Utilitarianism by John Stuart Mill free essay sample

Classical utilitarianism is hedonist, but values other than, or in addition to, pleasure (ideal utilitarianism) can be employed, or—more neutrally, and in a version popular in economics—anything can be regarded as valuable that appears as an object of rational or informed desire (preference utilitarianism). The test of utility maximization can also be applied directly to single acts (act utilitarianism), or to acts only indirectly through some other suitable object of moral assessment, such as rules of conduct (rule utilitarianism). Utilitarianism opens with a short chapter in which J. S. Mill, having traced the utilitarian tradition Socrates criticizes intuitionist philosophies and invites to overcome the Kantian definition of moral obligation on behalf of his consequentialism. In Chapter II he states that actions are good or bad insofar as they tend to promote happiness, or to produce the reverse of happiness. But this hedonism, is not to reduce man seeking pleasure in an animal requires not confuse happiness and satisfaction and to introduce a qualitative difference between pleasures the most desirable being those who implement the higher faculties experience that ensures we operate. We will write a custom essay sample on Utilitarianism by John Stuart Mill or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Ultimately, the happiness which forms the utilitarian standard of conduct is not the agent own happiness, but the happiness of all concerned. Based not on interest but usefulness, this ideal is only accessible under certain specific guidance naturally and without sacrifice the development of individual potential to the benefit of society social and cultural conditions. How to create and enforce the terms of this altruism? This is discussed in Chapter III, which deals with the issue of sanctions and sense of duty. If utilitarian morality has external sanctions (fear of others, or of God) and internal sanctions (the feeling of moral obligation), it is mainly in the social sense available to everyone that sees Mill its most solid foundation. Chapter IV is devoted to the problem of proof of the principle of utility. Starting from the idea that the only thing we can give to establish that something is desirable, it is in fact we desire, Mill sees virtue, defined as the mean happiness as an end and in itself, the object of desire most able to fulfill the utilitarian goal. Follows a discussion of the concept of will which, born of desire, is maintained by habit, which guarantees the fulfillment of virtuous duties regardless of pleasures and pains they provide. To establish the absence of opposition between the categories of right and useful, the long chapter V undertakes a first investigation into the origin of the sense of justice through the identification of patterns of actions deemed reprehensible (offense legal and moral justices, without merit, breach of commitment, bias, inequality). Mill then attempts to show that the desire to punish (itself linked to the instinctive need to defend themselves) initiates the feeling that actually conceals considerations of interest (personal safety). Therefore, transforming this natural desire moral quality exclusively oriented social welfare, the practice of justice based on the utility part is the centerpiece, the most sacred part incomparably longer mandatory and morality.† The main contribution of Utilitarianism is the project of its rational ethics that replaces the hedonistic and egoist conception of happiness and altruism theory in which the principle of utility is based directly on the plurality of purposes and the complexity of motives, moral obligation and social feelings. In this attempt to reconcile self-realization and collective happiness, Kantian duty and Benthamite utility, individual freedom and social justice, many commentators have pointed out the difficulties posed by the argument of indirect utilitarianism of Mill confuses in his classification of pleasures, fact and value, in its naturalistic ethics is and ought to be, and in his conception of virtue, moral intention and moral statement. However, Utilitarianism is a pivotal part of the history of the utilitarian doctrine that eventually will emancipate the reformist ambition that is  still clothed in Mill’s thought, to take a more theoretical nature. Inspired philosophers H. Sedgwick and GE Moore, discussed by economists of the marginal utility (Edgeworth, Jevons, Pareto), the book will feed, despite the triumph of neo- Hegelianism, intellectual debates of Victorian England who extend until the twentieth century, through the renewal of issues made especially by the work of A. Sen and J. Harsanyi and stimulated by critics R. Nozick and Rawls.

Cómo probar dureza extrema para perdón migratorio

Cà ³mo probar dureza extrema para perdà ³n migratorio Demostrar la existencia de dureza extrema es uno de los requisitos para obtener el perdà ³n I-601A o el I-601A–conocido como waiver provisional– que permiten a los migrantes regresar a Estados Unidos o regularizar su situacià ³n. En este artà ­culo se informa sobre los tipos de perdà ³n migratorio para los que la dureza extrema es uno de sus requisitos, quà © entiende el Servicio de Inmigracià ³n y Ciudadanà ­a (USCIS, por sus siglas en inglà ©s) por sufrimiento extremo, cà ³mo se prueba y cul debe ser el contenido de la carta en la que se alega dicha dureza. Tipos de perdones migratorios para los que la dureza extrema es uno de los requisitos Los perdones migratorios ms comunes para los que se exige probar dureza extrema son los siguientes: Perdà ³n I-601 para regresar a EE.UU. En estos casos de solicitud de perdà ³n I-601, el migrante se encuentra fuera de EE.UU. en el momento de presentar los papeles para pedir el perdà ³n. Su problema es que no puede ingresar a EE.UU. por alguna de las siguientes razones: estuvo ilegalmente en EE.UU., utilizà ³ documentos falsos para obtener un beneficio migratorio, mintià ³ a un oficial o fue condenado por ciertos delitos. Perdà ³n provisional por presencia ilegal En estos casos el migrante que solicita el perdà ³n conocido como I-601A est en EE.UU. y no puede arreglar sus papeles porque ingresà ³ ilegalmente a Estados Unidos. Necesita obtener su aprobacià ³n antes de salir del paà ­s para presentarse en un consulado de EE.UU. para la entrevista para obtener una visa de inmigrante y no sufrir el castigo de los tres y de los 10 aà ±os. Tanto para el caso del perdà ³n I-601 como el del I-601A la persona que sufrirà ­a la dureza extrema si no se aprueba la solicitud debe ser un familiar del migrante y no el propio migrante. Es lo que se conoce en inglà ©s como qualifying relative. Adems, dicho familiar debe ser el cà ³nyuge o el padre o la madre del migrante y debe tener estatus de ciudadano estadounidense o residente permanente legal. Una excepcià ³n importante son los casos de los migrantes indocumentados que solicitan los papeles por violencia domà ©stica en aplicacià ³n de WAVA y el problema por el que no pueden obtenerlos es porque cometieron un fraude migratorio previamente. En estos casos, el perdà ³n podrà ­a aprobase si la dureza extrema afecta al propio migrante.  ¿Quà © es el requisito de dureza extrema para solicitar un perdà ³n migratorio? La ley no especifica en quà © constituye exactamente la dureza extrema, pero se entiende que va ms all que los problemas ordinarios causados por la separacià ³n familiar fruto de una deportacià ³n, expulsià ³n inmediata o por tener un castigo que impide a un migrante ingresar legalmente a Estados Unidos. Asà ­, se considera como dureza ordinaria y que, por lo tanto, no calificarà ­a para un perdà ³n migratorio cualquiera de las siguientes situaciones consideradas por sà ­ mismas e individualmente: Pà ©rdida ordinaria de ingresos econà ³micos.Separacià ³n familiar.Choque cultural y de ajuste a un nuevo paà ­s. Requisitos para situacià ³n de dureza extrema: USCIS considera que para calificar una situacià ³n como de dureza extrema tiene en consideracià ³n las siguientes situaciones: Edad Se tiene en cuenta, por un lado, cuntos aà ±os tiene el migrante en el momento de solicitar el perdà ³n y tambià ©n la que tenà ­a en el momento en que ingresà ³ a EE.UU. Tambià ©n se tiene en cuenta la edad de los hijos del migrante asà ­ como cuntos son y cul es su estatus migratorio. Tambià ©n se tiene en cuenta su capacidad de hablar el idioma del paà ­s del padre/madre migrante, para el caso de nià ±os que han crecido en EE.UU. y que acompaà ±arà ­an a sus padres migrantes a otro paà ­s si estos no pudieran residir en EE.UU. Tiempo de residencia en Estados Unidos Se tiene en consideracià ³n cuntos aà ±os el migrante ha vivido en EE.UU. Salud Otro factor a tener en cuenta es la salud del migrante y de su cà ³nyuge. En algunos tipos de perdà ³n se tiene tambià ©n en consideracià ³n la salud de otros miembros de la familia como padres e hijos del migrante. Tambià ©n se evalà ºa la calidad de la asistencia sanitaria que recibirà ­an dichas personas fuera de los Estados Unidos y el impacto psicolà ³gico que puede tener en el migrante un castigo de deportacià ³n o remocià ³n o la imposibilidad de obtener una visa de inmigrante para regresar. Và ­nculos en Estados Unidos USCIS tiene en consideracià ³n si el migrante tiene familiares en EE.UU. en situacià ³n migratoria legal o en proceso de obtenerla. Tambià ©n tiene en cuenta los và ­nculos del migrante con la comunidad en la que vive y el grado de integracià ³n en el paà ­s. Economà ­a y Educacià ³n Otro factor a tener en cuenta por USCIS es la capacidad del migrante para obtener empleo fuera de los EE.UU., el impacto en sus financias si tiene que abandonar el paà ­s o se le impide regresar y tambià ©n si las posibilidades de mejorar acadà ©micamente pueden verse negativamente afectadas. Situacià ³n en el paà ­s del migrante USCIS tiene en cuenta la situacià ³n polà ­tica y econà ³mica en el paà ­s del migrante asà ­ como si el migrante tiene và ­nculos familiares en su paà ­s de origen. Otras razones En todo caso, pueden alegarse otras razones siempre que causen extrema dureza. En ocasiones, uno solo de esos factores es tan fuerte que puede calificar como dureza extrema. Pero en la mayorà ­a de los casos ninguno es determinante por sà ­ solo y USCIS decide teniendo en cuenta todos o parte de ellos. Por à ºltimo, cabe destacar que no todos los factores mencionados son igual de importantes. Asà ­, USCIS da ms relevancia a las situaciones que afectan a la salud o a la seguridad que a los posibles perjuicios econà ³micos y a las dificultades de adaptarse a una nueva vida fuera de Estados Unidos.  ¿Cà ³mo se prueba una situacià ³n de dureza extrema? En este punto es muy importante leer con detenimiento las indicaciones especà ­ficas segà ºn el tipo de waiver que se solicita. Pero, en general, se admite como prueba para demostrar una situacià ³n de dureza extrema lo siguiente: Evidencia de empleo o de negocio, como tax returns o nà ³minasExtractos bancarios y recibos financierosEvaluaciones y tests de salud fà ­sica y mental realizados por profesionales mà ©dicosCertificados de nacimiento, matrimonio, adopcià ³n, etc.Fotografà ­as, reportes en perià ³dicos y declaraciones de expertos sobre la situacià ³n de un determinado paà ­s.Rà ©cords de membresà ­a en organizaciones comunitarias, culturales o de voluntariadoDeclaraciones juradas y testimonios personalesCualquier otra evidencia que pueda servir para probar dureza extrema Carta de sufrimiento o dureza extrema A la hora de preparar el paquete para solicitar el perdà ³n debe incluirse una explicacià ³n en forma de carta en inglà ©s en la que se mencionan los argumentos para alegar sufrimiento extremo. A la hora de escribirla es importante tener en cuenta las siguientes directrices. En primer lugar, no debe ahogarse al oficial que va a decidir el caso con un montà ³n de argumentos dà ©biles. Se recomienda elegir entre tres y cinco razones por las que se argumenta dureza extrema. En segundo lugar, es recomendable comenzar con el argumento ms fuerte. Es muy comà ºn que està © relacionado con la salud pero no es obligatorio. En tercer lugar, todo lo que se alega debe tener su evidencia correspondiente. Por ejemplo, si se alega que se tiene una profesià ³n que requiere una habilidad poco comà ºn, presentar tambià ©n una carta del empleador. O por ejemplo, si se alega que se tiene un hijo con una ex pareja y que ha anunciado que prohibir a dicho infante salir de EE.UU. para visitar a su padre o madre migrante, incluir una declaracià ³n de dicha ex pareja en la que explica su decisià ³n. Si se alega que el cà ³nyuge del migrante no puede abandonar EE.UU. porque est cuidando de un familiar, enviar documentacià ³n que pruebe que efectivamente est prestando ese cuidado. Si se alega una enfermedad, incluir una declaracià ³n del mà ©dico que la est tratando, etc. En el foro i2us.net existen cartas reales redactadas en inglà ©s de migrantes y sus familias que aplicaron por un perdà ³n y alegaron con à ©xito dureza extrema. Es recomendable consultarlas pero nunca plagiarlas, ya que la alegacià ³n de cada migrante debe ajustarse a su caso real. Por à ºltimo, cabe destacar que estos casos son difà ­ciles y pueden ser complicados. Deberà ­a considerarse muy seriamente consultar o contratar un abogado de inmigracià ³n especialista en estos casos. Dureza Extrema Probar dureza extrema es uno de los requisitos para que USCIS apruebe las solicitudes de perdà ³n I-601 e I-601A.Para determinar que existe dureza extrema se tiene en consideracià ³n diversos factores, como salud, economà ­a, situacià ³n polà ­tica y social en paà ­s de origen, presencia de familiares en EE.UU. o en otro paà ­s e integracià ³n en la comunidad.En la mayorà ­a de los casos, la ley exige que la dureza extrema la sufra un familiar cualificado del migrante y no el propio migrante. Como regla general se consideran como familiares que reà ºnen esos requisitos los cà ³nyuges, padres y madres de los migrantes que, adems, deben ser ciudadanos estadounidenses o residentes permanentes legales.Las decisiones en las que USCIS niega un perdà ³n porque no se prueba la dureza extrema no pueden apelarse. Sin embargo, es posible presentar una nueva aplicacià ³n. Fuentes: â€Å"Immigration and Nationality Act.†Ã‚  USCIS, 10 Sept. 2013, www.uscis.gov/legal-resources/immigration-and-nationality-act. Este es un artà ­culo informativo. No es asesorà ­a legal.

