What Does The Rose Bush Symbolize In Chapter 9 Of The Scarlet Letter
Scarlet Letter Chapter Notes
Karthik Suresh
Custom House:
Chapter 1: In Chapter 1, Hawthorne uses the prison to foreshadow themes like sinning, individuality, and nature that ultimately serve as metaphors into Hester’s underlying conflict and harsh nature of the Puritan law. Hawthorne uses the prison to depict the harsh law: old and rusted but with its “iron-work of its oaken door” or harsh nature. The Puritan law is described to be archaic even though the society has matured. Consequently, Hawthorne describes it as being “antique”, yet “iron-clamped”. Hawthorne then references Hutchinson, which further reinforces the rigid Puritan rule and its strictness in dealing with deviations from the norm. The rose-bush is also a symbol that Hawthorne uses to describe nature and beauty of the Puritan society. Hawthorne implies that the rose-bush represents the true wilderness that can not be untamed just like Hester’s actions. …show more content…
Chapter 2: Hawthorne begins Chapter 2 with a mention of the Puritan community.
The community is described to have a grim fascination with crime and punishment that opposite to the Puritan way of life. Some of the Puritans say that Revered Dimmesdale should be ashamed that someone in his congregation has committed this atrocious sin. Hawthorne uses this to foreshadow Dimmesdale’s fate. Hawthorne also introduces us to the scarlet A. This A represents the nonconformity and individuality Hester possesses. The scarlet letter carries a touch of irony because she wears the A without any embarrassment. Also, Hester’s appearance, which contrasts with most of the Puritans, shows the individuality she
possess.
Chapter 3: Chapter 3 begins with the appearance of Chillingworth. There is irony in that the person who should most comfort Hester, Roger Chillingworth, makes her feel uneasy and alone. Chillingworth also symbolizes Hester’s sin because both Chillingworth and the sin are viewed as deformed and abnormal in the Puritan community. Hawthorne also shows Hester’s courage and willpower through Dimmesdale and Chillingworth in this chapter. Dimmesdale conforms to the public’s expectation and demands that Hester divulge her lover's identity, but he lacks the courage to reveal that he's her lover. Like Chillingworth, he abandons her to protect himself.
Chapter 4: This chapter foreshadows many points in the later stages of the novel. the first is when Chillingworth tries to make the connection between the scarlet A and Dimmesdale constantly touching his heart. Through this, we can infer that Chillingworth will somehow find out about Dimmesdale’s secret. Also in this chapter, Hawthorne reveals that Hester hides Dimmesdale and Chillingworth's identities to protect them. However, both Dimmesdale and Chillingworth hide their own identities to protect themselves. Although she has sinned, Hester is selfless. Not only labeled as a sinner, Hester is an outcast and alone with no one to trust. Hester endures punishment for her sin, while Dimmesdale and Chillingworth go unpunished for their actions.
Chapter 5: Chapter 5 starts out with Hester’s internal debate about leaving Boston. Unfortunately, she believes(like the rest of the Puritans) that she must remain until she is purged by the sin. Because of this she is pushed to the edge of society where she lives with Pearl. In this chapter, the scarlet letter represents the shame of the community. Clergyman stop in the street to goad Hester and her actions. However, the more the society punishes her, the more she tries to use it to eradicate the sin. There is also an air of irony in the Puritan society: They use a sinner to suit their own needs (seamstress). Also, the poor in the society, still treat her badly in spite of her intentions. That Hester chooses to live near nature by the woods, on the border between forest and the town, is a metaphor for her place between the the moral and immoral. Hester tries to live in both but realizes that she must make a decision to live in either one.
Chapter 6: In Chapter 6, we get to know Pearl and we find out that she is the embodiment of Hester’s sin. This chapter also evolves Pearl as a symbol. Because the Puritan society viewed extramarital sex to be evil or a product of the devil, Hawthorne questions f something good can come from an evil action. We see that with the the continuos definition of Pearl and the evolution of Pearl’s nature, Hawthorne is questioning the Puritan society and its strict rules. He tries to ironically compare the Puritan’s treatment of Hester and God’s treatment of her. He tries to figure out why the Puritan’s would punish her with the A, yet God would forgive her and bless her with Pearl.
Chapter 7: In this chapter we see the link between Pearl and the scarlet A. Because Hester refuses to name Pearl’s father, Pearl will not only represent the theme of sinning, but also of Hester’s individuality. Hawthorne also makes it clear that Pearl is symbolic of Hester’s nature to thrive in the darkest of problems. Pearl spots a garden with hard soil, just like the Puritans. Pearl’s request for a rose is a symbolic request that Hester must not give up hope in this desolate harsh society. Also in this chapter, Hawthorne makes it clear that the Puritan society is one of huge irony. The governor lives a life of aristocracy and only “cares” for Pearl’s well-being when it suits him.
