The Scarlet Letter · Chapter
XXII: The Procession explained
Hester Prynne and Pearl witness the Election Day procession, which includes military escort and colonial magistrates, as Reverend Dimmesdale prepares to deliver his Election Sermon.
What happens
Hester Prynne and Pearl witness the Election Day procession, which includes military escort and colonial magistrates, as Reverend Dimmesdale prepares to deliver his Election Sermon. Hester feels the sting of her scarlet letter more painfully than ever, while Mistress Hibbins confronts Hester with insinuations about Dimmesdale's secret and his encounter in the forest. Pearl expresses a desire to kiss Dimmesdale publicly, but Hester forbids it. The chapter builds tension as Dimmesdale's sermon begins.
Themes in this chapter
Public Shame vs. Private Truth
Hester stands publicly shamed in the marketplace while Dimmesdale is revered in the church, yet both bear the same secret stigma, highlighting the contrast between outward appearance and hidden reality.
Hypocrisy and Moral Judgment
Mistress Hibbins, a reputed witch, exposes the hypocrisy of the community's reverence for Dimmesdale, who hides his sin, while Hester is openly condemned.
Sin and Guilt
The chapter emphasizes the persistent guilt of Hester and Dimmesdale, with the scarlet letter burning more painfully and Mistress Hibbins alluding to Dimmesdale's concealed sin.
Characters to notice
- Hester Prynne
Stands in the marketplace, feeling the ignominy of the scarlet letter more acutely than before, and is confronted by Mistress Hibbins about Dimmesdale's secret.
- Pearl
Watches the procession with initial delight, then becomes restless; she asks Hester about kissing Dimmesdale in public and engages with Mistress Hibbins.
- Arthur Dimmesdale
Appears in the procession as the revered minister about to deliver the Election Sermon; his secret connection to Hester is hinted at by Mistress Hibbins.
- Mistress Hibbins
Approaches Hester in the marketplace, dressed magnificently, and whispers about Dimmesdale's forest encounter and the mark he hides, implying his bond with the Black Man.
- Governor Bellingham
Mentioned among the colonial magistrates in the procession, representing the ponderous sobriety of the era's leaders.
Key passages
“The sainted minister in the church! The woman of the scarlet letter in the marketplace! What imagination would have been irreverent enough to surmise that the same scorching stigma was on them both!”
The revered minister inside the church and the branded woman in the marketplace seem utterly opposite, yet no one would dare imagine they share the same hidden shame.
Highlights the ironic contrast between public perception and private truth.
“When the Black Man sees one of his own servants, signed and sealed, so shy of owning to the bond as is the Reverend Mr. Dimmesdale, he hath a way of ordering matters so that the mark shall be disclosed in open daylight to the eyes of all the world!”
Mistress Hibbins warns that the devil ensures that those who hide their pact with him, like Dimmesdale, will have their secret exposed publicly.
Foreshadows Dimmesdale's eventual public confession and underscores the theme of hidden guilt.