For this blog post, you will write an alternate ending to THE SCARLET LETTER. Make sure what you write is REALISTIC (I don't want to hear about how Dimmesdale and Hester hop in a car, both put on sunglasses, squeal their tires, and speed out of town, for example). Because we had quite a few REALLY short responses to the last blog assignment, I'm requiring that this post be AT LEAST 150 words and very detailed in terms of description. Don't be lazy...
This blog post is due before 6 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 22nd (2009). HORRIFIC participation loss if this doesn't happen.
In my ending of the book, I think that i would have had it go, instead of Mr. Dimmesdale dying, Mr. Chillingham would have died from being a devil like doctor. " As he laid there,in pain and uncomfort, sat next to him was Mr. Dimmesdale, blessing him. Outside after his death stood Pearl, Hester, and the rest of the towns people as well as the govenor, who was remembrincing him and his great duties of saving / curing the others in the town. Scretly, behind the door of the house,Reverend Dimmesdale felt somehting in his chest, something strang, it felt good, but a forgein feeling of such he didnt know. As he looked down under his shit he saw that where the red make once been, was now wearing away, away like a soul unto heaven away as was the feeling of guilt and pain. Away was his red mark and away was his sin.
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ReplyDeleteMy ending:
ReplyDeleteAfter Pearl kissed her father's lips, the spell was broken, and her tears fell on his cheeks. Dimmesdale, who looked inches from death, bid Hester goodbye. She asked him, "Won't we ever see you again, besides in Heaven?" Dimmesdale tells his lover, "This town has such morals and standards that Heaven is the only acceptable place for us to raise this family." Just moments away from what seemed like Dimmesdale's final breath, Chillingworth, perspiring from the sprint from his lab back to the town scaffold, rushed forward with some kind of vile in hand. Dimmesdale, who now knew Chillingworth's real self, was skeptical, even as close to death as he was, to take the vile. Dimmesdale knelt in pain, half-on the scaffold, half-off. Chillingworth begged him, "Please, Minister, forgive me. I now knowingly and plainly see the error of my hateful ways. This revengeful hatred towards you has not only caused deep pains to you, but to me as well." And with those words, Chillingworth pulled away part of his collar and unbuttoned his shirt to show the townspeople an incredible vision. There, on Chillingworth's chest, bore a figure, almost like scar tissue, in the shape of a small red "A". Unlike Hester, whose fastened scarlet letter was forced upon her in the act of a punishment, Chillingworth's scarlet letter appeared on its own. It had slowly started to form the minute his vengeful plan to hurt Dimmesdale was unleashed from his poisoned mind. Chillingworth, in an act of penance, had taken upon himself to create a kind of antidote to help save the minister. After forgiving Chillingworth for his devilish behavior, Arthur Dimmesdale took the small vile and drank it all. Within moments, the preacher had miraculously gathered enough strength to pick himself up off of the ground and continue down the scaffold steps. He gave Hester a peck on the cheek and scooped Pearl off the ground to give her a hug. “I’ll be seeing you”, he said to them, and continued on his way through the crowd.
In an alternate ending of the Scarlet Letter I would see that Hester, Pearl, and Dimmesdale would have escaped to Europe without Chillingworth. Old Roger Chillingworth would have not made it on the ship with them because his health was not good enough for him to make the voyage. Shortly after the three had left to go to Europe Chillingworth would have died in Massachusetts, unhappy and alone. The voyage would have gone well and the family would have lived happily in France for nine years. In June of that year they would go back to the small New England town and decide to live. Hester would be rid of the scarlet letter but Dimmesdale would be shunned from the town because of his sin. The family would live happily on the outskirts of the town and Pearl would complete school in the colony and then after her schooling was over, she would get married and have a family of her own. Hester and Dimmesdale would grow old together and eventually die in the New England town. They would be buried where their cottage once stood. Their bodies would be laid next to each other for eternity. Pearl would then go on to have seven kids of her own and become a wonderful mother who was selfless and always helped around the community with things such as the elderly and the community garden.
ReplyDeleteIf I were to create an alternate ending for The Scarlet Letter, I would make it so Dimmesdale would not die. Just as he was about to reveal his chest, he falls to the ground. There’s a scream. Hester did not yet have the chance to answer Dimmesdale’s question about whether they shall spend an afterlife together. People rush to his assistance and take him away to a doctor. Chillingham comes to help as a “doctor” but instead the tables turn and Chillingham falls to the ground in pain, as a punishment for all evil he had done. Dimmesdale recovers and Hester is standing next to him, you can see Pearl playing in the background. Dimmesdale looks up at Hester and she smiles. She tells him that whatever happens in their afterlife is meant to be, and that they should just see where life takes them, together. Pearl stops what she is doing and walks up to Dimmesdale and gives him a kiss on the cheek. A few days pass and Dimmesdale is fully recovered; Hester, and Pearl come to him and the three of them pass through the town, where they were once but no longer shy and ashamed, together.
