Themes
-Throughout the book Hester and Pearl are shunned, they live in a secluded cottage away from the rest of the village
-Dimmesdale was alone in his guilt and punishment
What is isolation
A symbol passion and beauty but also sin
What is the color red
The punishment for Hester commting adultery, being publicly shamed and questioned about who joined her in her sin
Hester on the scaffold
The place where Hester is publicly shamed for her sin, where Dimmesdale tried to compensate for his sin, and where Dimmesdale eventually confesses his sin publicly.
What is the scaffold
Hid his identity so he could better find out who Hester's lover was
Who is Chillingworth
The townspeople eventually forgave Hester and started to accept her more in society
What is forgiveness
A symbol for sin or evil for the townspeople but also a symbol of privacy and hidden from society
What is the wilderness
Hester reveals important information to Dimmesdale and they discuss leaving their settlement
Hester and Dimmesdale meeting in the woods
The place where Hester and Dimmesdale meet to talk about Chillingworth and they discuss leaving for Europe. This place is seen as wild and unknown to most of the village people
What is the forrest
Very intelligent but often thought to be unwordly due to her odd and mischievous behavior
Who is Pearl
-Hester was a single mother who supported her and Pearl without the help of a man
-Hester and Pearl don't conform to how society thinks women should act
What is female independence
A symbol that Dimmesdale should bear the same shame that Hester does
What is the meteor
After Dimmesdale gives his Election Day sermon he stands up on the scaffold and asks Hester to join him. He said God led him to do this.
When Dimmesdale confesses
The place where Chillingworth mocks Hester, telling her that she can take off her scarlet letter. Hester will not take the letter off just because they said she could.
What is the beach
He was fearful of judgment and punished himself but eventually faces the townspeople and confesses to his crime
Who is Dimmesdale
-Dimmesdale is guitly of the same shameful sin as Hester but continues to let the townspeople think he's a righteous man
-Bellingham is an upstanding member in their Puritan society but his sister is suspected to be a witch
What is hypocrisy
A symbol of Hester's sin and punishment but also a symbol of passion.
Who is Pearl
Dimmesdale tries to atone for his unpunished sins, he sees Hester and Pearl and they hold hands as a family for the first time and a meteor in the shape of an "A" crosses the sky.
Hester, Pearl, and Dimmesdale stand on the scaffold together
The place that's isolated on the outskirt of town but Hester decides to live here and raise Pearl instead of leaving Boston.
What is Hester's cottage
A very strong and determined woman, held her head high when she was being judged by the town. She also protected the man who committed the sin with her.
Who is Hester
Hester feels ashamed of her sin, but Dimmesdale struggles with never having to pay for his sin throughout the book
What is guilt
A symbol of identity and how one can be interpreted
What is the letter "A"
Chillingworth sees something under Dimmesdale's clothes while he's sleeping that makes him very excited and happy.
Chillingworth discovers Dimmesdale is Pearl's father (He sees Dimmesdale's "A")
The place where Hester (and Dimmesdale) have to convince Governor Bellingham that Pearl should not be taken away from her mother
What is Governor Bellingham's house
Known for being harsh and unreasonable, he tried to take Pearl away from Hester.
Who is Governor Bellingham