Scarlet Letter Chapter 24

An analysis of style for the final chapter of Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter.

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An Overview of Chapter 24 of The Scarlet Letter

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Quotations

“…in the view of Infinite Purity, we are sinners all alike.”

This quotes describes one of the main themes in The Scarlet Letter: everybody sins. Whenever a person walked by Hester Prynne and saw the scarlet letter, they immediately thought about their own sin. This words “Infinite Purity” make this quote a criticism of the Puritan religion. Puritans saw everyone as pure, and if a person were to reveal their sins, then they would no longer be viewed in this light. However, everybody sins, and this view of Purity masks this fact that all people have in common.

"Be true! Be true! Be true! Show freely to the world, if not your worst, yet some trait whereby the worst may be inferred!"

Following the previous quote, Hawthorne uses intrusive narration to explicitly tell the reader to remove this mask of purity and instead be honest and reveal their sins. Be like Hester who did not hide her sin. She did not have a choice, and was forced to show the world what she had done. By walking by her, people were able to see her sin, and then be reminded of their own sin, and therefore be honest with themselves that they do sin and are guilty of sin. Though by looking at Hester’s A, they can be reminded that they are not alone, and everyone sins.

“Here had been her sin; here, her sorrow; and here was yet to be her penitence.”

This quote, written in parallel structure, parallels the function of the scarlet letter. It was previously stated that the scarlet letter taught, teaches, and is teaching every day. What the scarlet letter did in the past is important to what it will do in the future, just as what happened to Hester Prynne in the past will be important to what she does in the future. Her past must remain a part of her.

“But, in the lapse of the toilsome, thoughtful, and self-devoted years that made up Hester's life, the scarlet letter ceased to be a stigma which attracted the world's scorn and bitterness, and became a type of something to be sorrowed over, and looked upon with awe, yet with reverence too. And, as Hester Prynne had no selfish ends, nor lived in any measure for her own profit and enjoyment, people brought all their sorrows and perplexities, and besought her counsel, as one who had herself gone through a mighty trouble.”

The scarlet letter was no longer looked down upon, but rather highly regarded. The scarlet letter allowed people to look to Hester for guidance. They know, due to the A on her chest, that she can understand what they are going through. They look up to it because that is her sin staring right in front of them, and it reminds them of their own sin, that they hold deep inside. They feel comfort knowing that they are not alone, and admire that she can show it off to the world, even though she is forced to.

"ON A FIELD, SABLE, THE LETTER A, GULES"

This is the sentence inscribed on the headstone Hester and Dimmesdale share. It serves as a verbal representation of the scarlet letter, showing that is still with them in death. It is a verbal representation of the letter because the word “sable” means black and the word “gules” means reddish. Even though they are no longer alive, the scarlet letter still has the negative effect on them, and it will forever. The scarlet letter though has not just left an eternal mark on Hester and Dimmesdale, but on society as well.

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Theme

          Chapter 24 concludes the novel with closure given to all unfinished matters. Hawthorne makes arguments surrounding sin and guilt. Questions of morality, identity, and hypocrisy are brought to the surface. In Chapter 24, Hawthorne is concluding with the argument that despite the consequences and views on sin, we are all human. He argues that all men are capable of wrongdoings, yet only acts on them if they choose to. He says, "Be true! Be true! Be true! Show freely to the world, if not your worst, yet some trait by which the worst may be inferred (177)." Using climax, Chapter 24 shows the consequences of sin and guilt. With the whole novel rising up to this chapter, Hawthorne brings a sort of catharsis with the climax, when all is confessed, all is revealed, and all unfinished matters are finally given closure. Hawthorne further develops his arguments with character and plot through developing the theme of identity. Pearl, having been a symbol of sin and torture to her parents, now becomes human-like. Having tortured her parents, as a solidified being of the scarlet letter, for not confessing, the admission of sin frees Pearl from her previous character. By hiding his sin, Dimmesdale caused more harm than good. Pearl is finally able to stand with her father, Chillingworth no longer has a purpose, and Dimmesdale finally comes clean. With the reveal, Pearl no longer becomes a symbol of sin, but is now set free from the confession.