ReplyDeleteMy version:
ReplyDeleteDimmesdale confesses his sin to all, but after this announcement he miraculously recovers his good health. After Dimmesdale’s confession, the town fathers, vote as to his punishment and decide that he also must wear a scarlet letter for the remainder of his life. They also decide to banish Chillingworth, who we do not see again until word comes of his death, leaving Hester a small sum of money, and Pearl a rather substantial sum. Meanwhile, Dimmesdale feels such a huge relief that he has confessed, that this punishment seems easy to manage compared to the burden of hiding it all these years. When at first it is difficult to manage the stares and comments directed toward him, he only has to think of Hester and her strength, and it makes him stronger. Hester offers him support and helps him by giving him a person to talk with, that truly understands him. They alone are together in this unique situation and provide each other with a sympathetic ear, or a shoulder to lean on whenever one is in need. Pearl, who is always at her mother’s side, therefore grows to know and love Dimmesdale. For the rest of their lives, Hester and Dimmesdale behave justly and die a healthy death of old age. They are buried together and both continue on together to heaven, having suffered for their sins enough on earth. Pearl moves away and becomes a happily married woman and has her own children.
On the Election Day, after Dimmesdale has finished his sermon, people who have listened to his sermon all thought that this was unprecedentedly great. Some of the village people even thought that something in him has changed. When all the people including Dimmesdale himself were heading toward the city hall for the big feast, he encountered Hester and Pearl looking at him few steps away. He took a deep breath, to others it looked like he hesitated, and went to the mother and the daughter. He slowly started off their conversation. “I will be declaring that I am the other sinner of the old affair. I will be telling everyone in the village that I am the father of little Pearl. Go, now. Head to the ship right away. I will be there soon with you all in a few moments.” Hester and Pearl, as told, went to the ship that is going to Europe and started waiting for Dimmesdale to come after his confession to everyone. However, in the market-place, right before when Dimmesdale got on the scaffold, he was talking with Chillingworth grinning mysteriously. Finally Dimmesdale standing on the scaffold started his saying. ‘Hester, the woman who had sinned a long time ago, had just confessed to me about little Pearl’s father.’ People were surprised that she finally opened her mouse. ‘Mr. Chillingworth and I were struggling to get the truth. While trying to get the information out of her, Mr. Chillingworth found out that the woman was indeed mentally ill. She did not know what she was saying. She wasn’t in a good pace whenever she was asked to answer the question; who is the father. However, we will not reveal this secret of hers since she has confessed to me and said she would leave the town for her life, preventing the dishonest germs from spreading all over the village. Let us now pray for her and her daughter Pearl’s sake, and then we will go for our feast.’
ReplyDeleteAfter Dimmesdale reveals his chest to the townspeople, they are immediately overwhelmed with anger and hatred. Chillingworth assesses what is happening, and yells to the crowd that Dimmesdale and Hester had a child together. He tells the townspeople that Dimmesdale has been living a lie and should be punished (Dimmesdale does not die at this point). The townspeople form a riot yelling and spitting on Dimmesdale. They grab from all different directions and bring him to the jail. Hester catches a glance at Chillingworth who is laughing and smirking. Hester then goes into hysterics seeing her lover Dimmesdale being locked up in a cell. He is now disgraced and shunned just as Hester was and is soon to be put to death. Hester then hears Pearl calling her name and tugging on her skirt; she realizes this horror that just happened to her lover is all a dream. She then looks up, seeing the boat to England aboarding passengers, Dimmesdale on her left, and Pearl on the right, and with a sigh of relief, she smiles.
ReplyDeleteIf i were to create an alternate ending to this book i would make it more 'happily-ever-after'. A sweet alternative to the sour life that Hester Prynne led. Dimmesdale would still proclaim that he is Pearl's father. At that moment, I would have Chillingworth leap up out of the crowd and proclaim that Pearl should belong to him because he is the husband of Hester. He claims that he should get custody of Pearl because Dimmesdale is not fit to father a child in his current medical state. Dimmesdale would rebuttle that he loves Hester and he was there for her when he was not. He loves Hester and Pearl and wants them to be a family. At this moment, Pearl would give Dimmesdale the kiss that she had been refusing to give him. After hiding stealthly for some time, the new govenor asks Hester to remove her scarlet letter. When she starts to argue, he immediately shuts her up and demands that she do so. Instantenously, the sun begins to shine upon Hester and the townspeople stare in awe. The new governor proclaims, 'this woman is not guilty of sin, but of not being loved by her beloved. therefore, love sought her in the form of another man. God presented them with a symbol of love, Pearl. and for this reason, they should be happy together'. At this moment, Dimmesdale and Hester kiss and Pearl beings to gallop around the stage in the sunshine. In the last chapter, I would indicate that Hester, Pearl, and Dimmesdale got on the ship to Europe and never came back.
ReplyDeleteAt he election ceremony, while walking, Minister Dimmesdale sees both Hester and Pearl. He stops walking and all they can do is stare at each other. Minister Dimmesdale does not know whether or no he should tell the townspeople that he is Pearl's father. His mind is telling him that he should not, but his heart and his mind is telling him that it is the best thing to do. He gets the attention of all the townspeople. He tells them he is sorry for all of his lies and deception. While this is being said, Roger Chillingworth hopes he is not about to reveal his secret. Dimmesdale reveals he is the father of Pearl, and the town goes into an uproar. Knowing that Minister Dimmesdale is very ill, Chillingworth pushes his way to the front of the crowd ad says to them that he is the real father of Pear. No one knows what to think of this. All of a sudden, Dimmesdale has a pain in his heart, he is having a heart attack. Chillingworth rips open his shirt trying to see if Dimmesdale is breathing. By doing this, everyone is shown the 'A' on Dimmesdale's chest that he too has worn for seven years. They bury him that day in the cemetery. Since Minister Dimmesdale has passed, Governor Bellingham and John Wison order Chillingworth to be the father of Pearl because he also claimed that he was. They all moved to Hester's home in the forest and stayed there for the rest of their lives.
