The Scarlet Letter · Chapter
XVII: The Pastor and His Parishioner explained
Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale meet secretly in the forest.
What happens
Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale meet secretly in the forest. Hester reveals that Roger Chillingworth is her husband, and Dimmesdale reacts with shock and anger before forgiving her. They discuss their misery and consider escaping together, but Dimmesdale feels unable to leave his post. They reaffirm their bond and find a moment of connection despite their shared guilt and sorrow.
Themes in this chapter
Sin and Guilt
Both Hester and Dimmesdale grapple with the weight of their shared sin, with Dimmesdale describing his soul as 'ruined' and his life as one of spiritual torment.
Public Shame vs. Private Truth
The chapter contrasts the public personas of Hester and Dimmesdale with their private anguish, as they confess their secrets in the forest's seclusion.
Hypocrisy and Moral Judgment
Dimmesdale laments the hypocrisy of his revered public image while feeling inwardly corrupt, and Hester reveals the deception of hiding Chillingworth's identity.
Characters to notice
- Hester Prynne
Hester initiates the meeting, reveals Chillingworth's identity, and tries to persuade Dimmesdale to flee with her.
- Arthur Dimmesdale
Dimmesdale is anguished by the revelation, forgives Hester, but feels trapped by his guilt and duty.
- Roger Chillingworth
Chillingworth is discussed as Hester's husband and the source of Dimmesdale's torment, though he does not appear in the chapter.
- Pearl
Pearl is briefly mentioned as having been sitting with Hester on the moss before the meeting.
Key passages
“Here, seen only by his eyes, the scarlet letter need not burn into the bosom of the fallen woman! Here, seen only by her eyes, Arthur Dimmesdale, false to God and man, might be, for one moment, true!”
In the privacy of the forest, Hester can momentarily escape the shame of the scarlet letter, and Dimmesdale can be honest about his true self.
This highlights the theme of private truth versus public shame.
“That old man’s revenge has been blacker than my sin. He has violated, in cold blood, the sanctity of a human heart.”
Dimmesdale argues that Chillingworth's calculated revenge is a worse sin than their adultery, as it deliberately destroys another person's inner peace.
This reflects the theme of revenge and forgiveness.
“What we did had a consecration of its own. We felt it so! We said so to each other! Hast thou forgotten it?”
Hester insists that their love, though sinful by societal standards, was sacred and meaningful to them.
This underscores the theme of identity and individuality versus societal judgment.