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The Scarlet Letter


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             Hawthorne's ambiguity works beautifully in the novel and is first evident in the case of Mistress Hibbins. The reader is never told that she is a witch, but her unusual appearances make her seem like the embodiment of the devil and all of life's temptations and immoralities. The reader can conclude that she is a witch or a servant of "The Black Man" when Hibbins says, "Will thou [Pearl] ride with me, some fine night, to see thy father?" The mistress is even "present" in chapter 12 when Dimmesdale appears on the scaffold. Although Hawthorne writes that "The minister beheld there the appearance of an immense letter A (p.152)," one must consider and question Dimmesdale's mentality. Deeply pained and tortured, the "A" could have possibly been a figment of his mind or a heavenly representation of Winthrop's recent death. Later in the novel, Dimmesdale reveals an "A" on his chest, but again, Hawthorne fails to provide assurance and makes the reader rely on Chillingworth's observations and outrageous response. Hawthorne writes, "With a convulsive motion, he [Chillingworth] tore away the ministerial band from before his breast. It [the letter] was revealed!" Chillingworth, in a frenzy, insists on its existence, but at the time, his intent on "destroying" Dimmesdale and his possible downfall were becoming quite evident to the characters and the reader. .
             The story is told as if the reader were actually there and could relate their everyday struggles to those of Hester Prynne. Hawthorne speaks directly to the reader, writing, "The reader may chose among these theories (p. 235). In doing this, I could see the uncertainty and the author's desire for the reader to decide. I like the way he tries to interact with the reader and brings me closer to being a part of the 17th century Plymouth colony.
             The tone in the novel can be described as both compassionate and descriptive. In chapter 2, he points out that Hester "sustained herself as best a woman might.


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