Chapter 2 Summary and Analysis
Seemingly the entire city of Boston has gathered outside the prison. These Puritan men and women have come to judge Hester Prynne, the protagonist of the novel, who’s on trial for adultery. Hester’s crime was only discovered after the fact, when she bore a child despite the absence of her husband, whom everyone suspects to have been killed by Native Americans. Most of the audience appears to have already decided what they think about her. Some wish she had been branded with a hot poker. Others think the scarlet letter A sewn into her clothes is enough.
Hester steps out onto the scaffold carrying her three-month-old daughter, Pearl. Hester is described as a tall, beautiful woman with flowing hair and enormous vitality. She’s also a talented seamstress, and the clothes she wears appear rich, even though she herself wouldn’t be classed as such. In terms of appearance, Hester reminds the narrator of the Virgin Mary. These Puritans, however, gaze upon her with an utter lack of sympathy. While standing before these people, Hester thinks of her past in England and of her life up to this moment. She can hardly believe what’s happening.
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Expert Q&A
In The Scarlet Letter chapter 2, what is the relationship between religion and law in Puritan New England?
In Puritan New England, religion and law were intertwined, forming a theocratic society where church doctrine dictated legal codes. Chapter 2 of The Scarlet Letter illustrates this through the harsh judgment Hester Prynne faces from both religious and civil leaders, reflecting the absence of separation between church and state. This theocracy, criticized by Hawthorne for its hypocrisy and severity, was eventually dismantled, influencing the U.S. Constitution's emphasis on separating church from state.
In The Scarlet Letter, why is the pillory both effective and cruel in chapter 2?
The pillory is effective because it forces Hester to confront her past and feel deep regret for her actions, as her life "flashes before her eyes." This public shaming is emotionally impactful. However, it is also cruel because it isolates her, with the townspeople's silence and seeming indifference intensifying her internal suffering. The dissonance between public exposure and personal isolation highlights the pillory's cruelty.
Why is the young Puritan woman more sympathetic to Hester Prynne in Chapter 2?
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