post 6: Chapters 9-12

9/5/2015

What is Chillingworth’s project? What is Dimmesdale’s inner struggle, and how does it affect him? Discuss themes, symbols, and rhetorical devices in these chapters.

Jasmine M.

9/14/2015 09:19:18 pm

Chillingworth's project is to find out who Pearl's father is and seek revenge on that person. After gaining interest in Dimmesdale, he decides to become his physician in order to help the ill ridden man who is suffering from his inner struggle of keeping the secret of being Pearl's father. Dimmesdale is so distraught and has been drowning in his own guilt for his actions. It's affected him so much that his health is slowly declining. He constantly complains about his heart hurting and this refers to the one of the themes of the story which is "guilt can ruin a person, body and soul." Pearl becomes a metaphor and symbol for everyone's repressed feelings. She grows restless with each passing second, stomping on graves and going against all laws. After Chillingworth finds out that Dimmesdale is the person he has been looking for, he makes it his priority to ruin the ministers life and cause as much pain to him as much as humanly possible. Dimmesdale, though, is already suffering enough. His guilt causes him to fast for long periods of time, and he also beats himself with whips and chains. When he visits Hester and Pearl secretly, he realizes that the only way that he will be freed of sin is by accepting what he did and Pearl states that he should confess to the entire community but he disagrees with her, stating that he will work on it alone. At this moment though, a meteor strikes which foreshadows the event in which Dimmesdale reveals to the entire community his secret and the release of guilt that will come with it. Another theme that is introduced in the story is the fact that revenge kills both the victim and the seeker. Chillingworth is becoming an entirely different human being, his face has changed to the people around him to that of evil and he's gone crazy with revenge. On the other hand, Dimmesdale is slowly dying from his own guilt towards his actions which is constantly reminded by Chillingworth in subliminal ways.

Kelvin A.

9/18/2015 10:08:22 pm

This comment really captures the deterioration of both Chillingworth & Dimmesdale.

Caitlyn D

9/19/2015 12:04:26 am

This is a great description of Chillingworth's negative feelings towards Dimmesdale. They way it is described the reader can feel sympathy towards Dimmesdale and still undertsand Chillingworth's point of view.

Valentina B

9/15/2015 07:38:23 pm

Chillingworth’s project is to seek revenge upon Pearl's father. Dimmesdale’s inner struggle is to keep the secret of being the father of the child and this affects him because the remorse he feels that it makes his health deteriorate. The themes, symbols, and rhetorical devices in these chapters are remorse and guilt.

Krystal C.

9/17/2015 09:11:59 pm

I completely agree with you. Chillingworths project is to try and get revenge on pearls father. Dimmesdales inner struggle was to keep the secret of being the father of the child and the secret is making him physically sick. The theme in this chapter is remorse.

Keiana. W

9/17/2015 09:15:04 pm

I kind of disagree with Valentina the Chillingworth's project is to find pearls father. But dimmesdale's inner struggle is to keep the secret though

Alayjah R.

9/18/2015 11:31:47 am

I agree with you but I think his internal struggle is more than being pearls father I think his internal struggle Also has to do with feeling as if his the reason why hester is suffering also.

Triston Y.

9/15/2015 10:59:44 pm

Chillingwoths project is that he's plotting to get revenge on the father of pearl. The inner struggle that dimmesdale faces is that he's having trouble keeping the secret of pearl being his daughter . Theme Guilt .

Tariq T

9/17/2015 12:59:24 pm

I agree with you on the fact of chillingworth revenge but i feel as if dimmesdale felr guilty about more than hidding the fact that pearl is his daughter. I believe Dimmesdale also feels guilty about his sin in the eyes of god and the fact that he did not confess his adultery in the beginning and the fact that he let Hester suffer by herself

Tariq T

9/15/2015 11:44:11 pm

Chillingworth's plan is to uncover the truth on who his wife Hester committed adultery with. Under his guise as a doctor/ physician Chillingworth's discovers his wife adulterer is the minister Dimmesdale. Chillingworth swears to cause torment and pain mentally , emotionally and eventually physically towards the unsuspecting Dimmesdale, also vowing to cause Dimmesdale to die from his revenge and torment. Dimmesdale on the other hand is already suffering from the his on mental struggles. The guilt of being the sole cause of Hester's loneliness and despair and pearl growing up without a father is taking a serious toll on Dimmesdale. The guilt is causing his health to slowly diminish. Dimmesdale slows starts starving himself and performing self-flagellation.
Themes: guilt, revenge
Symbols:pearl

Franklin A

9/16/2015 03:47:08 pm

Chillingworth’s project is that he wants to find and get vengeance on Pearls father. To me this a very interesting part of the book because Dimmesdale’s inner struggle is trying to the secret that he is really Pearl’s father, and her knows that if Chillingworth’s finds out it will be horrible for him. It affects him mentally because even before all of this he already had mentally issues, now that this is going on, it only adds more pain to him. He begins to feel guilty and hurts him even more mentally. The main theme of these chapters would have to be guilt, and deep regret.

