Chapter 22 Summary and Analysis
Hester joins the procession heading for the meeting house, where Dimmesdale is set to deliver his Election Sermon. Magistrates and soldiers alike join this procession, and Hawthorne praises them for their nobility, their grace, and their upstanding service to the colony, though he does admit that none of them appear as bright as statesmen Bellingham, Bradstreet, Endicott, and Dudley, who all served as Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony at some point, often multiple times.
Reverend Dimmesdale walks with the magistrates, looking positively energetic. Hester looks at him then and realizes that he’s no longer the man who sat with her, murmuring and confused, by the little babbling brook in chapter 19. She can’t forgive him for abandoning them. Even Pearl is shocked by the changes in the minister. She wonders aloud what would’ve happened if she’d asked the Reverend to kiss her on the forehead as he did before.
Meanwhile, Mistress Hibbins has made her way through the procession to Hester. Suspecting her of being a witch, the crowd gives Mistress Hibbins a wide berth and allows her to approach Hester and Pearl. The old witch wants to talk about the fact that Dimmesdale went for a walk in the woods—an unholy place where witches like Mistress Hibbins are said to commune with the devil. Hester won’t hear anything against Dimmesdale, and finally, the old witch leaves, cackling.
Unaware of the consequences of her actions, Pearl approaches the Native Americans and the sailors in turn. Seeing her beauty, the shipmaster gives her a gold chain and asks her to take a message back to her mother: that Chillingworth has arranged to pay for Dimmesdale’s passage on the boat and that Hester need not worry herself about the money. He makes the mistake of calling Pearl a witch-baby, however, and she threatens to have the devil curse his boat. Nevertheless, she delivers the message.
Finally, the Puritans grow bored with the sermon and began to torment Hester, like always.
Allusions
Expert Q&A
What does "the same scorching stigma" refer to in Hester and Dimmesdale's context in "The Procession" chapter 22?
The sainted minister in the church! The woman of the scarlet letter in the marketplace! What imagination would have been irreverent enough to surmise that the same scorching stigma was on them both!
In The Scarlet Letter, what is notable about Dimmesdale's manner during the procession in chapter 22?
In Chapter 22, Dimmesdale displays an unusual vigor and energy during the procession, contrasting sharply with his previous feebleness. He stands upright, does not clutch his heart, and appears spiritually invigorated, possibly by a newfound inner strength or inspiration. However, his demeanor suggests he is mentally elsewhere, propelled by a spiritual force. This vitality foreshadows his powerful sermon, but ultimately, his physical weakness returns as he approaches the scaffold for his confession.
How is Dimmesdale different in Chapter 22 of The Scarlet Letter? What does Pearl want from the minister? What secrets does Mistress Hibbins reveal? What message does the ship captain give Pearl for Hester? How does the crowd respond to Hester?
In Chapter 22, Dimmesdale appears changed and detached, with a forceful demeanor, after a transformative experience. Pearl wants Dimmesdale to publicly acknowledge them as he did privately. Mistress Hibbins hints she knows about Dimmesdale’s secret and his connection to Pearl. A ship captain tells Pearl to inform Hester that Chillingworth will accompany Dimmesdale on their planned voyage. The crowd reacts coldly to Hester, adding to her distress as her escape plans unravel.
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