Chapter 8: Much of this chapter is used to draw parallels between Pearl, the red rose, and the scarlet A. Hawthorne uses Pearl to represent the wilderness of passion when Pearl tells Wilson that she was plucked off the rose bush as a result of her mother’s affair. Pearl is also used as the scarlet A, wen the people in the Governor’s residence make fun of her bright clothing. They believe that the scarlet A represents Pearl and that she is a badge of shame that must still be taken away. Hawthorne mentions this to add to the hypocrisy of the Puritan society. Not only that, there is a strange irony in that the Governor’s sister is a witch, but is not punished and Pearl is labeled as a demon-child.
Chapter 9: In this chapter, Hawthorne reveals Chillingworth and his character. Hawthorne uses the term “leech” to describe Chillingworth, which is appropriate because physicians used leeches at that time. But Hawthorne is suggesting that a parasitic relationship exists between Dimmesdale and Chillingworth. Not only that, Chillingworth lies to the society, and in a society where is it a sin to lie, and gets away with it. It is odd that the townspeople suspect Chillingworth to be the devil, and with their overreaction to sin and law, they do not take action against Chillingworth.
Chapter 10: Here, Chillingworth seems to cross over from having human motives to inhuman motives. Hawthorne calls him evil and he is compared the the devil. There is also a strange irony present it that a child, Pearl, is able to tell Chillingworth’s true motives when she throw some burrs at Dimmesdale and tells Hester that the Black Man has possessed him. However none of the adults are able to figure out Chillingworth’s true motives and continue to punish Hester even when there a bigger things taking place. In this chapter, Pearl represents the truth that children possess and the irony that adults sin in their silence(Dimmesdale).
Chapter 11:
Dimmesdale complements his emotional masochism with physical masochism. He fasts, flagellates himself, and keeps waking vigils so that he deprives himself of sleep, all in the hopes of banishing sin from his heart. Indeed, he still believes that he has done wrong, even when his feelings have not abated, and we sense that he cannot take public claim for Pearl's birth not only because he is afraid of the town's reaction, but also because he believes he can somehow atone for the sin enough to allow him to stay silent.
That said, Dimmesdale tries several times to confess to his congregation, but each time he even suggests his own fallibility, his followers fail to grasp the significance of his confession. Dimmesdale will come to open confession, it seems, only of his own accord. It will not be found out or dragged out of him, no matter how much Chillingworth or the spawn of “The Black Man” try to suck out his soul. Dimmesdale will have to wear his own scarlet letter and reveal it to his masses, taking responsibility for his sin and its consequences.
Karthik Suresh
Custom House:
Chapter 1: In Chapter 1, Hawthorne uses the prison to foreshadow themes like sinning, individuality, and nature that ultimately serve as metaphors into Hester’s underlying conflict and harsh nature of the Puritan law. Hawthorne uses the prison to depict the harsh law: old and rusted but with its “iron-work of its oaken door” or harsh nature. The Puritan law is described to be archaic even though the society has matured. Consequently, Hawthorne describes it as being “antique”, yet “iron-clamped”. Hawthorne then references Hutchinson, which further reinforces the rigid Puritan rule and its strictness in dealing with deviations from the norm. The rose-bush is also a symbol that Hawthorne uses to describe nature and beauty of the Puritan society. Hawthorne implies that the rose-bush represents the true wilderness that can not be untamed just like Hester’s actions. …show more content…
Chapter 2: Hawthorne begins Chapter 2 with a mention of the Puritan community.
The community is described to have a grim fascination with crime and punishment that opposite to the Puritan way of life. Some of the Puritans say that Revered Dimmesdale should be ashamed that someone in his congregation has committed this atrocious sin. Hawthorne uses this to foreshadow Dimmesdale’s fate. Hawthorne also introduces us to the scarlet A. This A represents the nonconformity and individuality Hester possesses. The scarlet letter carries a touch of irony because she wears the A without any embarrassment. Also, Hester’s appearance, which contrasts with most of the Puritans, shows the individuality she
possess.
Chapter 3: Chapter 3 begins with the appearance of Chillingworth. There is irony in that the person who should most comfort Hester, Roger Chillingworth, makes her feel uneasy and alone. Chillingworth also symbolizes Hester’s sin because both Chillingworth and the sin are viewed as deformed and abnormal in the Puritan community. Hawthorne also shows Hester’s courage and willpower through Dimmesdale and Chillingworth in this chapter. Dimmesdale conforms to the public’s expectation and demands that Hester divulge her lover's identity, but he lacks the courage to reveal that he's her lover. Like Chillingworth, he abandons her to protect himself.
