Chapter 7-12

In the beginning of chapter seven, I noticed a palpable link between the Scarlet Letter and Pearl. In preparation for their meeting at the Governor’s Hall, Hester dresses Pearl in “a crimson velvet tunic, of a peculiar cut, abundantly embroidered with fantasies and flourishes of gold thread” (Hawthorne 91). To me, it seemed that dressing Pearl like the Scarlet Letter was Hester’s attempt to keep her daughter from the clergymen. Pearl is both a reminder of Hester’s sin, as well as a preventer of any future sin, just like the Scarlet Letter. By pointing out that raising Pearl is punitive, Hester hopes to persuade the clergymen to let her keep her baby. 

I also recognized a symbolic meaning in Bellingham’s garden. In the narrator’s description of Bellingham’s garden, he remarks, “But the proprietor appeared already to have relinquished, as hopeless, the effort to perpetuate on this side of the Atlantic” (96). It seems as if this description of the garden represents a lack of order and control throughout their city, perhaps as a result of Governor Bellingham’s rule. Bellingham’s garden is intended to provide an interesting and comfortable environment, yet its lack of execution mitigates its tranquility. This might just reflect his power. Ironically, the only thing growing in the garden is a rose bush. This imagery reminds me of the beginning scene outside of the prison. In that scene, the rose bush serves as the only image of beauty, just as it does in Bellingham’s garden. It is interesting that Pearl begins to cry for a red rose upon seeing the bush; however, I am not quite sure what that represents. It might be that Pearl acts almost as a purifying force in such a toxic environment, just as she does in Hester’s life.

In only two chapters, the relationship between Dimmesdale and Chillingworth takes multiple twists and turns. It is interesting that neither Dimmesdale’s spirituality, nor Chillingworth’s science can heel Dimmesdale. I think that this points to the fact that Dimmesdale’s sickness is only a result of his guilt. Chapters nine and ten make it fairly obvious that this guilt is a result of being Pearl’s father. It seems that Dimmesdale wants to tell his secret so he can get rid of the guilt in his heart. In fact, when Chillingworth asks, “Is Hester Prynne the less miserable, think you, for that scarlet letter on her breast,” Dimmesdale responds saying that yes he does think so. I think that in a way Dimmesdale wishes he could wear the guilt he feels, like Hester, instead of holding it inside of him. 

By the end of chapter eleven, it is obvious that Chillingworth is harming Dimmesdale with his accusations and questions. Describing Dimmesdale, the narrator states, “True, he looked doubtfully, fearfully, - even, at times, with horror and the bitterness of hatred, - at the deformed figure of the old physician” (127). It is obvious that Chillingworth is only sickening Dimmesdale even more. 

Lastly, I just want to point out that Chillingworth demonstrates extreme hypocrisy throughout the final chapters. I thought it was extremely ironic that as Chillingworth lectured Dimmesdale about keeping secrets, he himself was keeping a large secret as well. Uncool, Chillingworth. Very uncool.