ReplyDeleteThe minister bids her farewell dismounts the scaffold and vanishes into the market place. The crowd turns in shock and looks to see where Dimmesdale has scurried off too, before they even have a chance to process what has happened in their minds Pearl jumps from the scaffold and follows him. The crowd begins to disperse full of gossip and conversation about the day’s events. Hester remains on the scaffold until all of the people have scattered in shock and dismay, looking into space waiting to see Pearl come running back to her through the market place. Roger Chillingworth who was standing nearby begins to talk to Hester snapping her out of her daze. Chillingworth tells her that Pearl may not be his child, but he had known it all along and he plans on trying to make things work. He quickly realizes that his wife’s baby, the missing piece of the family is missing and he must capture her before she comes to terms with herself and accepts Dimmesdale as her father. Roger darted from the scaffolding, pushed his way through the crowded market place when he suddenly saw a mob of people coming from the meeting hall. He quickly greats them and asks if they have seen any sight of Pearl, they point him in the direction of the forest and he sprints full speed ahead. When Roger reaches the forest he can hear the voice of Dimmesdale and slowly begins to follow it; his voice gets louder and louder and suddenly Roger is within spitting distance of Dimmesdale. He can only see Dimmesdale, Pearl is nowhere in sight. Roger quietly creeps around a moss covered log so that he can attack Dimmesdale from behind; he slowly slides the blade from his pocket and leaps onto him. The blade pierced the skin in just the right spot, Minister Dimmesdale is dead within minutes and Roger Chillingworth leaves the forest to go and redo his life with his family.
ReplyDeleteAfter Reverend Dimmesdale finishes his sermon and everyone clears the area, Chillingworth calls everyone over to the scaffold because he had an announcement about himself and Dimmesdale. After Dimmesdale hears Chillingworth announce this he tries to hurry to the scaffold before Chillingworth can reveal the whole truth. The two men are up on the scaffold together arguing about how they would like to reveal their predicament to the town. Dimmesdale does not want the whole truth to be revealed, just that Chillingworth was Hester’s husband, but Chillingworth believes that the townspeople have a right to know that Dimmesdale has been lying this whole time about the affair between Hester and this unnamed man. Dimmesdale finally agrees to reveal the truth about his affair with Hester and that Chillingworth is Hester’s first husband. Chillingworth is about to tell the story of how Dimmesdale is Pearl’s father, but he became light headed and his chest was in excruciating pain. He soon collapses and Hester and Pearl rush up to help him, but he passed before they could do anything or before he was able to reveal the truth. Then Dimmesdale steps forward and says “The reason the two of us were up here was because we needed to tell you the truth. Chillingworth was Hester’s husband.” Then Dimmesdale hurries away before anything else can be said about his part in the story. After that day, Reverend Dimmesdale was never seen again and the townspeople never learned the full truth about Hester and her affair with him.
ReplyDeleteIn my personal ending of The Scarlet Letter; I would have Chillingworth reveal his secret, like he did in the story. Then he would be taken straight from the Election Sermon scene and thrown into jail, for a year. Awaiting the freedom of Dimmsdale Hester becomes weak and Chilling worth minipulates her into beliving that Dimmsdale is dying and will not make it out of jail alive. Hester goes into a state of stress, depression, and anger. In this state of emotions Hester cannot take it anymore and ends up killing herself; with a pistol, with two weeks left of Dimmsdales imprisonment. Leaving Pearl in the care of Chillingworth. After Hester's death Chillingworth takes Pearl to England to live a new life. After these two long weeks, Dimmsdale hearing this horrible news goes over to England takes Pearl back and kills Chillingworth and then returns to the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
ReplyDeleteAfter Reverend Mr. Dimmesdale finishes his lecture, he continues onward to the festival. He looks to his right only to see Pearl staring intently at him. Hester tries to break Pearl's concentration and tells her not to pay special attention to him for they must pretend that they do not know him. Mr. Dimmesdale stops and looks at Hester and Pearl. He hesitates and decides that the time is now or never. Mr. Dimmesdale puts all of his trust in God's hands and he runs towards the scaffold. He grabs Hester's hand and snatches Pearl up from the ground. The crowd, in complete shock, does not chase after them. They have no idea what is going on and have no time to react because just as they began to run away, Roger Chillingworth tries to break through the crowd. He is the only one who tries to run after them but as he begins to chase them, he collapses to the ground. The people of the town then instead crowd around him and when they look back up, Mr. Dimmesdale, Hester and Pearl are out of sight. Roger Chillingworth died. The town still does not know the full truth about the mystery of the Scarlet Letter.
ReplyDelete(This got away from me. Sorry for eating up the page.)
ReplyDeleteDimmesdale stood upon the scaffold, chest bared with his own mark of shame clear for all to see. The gasps of shock from the crowd had given way to hushed murmurs, the minister’s sharp, labored breathing the only sound that filled the space now. His face, so before consumed with the triumph of escaping Chillingworth and finally exposing his secret, smoothed into a calm he had not felt for years.
All of his guilt and suffering seemed oddly small to him, now. He glanced back at Hester, fully realizing that her strength came not from a determination to suffer for her sins, but to survive in spite of them; recognizing that her child’s life was more important than her own pain.
Suddenly Dimmesdale stumbled, falling back. Hester rushed to his side and attempted to hold him up, but he, with a tenderness he knew he should have shown before, gently removed her hands and laid back. He closed his eyes and breathed slowly, and when he opened them next his entire sight was consumed by her face, caution amid worry, dark curls escaping her cap to hang in gentle ringlets around her cheeks.
