Group+Two

• Imagery/ Symbolism:
Prison- the prison could be a symbol the dark aspects of people and the world; evil. Rosebush- the rosebush could be a symbol for some sense of peace and beauty which would relate to Hester who is still a beautiful person regardless of her acts Together these two symbolize the world and people in that good and evil coexists in both. There is much description of Hester, as well as the scarlet letter that is on her clothing. It is told how beautiful she is and how mature and lady-like she is and the the scarlet letter does not take away from her beauty.

• Character Behavior or Psychology:
Hester was not embarrassed about her actions and did not mind standing on the platform until her husband came. This shows that she still has feelings for her husband because his appearance affected her actions. She also did not want to get the father of the child in trouble proving that she either cared about him or did not believe that the fault was his so she did not want to get him involved.

• Interesting Passages (note the page number):
Page 44 "When the…the colony" It shows how the scarlet letter loses some of its effect because she wears it so beautifully. Those she will always bear the scarlet letter, one may wonder what impact will it have on her because it did not seem to change her so far. Page 43 It is interesting to note the difference in punishments that the people believe should be imposed on Hester. Also the women seem more sympathetic to her than the men because they many be afraid that they may once have to endure the same punishment and they can better sympathize with her than a man.

• Questions/ Predictions you have:
Who is the father? Where has the husband been and why was he not recognized?

• Other (connections to modern life or your personal life):
The stoning story is also involved an unlawful child and then a strange punishment, in terms of modern time. The punishment was used, in both cases, as an example to the others of society so they would not commit an unlawful act.

Chapter 7-10

• Imagery/Symbolism: The flower on the grave symbolizes that some people die without revealing all of their secrets. Chillingworth is insinuating that Dimmesdale has secret but even though the Chillingworth says that dying with a secret will damage your heart, Dimmsdale still feels that is is okay to die with a secret. The ripping of off Dimmesdale's shirt by Chillingworth is not just literal, but Chillingworth is "uncovering" Dimssesdale's past and he is looking at "into" Dimmesdale and not just at his outward appearance. In the governor's hall the armor magnifies the scarlet A meaning that when people look at Hester they only see the A. Although Doctors are known as leeches, Chillingworth actually is leeching on Dimmsdale. He is helping not for health, but so he can try to find out information about Dimmsdale.

• Character Behavior or Psychology: Pearl usually acts crazy but then is calm when Dimmesdale is around.Dimmsdale wants Hester to keep Pearl which points toward him being the father. Dimmesdale is one of few who supports Hester keeping Pearl and his may be because he is the father of Hester. Chillingworth is beginning to become more well-known in society but is not being liked by all because of the medicine techniques that he uses.

• Interesting Passages (note the page number): page 119-paragraph 3- Dimmesdale is put into a deep by Chillingworth by what we believe to be a potion and then searches his just and is happy with what he finds. page 100 - paragraph 1- Hester would have gone to the forest for the witch meeting of Pearl was taken from her. This shows that Pearl is basically everything to Hester. • Questions/ Predictions you have: Is Dimmesdale the father? Is that why Pearl is calm when she is around him? Is dying with secrets really a black mark or is it acceptable? Why did Pearl not answer all the questions asked by the governor?

• Other (connections to modern life or your personal life): People have secrets bottled up inside themselves all the time. Sometimes these secrets leak out.

=Chapters 11-13= 16. Hester stood up on the scaffold during the day because she accepted her sin and came to terms with it while also willingly showed the public her sin while Dimmesdale goes during the dark of night because he can not bring himself to let the public know of his sin that he has kept private for so long and he also is hiding from his sinful actions. Dimmesdale lets out a shout when he goes to the scaffold meaning he wants people to know he has sin. He shouts to relieve the pain of his sin he is living with. There are few people that come to see who yelled form the scaffold and when they see him they go back to there homes. This means that people did not understand why Dimmesdale was on the scaffold and thus not believe why he is there. He is in pain living with sin. page 133-third paragraph-Pearl invites Dimmesdale up to the scaffold and even though this would not be for shaming, Dimmesdale declines because then people may wonder why he is up there. Dimmesdale has made a mistake by allowing someone so close when he has a secret to hide. Especially a physician who needs to know everything about you, he will likely discover the hidden secret. The "electric chain" between Pearl, Hester, and Dimmesdale symbolizes the bloodline between the three because Dimmesdale is Pearl's father.

