How does Hawthorne advance the story in chapters 9–15 of The Scarlet Letter? Is his technique effective?

We can find the bulk of the action of Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letterin the period of time that corresponds with Chillingworth's entrance in the settlement as a physician and the seven years that go by before he and Hester speak another word again.

At this point we know that Chillingworth has become Dimmesdale's leech. He has injected enough poison, doubt, guilt, and fear in the minister's heart to literally break the man. However, all through this seven years, we know that Hester's life has changed somewhat for the better.

Hester now lives in the community and enjoys a very well-liked reputation. She is now referred to as "our Hester" by the villagers and her scarlet letter has become iconic to both the townsmen, and herself. The only difference now is that her scarlet letter does not instill the feelings of anger and resentment that it does when Hester first wears it. In fact, Hester never removes it and it seems as if she never will. Her letter is now a part of her reality as a human being, and as a woman. She is the woman with the scarlet letter.

During this time we also witness Pearl's growing curiosity as to the meaning of the letter, and as to why Reverend Dimmesdale continuously places his hand over his heart. This symbolizes Hester's sad reminder that, no matter what value she gives her letter, there will always be Pearl to remind her of her sin...and it seems as if that is precisely what Pearl intends to do.

As for Dimmesdale, his health continues to break down terribly and he is completely consumed by guilt even when Hester has managed to live life with the scarlet letter. At this point we can assume that Dimmesdale was either sincerely sorry for fathering Hester's child, or blowing the matter out of proportion. In any way, it is Chillingworth who acts as the causative factor behind Dimmesdale's depressed life.

The technique of moving a plot forward by a number of years is effective in breaking with the ongoing story lines to avoid a lengthy and thick narrative. When all the information that is to be given about a character suffices enough to establish conclusions, an author may move the plot forward so that the reader can confirm whether the conclusions would match their expectations of the plot or not. It is a good technique for lengthy novels, for it keeps the action fresh. It is a very effective technique in this particular novel because the four principal characters are fully profiled and their lives are fully narrated from beginning to end.

How does Hawthorne progress the story in chapters 9-15 of The Scarlet Letter?

These chapters advance several of the central themes in the book, and reinforce the symbolic structure Hawthorne has built into the story. These themes have to do with Chillingworth’s revenge – it’s in Chapter 9 that Chillingworth begins to “treat” Dimmesdale, who is growing ill and constantly clutching his heart – and Dimmesdale’s guilt, which becomes a crisis of faith. In Chapter 10, Dimmesdale and Chillingworth have a conversation about “hidden” sins, and the symbol of the weed that grows from the unrepentant heart is from chapter is introduced. In fact, Chillingworth is himself usurping the role of “spiritual guide” for Dimmesdale; part of his plan is to use Dimmesdale’s own faith and guilt to torment him. In Chapter 11, Dimmesdale’s guilt becomes more acute, and he begins to scourge himself. He comes up with the idea of a nighttime vigil on the scaffold where Hester was humiliated years before, and, in Chapter 12, he goes to the scaffold. He is wracked with pain from his heart, and is joined on the scaffold by Hester and Pearl, but refuses to confess his guilt to the community the following day. A meteor lights up the scene, tracing the letter “A” in the heavens, another symbolic example of how Hester, in wearing her sins on her breast, is free of the darkness of deception that burdens Dimmesdale. In Chapter 13, seven years have passed, Pearl is a little girl, and Hester has rehabilitated herself in the community somewhat. But she is determined to free Dimmesdale of Chillingworth. In Chapter 14, she confronts Chillingworth, saying that she will reveal his identity as her husband, but it also becomes clear that Chillingworth knows that Dimmesdale was Hester’s lover. His malice causes him to physically transform into the embodiment of evil, a change that at first horrifies him but then he embraces. In Chapter 15, Pearl and Hester discuss the meaning of the scarlet letter, and Pearl shows that Hester’s hatred of Chillingworth and her own sin have affected her child, who seems to have an instinctive understanding of Hester and Dimmesdale.

When you look back at these chapters, a few additional themes emerge. These chapters advance the problem of secrecy, and difference between the “real” nature of Dimmesdale as sinner and the “fictive” view of him held by the townspeople, who believe him to be sinless. Similarly, Hester, in openly acknowledging her sin, avoids the guilt that Dimmesdale feels, but her agreement to keep Chillingworth’s true identity secret exacts its own price. Chillingworth, for his part, is a physician, but his real purpose with Dimmesdale is to harm him, not heal him – his thirst for vengeance transforms him into the very “evil” that the townspeople assign to Hester.

How does Hawthorne progress the story in chapters 9-15 of The Scarlet Letter?

Hawthorne uses these chapters move as a bridge between the seven years that have passed, and to develop symbolism and theme. The major action that is taking place is Dimmesdale's developing relationship with Chillingworth, which is directly connected to his failing health, Chilllingworth's conformation that Dimmesdale is guilty of adultery, and Hester's discussion to stop Chillingworth from further harm to Dimmesdale.

How does Hawthorne progress the story in chapters 9-15 of The Scarlet Letter, and is his technique effective?

Hailed frequently as the greatest American novel Hawthorne's "The Scarlet Letter" has its emotional, psychological drama revolve around Hester Prynne. Chapters IX through XV move the plot by presenting the characters who are involved with Hester.