Why Black People Had a Complex Relationship With Fidel Castro

Why Black People Had a Complex Relationship With Fidel Castro When Fidel Castro died on Nov. 25, 2016, Cuban exiles in the United States celebrated the demise of a man they called an evil dictator. Castro committed a series of human rights abuses, they said, silencing political dissidents by imprisoning or killing them. U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio  (R-Florida) summed up the feelings of many Cuban Americans about Castro in a statement he released after  the ruler’s passing. â€Å"Sadly, Fidel Castro’s death does not mean freedom for the Cuban people or justice for the democratic activists, religious leaders, and political opponents he and his brother have jailed and persecuted,† Rubio said. â€Å"The dictator has died, but the dictatorship has not. And one thing is clear, history will not absolve Fidel Castro; it will remember him as an evil, murderous dictator who inflicted misery and suffering on his own people.† In contrast, blacks throughout the African Diaspora viewed Castro through a more complicated lens. He may have been a brutal dictator but he was also an ally to Africa, an anti-imperialist who eluded assassination attempts by the U.S. government and a champion of education and healthcare. Castro supported the efforts of African nations to liberate themselves from colonial rule, opposed apartheid and granted exile to a prominent African American radical. But along with  these deeds, Castro faced criticism from blacks during the years before  his death because of racism’s persistence in Cuba. An Ally to Africa Castro proved himself to be a friend to Africa as various countries there fought for independence during the 1960s and ’70s. After Castro’s death, Bill Fletcher, Black Radical Congress founder, discussed the unique  relationship between the Cuban Revolution in 1959 and Africa on the Democracy Now! radio program. â€Å"The Cubans were very supportive of the Algerian struggle against the French, which succeeded in 1962,† Fletcher said. â€Å"They went on to support the various anti-colonial movements in Africa, including in particular  the anti-Portuguese movements in Guinea-Bissau, Angola, and Mozambique. And they were unquestioning in their support for the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa.† Cuba’s support to Angola as the West African nation fought for independence from Portugal in 1975 set into motion apartheid’s end. Both the Central Intelligence Agency and the apartheid government of South Africa tried to thwart the revolution, and Russia objected to Cuba intervening in the conflict. That didnt deter Cuba from getting involved, however. The 2001 documentary Fidel: The Untold Story chronicles how Castro sent 36,000 troops to keep South African forces from attacking Angola’s capital city and more than 300,000 Cubans aided in Angola’s independence struggle - 2,000 of whom were killed during the conflict. In 1988, Castro sent in even more troops, which helped to overcome the South African army and, thus, advance the mission of black South Africans. But Castro didn’t stop there. In 1990, Cuba also played a role in helping Namibia win independence from South Africa, another blow to the apartheid government. After Nelson Mandela was freed from prison in 1990, he repeatedly thanked Castro.   â€Å"He was a hero in Africa, Latin America, and North America for those who needed freedom from oligarchic and autocratic oppression,† the Rev. Jesse Jackson said of Castro in a statement about the Cuban leader’s death. â€Å"While Castro, unfortunately, denied many political freedoms, he at the same time did establish many economic freedoms - education and health care. He changed the world. While we may not agree with all of Castro’s actions, we can accept his lesson that where there is oppression there must be resistance.† Black Americans like Jackson  have long expressed admiration for Castro, who famously met with Malcolm X in Harlem in 1960 and sought out meetings with other black leaders. Mandela and Castro South Africa’s Nelson Mandela publicly praised Castro for his support of the anti-apartheid struggle. The military support Castro sent to Angola helped to destabilize the apartheid regime and pave the way for new leadership. While Castro stood on the right side of history, as far as apartheid was concerned, the U.S. government is said to have been involved in Mandela’s 1962 arrest and even characterized him as a terrorist. Moreover, President  Ronald Reagan vetoed the Anti-Apartheid Act. When Mandela was released from prison after serving 27 years for his political activism, he described Castro as an â€Å"inspiration to all freedom-loving people.† He applauded Cuba for remaining independent in spite of fierce opposition from imperialist nations such as the United States. He said that South Africa also wished â€Å"to control our own destiny† and publicly asked Castro to visit. â€Å"I haven’t visited my South African homeland yet,† Castro said. â€Å"I want it, I love it as a homeland. I love it as a homeland as I love you and the South African people.† The Cuban leader finally traveled to South Africa in 1994 to watch Mandela become its first black president. Mandela faced criticism for supporting Castro but kept his promise not to ignore his allies in the fight against apartheid. Why Black Americans Admire Castro African Americans have long felt a kinship to the people of Cuba  given the island nation’s considerable black population. As Sam Riddle, political director of Michigan’s National Action Network told the Associated Press, â€Å"It was Fidel who fought for the human rights for black Cubans. Many Cubans are as black as any black who worked in the fields of Mississippi or lived in Harlem. He believed in medical care and education for his people.† Castro ended segregation after the Cuban Revolution and gave asylum to Assata Shakur (nee Joanne Chesimard), a black radical who fled there after a 1977 conviction for killing a state trooper in New Jersey. Shakur has denied wrongdoing. But Riddle’s portrayal of Castro as a race relations hero may be somewhat romanticized given that black Cubans are overwhelmingly poor, underrepresented in positions of power and locked out of jobs in the country’s burgeoning tourism industry, where lighter skin appears to be a prerequisite to entry. In 2010, 60 prominent African Americans, including Cornel West and filmmaker Melvin Van Peebles, issued a letter attacking Cubas human rights record, especially as it related to black political dissidents. They expressed concern that the Cuban government had â€Å"increased violations of civil and human rights for those black activists in Cuba who dare raise their voices against the islands racial system.† The letter also called for the release from prison of black activist and physician Darsi Ferrer. Castro’s revolution may have promised equality for blacks, but he was ultimately unwilling to engage those who pointed out that racism remained. The Cuban government responded to the concerns of the African American group by simply denouncing their statement.