“I am sorry,” he said quietly, and smiled when she clasped one of his hands in hers. Her mouth tightened, but she did not speak. It was quickly becoming too difficult for him to do so; his chest was growing heavier. “Pearl,” he managed, and she wriggled in between her mother’s arm and his body to look down at him, confusion more than anything covering her impish features. “Come, I hope that you would kiss me now, though only God knows whether I deserve it or not.” The child smiled, crying (though, he believed, she did not know exactly why), and did so.
“I had always believed we might have been able to leave,” Hester began suddenly, her words a rushed babble. “Perhaps start a life, the three of us.”
Dimmesdale rasped a sigh. “Perhaps if I had not been so selfish.” And it was true—he realized now that, despite the gravity of their sin, if he had accepted his actions and lived out his sentence, there would most likely have been a chance. But Dimmesdale knew that he had never made the attempt, and that there was no possibility now. He had waited until death consumed him, allowing Chillingworth to poison every facet of his life. He was safe from him now, but Hester was not.
With his last strength, he tore the scarlet letter off of her breast and threw it into the crowd. Hester looked for a moment as if she might go after it, but stayed by his side. He felt nearly as omniscient as his God then—he knew she did not understand that they did not love each other, though, given the time, they very well might have. She was as much a victim of her choices as Roger Chillingworth’s malice, but a stronger woman than all the inhabitants of this town combined. He then died, hand falling from her grasp.
“Wretch!” Chillingworth yelled from the ground, finally breaking his own silence. “You would believe in such folly, knowing that you are society’s outcast, knowing you are merely an enigma to these people and would never be accepted, knowing that I am your husband, you my property, and knowing that you will never escape your sin?”
“I have accepted my sin,” Hester called back, “and, yea, I suffer for it. Can you say the same for yourself? You have killed this man, and disguised yourself from the public. I, at least, know my sin and do not hide it. I cannot say the same for Arthur, but he has finally confessed, and I pray that he may find his relief in the heavens.”
Chillingworth scowled, his features contorted with rage, but the crowd had now become a mob, swallowing him up as he tried to get to Hester and her child. But, when he finally made it out of the crowd, he found that she and Pearl were gone.
The three of them were never seen again in that town. Their being soon passed into legend, the only mark of their existence a scarlet letter, its exquisite embroidery that of kings, nailed to a headstone of a dead minister.
This is how I think the book should have ended:
ReplyDeleteMr. Chillingworth should have died because of being a devil like doctor instead of Mr. Dimmesdale dying and suffering near the end of the book. The Scarlet Letter that was on Hester’s body should have gone away without any explanation as to why rather than it still being on his body. Another thing that should have changed was that Hester, Pearl, and Dimmesdale could have escaped to Europe leaving Chillingworth behind because his poor health would have prevented him from making the voyage. Staying in Massachusetts, Chillingworth would have suffered and eventually died unhappy, friendless, and alone. Pearl and Hester would get married and live in the European countryside with their two children, first a boy and then a girl. Dimmesdale, even though she was shunned, would grow old happily living in a community for the elderly and would spend her time in her own garden growing beautiful flowers for all the other elderly people.
On Election Day Hester, Dimmesdale, and Pearl meet again in the forest to go over their plans to escape to England. Suddenly, Dimmesdale, Hester, and little Pearl are blinded by a scorching flash of red light in which a boisterous voice begins to speak out. The voice calls them all by name, and asks them to follow him deeper into the forest. The three of them bewildered, Dimmesdale calls out “who art thou?” The voice answers back with a roar and an unexpected response “Does thou not recognize thy own master? “ Pearl, being the observant child that she is, tugs on her mother’s dress and says “mother, it is the Black man.” Hester picks up Pearl, grabs the ministers arm, and they run from the forest all the way to the town right in front of the Scaffold. People stare wondering why the minister is with this disgraceful women and her devil child. The minister takes Hester and Pearl by their hands and leads them up the Scaffold. He begins to preach to the towns people. “ I am a sinner” he says “and in four days time I will take my sins and my family (holding up Hester and pearls hands) and leave this place, for I will start over, we will start over (looking down at Hester and Pearl), and we will not be subject to the devil ever again!” The minister then rips his shirt from his chest to reveal a scar in the shape of an “A”. The town’s people shocked and unsure of what to make of this stand bemused. Roger Chillingworth, who was unfortunate to make this event, was at this time following a deep voice farther and farther into the forest and was never seen again. Rumor has it he was captured by Indians. The newly complete family then heads toward Hester’s house and does not come out until four days later when they board a ship that will take them and their shame away.
ReplyDeleteIn my alternate ending, I would have had a conflict between Dimmesdale and Chillingworth where Dimmesdale would accuse Chillingworth of poisoning him with the medicine he made, and they would have had a light confrontation about who was the fathe rof Pearl. Hester would have confirmed Dimmesdale as the biological father of Pearl. Chillingworth would have died of a broken heart because of the pain Hester out him through,and the thought that would not disappear out of the back of his mind of Pearl not being his daughter. Hester, Pearl, and Dimmesdale would have attended the funeral and visited the burial site, and resided at Hester's cottage. Pearl and Dimmesdale would have fallen deeper in love and Dimmesdale and Pearl would have gained a deeper father and daughter connection where Pearl would have felt comfortable calling him dad and accepting his kisses on the forehead. Dimmesdale would have accepted the place Hester and Pearl called home as his own. They would have lived happily ever after for about ten years, and one day at the marketplace Pearl would have met a gentleman whom she would grow attached to and gain love for, ad evetually marry where she would have children and not follow in her mother's foot steps of being an adulterer, and everyone would be happy and end up with the one they loved the most and lived happily ever after for the rest of their lives.
