Hawk's Muses on CH 19-21

This was quite an interesting section of the book. Hester putting her “A” emblem and cap back on was highly symbolic. It was much more than a way to get Pearl to stop her tantrum and come to her. By putting the “A” and cap back on, Hester showed that her past sin is still very much a part of her. She cannot get away from her sinful past, no matter what she does. This act of putting her “A” and cap back on foreshadows Hester’s discovery at the end of Chapter 21, when she learns that Chillingworth is going to be on the same ship as her, Dimmesdale, and Pearl. Hester is trying to escape her past by fleeing to the Old World, but since Chillingworth is going to follow her, she will not be able to leave it behind. If she still goes to the Old World, Hester will bring her past with her, personified in the character of Roger Chillingworth. I also thought Dimmesdale was having some rather peculiar thoughts as he came back to town. I saw Dimmesdale’s rendezvous with Hester in the woods as a freeing experience, but Dimmesdale seems to view it as something sinful. He thinks that he wants to torment old women, virgins, and children because when he met with Hester, he aligned himself with the devil once and for all. I think Dimmesdale is just a big pessimist who thinks everything he does is sinful because he made one mistake. He does not trust his heart to distinguish between good and evil any more. I think he needs to stop worrying so much and just follow his heart, because he is a generally good man when he doesn’t worry.