Chapter 4: This chapter foreshadows many points in the later stages of the novel. the first is when Chillingworth tries to make the connection between the scarlet A and Dimmesdale constantly touching his heart. Through this, we can infer that Chillingworth will somehow find out about Dimmesdale’s secret. Also in this chapter, Hawthorne reveals that Hester hides Dimmesdale and Chillingworth's identities to protect them. However, both Dimmesdale and Chillingworth hide their own identities to protect themselves. Although she has sinned, Hester is selfless. Not only labeled as a sinner, Hester is an outcast and alone with no one to trust. Hester endures punishment for her sin, while Dimmesdale and Chillingworth go unpunished for their actions.
Chapter 5: Chapter 5 starts out with Hester’s internal debate about leaving Boston. Unfortunately, she believes(like the rest of the Puritans) that she must remain until she is purged by the sin. Because of this she is pushed to the edge of society where she lives with Pearl. In this chapter, the scarlet letter represents the shame of the community. Clergyman stop in the street to goad Hester and her actions. However, the more the society punishes her, the more she tries to use it to eradicate the sin. There is also an air of irony in the Puritan society: They use a sinner to suit their own needs (seamstress). Also, the poor in the society, still treat her badly in spite of her intentions. That Hester chooses to live near nature by the woods, on the border between forest and the town, is a metaphor for her place between the the moral and immoral. Hester tries to live in both but realizes that she must make a decision to live in either one.
Chapter 6: In Chapter 6, we get to know Pearl and we find out that she is the embodiment of Hester’s sin. This chapter also evolves Pearl as a symbol. Because the Puritan society viewed extramarital sex to be evil or a product of the devil, Hawthorne questions f something good can come from an evil action. We see that with the the continuos definition of Pearl and the evolution of Pearl’s nature, Hawthorne is questioning the Puritan society and its strict rules. He tries to ironically compare the Puritan’s treatment of Hester and God’s treatment of her. He tries to figure out why the Puritan’s would punish her with the A, yet God would forgive her and bless her with Pearl.
Chapter 7: In this chapter we see the link between Pearl and the scarlet A. Because Hester refuses to name Pearl’s father, Pearl will not only represent the theme of sinning, but also of Hester’s individuality. Hawthorne also makes it clear that Pearl is symbolic of Hester’s nature to thrive in the darkest of problems. Pearl spots a garden with hard soil, just like the Puritans. Pearl’s request for a rose is a symbolic request that Hester must not give up hope in this desolate harsh society. Also in this chapter, Hawthorne makes it clear that the Puritan society is one of huge irony. The governor lives a life of aristocracy and only “cares” for Pearl’s well-being when it suits him.
Chapter 8: Much of this chapter is used to draw parallels between Pearl, the red rose, and the scarlet A. Hawthorne uses Pearl to represent the wilderness of passion when Pearl tells Wilson that she was plucked off the rose bush as a result of her mother’s affair. Pearl is also used as the scarlet A, wen the people in the Governor’s residence make fun of her bright clothing. They believe that the scarlet A represents Pearl and that she is a badge of shame that must still be taken away. Hawthorne mentions this to add to the hypocrisy of the Puritan society. Not only that, there is a strange irony in that the Governor’s sister is a witch, but is not punished and Pearl is labeled as a demon-child.
Chapter 9: In this chapter, Hawthorne reveals Chillingworth and his character. Hawthorne uses the term “leech” to describe Chillingworth, which is appropriate because physicians used leeches at that time. But Hawthorne is suggesting that a parasitic relationship exists between Dimmesdale and Chillingworth. Not only that, Chillingworth lies to the society, and in a society where is it a sin to lie, and gets away with it. It is odd that the townspeople suspect Chillingworth to be the devil, and with their overreaction to sin and law, they do not take action against Chillingworth.
Chapter 10: Here, Chillingworth seems to cross over from having human motives to inhuman motives. Hawthorne calls him evil and he is compared the the devil. There is also a strange irony present it that a child, Pearl, is able to tell Chillingworth’s true motives when she throw some burrs at Dimmesdale and tells Hester that the Black Man has possessed him. However none of the adults are able to figure out Chillingworth’s true motives and continue to punish Hester even when there a bigger things taking place. In this chapter, Pearl represents the truth that children possess and the irony that adults sin in their silence(Dimmesdale).
Chapter 11:
Dimmesdale complements his emotional masochism with physical masochism. He fasts, flagellates himself, and keeps waking vigils so that he deprives himself of sleep, all in the hopes of banishing sin from his heart. Indeed, he still believes that he has done wrong, even when his feelings have not abated, and we sense that he cannot take public claim for Pearl's birth not only because he is afraid of the town's reaction, but also because he believes he can somehow atone for the sin enough to allow him to stay silent.
That said, Dimmesdale tries several times to confess to his congregation, but each time he even suggests his own fallibility, his followers fail to grasp the significance of his confession. Dimmesdale will come to open confession, it seems, only of his own accord. It will not be found out or dragged out of him, no matter how much Chillingworth or the spawn of “The Black Man” try to suck out his soul. Dimmesdale will have to wear his own scarlet letter and reveal it to his masses, taking responsibility for his sin and its consequences.