ReplyDeleteIn my ending of The Scarlet Letter, I would have Roger Chillingworth point out that Dimmesdale has been blatantly lying to the public for seven years, and that he is a hypocrite and cannot be trusted. Chillingworth, quick to point out the faults of others and not his own, Dimmesdale jumps to his own personal rescue, and a great argument ensues. In the end, a great brawl is the result, with many of the townsmen ending up in the fight.
ReplyDeleteDuring the fight, Dimmesdale, Hester, and Pearl get away, while Chillingworth, unknown to them, is following them to Hester's house by the sea. Once at Hester's home, Chillingworth waits until nightfall, then creeps into the house. Little Pearl sees him, sounding an alarm, and foils his plot to kill Dimmesdale and Hester. Chillinworth ends up in jail once everyone learns of what he has done, and Dimmesdale moves with Hester and Pearl to a colony further south, where people have not heard the scandal of The Scarlet Letter.
After his Election Day speech, Mr. Dimmesdale began making his way through the crowd towards Hester and Pearl. Mr. Dimmesdale reaches his hand out to Hester, she takes it, and Pearl takes her hand. He leads them up to the scaffold and Mr. Chillingham follows them. Chillingham begins to speak before Dimmesdale has a chance to. "It has long been wondered where I have come from.I know Hester Prynne far better then any of you would have suspected. I am Hester Prynne's husband, the one whom she betrayed." Murmurs erupted in the crowd but were silenced once Dimmesdale began speaking. "I have a long kept secret I need to reveal to you all. It is one that has long tortured me to my very core. I must now let it be known to all of you. I am the father of Hester Prynne's daughter's, Pearl. I am her fellow sinner." The crowd stood in silence in shock from their beloved minister's announcement. Mr. Dimmesdale and Hester made their way through the crowd, followed by Pearl. As they made their way through the crowd not a soul watching moved more then their eyes or made a sound. Suddenly Mr. Dimmesdale fell to the ground holding his chest. Again he spoke "The secret has caused me much toil and torment. It has eaten away at me from within. I hope the Good Lord will be able to forgive us for our wrong doing and let us see one another again." With that Mr. Dimmesdale left behind his lover, his daughter, and his sin.
ReplyDeleteMariah C
ReplyDeleteMy ending of the book would go as follows. Rev. Dimmesdale walking along the path looks upon the scaffold and thinks of his dear Hester and Pearl. He knows that there will be a town meeting this afternoon due to the news that is to announced. Dimmesdale thinks hard as he passes the scaffold rather or not he should announce to the town that he is indeed Pearl's father. Rev. Dimmesdale arrives at his home where he will write out what he will say as he gives the introduction at the town meeting. He will start the address off, " My dear townsmen i am sorry that I have lied and walked not in faith with you for the past seven years" The time for the town meeting has arrived, Dimmesdale makes his way to the pedestal where he will begin his speech. The crowd gathers around with Pearl, Hester, and Chillingworth in the front row. Dimmesdale looks down and flashes a great big smile at Hester and blows a kiss to Pearl. Pearl while holding her mothers hand releases it and runs to the pedestal where Dimmesdale is. He reaches down and picks the little girl up into his arms. He mounts Pearl unto his shoulders. In his head he is thinking this was not my plan but i have to continue. Dimmesdale addresses the crowd, " I am sure some of you are wondering what is this matter before your eyes. This here is my seven year old daughter. I am Pearls father and the man that committed adultery along with Hester. She is not the only one in this town that has sinned. Hester being the loving and caring person she his refused to expose me to the town, but i can no longer bear the guilt. The reason I walk around with my hand on my chest is due to the fact that I have sinned." The crowd goes into an uproar and whispers form. Hester slowly walking to the pedestal appears, she bends down to kiss Dimmesdale and Chillingworth appears from the crowd challenging Dimmesdale to a battle for Hester and Pearl, Pearl whispers something into her father ear and kisses his cheek and he falls dead.
In the end of the Scarlet Letter, I think that Dimmesdale should go to the governor and tell him that his doctor, Chillingworth, has been questioning him about his personal life, trying to get revenge, and not truthfully taking care of Dimmesdale. Once the governor meets with Chillingworth, he will realize that he is evil and has been trying to ruin Dimmesdale and Hester's life. After realizing that Chillingworth is evil, the governor has him sent to prison until he decides on any further punishments. The governor supports Hester and Dimmesdale, and no longer sees Pearl as a "devil-child." Pearl, Hester, and Dimmesdale all get to sail away to Europe and live as a family like they had wanted to.
ReplyDeleteKatie Ke
ReplyDeleteUpon realizing that Roger Chillingworth was going to be a passenger on Hester and the minister's ship to England, Hester ingeniously hatched a plan that would allow Arthur, her little Pearl, and herself to escape from the clutches of the evil physician, bent on revenge. Fearful that Mr. Chillingworth might perhaps discover this event, as he did previously, Hester wisely kept her plan to herself, the minister, and the mariner she had recently spoken with, but not little Pearl, whom perhaps may have disclosed it to others.
After temporarily drawing in her mind a blueprint of the scheme, Hester, pulling Mr. Dimmesdale aside, quietly mentioned, "We must allow Mr. Chillingworth to believe that we are still departing for England this time tomorrow. I have met with the captain of the ship, and he knows of my planned adventure."
