Scarlett Letter: Blog 3

           Reverend Dimmesdale (father of Pearl) is revealed to the reader and continues to be tortured by Roger Chillingworth.  Rev. D is suffering physically and mentally from the sin and secrecy.  He continues to give sermons and serve the town.  He is thought to suffer from a terrible illness and keeps his hand over his heart.  He is heartbroken.  He should have revealed his love for Hester and set his pain free.  I understand that he is a priest and would lose his vocation which probably makes the decision harder and more stressful.  He is undeniably in turmoil. 

           The book then advances seven years.  Hester is doing well.  She helps the poor.  She is admired and the "A" no longer causes people to shun her but instead they see the "A" as Able.   So, seven years have passed and Hester has not talked to Rev. D.  She has seen him and watched him suffer because of Roger.  Hester feels she owes it to Rev. D to make him aware of who Roger really is and his evil plot.  The book says that Hester feels that she has a link to Rev. D because "the mutual crime" has lasted through time.  I don't think the book had to tell the reader this.  Certainly the story plays out without spelling it out.  But I think it is more than their mutual crime.  I think Hester and Rev. D love each other.  That Hester thought she could save him from the torture if no one knew, but she sees that Roger is destroying him and she wants to save him.  So, she tells him and they decide to runaway together (with Pearl) to Europe.  They have plans to leave by boat after the Election Day celebration (when Rev. D will give his final sermon).  But on election day, in front of everyone, Rev D. confesses his sin, reveals his chest which is branded with an "A" and then dies on the scaffold.  Very dramatic!!! 

           The conclusion tells you what happens to Hester and Pearl (and Roger).  I won't spoil it, but it's not a happily ever after ending (obviously, Rev. D died), but it's not a horror story ending either (not everyone dies).  But the last chapter makes you think about sinners and what happens when you harbor your sin and what happens when you admit your sins.  And how others react and deal with their sins and the sins of others.  The message I received was: accepting and acknowledging your sins is much healthier than hiding and running from them.  I definitely recommend reading this book.