Summary and Critical Analysis of Hester and Pearl's Rally Experience

Summary and Critical Analysis of Hester and Pearl's Rally Experience

John Lloyd November 5, 2008 Ms. Contario Bell 7 1 Summary Recently in the novel, Hester and Pearl attended a rally at the marketplace to learn and celebrate the election of the new leaders of their town. While they are attending this ceremony, Hester sees the shipmate of the boat that they are planning to take to Europe to start a new life. She breaks eye contact because she is not certain of her decision. While Pearl is dancing off in the crowd, the shipmate tells Pearl to let her mom know that Chillingworth and Dimmesdale have secured a spot on the ship. Hester doesn’t want to bother thinking about what is to come in the future at that time and blows it off. Another strange event occurred at the festival was a conversation that Hester had with the witch, Mistress Hibbins. As they begin to talk, Mistress Hibbins mentions that Dimmesdale has a secret sin. She says that she can tell because it is easy to recognize a fellow sinner and his sin is comparable to the sin on Hester’s bosom. Later, Dimmesdale preaches one of the best sermons that he has ever done. As people are leaving, they are all talking about how good and were shouting “Never, on New England soil, has stood the man so honored by his mortal brethren, as the preacher!”(Hawthorne). But on the way back to Town Hall, Dimmesdale is not acting right. He is having trouble walking and finally breaks down. He goes to the scaffold and proclaims his hidden sin. He removes his shirt and shows the A carved in his chest. He knew he was on his way to death, which he soon dies, and he couldn’t go without admitting his wrongdoing and burden. In the conclusion, Chillingsworth dies and leaves a fortune to Pearl and Hester. The both move to Europe and are not heard from. The story of the “A” lingers throughout time and is told everywhere. Hester later returns to Boston and lives in the same little cottage and makes children’s clothes. She also began wearing the A on her bosom when she returned. When she dies she...

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