thus, he went through a maze of different people in the town. When he finally got home, Chillingworth asked him if he needed any aid before his big election speech. The reverend graciously declined, yet Chillingworth could tell that he knew that they were enemies.

CHAPTER 21- The New England Holiday- This chapter spent way too much time describing the election party and it terribly bored me to death. At the end of the chapter we see the captain of the boat talking with Chillingworth and then the captain of the boat tells Prynne that Chillingworth will be riding with them. I predict that all three of them will somehow, some way stay in the puritan town and none of them run from their shame. CHAPTER 22- The Procession- This chapter was a little better. The crowd gathers and watches as all of the high officials and such walk in with the reverend. The reverend walks in such a different style as he ever has that even Prynne doubts that it is the same person of whom she conferred with by the side of the brook.

The witch-Mistress Hibbins tells Prynne that he looks different too- not the same guy of religious piety, but more of a follower of the devil who has some sins, yet Prynne denies that she knows of any thing that she speaks. As Prynne is listening to the speech, Pearl goes and plays in the market place with all the people and everybody seems to think she is darling. The captain of the boat tells her to tell her mom that Chillingworth is planning on taking the minister on the boat with him. Mobs of newcomers stare at the infamous scarlet letter on Prynnes bosom and it evokes much shame, and Dimmesdale overlooking thinks to himself that nobody would imagine that they were both one in the same. CHAPTER 23- The Revelation- The reverend finished his election sermon and the crowd went wild, for they were all touched with the holy spirit at that moment. They thought of him as a saint and when they saw him stumble into the procession, they figured that it was his holiness that was drained from him and distributed throughout the people that made him weak.

But it was his revelation that he was about to give that made him tremble so. Dimmesdale called Prynne and Pearl close to him and went up o the scaffold to disclose his sin in front of the people. At this Chillingworth puts forth one last effort to try to stop him from doing it, but he was too late... the reverend would not be stopped. He told of his sin and died up there. What I really liked in the dialog between Prynne and Dimmesdale up there was when Prynne asked him if they shall spend their immortal life together. To this the reverend replied that when they forgot God by violating the reverence for each of their souls, that it was in vain to ever seek a heavenly reunion.

(Page 233 pink highlight.) This hit me because it seemed that that was the only thing that they wanted after they were to leave the puritan city, but it never came true because God didnt want it to be in the first place. CHAPTER 24- Conclusion- There were many theories on the origin of the scarlet A on Dimmesdales breast when he strewn his clothes on the scaffold. Some say that it had been there ever since Prynne was first publicly humiliated. Others say that it only appeared after Chillingworth began to torment him. Still others believe that it had grown outward from his heart as he kept his unholy secret. I wont comment on which I believe it to be because it could have been a combination of all three for all Im concerned.

This ending chapter also tells how Chillingworth just withered up and died, being that he had no one else to torture. But in his will he left Pearl a great deal of land abroad where it was heard that the child got married and lived happily ever after. It is said that Prynne went with her, then returned a short time after. Her door was marked with a sign that practically told of whom lived there. I think this was an excellent book and Im really glad I read it. I think I learned from it, being that it is better to wear your shame than to hide it.

It was beautifully written, it was dramatic and very climatic. I enjoyed this summer reading assignment even though I would have preferred to have done it during the regular school year. Scarlet Letter Reading Log Thus marks another Brandon Moeller masterpiece.