Chapter 14-16

**• Imagery/ Symbolism:**
The black man of the forrest symbolizes the Devil and when Pearl asks if the black man is coming and it turns out to be Dimmesdale and this could mean that Dimmesdale resembles the Devil because of the crime he committed and all the oppressed feelings he currently had.

**• Character Behavior or Psychology:**
Chillingworth becomes more bent on destroying Dimmesdale and as Dimmesdale's mind is being damaged by Chillingworth's efforts, Chillingworth also hurts himself because his is concentrated on such an evil task and he becomes more devil-like

**• Questions/ Predictions you have:**
In Chillingworth's seek for revenge he is going to end up poisoning himself in the end causing himself to die. His judgment is clouded by hatred which will result in him losing his life, while taking Dimmesdale's, and leaving the mystery of the father never to be revealed.

**• Other (connections to modern life or your personal life):**
Typical T.V shows describing a desperate husband seeking revenge on someone who hurt his wife. Always resulting in husband being caught. Only difference is the investigation faces challenge with one of the involved suspecting being a major part of the government. Ex: Law and Order, C.S.I., and Shark.

**Chapter 17-21**

**Imagery/Symbolism** The sun avoids Hester until she removes her letter. Then she is free. She threw the scarlet letter off her chest. This makes Pearl very angry. She does not accept Hester without the letter. The only way she knew Hester was with the letter. Hester has worn it for Pearl's entire life. Also, by the scarlet letter landing on land and not in the water where it would get washed away, it signifies that the scarlet letter will forever be a part of who Hester is no matter what she tried to do

**Character Behavior or Psychology** Dimmesdale's personality goes through two main changes. The first is his complete resentment of Chillingworth because of what he did under the facade of a good doctor. Dimmesdale even conciders this a crime that is not only worse what he and Hester did, but the most heinous crime of all. The second is his hatred of the Church and of religious. He has to restrain himself from yelling and he has a sudden desire to teach the children curse words. Dimmesdale was a highly religious man and yet he all of a sudden is practically an anarchists and wants to leave the society for Europe.

**Interesting Passages**

**Questions Prediction** What will happen with Chillingworth and Dimmesdale stuck together on a ship for many months? What will happen with Dimmesdale and Hester once they get to Europe? What are Dimmesdale's and Hester's plans once they get to Europe and how will Chillingworth being their affect what they do?

**Other**

• Imagery/ Symbolism:
Had a scarlet letter actually appeared on Dimmesdale's chest that would mean that he has received the punishment that Hester did because too committed a crime. Also that fact that only some saw a scarlet letter appear on his chest means that not everyone in the town believes that Dimmesdale is guilty of any crime.

• Character Behavior or Psychology:
Chillingworth and Dimmesdale die. Dimmesdale cannot bare to live with what he has done and so after Pearl kisses him, something that she has never done before, he dies. Because Chillingworth spent practically all of the recent past trying to torment Dimmesdale he feels that he has no more purpose in life and soon dies.

• Questions/ Predictions you have:
Do Hester and Pearl go to England? How will Hester's life be changed without having a husband and the father of her child? Will Dimmesdale go to heaven because he regretted and repented for what he did or hell because of the fact that he did it?

• Other (connections to modern life or your personal life):
In the the book Jason and Mike Killian read, __Swimming to Antarctica__, at my points in Lyne Cox's life she could have stopped swimming because of all she accomplished but this would have given her life no more purppose, just like what happened with Chillingworth. Lynne decided to create new challenges so there was always something to strive for unlike Chillingworth who once he completed his goal he did not think of anything else to do with his life.