And so, Hester went on with Dimmesdale about the events that would occur that next day. The two later met with the seaman and again discussed the statistics of the plot. After all was settled, Hester and Pearl and the minister all returned to their dwellings to both pack and rest for the night until the next morn.
The next day came quickly and quietly. People flooded out of their homes once the sun shone brightly to say "farewell" to their beloved minister and physician. Cries of goodbyes and waving hands could be heard and seen by those who were boarding the ship.
The first to go on board were Hester and little Pearl. Pearl, dancing around without a care in the world, had no idea of the scheme that was to take place, but that her mother had told her to not say a word at any time they were near the ship. As Mr. Chillingworth and Dimmesdale were going onboard, Roger carefully made sure to enter after Arthur. By doing so he was keenly aware that the minister was surely onboard, and would make no attempt at escape.
Once on board, Roger began saying to the other three what a pleasure it would be to go back with them to England once more.
"We may find the chance to be near to each other as we were here," he said, with a small grin on his face, "Surely, we may be close companions and perhaps could dwell together."
Upon hearing so, the poor minister put his hand over his heart with a look of grimace on his face. After Roger's statement about their continued companionship in England, he was summoned to the captain's room for some sort of medical reason. The physician frowned at his three friends, stood up, and took leave to the other room.
Once Mr. Chillingworth had left their quarters, Hester, holding Pearl, and Arthur at once sprang up, knowing that it was time for their great escape. They crept along to the main area and made it to where the opening to the ship was.
Pearl, inquisitive as she was, asked "What's happening, Mother? Why are we sneakily moving about the boat and leaving? Why are we not going to England anymore?"
"Hush, child! I told you, not a word until we are away from the perimeter of the vessel! Now keep quiet now, else our plan shall be foiled," answered Hester.
Arriving at the opening of the ship, the three came slowly off the boat. Once they had come off, no other townspeople were still there. The door to the boat was shut, and thus, so was Roger Chillingworth, shut in with it! Once outside of the vessel, Hester and Dimmesdale gave a quick embrace and smiled at one another. The two took Pearl, hand in hand, and they all departed for the next colony, where they were never to be found by Roger Chillingworth again. Dimmesdale's secret was never needed to be revealed to the fellow townspeople, and the three were able to successfully live as a happy family in the next colony over.
Tori C
ReplyDeleteAlternate ending:
After Dimmesdale presents his articulate and magnificent sermon to the people on Election Day, his strength weakens once again. His conscience is heave with a deep burning secret. He knows that nothing will relieve him of this deep pain until he fully confesses his "big sin" to the people. As the people continure to praise him for the wondrous sermon that they heard moments ago and all agree that they want more. The minister knows that it is now time for him to resolve his sin. He then addresses the people once more. As he does this Chillingworth becomes quite curious as to what Dimmesdale is about to do. "My trusted people, I indeed do have more to tell you!" said Dimmesdale hesitently. "You have all come to know and love me as your dignified minister, but there is one thing that I have been hiding from you all for about seven years now." Hester becomes worried about what the minister is about to confess. "For the past seven years, Hester has not been the only one carrying around a Scarlet Letter!" exclaimed the minister. The crowd gasped and shouted out names of people that they believed could have also committed this horrible sin. "Madame Cleary! Mistress Hibbens!" shouted random people in the crowd. "No, no, no!" said the minister, "it is I who carried this burning letter. For I am the man that Hester committed this horrible sin with!" The crowd roared with mean comments and grew angry and attempted to hurt the minister, Hester and Pearl and chased then out of town. All while this is happening. Chillingworth is watching this and chuckling at the minister's foolishness. Once out of town and at Hester's cottage, Pearl was so deeply moved by her father's bravery of telling the truth that she kisses him. This was no ordinary kiss though, it was a kiss that altered Pearl forever and made her into a more gentle, loving being. Knowing that it is not safe to stay ay Hester's for long, they all run away together. Still to this day no one knows or has heard of where they went. But the townspeople did notice that after that day, Chillingworth never was the same. He became weak and ill. A red mark cursed his chest and took of form of an A. The townspeople never did find out about Chillingworth's secret, but he was stricken with the agony as though they did find out.
After Dimmsdale showed his personal scarlet letter and held the hand of his beautiful daughter, the Reverend felt his life to be almost whole. Although feeling very weak physically, he was the strongest he had ever been emotionally. A 100 pound weight was lifted off his chest leaving behind a little A on his internal heart. While this happened, Chillingworth fell to his knees in cries of agony. Hester ran off the scaffold reacting to the outcry. As she approached Chillingworth, she saw that there was the letter L stabbed into Chillingworth’s breast. “Have you done this to yourself?” Hester asked the Physician. “No! It was Mistress Hibbons who has stabbed my breast!” choked Chillingworth. Hester turned, finding Mistress Hibbons runing into the forest laughing. Mistress Hibbons turns around once to show her gleaming teeth. Dimmsdale moves towards his old friend with all the strength he has left, as the “medicine” Chillingworth had given to him earlier that day was continuing to eat away at him inside. When Dimmsdale finally reaches Chillingworth he prays out loud, trying to save his old friend from the depths of Satan’s hell. “Good forgiving God, please forgive Roger Prymme for the sin he has committed. The Grace and Forgiveness that you posses will save this man’s heart from joining Satan instead of you. He will be healed by your undying love that you have for all of human kind. Yes, this man has sinned but so have I and all these people around me. They have outcast the unwanted when you have always said welcome the unwanted. I have committed adultery which is forbidden in your kingdom. This Physician has lied to all of us and has been revenging me since his discovery of my own sin that was committed with his wife. I would never wish for the letter that is still steaming on my own heart to be imprinted on anyone else. The now smaller A I have on my breast will forever be a part of me along with Hester and the L on Roger’s chest! Hester and I have been forgiven by your Grace. Now, please spare this man. The liar that he is can be forgiven by you. Help him!” As Dimmsdale finished, his body quivered and fell to the ground. Pearl ran to his side “Just one kiss my child and I will be complete” Said the Reverend. Pearl kissed him and began to weep. “My friend Reverend you have saved my soul. I will forever be grateful” said the Physician as he and the Reverend drew their last breaths.
