The Scarlet Letter Section 4 Blog 2

Chapter 18 of The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne takes place still in the woods in the company of Hester and Mr. Dimmesdale. The letter "A" which Hester has long endured bearing upon her chest, has been the symbolism of her greater sin and a daily reminder and burden of that which she can't live down, even after seven years. However, within the intimacy of Mr. Dimmesdale, the two of them sharing their struggles of their mutual sin, Hester takes a bold move to remove herself of such a label. "..She undid the clasp that fastened the scarlet letter, and, taking it from her bosom, threw it to a distance among the withered leaves,"(Hawthorne,156). This incident is significant because it symbolizes Hester breaking free from the bondage placed upon her by society and by this courageous act is encouraging Mr. Dimmesdale to also move on from the same sin. Society has marked Hester long enough with humiliation and scorn, she throws the letter in self defiance as if to finally rid herself of the past. However, Pearl becomes enraged and her mother seems unrecognizable in her eyes without the scarlet letter to distinguish her. Pearl throws a fit of wildness, anger, and confusion which further the idea that the letter holds possession over Hester, and the patch is a part of Hester. No matter how hard Hester tries to ignore the past or leave it behind, because Pearl is a result of the sin which the "A" resembles, Hester cannot throw the patch away or ever disown Pearl, the only positive result of Hester's sin.