Scarlet Letter (72-144)

In this portion of the novel, Hester's daughter, Pearl, takes center stage. On almost every other page a new description of her astounding wit and unearthly elegance can be found. Roger Chillingworth is portrayed as a dark and twisted man who lays the blame of adultery solely on Heste (98). The idea that the guilty sinners can sometimes be the most innocent is also introduced due to Hester's increasingly holiness and Roger's downward spiral into sin. It is also revealed that Reverend Dimmesdale is in very poor health, and that "Doctor" Chillingworth is hurting the Reverend more than he is helping him (117). Lastly, these pages commend Hester for her strength in trying times, and she continues to show herself as the strongest character of the book (134).

Pay attention to word choice- how is the author shaping your judgement by the words he chooses?
When Hawthorne used the words "prophecy of decay" to describe Mr. Dimmesdale's figure, he imparted the idea on the reader that Mr. Dimmesdale was dying, and nothing could be done to stop it, as it was his destiny (100). Therefore, when Dr. Chillingworth seemingly attempts to cure Mr. Dimmesdale, Chillingworth is automatically seen as an evil figure attempting to get in the way of Mr. Dimmesdale's ultimate meeting with God. Additionally, when Hawthorne stated that Pearl was "the scarlet letter in another form; the scarlet letter endowed with life," he implies that Pearl is also a symbol of her mother's adultery (84). He also causes the reader to acknowledge that Pearl will never be able to change the fact that she was born of sin, and how terribly that much psychologically damage a child. Hawthorne also used anaphora when he repeated "I" at each interventionism of Dimmesdale's imagined speech of confession to the village (119). This rhetorical device effectively convinced the readers that he takes responsibility for his actions, and it emphasizes his all-consuming feelings of guilt. Finally, when the author described Dimmesdale's dark unlit walk and Father Wilson's "lighted lantern," he uses symbolism to show the audience that Dimmesdale is losing his way and perhaps even becoming more and more detached from the Holy Spirit.