Joshua W

9/16/2015 08:19:39 pm

Chillingworth’s project is to find the whereabouts of Pearl's father and get rengence . Dimmesdale's faces mental inner struggles due to him secretly being pearls father. He is well aware that if Chillingworth discovers his secret the outcome will be dreadful .Dimmesdale guilt is slowly but surely becoming lethal to his mental stability . The theme of this chapter revolves around guilt and repentance.

Jasmine M.

9/17/2015 10:07:09 pm

I agree with you but what you failed to include, not only does Dimmesdale guilt slowly eat away at his mental health but also at his physical health. Dimmesdale is constantly in pain due to the guilt in which he keeps within his heart. He is not only afraid of Chillingworth, he is also afraid of everyone around him.

Deandre T.

9/17/2015 07:47:28 pm

Chillingworth's "project" is to find Pearl's father in order to have his revenge on him and make his life a living hell. To me, this chapter's main theme is guilt taking its toll upon a man who was already torn. Dimmesdale is now, more than ever, lost and saddened. Therefore, the theme may also be karma, and how one gets what he/she deserves.

Cesar v

9/17/2015 11:41:51 pm

Well put as in theme wise. I hadn't noticed that it does deal with karma.

Triston Y.

9/18/2015 09:13:57 pm

Hmm I never would've recognized it as karma that a very good point

Keiana .W

9/17/2015 08:53:42 pm

Chillingworth's project is about finding pearls father and getting back at him. Dimmesdale’s inner struggle is to keep the secret of being the father of the child. The theme is guilt and shame

Bryan L.

9/17/2015 11:05:39 pm

Chillingworth's project is basically to find the father of Pearl and seek vengeance. Dimmesdale's struggle is to keep him being Pearl's dad a secret. Theme: guilt and shame

Cesar v

9/17/2015 11:40:14 pm

Chillingworth wants to find and get revenge on pearls biological father He's stuck on wanting revenge which will become detrimental over time. Dimmesdales dilema is hiding the fact that he is pearls father. Its beginning to affect his mental and physical health. This may become an even bigger problem because Chillingworth is out to get Pearls father and Dimmesdals issues are starting to become visible.

Robert C

9/18/2015 11:15:06 pm

I agree that the revenge takes a toll on Chillingsworth to the point where he becomes insanely driven by the scandal. Dimmesdale is also consumed by the guilt of his acts. Guilt is the underlying theme for both individuals.

Alayjah R,

9/18/2015 11:25:59 am

Chillingworth project was to find who's Pearl's father was and to seek revenge on him. As he is an physician he helps Dimmesdale with his struggles mentally which comes from the gulit for Hester and Pearl and not being their for Pearl this effects him because his health and well being starts to demished because of his internal struggle. Theme is guilt rhetorical devices diction and symbols are pearl

Kelvin A.

9/18/2015 10:04:54 pm

Chillingworth's project is to seek revenge on whoever Pearls father is he becoming more wicked,deceitful, and evil by the second the weight of this is even effecting his appearance as people notices it around him. Dimmesdale inner struggle is literally tearing him apart as he starts to even beat his self at the thought of what he has done. It's self-deteriation in my opinion he can't live with hisself . The theme in this chapter is DEFINITELY guilt.

Robert C.

9/18/2015 11:08:46 pm

Chillingsworth's project is to find the other adulterer. He is obsessed in finding this person because he is a jealous husband who seeks revenge. Dimmesdale, on the other hand, wrestles with keeping the secret of this adulterous act from the community that it consumers him to the point that he becomes ill.

Caitlyn D.

9/18/2015 11:13:47 pm

Hester's mysterious and conniving husband Chillingworth comes up with a project to find out who Pearl's father was. Once he finds out Dimmesdale is the father and that he is ill due to the pressure he's under while keeping the secret, he decides to become a physician in order to institute revenge on the man.
Dimmesdale is suffering greatly while having to witness the pain that Hester is enduring for her sin that he also took part in. The guilt in him is literally beginning to deteriorate his character meaning his mental and physical health. Due to the fact that he has to keep this secret he decides to punish himself by inflicting pain on his body using whips and chains.

Caitlyn D.

9/18/2015 11:15:19 pm

The themes in these chapters are guilt, shame, and revenge.

Ms. Dixon

9/19/2015 12:41:36 pm

Diction refers to the word choices or words used to convey the author's thoughts, tone, meaning, etc. Stating that the author uses diction without specifically addressing the diction that is being used is not acceptable.

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post 6: Chapters 9-12

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