Cambodian Genocide Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Cambodian Genocide - Essay Example This genocide had a devastating effect to the people of Cambodia. An estimated 25% of the total population was killed. In addition, property worth billions was destroyed. Moreover, this genocide brought unprecedented suffering to the people of Cambodia. This caused psychological trauma to those who survived it. Mass graves were discovered later and the unearthed bones are preserved in memory of those who died in the genocide. In this paper, I will focus on Pol Pot’s ideology leading him to reconstruct Cambodia as well as the extermination of all those who were a formal threat to his success in achieving his mission. History of Cambodia before Genocide Cambodia, an Asian country, gained independence in the year 1953 after being ruled by the French for more than 100 years (Moses 224). It is famous due to its temples back in the 12th century. After independence, in the 1960s, Cambodia had a population of around 7 million people. 95% of the total population belonged to Buddhism re ligion. At this time, the country was under the rule of Prince Sihanouk. He continued to rule the country until 1970 when he was ousted from power through a military coup. Lon Nol, who was a lieutenant general came to power and was made the president. In retaliation, Prince Sihanouk joined his army with that of Khmer Rouge and started attacking Lon Nol’s army. ... Cambodia then became a battlefield. On the other hand, Pol Pot led Khmer Rouge, the guerrilla organization. Pol Pot was born in 1925 in central Cambodia. By that time, Cambodia was part of France (Bergin 9). When still young in his early 20s, Pol went to Paris, France where he pursued his education. He never cleared his studies as he joined Marxism and lost his scholarship. Pol Pot envied the Chinese communism. In 1962, Pol pot was leading the Cambodian Communist Party. Prince Sihanouk was not happy with Pol Pot affiliation. Pol Pot had to flee from Prince Sihanouk; he went to the jungle. In the jungle, Khmer Rouge, an armed movement headed by Pol Pot, was created. He defeated Prince Sihanouk in 1976 and he became the premier. Pol Pot believed that farmers were the best people in the world. He particularly admired the Chinese communism, and he believed in it. He tried to introduce this to his country, and he treated those who opposed him with brutality (Munyas 427). In fact, he belie ved that the more he killed the better since he was helping to purify the country. Khmer Rouge was the tool that Pol Pot used to rule Cambodia by an iron fist. The army was used to enforce his policies. Cambodia During he Genocide After successfully overthrowing the government, the Khmer group developed a mission for the country (Maguire 44). It wanted to incorporate the Mao, a Chinese communism model. Its approach was extreme and according to the group, it was the ideal way for the country to move on. Pol Pot and his group did not give a chance to the Cambodians to choose what they wanted. Instead, the population was forced to work on large farms. The group was ruthless with anyone who tried to go against it. All un-communists were

One Federal Law Enforcement Organization Assignment

One Federal Law Enforcement Organization - Assignment Example In counter-terrorism, the agency serves a variety of functions entailing nuclear security, aviation and chemical security concerns, fraud and counterfeit and information sharing. The roles of the DHS in border security and immigration include apprehension, convicting and deporting of illegal immigrants which are geared towards ensuring that the USA is secure (DHS, 2012). Due to overlap in crime fighting responsibilities, the DHS, state and local law enforcement agencies are interlocked in crime fighting. The DHS undertakes some activities with the aim of maximizing cooperation and assisting the local agencies in their objectives in crime fighting. For instance, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) branch of the DHS collaborates with local and state agencies to create a united and seamless front for disruption of transnational crime (DHS, 2011). The DHS also bears better capacity in logistics and intelligence from which local agencies gain through information sharing. The relationship between the DHS and local and state law enforcement agencies has not always had a positive effect. The overlap in crime fighting responsibilities that exists between the two- federal (DHS) versus local and state levels- has not been traditionally well managed. For instance, the roles of the DHS in special operations, forensics, criminal intelligence and disaster response may clash with local and state arms charged with special investigations, forensic services, criminal investigations and emergency planning and response (Richman, 2000). In such cases, it is evident that counteractive clashes in interests may hinder crime fighting and, thus, jeopardize the missions of all levels of law enforcement involved. The main cause of the problems noted above stems from the occurrence of crimes that are multi-jurisdictional. This situation results in a situation where the federal, state and local law enforcement agencies deem

A Lady in a Machine-Shop Essay -- Susan Bivin Aller

In "A Lady in a Machine-Shop," Susan Bivin Aller uses creativity, determination, and confidence to demonstrate how they led Margaret Knight to succession as an inventor. Knight and her family moved to Manchester, New Hampshire when she was at a young age. At the age of twelve, Knight witnessed a mill worker injured by a steel-tipped shuttle. This motivated her to create a safety mechanism, her first invention, to prevent any further injuries in cotton mills. Knight's mind was built with creativeness and that helped her succeed. As Knight grew up with her brothers, she invented "sleds, kites, and other playthings that?were the envy of all the boys in town." Knight often had a smile on her face when making new items for her brothers. She enjoyed inventing and helping others in need. "Because she didn't play with dolls," like other girls did, Knight's mind developed independently and creatively. She was the type of person that had her own thoughts and feelings. When Knight worked at the Columbia Paper Bag Company, she wanted to improve how the machines made the bags. The bags were si...