• Chapter IX-The reader learns about the dangerous relationship between Chillingworth and Dimmesdale.
• Chapter X-Chillingworth becomes fiercely obsessed by his search into the heart of Dimmesdale.  His diabolical determination to learn the secret of the Reverend's heart makes Chillingworth as much as victim of his own scheme as Dimmesdale is.
• Chapter XI-Chillingworth begins his torture of the heart of Dimmesdale after pulling open the shirt of the sleeping minister and learning his secret.  However, the physician becomes a "poor, forlorn creature" in his evil doings.
• Chapter XII-Exactly the middle of the novel, the second of the "scaffold" scenes occurs.  Dimmesdale stands alone one night on the scaffold.  Here is Hawthorne's realism:  the sudden changes in mood in the tired mind of the minister, the self-condemnation, cowardice, the nearly insane scream, and his impulse to speak to Mr. Wilson are all presented.  In Gothic detail a spectacular strange light appears, "doubtless caused by one of those meteors,..."  The A appears in the sky.--There are many  symbols in this chapter.
• Chapter XIII-A drastic change has occurred in Hester's physical appearance.  No longer fulfilling a woman's role, Hester has lost her passion and beauty.  She appears drab and severe.  Her once glorious hair is contained in a grey cap.  But, her emotional energy is directed toward the miserable Mr. Dimmesdale.
• Chapter XIV-Hester confronts Chillingworth though shocked by his devilish appearance.  She tells her husband that she regrets not having divulged his identity.  Chillingworth tells her that fate has made them all what they are, but Hester protests that they are all guilty.  Chillingworth tells her that she may reveal his identity if she wishes.
• Chapter XV-Hester feels hatred for Chillingworth as she leaves and is not repentant for her sin. She finds Pearl who has been playing with things of Nature.  She responds to Hester's questions and tells her mother that she knows that the A has the same meaning as Dimmesdale's holding his hand over his heart. Hester considers confiding in her child, but, instead,  she tells Pearl that she wears the letter "for the sake of its gold thread."  This is the first time Hester has been "false to the symbol."

The revolvement of the characters around Hester keeps the focus upon her sin, a sin to which the other two men are attached, albeit differently.  This focus is upon the Scarlet Letter and all its import.  This symbol is the title of the novel and the driving force of the plot.

How does Hawthorne progress the narrative of The Scarlet Letter in chapters IX-XV?

Hawthorne's narrative moves forward with his character development, his mastery of psychological realism, and his development of symbolism and imagery.

Chapters IX-XI

Roger Chillingworth comes to live with Dimmesdale and his metamorphosis into a devilish figure begins, and Pearl calls him the "Black Man." Alone with the minister, Chillingworth asks him why someone would keep his "secret sins" until he dies, and Dimmesdale rationalizes that the sinner can yet do good deeds and help mankind.

Probing further the "mysterious and puzzled smile upon his lips," Chillingworth finally discovers the reason the minister always touches his chest.  Later, peering inside the shirt of the sleeping Dimmesdale, the physician makes a wondrous discovery that explains the "strange sympathy betwixt soul and body!" of the minister.

Chapter XII

Coming in the middle of the novel, this significant chapter acts as the center of Hawthorne's theme of secret sin and denial, symbolism,  psychological realism, and superior character development of Arthur Dimmesdale.  In this chapter, the minister secretly mounts the scaffold in the night, expressing in his desperate scream and impulsive urge to speak to Mr. Wilson his subconscious desire to confess.  However, much like the two denials of Christ that Peter the apostle made, the minister refuses Pearl's request that he stand with them, the second time he has denied his connection to Hester and little Pearl despite the "tumultuous rush of new life" which he feels when standing on the scaffold holding the hands of his lover and love-child.

Abounding in symbolism, this chapter employs the scaffold, the variation on the scarlet letter as A's are seen in the night sky, and meteoric light. In addition, the three observers of the scaffold scene, Reverend Mr. Wilson, the Sexton, and Roger Chillingworth represent Church, State, and the Realm of Evil.

Chapters XIII-XIV

These chapters provide readers with the history of Hester and Dimmesdale during the seven years of Pearl's life. New views have formed about Hester; her scarlet letter, a mere symbol, takes on new meaning for the community as it is interpreted as meaning "Able," for instance, now giving its wearer protection and signifying her calling.  Nevertheless, Hawthorne writes that the letter "has not done its office" because Hester experiences "a fearful doubt" and wonder if she and Pearl would not be better off dead. Certainly, as Hawthorne further writes,

The scarlet letter had not done its office.

Having vowed to talk with the physician because of the deterioration that she observes in her beloved minister, Hester is equally shocked at the transformation of Chillingworth. In his conversation with Hester, the physician becomes introspective and admits to Hester,

"A mortal man, with once a human heart, has become a fiend for his especial torment."

Perceiving himself as a fiend, Chillingworth laments his deterioration to Hester, whom he blames for his transformation. Chillingworth tells her "There is no path to guide us out of this "dismal maze" of fate.  But Hester begs him to purge himself and let retribution to "the Power that claims it."  Still, Chillingworth waves her off, saying that with her act of adultery, she has planted "the germ of evil" that for him has become a necessity.

Chapter XV 

In the first section of this chapter, Hester's inner feelings are revealed, and in the second, there is another variation of the A's symbolism.