Chapter 13 Summary and Analysis

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Hester is upset by the minister’s deteriorating health. She feels she must get close to him, but she must be careful about it. Her situation is very different now than it was when she was first branded with the scarlet letter. It has been seven years, and the Puritans are much kinder to her than they used to be. As the narrator says, the human heart “loves more readily than it hates.”

Hester’s new, virtuous life has charmed the Puritans. She has suffered bravely without complaining, and they respect that. In fact, she does so much good work that some people refuse to believe the A stands for adultery. Others are slower to change their opinions (such as the magistrates and wealthy men of Boston). Hester herself seems stripped of her vitality. Her rich, luxuriant hair is hidden. Her clothes are plain. Consequently, she seems cold and passionless (prized qualities among Puritans, in those days). If not for Pearl, the narrator says, Hester might’ve been like Anne Hutchinson—the leader of a religious sect.

Hester has spent the last seven years ruminating on the nature of existence and what it means to be a woman in a Puritan society. When she sees Reverend Dimmesdale on the scaffold, she lets go of that train of thought. Dimmesdale needs her help. She decides to confront Chillingworth.

Alliteration
One example from this chapter is “ethereal essence.”

Allusions

Abel. A Biblical figure. His brother, Cain, killed him out of jealousy after God showed Abel favor. Abel’s story ends there. For more about Cain, see Chapter 5 Analysis: Allusions.
Anne Hutchinson (1591–1643). For more information on Anne Hutchinson, see Chapter 1 Analysis: Allusions.

Metaphor

While ruminating on the nature of femininity and the experience of being a woman in seventeenth-century Boston, Hester becomes lost “in the dark labyrinth of mind.” The metaphor equates the human mind with a maze that’s impossible to know or navigate. 

Symbols

The Scarlet Letter. This chapter marks an important shift in the meaning of the scarlet letter. Seven years of humble and virtuous living have made Hester an almost respectable figure in Boston. Many people refuse to think of her as a sinner and believe the letter A is short for Abel. Her mark of shame doesn’t just stand for sin, lust, and infamy. It’s also a driving force for good, inciting Hester to perform good deeds.

Themes

Gender. Hester’s experience gives Hawthorne a reason to ruminate on gender and femininity. He writes that women have been forced into certain roles in society without their direct consent. Hester knows it’s impossible for her life to change, but thinks perhaps society itself can change with regard to gender. It would mean breaking down society, then allowing women to assume what they think is a fair role in the community.

Expert Q&A

In Chapter 13 of The Scarlet Letter, why is Hester's beauty diminished and what could restore it?

Hester's beauty has been diminished by the harsh judgment and scorn of the Puritan community; she is no longer a woman of passion but of thought. Her face, her figure (majestic and statuesque), and her bosom are all changed, but only her renewed tenderness and emotion could truly restore them.

What is the meaning of this quote from chapter 13 of The Scarlet Letter?

"It is remarkable, that persons who speculate the most boldly often conform with the most perfect quietude to the external regulations of society"

This quote from Chapter 13 highlights the contrast between internal thoughts and external behavior. It suggests that individuals who entertain bold or unconventional ideas often maintain a facade of conformity to societal norms. In the context of The Scarlet Letter, Hester Prynne, despite her radical inner thoughts and struggles, outwardly conforms to the expectations of her Puritan community, concealing her true feelings and maintaining a quiet demeanor.

In The Scarlet Letter chapter 13, how has the "A" freed Hester?

In Chapter 13, the "A" frees Hester by transforming her from a sinner into a respected figure due to her good deeds and penitence. The community forgives her, and the letter, once a symbol of shame, now imparts a sacredness akin to a nun's cross. This allows Hester a unique freedom from societal expectations, enabling her to define her own identity and role within the community, an uncommon achievement for a Puritan woman.

In chapter 13 of The Scarlet Letter, which statement about Hester is NOT true?

The answer is (B). Hester's hair has not turned white. There is no mention of her hair changing color. However, the other items are mentioned. She doesn't have her graceful foliage: All the light and graceful foliage of her character had been withered up Her hair is no longer in view: It was a sad transformation, too, that her rich and luxuriant hair had either been cut off, or was so completely hidden by a cap, that not a shining lock of it ever once gushed into the sunshine There is nothing in Hester's face for love to dwell on: there seemed to be no longer anything in Hester’s face for Love to dwell upon

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