The Scarlet Letter and Hester

A CHAPTER-BY-CHAPTER READING GUIDE FOR THE SCARLET LETTER A 1636 Plymouth Colony law required anyone convicted of adultery to â€Å"wear two Capital letters viz AD cut out in cloth and sowed on theire uppermost Garments on their arme or backe; and if att any time they shallbee taken without the said letters whiles they are in the Govrment soewarn to bee forthwith taken and publickly whipt. â€Å"[1] Other Massachusetts colonies had their own versions of this law.In fact, â€Å"The Capitall Lawes of New-England, as they stand now in force in the Common-wealth, by the Court, in the years 1641, 1642, established within the jurisdiction of Massachusetts,† proclaim that â€Å"if any person committeth adultery with a married or espoused wife, the Adulterer, and the Adulteresse, shall surely be put to death. † Chapter 1—The Prison Door Paragraph two explains the typical allotment of land in a Puritan town. What three establishments are early accounted for on Isaac Joh nson's lot? What does this information tell us about Puritan values?How does Hawthorne describe the prison? Identify a significant metaphor in the second paragraph. A pathetic fallacy is a literary device in which Nature appears to understand human feeling and respond accordingly. An example is believing that the sun is shining because you are happy, or that a day is dark and rainy because you are feeling depressed. Hawthorne employs a significant pathetic fallacy in this opening description. Can you locate it? What grows near the prison? What does Hawthorne say it symbolizes? Chapter 2—The Market Place 1. When does the story take place? . For what purposes did people sometimes gather in front of the prison door? 3. Who seems especially interested in the punishment that is about to take place? 4. Pay attention to conversation among the women. What is their attitude toward Hester? Are they unanimous? 5. Note the description Of Hester, the novel's heroine. What seem to be her o utstanding characteristics? What is unusual about her? What do people notice first when seeing her (â€Å"the point which drew all eyes†)? 6. Note again the women's conversation. What appears to be their opinion of Hester now? 7.The beadle's words, â€Å"A blessing on the righteous colony of the Massachusetts, where iniquity is dragged out into the sunshine,† might engender some thinking about values. Does it seem to you that exposing iniquity is worthy of a blessing? Do we seem to feel it proper today to expose personal behavior, especially wrongdoing, to public view? 8. What is Hester's punishment that day? What does Hawthorne say about this kind of punishment, the kind that does not allow the culprit to hide his or her shame? 9. What is purpose of contrasting Hester and her baby to â€Å"the image of Divine Maternity†? 0. Pay particular attention to the description of â€Å"the man well stricken in years. † Who do you think he is? Chapter 3—The Recognition Read carefully the second paragraph. Who is the man at the Indian's side? Imagine that you are this man. What information do you, a stranger to Boston, learn from the townsman with whom you talk? The townsman says that the magistrates of Boston have, â€Å"in their mercy and tenderness of heart,† softened Hester's punishment. What do you think of this mercy? For what reason do Governor Bellingham and the ministers speak to Hester? Why does Mr. Wilson think Mr.Dimmesdale should speak to Hester? What is Dimmesdale's feeling about this job? Note with care the first description of Dimmesdale. 5. What effect do Dimmesdale' swords have on Hester? On the baby? 6. What kind of father does Hester say her baby will have? 7. Contrast the two ministers' different reactions to Hester's refusal to name her fellow sinner. Chapter 4—The Interview 1. Why did the jailer send for a doctor for Hester? 2. You ought to know for certain, by the seventh or eighth paragraph of this chapter, just who this man is. What clues (in previous chapters) has Hawthorne given you as to his identity?Why, do you suppose, does Chillingworth want to keep his identity a secret? 3. It would be so easy for Chillingworth to kill Hester. Why does he want her to live? 4. Upon whom does Chillingworth put the blame for Hester's sin? How much is her fault? How much is his own? 5. How much revenge does Chillingworth plan to get on Hester? (A particular line in their conversation tells us exactly. ) Who is the real object of Chillingworth's revenge? 6. The paragraph beginning â€Å"Never, sayest thou? † if read well, can reveal exactly what kind of person Chillingworth is.Read it with a touch of villainy in thy voice and thou must needs quake with fearfulness at the plan this mis-shapen scholar. (Do you see how easy it is to get carried away? ) 7. Hester says something interesting about how a person's words may lead to one interpretation of his character and his actions may lea d to another. How do Chillingworth's words present him? His actions? 8. What request does Chillingworth make of Hester? What is his reason? Chapter 5—Hester at Her Needle How does Hester feel upon leaving prison? What does the future have in store for her?You might wonder why Hester doesn't leave Boston, since it is only in Boston that she must wear the scarlet letter. What are her reasons? Be sure not to overlook the most important of them. What features of Hester's home seem most appropriate? How does Hester make a living? In what ironic way does she advertise her skills? 5. Who were the only ones who made no use of Hester's services? Why? 6. What does Hester do with the extra money she earns (â€Å"her superfluous means†)? What does this tell us about her character? 7. Hawthorne compares Hester's scarlet letter with the mark on Cain's forehead.If you don't know about Cain's mark, you can read about it in the Bible in Genesis 4:1-16. Biblical allusions are not uncomm on in literature, so a well-read person is familiar with the major stories of the Bible. This familiarity has nothing to do with a person's religious beliefs. 8. What specific â€Å"tortures† (â€Å"the innumerable throbs of anguish†) does Hester endure? 9. In the penultimate (that is, the next to the last) paragraph of the chapter, Hawthorne begins to suggest that there might be some positive feature of Hester's wearing the scarlet letter.What is it? 10. Observe how Hawthorne uses one of his favorite devices, intentional ambiguity, in the last paragraph. Chapter 6—Pearl Why does Hester name her baby Pearl? Pearl is a significant character in this novel, so pay attention to the detailed description of her. Isn't it a paradox that Pearl, the product of sin, is â€Å"worthy to have been brought forth in Eden†? In the fourth paragraph, the â€Å"Scriptural authority† is Proverbs 13:24, which reads, â€Å"He that spareth his rod hateth his son; but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes. (In modern English, parents who withhold punishment actually hate their children, but those that love them correct their behavior early. â€Å") What is Hawthorne saying about the way parents raised their children in Puritan times? How does Hester raise Pearl? Why does Pearl seem not to be a human child? Why is Pearl an â€Å"outcast of the infantile world†? What kind of games did â€Å"the Puritan nurture †¦ permit† children to play? Do they seem like fun to you? What is the attitude of the Puritan children toward Pearl? 9. What does Pearl use for playthings? Hawthorne calls them â€Å"the puppets of Pearl's witchcraft,† a good phrase. ) 10. The reference to â€Å"dragon's teeth† (in the same paragraph) is an allusion to a Greek myth in which Cadmus kills a dragon and plants his teeth. The teeth grow into warriors who fight each other until only few are left alive. This myth, incidentally, is the beginning o f the story that eventually comes to concern Oedipus Rex, but there is no association to be made between that story and this one. 11. What was the first thing Pearl noticed in her mother? 