The Scarlet Letter Questions on Chapter 5
The Scarlet Letter
In chapters 4-8 of The Scarlet Letter, how does Hester spend her spare money?
Hester Prynne spends her spare money on charity, donating to individuals less fortunate than herself, despite often receiving insults and judgment in return. She uses her earnings as a seamstress to...
The Scarlet Letter
The key scenes in The Scarlet Letter that illustrate the main characters' physical and emotional changes
Key scenes in The Scarlet Letter that illustrate the main characters' physical and emotional changes include Hester Prynne's public shaming on the scaffold, which marks her initial disgrace and...
The Scarlet Letter
Hester's means of supporting herself and Pearl in The Scarlet Letter
Hester supports herself and Pearl through her skill in needlework. She creates and sells embroidered garments, which become highly sought after in the community despite her social ostracism. This...
The Scarlet Letter
Who does Hester's needlework not serve in "The Scarlet Letter", and why?
Hester's needlework does not serve for weddings in "The Scarlet Letter" because her reputation as an adulteress makes her work inappropriate for brides. In Puritan society, brides were expected to be...
The Scarlet Letter
In "The Scarlet Letter", what did Hester anticipate after leaving prison?
After leaving prison, Hester anticipated a bleak future marked by continued social censure and shame in her Puritan community. She expected to be a public symbol of sin and moral failure, with her...
The Scarlet Letter
The special knowledge and uncanny ability the scarlet letter gives Hester
The scarlet letter gives Hester special knowledge and an uncanny ability to perceive the hidden sins and hypocrisy of the people in her community. This heightened awareness allows her to see through...