The Scarlet Letter: Characters, Setting, and Hester's Journey

The Scarlet Letter: Questions and Answers

1. Townspeople's Appearance in 17th-Century Boston

According to the book The Scarlet Letter, how did the townspeople (men and women) look during the 17th century?

R: Men wore somber colors, tall hats, and beards. The women were country women with broad skirts, strong shoulders, and round, red faces.

2. Setting of The Scarlet Letter

In which town did the story develop?

R: The story unfolds in the city of Boston.

3. The Scarlet Letter 'A'

Where was the letter 'A' placed, and how was it made? Why did Hester Prynne wear it?

R: Hester Prynne was an adulteress because she had an affair with a priest while her husband was away. Upon her release from jail, the magistrates ordered her to wear an "A," representing adultery, on her dress as a public mark of her sin.

4. Hester Prynne on the Scaffold

Why was Hester Prynne placed on the scaffold?

R: The scaffold served as a place of execution for criminals but also as a platform for public shaming. Those who committed wrongdoings in the eyes of God were forced to stand on it and display their shame to the community. This is why Hester was placed on the scaffold.

5. Two Men in the Crowd

Who were the two men Hester saw at the edge of the crowd while she was on the scaffold?

R: The two men Hester noticed were an Indigenous man and a white man, who later revealed himself to be her husband.

6. Hester and Pearl's Home After Prison

Where did Hester and her child live after leaving the prison?

R: Upon leaving prison, they moved into a cabin on the outskirts of Boston.

7. Hester's Profession

Describe Hester's work.

R: Hester worked as a seamstress.

8. Hester's Daughter, Pearl

What is the name of Hester's baby, and what was her temperament like?

R: Her name was Pearl, and her mood was volatile, shifting between bright, happy, and loving moments to dark and angry ones.

9. Chillingworth's Actions Towards Dimmesdale

What did Mr. Chillingworth do to Mr. Dimmesdale when he offered to help with his sickness?

R: He befriended Dimmesdale and even moved into his home to monitor his health. However, he began to interrogate him, suggesting that his illness might be mental rather than physical.

10. Dimmesdale's Feelings About His Secret

How did Mr. Dimmesdale feel about his secret?

R: He felt like the worst of sinners, hateful, dishonest, and unclean—a wicked being in the eyes of God. He couldn't find peace and struggled to sleep at night.

11. Hester's Suggestion to Dimmesdale in the Forest

What did Hester suggest to Mr. Dimmesdale when they met in the forest?

R: She suggested that he leave the small town and start a new life elsewhere, exchanging his false life for a genuine one. She believed he could find happiness among the Indigenous people, who valued honesty.

12. Opinion on Chillingworth's Behavior

What do you think about Dr. Chillingworth's actions throughout the story?

R: His behavior was reprehensible. He pretended to be a doctor offering help but instead manipulated and tormented Dimmesdale, driving him to madness. His actions were undeniably evil.