12. What happens when Hester sees her reflection in Pearl's eyes?This is still another example of intentional ambiguity. 13. Who do the gossiping neighbors claim is Pearl's father? Chapter 7—The Governor's Hall 1. What two reasons does Hester have for visiting the governor? 2. In what way does Pearl remind Hester of the scarlet letter? 3. Contemplate the tremendous significance of Hester's looking into the armour, which reflects the scarlet letter disproportionately and hides Hester behind it. 4. The description of the garden recalls the Garden of Eden, an appropriate suggestion since we have already seen references to the Garden of Eden earlier in the novel.Pearl's crying for a red rose may suggest the desire for forbidden fruit, and the refusal by Hester (â€Å"I hear voices in the garden †) may correspond to Genesis 2:16-17 and 3:6-8 (â€Å"the voice of the Lord God walking in the Garden). A comment here about allusions, Biblical and otherwise: it can be frustrating to the student to encounter several allusions and need to have all of them pointed out. A common reaction is then to reject them or to express doubt that the author intended the allusion. Students need to be reminded that they are relatively inexperienced in reading literature intended for literate and educated readers.Instead of being defensive about it, they will find it much more productive to accept whatever assistance is offered. The more they read the better they will become at recognizing references to other literature and history. In the meantime, they do best to keep their eyes and minds open. Biblical allusions present a particular problem among people who are sensitive about the presence of the Bible in the school. While that sensitivity is understandable, it is important for teachers, especially teachers of challenging academic programs, to remember and remind others of the enormous influence the Bible has had on western culture.If we eliminate the Bible as literature, we eliminate a huge portion of mature literature, art, music, architecture, theatre, and all the other arts as well. Chapter 8—The Elf-Child and the Minister 1. Who arc Bellingham's guests? Which is not in good health? Why? Which is the medical advisor to the sick one? 2. All of the descriptions of Pearl by Bellingham and his guests remind the reader of what important visual fact? 3. What matter were Bellingham and his guests discussing before Hester's arrival? 4. Be sure you understand both sides of the argument between Hester and Bellingham. 5. How does Wilson â€Å"test† Pearl?How does she do on this test? 6. Specifically, what is Pearl's answer? How did she get such a strange idea? What else do you know about the prison rosebush? Think back to chapter 1, where Hawthorne said it wa s a symbol, and see if you can't work out the symbolic significance of this incident. 7. How has Chillingworth changed over the years? 8. To whom does Hester turn for assistance in her attempt to keep Pearl? Why does she feel he can help? 9. Dimmesdale says that Pearl is both a blessing and a torture for Hester. How is this true? 10. Pay special attention to Dimmesdale's words beginning, â€Å"†¦ his boon was meant. † 11. As Hester and Pearl leave, â€Å"it is averred† that something happened. Hawthorne likes to include hearsay, gossip, rumor, legend, and so on in his story. Where have we seen it already in this novel? Keep an eye open for other instances as we read on. 12. Who stops Hester as she departs? For what purpose? Chapter 9—The Leech When you look up leech in the dictionary, you will find several definitions. Which of the many possibilities seems most appropriate here? The first three paragraphs explain how Chillingworth sets up his medical practi ce in Boston. Who becomes Chillingworth's prime patient?What is his illness? What is Dimmesdale's most characteristic gesture? Why do you suppose he makes this gesture? 5. Observe how typically the people of Boston, when they are unable to explain Chillingworth's arrival out of the blue, create a rumor about him. 6. â€Å"So Roger Chillingworth† begins a really important section, describing the relationship that develops between Chillingworth and Dimmesdale. 7. What happens â€Å"after a time, at a hint from Roger Chillingworth†? 8. The penultimate paragraph (you had that word in chapter 5, question 9) compares or associates Chillingworth with whom?Chapter 10—The Leech and His Patient 1. Dimmesdale develops a characteristic similar to Hester's in that he was â€Å"suspicious of all mankind. † The conversation between Chillingworth and Dimmesdale concerning confession of sin is worth special attention. Apparently Dimmesdale is concealing some sin. What mig ht that sin be? Really? What occurrence interrupts this conversation? What is unusual about Pearl's behavior? Do you see any symbolic meaning in Pearl's placing the prickly burdock on Hester's scarlet letter? If not, think some more until you do. When Dimmesdale refuses to â€Å"open †¦ he wound or trouble† in his heart to Chillingworth, to whom does he say he will bare his soul? Hawthorne makes a joke! It doesn't happen often, so let's not let this one get by. Dimmesdale falls asleep over a book which â€Å"must have been a work of vast ability in the somniferous school of literature. † (The humor depends on your knowing what â€Å"somniferous means. ) The final two paragraphs are exceptionally important. Hawthorne does not say what Chillingworth saw, but maybe you can imagine. Anyhow, you might wonder what could have made Chillingworth so happy. Can you think of a fairy tale character that Chillingworth resembles here?Chapter 11—The Interior of a Heart 1 . What has become of Dimmesdale's attitude toward Chillingworth? 2. Even though his health is failing, how are Dimmesdale's fortunes as a minister? 3. Interestingly, Dimmesdale is annoyed by the high regard his parishioners have for him (â€Å"the agony with which this public veneration tortured him†). Here is another example of intentional ambiguity, a form of irony. Dimmesdale is not what the people think he is. 4. It's almost humorous how the congregation mistakes Dimmesdale's statements of his sinfulness. (Almost, but not quite. ) 5.Compare the visions Dimmesdale has in his â€Å"lengthened vigils† with Hester's reminiscence in chapter 2. Why does Hester appear in Dimmesdale's vision? What is important about her gesture? Chapter 12—The Minister's Vigil Where does Dimmesdale go? Probably it's not just accidental that it's been seven years since Hester stood on the platform. Seven has been a magical number since ancient times. Why does Hawthorne say that †Å"many culprits †¦ have ascended† the platform? With what is he asking us to associate it? In other words, what is he making the platform a symbol of? Do you know by now why Dimmesdale is climbing it?No one comes when Dimmesdale screams. Why? What does Dimmesdale see from the scaffold? Where has Wilson been that night? Where have Hester and Pearl been? Do you think it is a fitting place for a seven-year-old girl to be? Maybe she had to come along because her mother couldn't get a babysitter. What does Dimmesdale invite Hester and Pearl to do? How does Dimmesdale feel as he touches Pearl's hand? Why do you suppose he feels this way? The paragraph beginning â€Å"But before Mr. Dimmesdale had done speaking† is very important. Read it carefully. Most of the novel's important symbols are brought together at this moment.What is the light in the sky? What does this unnatural light reveal? How is Pearl a connecting link between Hester and Dimmesdale? (You might have two a nswers, one literal, one figurative. ) Why does Dimmesdale have his hand over his heart? 