Chapter 24 Summary and Analysis
The Puritans of Boston have many different theories about what happened to Dimmesdale that day. Some believe it was a kind of penance for his sins. Others believe he was under the spell of the evil Roger Chillingworth, who caused the scarlet letter to appear on his chest. And still others claim that no such letter even existed. Regardless of what they think, the fact of the matter is that Dimmesdale is dead and that, soon after the minister’s death, Chillingworth seems to lose his reason to live and gradually fades away.
Chillingworth’s death turns out to be a boon for Pearl, who inherits his fortune. She and Hester leave Boston but do remain in the New World. In their absence, many different stories circulate about the scarlet letter, and a kind of legend forms around it and Hester; then, years later, Hester unexpectedly returns to her shack in the outskirts of Boston. She doesn’t bring Pearl, and no one knows why. They do know that Hester lives in comfort, wearing the scarlet letter, yes, but possessing luxury items that suggest she has a suitor or wealthy benefactor. When she dies, she’s buried next to Dimmesdale, and they share a tombstone.
Themes
Expert Q&A
In what ways are hatred and love essentially the same in chapter 24 of The Scarlet Letter?
In Chapter 24 of The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne illustrates that love and hatred are essentially the same because both are driven by intense emotions. Dimmesdale represents love, while Chillingworth embodies hatred, yet both are deeply passionate. Their fates are intertwined, as Chillingworth's hatred cannot survive without Dimmesdale's existence. Ultimately, Hawthorne suggests that love and hatred are not opposites; rather, indifference is the true opposite due to its lack of strong emotion.
In chapter 24 of The Scarlet Letter, what is Hawthorne's view on claims denying Dimmesdale as Pearl's father?
Hawthorne employs sarcasm and irony in Chapter 24 to criticize those who deny Dimmesdale's confession of being Pearl's father. He attributes their denial to fanaticism and a need for a hero, though he is somewhat forgiving, acknowledging their loyalty to Dimmesdale's character. However, Hawthorne is less forgiving of Dimmesdale himself, describing him as a "false and sin-stained creature," highlighting his role in misleading his followers with hypocrisy.
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