          Furthermore, Hawthorne argues that suffering can also lead to good things. Using character and plot, the identity of Hester Prynne and the scarlet letter no longer stands as one of evil and wrongdoing, but of hope and grace. When Hester returns after her absence, the story of Hester Prynne and the scarlet letter has become a legend. As one who has endured suffering, Hester is able to give to others, the hopeless and those suffering, a sense of hope and bring them comfort.  Climax, again helps construct Hawthorne’s argument. The identity of Hester Prynne began as one of evil and sin, and perhaps the scarlet letter may always slightly stand in such an identity. However, Hester’s suffering allowed her to become an advocate for others in similar circumstances. The chapters develop in relation to one another as they connect to build up and bring the novel to a climax. In Chapter 24, these universal arguments that have been developed, contrasted, and questioned lead up to the climax, in which all things are resolved. 

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Symbolism and Figurative Language

The first noticeable piece of figurative language is the one pertaining to the guilt of Reverend Dimmesdale, “that the awful symbol was the effect of the ever active tooth of remorse, gnawing from the inmost heart outwardly, and at last manifesting Heaven’s dreadful judgment by the visible presence of the letter.” This quote shows how Dimmesdale’s guilt had been so galling and how it was responsible for the decay of his life force, like the “gnawing” is the punishment that Dimmesdale had inflicted upon himself as an attempt to purify his soul. The guilt and sin eventually materialized into a Scarlet Letter which symbolized Dimmesdale’s share of the sin that was committed.

Hawthorne also talks about Roger Chillingworth as an evil person who caused discomfort for Dimmesdale, “being a potent necromancer, had caused it to appear, through the agency of magic and poisonous drugs.” Chillingworth was a character who sucked the life out of Dimmesdale by manipulating his actions and thoughts. The term “necromancer” means a person who utilizes black magic, which connects to how Chillingworth used his counseling skills and knowledge of medicine to attack Dimmesdale and do the Devil’s bidding. After Dimmesdale had passed, Hawthorne used figurative language to show that Chillingworth had performed his literary function as the Devil’s argument. “shrivelled away, and almost vanished from mortal sight, like an uprooted weed that lies wilting in the sun….when, in short, there was no more devil’s work on earth for him to do,” the quote explains that Chillingworth rightfully died because he had succeeded in revealing Dimmesdale’s secret, which was his only purpose in the book and meant he had nothing else to live for.

The last significant piece of symbolism and figurative language was the two tombstones at the end of the book, “a new grave was delved near an old and sunken one,…yet with a space between, as if the dust of the two sleepers had no right to mingle.” The implication here is that Hester and Dimmesdale have been buried together even though it was not directly suggested. The symbolism of the togetherness of the tombstones is that Hester and Dimmesdale are in the same place in the afterlife. What also says it’s Hester and Dimmesdale is the part about the dust not being able to “mingle” just like they were not able to be together in real life.

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Chapter 24 Summary

Dimmesdale has passed away and some people even witnessed a Scarlet Letter “imprinted” in his flesh when he died. The townspeople believed the Scarlet Letter that emerged from his body was a result of the guilt that gnawed at him and caused him to torture himself. Other spectators did not believe that the Scarlet Letter appeared on the reverend. Dimmesdale wanted to teach everyone in his town that all humans are sinners with his death, even a reverend of his status could be tainted with adultery.

After Dimmesdale’s death, Roger Chillingworth continued to lose his humanity until he eventually died. He had no purpose in life since Dimmesdale’s secret was exposed, so he just “shrivelled away.” Roger Chillingworth did leave a good amount of land in England and New England to Pearl when he died. This generous donation made Pearl the “richest heiress of her day, in the New World.” Pearl and and Hester Prynne then both go to England for a while until Hester Prynne comes back to New England.

Hester comes back because she believes she has to live out her punishment to the end and be true to herself. She came back to the Boston colony to counsel women on how to stay faithful so that they wouldn’t repeat her sin. Hester eventually dies in Boston and is buried next to Dimmesdale.

As for Pearl, no one knew what exactly happened to her but an investigation by Mr. Surveyor Pue suggested she was married, had children, and took care of Hester while they were together.