10. Who is standing across the way watching the scene? How does Dimmesdale feel about him? Are you surprised to hear him say so? 11. What does the sexton give to Dimmesdale? How does the sexton account for Dimmesdale's loss of this item? 12. How does the sexton (speaking for the townspeople) interpret the light in the sky? 13. This chapter is the halfway point in the novel.Because of the novel's rigorous construction, the midpoint is the climax. From this point on, we are heading toward the resolution. Chapter 13—Another View of Hester 1. Can you explain why Hester feels an obligation toward Dimmesdale? 2. Hawthorne writes in the middle of the second paragraph that â€Å"It is to the credit of human nature, that†¦ it loves more readily than it hates. † Do you think he's right? Has he illustrated this theme anywhere in the novel? 3. This chapter, which discusses Hester's life, explains why the townspeople change their views of Hester. Although it is mostly descriptive, be sure you understand why they do. 4.The sentence â€Å"Had she fallen among thieves, [the scarlet letter] would have kept her safe† is an allusion to the parable of the Good Samaritan, told in Luke 10:30-37. It's worth reading. 5. What is the â€Å"sad transformation† that has come over Hester? 6. Notice that Hawthorne says of Pearl that her â€Å"nature had something wrong in it, which continually betokened that she had been born amiss. † What other characters' outward appearances suggest their inner natures? This is a significant feature of romantic literature, one that continues through our own time, especially in the movies. 7. This chapter is typical of Hawthorne's circular style.He begins by discussing Hester's attitude toward Dimmesdale, and then wanders into related matters until he eventually returns (â€Å"Now, however, her interview with the Reverend Mr. D immesdale†) to the first thought. He did this before when Hester stood on the scaffold in chapter 2. Hawthorne builds entire chapters, as this one, around this device; or, more often, he constructs his longer paragraphs this way. This observation might help you to read the longer paragraphs with more comprehension. 8. How do you explain, in the first sentence of the final paragraph, the phrase â€Å"her former husband†? How did he get to be her former husband?Did I miss a divorce somewhere? Or is there another explanation? Chapter 14—Hester and the Physician 1. Hawthorne says again that a great transformation has come over Chillingworth. He has changed â€Å"himself into a devil. † We have seen before how Chillingworth has been compared to Satan. 2. The conversation between Hester and Chillingworth should be self-explanatory. Notice Hester's request: â€Å"Forgive, and leave his further retribution to the Power that claims it. † Perhaps this is a th eme of the novel. 3. Chillingworth says, â€Å"Let the black flower blossom as it may. † Do you remember what the black flower is? What does he mean here?Chapter 15—Hester and Pearl 1. Hester declares that she hates Chillingworth. Do you think she has good reason? 2. How has Pearl been amusing herself? 3. Pearl makes a letter to wear herself. You might consider what significance the two colors of the two letters have: scarlet for Hester and green for Pearl. What might green symbolize in connection with Pearl? 4. Why is Pearl's response to her mother's questions concerning why she wears the scarlet letter ironic? 5. For what reasons does Hester consider telling Pearl why she wears the letter? 6. You can see how Pearl is getting on her mother's nerves. How would you have answered Pearl?Do you believe, as Hester does, that â€Å"There are many things in this world that a child must not ask about†? Notice that Hester, at the end of the chapter, answers Pearl â€Å" with an asperity that she had never permitted to herself before. † Chapter 16—A Forest Walk This chapter begins what is for many readers the most memorable part of the novel. Remember that Hawthorne has called his novel â€Å"a tale of human frailty and sorrow. † In chapters 16-19 you will be expected to respond to this sorrow. Watch especially how every possibility for happiness is eliminated. Watch also how Hawthorne uses images of light and dark in the forest.If you are a romantic, you will find this scene especially moving. 1. Why won't Hester visit Dimmesdale in his study? 2. Notice how the sunlight withdraws as Hester approaches it. What does the sunlight symbolize here? Why is there none for Hester? If you have forgotten about the pathetic fallacy, return to chapter 1, question 3 for a reminder. 3. What stories has Pearl heard? What does Pearl think Hester's letter has to do with the Black Man? 4. Notice how Hawthorne compares Pearl to the brook. Showing p eople and Nature as one was a favorite technique of Romantic writers. 5. Observe, too, how sorrowfully Dimmesdale approaches.Chapter 17—The Pastor and His Parishioner How do Hester and Dimmesdale approach each other? Notice the things they speak of—the weather, their health. Why is it so hard for them really to communicate with each other? Just before Hester tells Dimmesdale that Chillingworth was her husband (again she uses the past tense), she stresses the value of truth. Of what significance should this speech be to Dimmesdale? Hester asks Dimmesdale to forgive her and let God take care of her punishment—the same request she made of Chillingworth. Why does Dimmesdale consider Chillingworth to be the worst sinner of the three?Hester speaks here one of the most important lines of the novel: What we did had a consecration of its own. Be sure you understand all the implications of this sentence. She (and Dimmesdale) considered their â€Å"sin† to be morall y acceptable (it was consecrated) in a system of laws higher than those of the church. Hester is trying to justify herself by saying that in some cases state laws are imperfect and do not, or should not, apply in all cases to all people. But she cannot think that she was following God's laws, because adultery is forbidden by the Ten Commandments. Then is she placing her individual law above even God's law?Can she do this? Does Hester consider her love for Dimmesdale to be more important or holier than the Ten Commandments? This is a topic—the conflict between personal law and public law— that appears in a great number of important literary works, such as Antigone, Crime and Punishment, and The Crucible, to name just a few. What courses of action does Hester suggest to Dimmesdale so that he can rid himself of Chillingworth's menace? Why is none of them satisfactory to him? Chapter 18—A Flood of Sunshine 1. Again Hawthorne gives a positive result of the scarlet le tter—it was Hester's â€Å"passport into regions where other women dared not tread. 2. Was Dimmesdale's sin a sin of passion or of principle? 3. In paragraph 4, Hawthorne gives a very succinct statement concerning Dimmesdale's predicament: â€Å"between fleeing as an avowed criminal, and remaining as a hypocrite, conscience might find it hard to strike the balance †¦. † This is an example of a dilemma, a choice between two equally unpleasant alternatives. To be in such a situation we say is to be â€Å"on the horns of a dilemma. † If you interpret the metaphor to suggest being tossed by a bull, you see immediately how painful that can be. 4. What does Dimmesdale, after a struggle, resolve to do? What are his reasons? . What does Hester do to make it as though the past had never been? (Don't let this question go unanswered. We've been waiting seven years †¦ ) 6. How does she feel after she has done this significant thing? Note the line, â€Å"She had not known the weight until she felt the freedom. † 7. The paragraph beginning, â€Å"The stigma gone †¦ † is important. Hester removes her cap and her letter, and lets her hair fall down. Look back to chapter 13, where the letter, cap, and hair had been mentioned as symbols of Hester's â€Å"sad transformation† from beauty to plainness. These same symbols are used here to reveal Hester's natural beauty.Notice that this chapter is called â€Å"A Flood of Sunshine,† a title involving a metaphor, Hester's hair is another such flood. What happens, concerning the sunshine, when Hester's hair falls down? This is one the great pathetic fallacies in all of literature. 