ReplyDeleteColleen O
ReplyDeleteDimmesdale, finishing his sermon for the governor's inauguration, turned toward the direction of the scaffold. At this moment, he understood that he could not be fully absolved of his sin without confessing to those who had, for seven years, held him in such high reverence.
He climbed the steps to the high platform, realizing that on his return trip he would be a different man, both to himself, and his community. Finally reaching the peak of the scaffold, he turned to the audience, the group he had longed for so many nights ago. Instead of the asteroid of the that night, the sun blazed in his face, but did little to distort his view of the intimidating crowd. He found himself longing for the dark abyss-like space he had experienced previously.
The one constant, however, came in the form of two girls, Hester and Pearl, also his only two loves. Again they ascended the stairs to take his side on the scaffolding.
Pearl smiled at him in a form that changed, before Dimmesdale's eyes and those of the audience, from an imp-like grin, to the wide, magnificent smile that only children possess. She then reached up, and the holy man grabbed the little girl's fist, his first public display of adoration for the small, broken family. After his declaration, however, the family would again be whole. The linkage between the three, fingers intertwined, proved an undeniable chain connecting Dimmesdale to Hester, child in between. So strong, in fact, Dimmesdale's confession would hardly be necessary.
The man cleared his throat to further draw the attention of the already observant audience. As he did, Hester turned to lock eyes with the man, but just as she did, he fell backwards on the scaffolding. Pearl tried to retain the linkage between herself and Dimmesdale, but as his hand softened she was unable to maintain grasp.
Finding Dimmesdale unconscious, Chillingston and a few of the ministers enlisted the help of the sailors to move Dimmesdale to Hester's small cottage. She hoped that in the secure surrounding he might again come to.
After a long day of sitting by the man, Hester watched as Dimmesdale took his last breath and fell into eternal slumber. It was as though his heart could not fully admit to the tragic secret which had consumed the last seven years of his life. Trying to do so had proved too much.
The next day, however, Hester and Pearl boarded the ship as they had intended when Dimmesdale was still part of the plan. The small cabin, for that time, was left to the care of its forest home. As children passed only a few weeks later, some swore to have seen the letter A blazing through the bottom corner of the door.
If I were to be able to write an alternate ending I would say:
ReplyDeleteAfter Dimmesdale finished his sermon, Mr. Chillingworth leaps forward onto the scaffold pushing Dimmesdale aside and confesses to everyone that he is the husband of Hester and he should be the father of the family and it should be his family that he gets because he has only done things the way the Puritans wanted him to and he has always followed the law. As he calls out " Hester! Hester! Where are you my beautiful bride? We have a ship awaiting us now come we must go!" As Chillingworth spots her grabbing Pearl's arm and begins to run he leaps off the scaffold and pushes everyone aside, young, old, sick, poor to get to Hester. As she looks behind her and notices him catching up she trips and falls and tells Pearl to keep going. She gets on her back and starts crawling as Chillinworth is right above her, he pulls a knife out of his back pocket as he says " you were my wife, I did everything good for you and you repay me by having that child from an affair? I don't think so darling, no one goes behind my back." As he raises the knife and begins a downward thrust from behind him is the weakened Dimmesdale who stabs him in the right backside. Chillingworth falls to the ground on top of Hester, she starts screaming and everyone else is just standing their in shock wondering what has just occured. As Hester pushes Chillingworth off of her, not dead, she hugs Dimmesdale to see that he is alright, although wounded by being thrown off the scaffold by Chillingworth. As the day goes on Hester and Dimmesdale go to find Pearl by the rose bush by the prison and all 3 get on the boat as a family and head off to France. Chillingworth gets medical attention and after about a year he recovers but never remarries. He lives a lonely life in the colony shunned by everyone for doing what he did
Katie Ki
ReplyDeleteAfter delivering his Election Sermon for the governor's inaugral procession, Dimmesdale makes his way to the scaffold and looks at the crowd, just as Hester had done in the very spot, with Pearl in arms, seven years previous. But unlike Hester, the looks from the crowd were one of adornment, instead of scorn for the man that they revered to be their minister. Dimmesdale, recognizing their misplaced trust in his works and his own overwhelming guilt that he bore, continued to consume him as the crowd cheered and fawned over this eloquent speaker, whom they thought could do no wrong. Time shortly passed when the minister realized he could no longer carry this burden of pain any further. He shushed the crowd, and the voices dissipated, in anticipation for what they thought to be another awe-inspiring speech. He spoke calmly, as well as nervously, although the words seemed to pour out of the troubled man. "Seven years previous, all those standing here were quick to judge a woman with an obvious outward sin, as if thyself was born as perfect as the red rose. I bring this up, not to judge, Heavens no!, but rather to ask forgiveness of thee." The townspeople looked at each other and back at the minister, with a confused look on their faces and they tried to decipher his hidden message. "Truth be told, I carry within my brest a sin greater than yours, and I regretfully wish I had the courage to do this before but..." he paused ripping open his shirt, and the crowd gasped. "..but truth betold the origins of Pearl's making were mine." He called Pearl and Hester up to the stage, profusely apologizing for not being there seven years earlier. When asked if she could love him, Pearl just smiled and leaned over to kiss his cheek, just as Roger was climbing upside the pillar. Hester than proclaimed to tell the townspeople his secret, to which he is still locked up for. And as for those three, Dimmesdale died of a high fever later in bed that night, and Pearl and Hester left and went through the forest early in the morning, leaving the town, and the letter A behind.
