Vanessa Castellano: Chapters 1-4

The beginning chapters of this novel not only provide us as readers with insight about the plot of the story, but Hawthorne also introduces lots of imagery. This imagery begins with the prison door and the red rosebush. The prison door is presented in the midst of a drab and dreary scene, in which the whole town seems to be waiting for something. The only glimmer of hope that is present in this opening scene is one small, red rosebush next to the prison door. I believe that this rosebush is a symbol of hope and how nature can be helpful even in the worst situations. As we move into chapter 2, a woman emerges from the prison door holding a baby. She has a scarlet letter "A" embroidered on her dress and is being escorted to a scaffold in the middle of the town. The whole town is staring at her and taunting her because has been marked as an adulterer. This kind of behavior was unacceptable in Puritan society, therefore Hester is being publicly humiliated in front of the townspeople. At this point we are still unclear as to the situation surrounding Hester's adultery. Who is the man she was having an affair with? Who is she married to? And who is the father of the baby she is carrying?

Chapter 3 begins with the scaffold. Hester is being asked to reveal the man with whom she had an affair, but Hester adamantly refuses. She does not want to persecute the man with whom she had the affair. At this point we cannot tell if it is because she loves him or because she is just so ashamed of what she did. In chapter 4, Hester and her husband (whom we find out to be Roger Chillingworth) come face to face with one another. We can almost feel Hester's discomfort with this man and begin to wonder why they were even married in the first place. It is obvious that Hester is not only frightened by Chillingworth, but disgusted by his presence. Chillingworth shares his plot to gain revenge, leaving Hester alone again her prison cell.

Overall these 4 chapters have set the scene for the rest of the novel. Many important characters have already been introduced and we understand that Hester has been charged with adultery towards her husband Roger Chillingworth. The man she was having an affair with is still a mystery to us as readers.

Questions:

Who is the man she had an affair with?

What kind of revenge will Chillingworth seek against Hester? Hasn't she already been punished enough?

Why does the entire town need to humiliate Hester?