8. Notice how Nature reacts to the love between Hester and Dimmesdale. â€Å"Such was the sympathy of Nature †¦ † Hawthorne uses the word â€Å"sympathy† in its more general sense of feeling the same (â€Å"sym† meaning the same and â€Å"pathos† meaning feeling) rather than feeling sorry for someone. 9. Pearl is standing in a beam of sunshine, of course.The flickering light makes her look â€Å"now like a real child, now like a child's spirit. † How Hawthorne loves visual ambiguity! How do the animals of the forest treat Pearl? Note the hearsay: â€Å"A wolf, it is said— but here the tale has surely lapsed into the improbable. † Why does Pearl approach slowly when she is called? Chapter 19—The Child at the 15 rook side 1. Hester and Dimmesdale talk very lovingly of their child. 2. What is the effect of the reflection of Pearl in the pool? 3. What does Dimmesdale do when Pearl looks at him? Then, how does Pearl respond to this gesture? 4. Why won't Pearl come to Hester? 5.Does Pearl's command â€Å"Come thou and take it up† seem to you as though she were reminding her mother of her guilt? 6. What happens as Hester puts up her hair? Why? 7. Remember that in the second scaffold scene Pearl asks if Dimmesdale will stand with Hester and her in broad daylight. What similar request does Pearl make of Dimmesdale now? 8. What does Pearl do when Dimmesdale kisses her? Chapter 20—The Minister in a Maze What arrangement has Hester made for Dimmesdale, Pearl, and herself? Why does Hawthorne consider Dimmesdale â€Å"so pitiably weak†? Note the final sentence of this paragraph (the third), which makes use of ambiguity.What strange feeling does Dimmesdale have as he returns to the town? Be sure to know the meaning of the word â€Å"mutability. † What three people does Dimmesdale meet? What does he want to do to each of these people? Why? In the paragraph about the old woman, Hawthorne writes that she might have dropped dead when she heard Dimmesdale's words, â€Å"as by the effect of an intensely poisonous infusion. † You might be interested to know that in the 1600s it was common belief that a person could be killed if poison were poured, or infused, into his ear. Shak espeare, writing in the early 1600s, used this belief as a method of death in Hamlet.What is the importance of the episode between Dimmesdale and Mistress Hibbins? Chapter 21—The New England Holiday 1. â€Å"The day† in the first sentence is three days after the forest scene. The rest of the novel's action takes place on this day. 2. How does Hester feel on this particular day? To what does she look forward? 3. Notice that Pearl's â€Å"garb is all of one idea with her nature,† suggesting again the relationship between her outer appearance and her inner nature. 4. Why is Pearl confused as she and Hester reach town? 5. Notice the forms of entertainment popular in England that are not to be found in Massachusetts. . Hawthorne writes, â€Å"the generation [which came after the first Puritans] wore the blackest shade of Puritanism, and so darkened the national visage with it, that all the subsequent years have not sufficed to clear it up. We have yet to learn again the forgotten art of gayety. † Do you agree? 7. Notice that Chillingworth is talking with the captain of the ship. Why do you suppose that he is doing that? 8. What news does the captain bring Hester? How does she respond to it? Chapter 22—The Procession The first part of this chapter is a lavish description of the groups performing in the parade.Note the description of Dimmesdale as he marches. What does Mistress Hibbins know that Hester wishes she didn't? The paragraph beginning â€Å"This vocal organ† is a description of Dimmesdale's sermon. What message does the ship's captain give to Pearl? It is sad to read in the penultimate paragraph the sentence beginning, â€Å"Hester saw and recognized. † Chapter 23—The Revelation of the Scarlet Letter 1. What is the townspeople's reaction to Dimmesdale's sermon? 2. How does Dimmesdale feel about his career as a minister at this time? (Look in the third paragraph. ) 3. After he gives his sermon, what cha nge comes over Dimmesdale? . Why does Chillingworth try to stop Dimmesdale? After all, hadn't he wanted Dimmesdale's guilt to be known? 5. Where is the only place that Dimmesdale could have escaped Chillingworth? What does this mean? 6. What does the crowd see as Dimmesdale tears away his â€Å"ministerial band†? Are you sure? 7. Does Dimmesdale think he and Hester will meet again in Heaven? Why? 8. â€Å"By giving me this burning torture to bear upon my breast†Ã¢â‚¬â€is this line meant to be taken literally or figuratively? Note how the alliteration, which makes the line quite poetic, provides emphasis. 9. What happens as Dimmesdale dies?Chapter 24—Conclusion As might be expected, â€Å"there was more than one account of what had been witnessed on the scaffold. † What explanations are offered for what had happened? How does Hawthorne feel about those who say that Dimmesdale never said that he was Pearl's father? Does the moral beginning â€Å"Be true! Be true! Be true! † seem like a theme to you? Compare it to what Pearl said to Dimmesdale on the scaffold in chapter 12. What happened to Chillingworth? Why might love and hate be really â€Å"the same thing at bottom†? Who is Chillingworth's beneficiary? Be sure you know what happens to Hester and Pearl.Who discovers that Hester has returned? 10. What, according to rumor, has become of Pearl? 11. What role does Hester play in the community? What is Hester's â€Å"firm belief of which she assures unhappy women? For a novel written in 1850 this is a remarkably contemporary idea, Beside whom is Hester buried? â€Å"†Gules† is the color red. â€Å"Sable† is black. The final sentence, which summarizes the whole novel in a remarkably concise and symbolic way, is the description of Hester's tombstone. Before the days of colored printing, people had to find a way to instruct engravers who were oing to produce coats of arms, banners, flags, and the like. Th is sentence says that Hester's tombstone, which has a black background (a field sable), will be engraved the letter A in red (gules). Think of all the other things in the novel that can be described with that sentence—the midnight sky in the second scaffold scene; Hester's blouse; Hester's life, which seems to have been very bleak with only one moment of happiness; even the Puritan period of American history, which was a dark period, as Hawthorne tells it, â€Å"relieved only by one ever-glowing point of light. Let us remember that the name Hester—an archaic form of Esther—means â€Å"star. † You might remember that Chillingworth said that Hester â€Å"will be a living sermon against sin, until the ignominious letter be engraved upon her tombstone. † Yet the letter can represent something other than Adultery. We have already come to see it represent Able, Art, and Angel. What else might the A have meant to Hester? Remember that in some Massachuset ts communities, Plymouth among them, the punishment for adultery was to wear the letters AD.What could AD have represented to Hester? Congratulations. By reading this novel you have accomplished something noteworthy and gained a great deal—you have increased your reading skills, expanded your vocabulary, considered value systems that might be different from your own, investigated human psychology, and, it is to be hoped, undergone an emotional experience that will never leave you. ———————– 1] Here is an opportunity for the teacher to point out that English spelling and usage were not firmly fixed in the seventeenth century. ‘Their† and â€Å"theire† appear in the same sentence, â€Å"sowed† in modern English would be â€Å"sewn,† and other word forms, while recognizable, have changed in the last three and a half centuries. ———————– N OTE: This is only to function as a â€Å"reading guide† to help you better understand the novel. We highly suggest that you use this to check for