The Scarlet Letter, Chapter 22 summary
Chapter 22 of 25 · 15 min to read the chapter
In Chapter 22, Hester Prynne watches the procession and feels separated from Mr. Dimmesdale, whose powerful sermon draws admiration while she remains exposed to public shame. Mistress Hibbins hints at his hidden mark, and a shipmaster’s message makes Hester fear that the doctor threatens their planned escape.
What happens
- The procession crosses the marketplace, and Dimmesdale’s unusual vigor and distant manner leave Hester feeling abandoned.
- Pearl questions his public reserve, while Mistress Hibbins claims to recognize his secret connection with the forest.
- Hester stands beside the scaffold and hears the sorrow beneath Dimmesdale’s powerful sermon.
- Pearl explores the crowd, and the shipmaster gives her a gold chain and a message for Hester.
- The message says the doctor intends to bring his friend aboard, deepening Hester’s fear about escape.
- Spectators surround Hester to inspect her letter while the congregation submits to the minister’s spiritual power.
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In this chapter
What to notice
The closing question connects the honored preacher and the publicly shamed woman. It exposes the gap between their shared condition and the community’s opposite treatment of them.
Quick check
What message does the shipmaster send through Pearl?
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