The Scarlet Letter Chapter Summaries

Readers who are interested in only plot will find The Scarlet Letter disappointing. It's not exactly the fastest paced novel ever written. That should not, however, deter the student of literature from reading it. Hawthorne creates Literature's first heroin and delves deep into the workings of the human mind and heart.

Feel I've left out important events from the Scarlet Letter summary or included unnecessary information? Feel free to comment on these chapter summaries of The Scarlet Letter by clicking on "comments" above.

For more brighthub novel study guides, follow the link.

Use this Scarlet Letter summary and afix a scarlet 'A' on your next quiz.

• Chapter 1: The Prison Door - The narrator sets the scene--Boston, 1600s, Puritan law. The setting is gloomy, with the exception of a rose bush just outside the prison door.
• Chapter 2: The Market Place - Hester Prynne emerges from the prison door with a scarlet 'A' on her chest. She walks to the scaffold where she is publicly condemned for committing adultery and giving birth to an illegitimate child. Hester notices a misshapen, older Englishman toward the back of the crowd.
  
• Chapter 3: The Recognition - The aforementioned Englishman is Hester's husband, whom she had not seen in years (not exactly the best greeting a husband could hope for). He discovers that Hester refuses to divulge the name of her lover.
• Chapter 4: The Interview - Chillingworth, Hester's husband, visits her cell to administer medicines. Hester refuses to tell him who the guilty man is. Chillingworth, nevertheless, vows to discover his identity and makes Hester promise not to reveal his.
• Chapter 5: Hester at her Needle - Several years pass. Hester supports herself through needlework.
• Chapter 6: Pearl - Pearl is Hester's only solace. She has inherited her mother's passion, moodiness, and defiance. Pearl is intrigued by the scarlet letter and proves to be a difficult child (if the entire town ostracized you, you'd be difficult too).

Analysis: Imagine all your faults and mistakes being made public. That's Hester's experience. It's difficult to imagine how the Puritans would have handled the internet. They would have certainly scorned online smut, but they would have eagerly used the web to humiliate sinners. Hester's willingness to remain in Boston puzzles many readers. The narrator provides several explanations, the most likely being that her lover still resides there.

Use this Scarlet Letter summary and afix a scarlet 'A' on your next quiz.

• Chapter 7: The Governor's Hall - Hester goes to the governor's mansion after hearing he wishes to take Pearl away.
• Chapter 8: The Elf-Child and the Minister - The governor, Chillingworth and Reverends Wilson and Dimmesdale enter. The governor and Wilson inform Hester that Pearl should be taken away after Pearl mischievously gives wrong answers to religous questions. Hester makes an appeal to Dimmesdale, who convinces the others to allow Pearl to remain with her mother. Pearl presses Dimmesdale's hand to her cheek.
• Chapter 9: The Leech - Chillingworth spends much of his time with Dimmesdale, who is very ill. Chillingworth is initially looked on as a blessing, but as Dimmesdale's health grows worse, many consider him evil.
• Chapter 10: The Leech and his Patient - Chillingworth mentions weeds he found on someone's grave and claims they grew from the dead person's heart on account of unconfessed sins. Chillingworth and Dimmesdale have a heated discussion on the confession of sins. As Dimmesdale sleeps, Chillingworth discovers a mark on his chest and rejoices.
  
• Chapter 11: The Interior of a Heart - By now it's obvious who Hester's lover is. Chillingworth psychologically torments Dimmesdale who sleeps little and ponders his sin. He decides to hold a late night vigil on the scaffold where Hester had suffered years earlier.
• Chapter 12: The Minister's Vigil - The minister ascends to the scaffold and screams as the pain in his chest worsens, but it is late and no one hears. Pearl and Hester pass by and they converse. Pearl asks Dimmesdale to stand with them at the scaffold the next day. Chillingworth appears and escorts Dimmesdale back to his home. The next day, Dimmesdale delivers a powerful sermon.

Analysis: It is clear that of the three main characters, Hester suffers least. Dimmesdale's guilt destroys him, and Chillingworth's monomaniacal revenge disintegrates his soul.

Feel I've left out important events from the Scarlet Letter summary or included unnecessary information? Feel free to comment on these chapter summaries of The Scarlet Letter by clicking on "comments" above.