Events
1. The townspeople gather in the market-place for Minister Dimmesdale's Election Day sermon. Hester and Pearl are among the crowd. 2. Hester is made aware of Chillingworth's plan to accompany herself and Dimmesdale on their voyage to Spain, due to his vengeful smile. 3. Dimmesdale gives his sermon, and the townspeople are in awe of his message, as well as his strong stance. 4. After the sermon, Dimmesdale loses his energy and strength as he walks toward the scaffold. He stands upon it and summons Hester and Pearl to join him. 5. Pearl joins Arthur with great joy and speed, but Hester reluctantly joins the pair. Chillinworth then tries to stop Dimmesdale from admitting the sin, as he knows he will lose his victim if that happens. 6. Dimmesdale confesses his sin, and the townspeople are stunned. 7. Upon Arthur's request, Pearl gives him a kiss, and the spell is broken: Pearl becomes human, Hester loses her love and dream, Dimmesdale is freed from his sin, and Chillingworth is left empty. |
"Pearl kissed his lips. A spell was broken." |
Quotes
1. "'Then tell her,' rejoined he, 'that I spake again with the hump-shouldered old doctor, and he engages to bring his friend, the gentleman she wots of, aboard with him. So let thy mother take no thought, save herself and thee,'" (Hawthorne 168). 2. "How feeble and pale he looked amid all his triumph! The energy--or say, rather, the inspiration which had held him up, until he should have delivered the sacred message that brough its own strenght along with it from heaven--was withdrawn, now that it had so faithfully performed its office," (Hawthorne 171). 3. "He turned towards the scaffold, ans stretched forth his arms. 'Hester,' said he, 'come hither! Come, my little Pearl!'" (Hawthorne 172). 4. "'Madman, hold! What is your purpose?' whispered he. 'Wave back that woman! Cast off this child! All shall be well! Do not blacken your fame, and perish in dishonor! I can yet save you!'" (Hawthorne 173). 5. "With a convulsive motion he tore away the ministerial band from before his breast. It was revealed!...Then, he sank down on the scaffold! Hester partly raised him, and supported his head against her bosom. Old Roger Chillingworth knelt down beside him, with blank, dull countenance, out of which the life seemed to have departed," (Hawthorne 175). 6. "'...dear little Pearl, wilt thou kiss me now? Thou wouldst not yonder, in the forest! But now thou wilt?' Pearl kissed his lips. A spell was broken...Towards her mother, too, Pearl's errand as a messanger of anguish was all fulfilled," (Hawthorne 175). 7. "'Hester,' said the clergyman, 'farewell,'" (Hawthorne 175). |
Analysis
This scene ties up all of the loose ends of the novel (climax & resolution). The climax is certainly the point in which Dimmesdale reveals his sin and Pearl kisses him because the spell is broken, and all is done. Because Dimmesdale released his sin, Pearl, the physical sin, was also released from her witch-like state, and she became purely human. For Chillingworth, this scene was his downfall because he lost his victim, thus his desire for revenge, when Dimmesdale confessed. Finally, this scene was tragic, specifically for Hester, because she lost her love and her dream of escape and happiness. This conclusion very much demonstrates Puritanistic views, as Arthur tells Hester that he does not know if they will be together during their eternal lives, due to their sin and God's wrath (good vs. evil). This is a very important scene in that it explains what happens to each character while expressing the societal views of that time. |