The reader is never given a confirmed version of her life but is left to believe she lived a long and happy one, married and the mother of children.
Having inherited property from Chillingworth, she has become the “richest heiress of her day, in the New World.” With such riches, she may have married well, but her mother has taken her away to Europe. In a rather ironic ending, Pearl, the “elf-child” becomes the most human in the final scaffold scene.
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You might be interested: Often asked: How to cook a bone-in ham? What happens to Pearl at the end of the novel? After many years, Hester returns alone and lives quietly in the same cottage she had previously occupied. What does Hester do after Dimmesdale’s death? After Dimmesdale’s death, and the subsequent death of Roger Chillingworth, Pearl and Hester leave Boston and go abroad. Where do Hester and Pearl go after Dimmesdale’s death? Her helpfulness causes people to give the meaning “able” to the letter, rather than “adulteress,” as it is supposed to mean. How does Hester change the meaning of the scarlet letter?Īfter a few years of torture from the letter and from Pearl, Hester begins getting overly familiar with her punishment, and it no longer has the affect it once had. The scaffold symbolizes the need for public punishment and atonement. What does the scaffold symbolize in Chapter 12? It also shows us how weak Dimmesdale is since he won’t stand up with Hester and Pearl in the daylight. What is the significance of Pearl’s challenge to Dimmesdale? This makes is clear that Pearl knows there is a connection between her and Dimmesdale and Dimmesdale acknowledges the connection. What is the significance of Pearl’s challenge to Dimmesdale in Chapter 12? Now, in the damp, cool air of the cloudy May night, Dimmesdale mounts the steps while the town sleeps. After leaving the house, Dimmesdale walks to the scaffold where, seven years earlier, Hester Prynne stood, wearing her sign of shame and holding Pearl. Summary and Analysis Chapter 12 – The Minister’s Vigil. You might be interested: What does it mean when a chicken crouches down? Where do Hester Pearl and Dimmesdale stand in Chapter 12? Hester is able to regain a sense of agency by voluntarily choosing to re-enter the community, and wearing the scarlet letter by choice rather than out of obligation. Who dies at the end of Chapter 12 Scarlet Letter?ĭimmesdale dies believing that his soul has been saved, but he does not get the chance to enjoy a life with Hester and Pearl. Like Pearl, the letter functions as a physical reminder of Hester’s affair with Dimmesdale. The letter’s meaning shifts as time passes. The scarlet letter is meant to be a symbol of shame, but instead it becomes a powerful symbol of identity to Hester.
What does the scarlet letter chapter 12 mean? 15 What effect does the midnight vigil have on Hester?.
14 Why does Pearl pull Hester away from Chillingworth and Dimmesdale?.13 What does the electric chain symbolize in The Scarlet Letter?.12 What does Chillingworth find on Dimmesdale’s chest?.11 What chapter in the scarlet letter does Dimmesdale whips himself?.8 What happens to Pearl at the end of the novel?.7 Where do Hester and Pearl go after Dimmesdale’s death?.6 How does Hester change the meaning of the scarlet letter?.5 What does the scaffold symbolize in Chapter 12?.4 What is the significance of Pearl’s challenge to Dimmesdale in Chapter 12?.3 Where do Hester Pearl and Dimmesdale stand in Chapter 12?.2 Who dies at the end of Chapter 12 Scarlet Letter?.1 What does the scarlet letter chapter 12 mean?.