Blogpost #4!

Blogpost #4: Chapters 9-11

Chapter nine was mainly focused on the oh-so lovely Roger Chillingworth. (That was most definitely sarcasm). For me, Roger is one of those characters that could do absolutely nothing wrong for the rest of the book and I will still not like him. Everything he says and does irritates me to death. Anyways, we come to find out that Roger expected a heart-felt welcome home from his wife, Hester. HA. Men. What in his ever told him that he deserves a warm welcome home from his wife after he left her high and dry? Jeez. OF COURSE SHE CHEATED ON YOU. I really do not like this man. 

Anyway, Roger decides to get Dimmesdale as his spiritual mentor. But, Dimmesdale isn’t looking too hot. He’s thin, depressed, exhausted, and keeps holding his heart as if he’s getting pains there. Interesting. Roger decides to analyze him thoroughly and learns he has a secret. Hm. But he won’t say. Towards the end of the chapter, the townspeople notice something different about Roger. “At first, his expression had been calm, meditative, scholar-like. Now, there was something ugly and evil in his face which they had not previously noticed, and which grew still the more obvious to sight, the oftener they looked at him” (page 124). The way I interpreted Dimmesdale being “haunted by Satan” is that he has sinned and has yet to come forward about his sin. Therefore, Satan is haunting him until he does. 

In chapter ten there is a moment - a moment when all four characters face each other; Roger, Hester, Pearl, and Dimmesdale. It was really awkward. Then, it just got weird when Pearl started yelling, “Come away, Mother! Come away, or yonder old Black Man will catch up! He hath got hold of the minister already. Come away, Mother, or he will catch you! But he cannot catch little Pearl” (pg. 131). The significance of that part was too big to ignore. My theory is that Dimmesdale is actually the father of Pearl and THAT is the reason in which Satan is haunting him. Towards the end of the chapter, Roger theorizes that whatever is wrong with Dimmesdale started off as mental/ emotional pain, and has developed into physical pain as the time passes. Also, he sees something on his chest that makes him so happy... he kind of his this “Ah- ha!” moment. He then compares himself to Satan by saying, “But what distinguished the physicians ecstasy from Satan’s was the trait of wonder in it” (pg. 135). 

In chapter eleven, which I noticed is called “The Interior of a Heart”. We don’t find out what Roger found on Dimmesdale’s chest yet. But, Dimmesdale is acting extremely... guilty in this chapter which just brings me back to my theory on him being the father of Pearl. (Which, come to find out, I was right about). He is having visions of Hester and Pearl which is just adding to his already existing guilt. I believe that the title is referring the the inside of Dimmesdale’s heart because he finally see what is causing him to become so ill. 
In chapter twelve, you see what a true coward Dimmesdale is. He goes to the platform in which Hester Prynne was forced to stand in public in a pillory. He wouldn't dare do this in the daylight, when everyone is there. No, he does in at night, when no one is there to witness it. During this chapter, I am also thinking of what I said in my first blogpost.... even though they demanded to know who the father was in the first few chapters and CLAIMED he would be punished as well, is that really true? Would he be punished just as harshly and Hester? So, you sort of realize the pain in his chest that he's been feeling is where the scarlet letter was. (Was that was Roger had seen?) Then he talks to Hester and Pearl, who wanted them to all stand together the next day. He said no, but he will stand with them on judgement day. Then, a bright light comes to the horizon. I think this is a symbol of the light of the dark situation. (Maybe) they'll be a happy family. Then, Dimmesdale starts to notice how evil Roger looks. It's about time, am I right? Pearl and Dimmesdale argue, which results in her basically telling him he's a coward for not standing with them. (I love Pearl, honestly.) I sort of didn't understand the last part about the glove/sexton.