Scarlet Letter Summary

Chapters 1-2 Summary
       Chapter 1 explains the setting of the prison and tells about what the prison is like. It is located in Boston, Massachusettes. It begins to tell how the towns people are gathered to see the verdict.
       Chapter 2 introduces you to Hester Prynne and kind of tells you what she did and why she is in prison. She is in prison for adultry, which is what the "A" on the breast of her clothes stands for. She had the child, Pearl, while she was in prison and the child has no father that it knows of.

Chapters 3-4 Summary
      Chapters 3 and 4 are talking about when Hester sees Roger Chillingworth in the crowd while she is on the scaffolds. Roger is her husband that sent her to America and promised to follow her. He didn't come for several years. When he didn't come, Hester assumed he was dead so she had an "affair" with someone to be named later on. It also talks about that she won't reveal his identity to anyone.

Chapters 5-6 Summary
        Chapters 5 and 6 tell about when Hester was released from prison and was told she could move away. She chose not to move because there was nothing anywhere else for her. She finds that sewing is something that comes natural for her. Naming her baby comes along in this group of chapters as well. She names the baby Pearl because pearls are very expensive, almost priceless items. Hester has went through so much punishment and has given up almost everything for her baby which indicates why she is so precious like a pearl.

Chapters 7-8 Summary
        Chapters 7 and 8 are about what Hester does to make a little money. Hester is good at the needle so she sews clothes, gloves, and scarves for the governor. She pays the govenor a visit and while delivering the gloves and other apperral, she talks to him and pleads why they shouldn't take her baby, Pearl, away from her. Pearl is only around 3 years old at this time and they were going to take her on the basis that Hester was not fit to be mothering this child.

Chapters 9-10 Summary
       Chapters 9 and 10 are about telling that Roger Chilingworth is a doctor and helps Hester with medical problems. They later find out that Mr. Dimmesdale is very ill and often holds his hand to his chest. When Chillingworth goes in to take a closer look while Dimmesdale is sleeping, he discovers that he to is wearing an "A" on his chest.

Chapters 11-12 Summary
       Chapters 11 and 12 talk about how Dimmesdale beats himself and fasts for to make up for his sins. He decides to have a vigil on the scaffold where Hester suffered for her sin. While on the scaffold he feels emense pain in his chest and lets out a loud scream hoping no one will come out and see him on the scaffold. It also talks about when they see what appeared to them as a letter "A" in the sky which is really just a meteor.

Chapters 13-14 Summary
       Chapters 13 and 14 talk about how Pearl is seven years old now and Hester is more open in society and less afraid of what people think of her. She is a more caring and helpful person now. She feeds the poor and takes care of the ill. Hester now says she wants to break her promise and give the real information about Mr. Roger Chillingworth. By this time Roger has figured out that Reverend Dimmesdale is Pearl's real father. Chillingwoth has changed throughout the book. He used to be a kind, caring, helpful man and now his is the exact opposite.

Chapters 15-16 Summary
       Chapters 15 and 16 are about Hester attempting to tell Pearl what the "A" on Hester's chest actually meant. Pearl was down playing in the brook and made an "A" on her chest because she wanted to be like her mother. While trying to explain what the "A" stood for, Hester realizes that Pearl is to young to understand what she is trying to say. Hester meets Dimmesdle in the woods and they decide they are going to escape to Europe together and get free of their scarlet letters

Chapters 17-18 Summary
       Chapters 17 and 18 are about when Hester tells Dimmesdale that Chillingworth is actually her husband and she thought he was dead when he and her got together. Hester begs for forgiveness from Dimmesdale and he finally does forgive her. The realize then that Roger is the biggest sinner of them all.