My own ending of The Scarlet Letter would not consist of Dimmesdale dying before the crowd like in the novel. Instead, I would end the story with Dimmesdale showing the rest of the town the mark on his chest that he has been hiding for so long. He would confess that he is the father of Pearl and how he is guilty of committing adultery like Hester. After showing the crowd this mark, I would create a scene where members of the crowd express their shock and disbelief. Roger Chillingworth would express his disappointment with Dimmesdale by saying how he has committed a sin worse than that of Hester's by being a coward and not admitting his mistake seven years earlier. Dimmesdale, unable to hear this, would run away from the scaffold and into the forest. Most of the town members, including Chillingworth, would be too engrossed in their discussions with one another that they would not notice Dimmesdale disappearing. However, Hester and Pearl would notice and immediately run after him because they disagree with what the rest of the town has to say about him. Hester would tell Dimmesdale how she admired his choosing to reveal his secret and convince him to remain with Pearl and her overnight. The next day, the three of them would set sail for England where they can start a new life in a place away from all the turmoil in Boston.
ReplyDeleteDimmesdale, at the scaffold, proclaims a mighty and wonderous sermon that had all the townspeople buzzing about afterwards. After this angelic sermon, Dimmesdale spots Hester and their elf-like child, Pearl, in the crowd. He rushes to them and Pearl recognizes him as the man from the forest. Delighted, Pearl embraces him and Dimmesdale plants a kiss upon her brow. Hester looks on hesistantly and glances about the crowd nervously. Chillingworth sees this encounter from across the crowd and becomes outraged for he knows Dimmesdale knows his secret. He quickly walks to the scaffold and proclaims, "See this! See your beloved minister?! He is a liar and a fraud! For he also bears the Scarlet Letter upon his chest!" Hearing this, the crowd becomes chaotic. Hester grabs Pearl and ushers the child behind her anxiously. But Dimmesdale goes and joins Chillingworth at the scaffold. "It is true, I am the lover of Hester Pyrnne whose identity has been kept a secret for seven years until now. I bear the the scarlet letter which burns inside of me on my chest." Upon these words, Dimmesdale is almost transformed before the townspeople. He once again becomes the weak and sickly man who looks as if death could come at any second.Dimmesdale opens his shirt to reveal a peculiar red marking, that which resembles the mark of shame Hester bears. Chillingworth stands triumphantly next to the ill looking minister, knowing his personal revenge had finally been fulfilled. Hiding behind her mother, Pearl sees the man who is her father change drastically in a matter of minutes and runs to the scaffold before her mother can stop here. Dimmesdale still is on the scaffold, clutching his heart as if it is causing him pain. Without hesitation, she leans forward and kisses Dimmesdale on the red marking. As if magic had come from Pearl's lips, Dimmesdale springs to life. No longer is he the sick minister, but the lover of Hester and the father of Pearl. His new way of life shines through as he is a new man of energy and liveliness. As time goes on, Chillingworth disappears, knowing his revenge had failed, with neither Hester nor Dimmesdale ever hearing of his name again. Completely cured of any ailments, Dimmesdale, along with his lover Hester and Pearl, leave for Europe. But instead of being active members of society, they choose to live in a small cabin on the outskirts of town.
ReplyDeleteIn my ending of the scarlet letter, Mr. Dimssdale goes up to the scaffold to have his sermon. As he begins to speak, his heart begins to race, his palms are sweaty, and everything he was once so sure of has disappeared like sun when the moon is rising. His voice was shakey and he wanted to forget what he was about to do. He could not though, for he had been hiding this secret for seven years now. It is time to come clean and let the townspeople know that he to is a sinner. THe pain that he holds in his chest must be revealed, his soul needed to be set free. The townspeople needed to know that Hester was not as evil as think she may be, for there act was one of impulse and passion, one that should not be regretted.
ReplyDeleteMr. Dimmsdale called Pearl to his side. He aksed for the kiss that she had refused to give him in the forest. As she kissed him, Dimsdale revealed her as his daughter to the entire congregation. Just as Hester was walking up towards her daughter and former lover, Mr. Willingsworth let out a cry of anguish and despair. When Mr. Dimsdale revealed his daughter as Pearl and Hester as his lover, he took away all meaning of Willinsworth life. For the purpose of Mr. Willingsworth life was to seek revenge and now that the secret had been revealed, Mr. WIllingsworth had no reason to left on this earth. In that moment he died. The townspeople stood in shock and disbelief. Mr. Dimsdale grabbed his daughter and lover and fled the town never to be seen of heard of agian.
Instead of Mr. Dimmesdale going through his ungrateful death, he makes the best sermon of his life and then announces to Chillingworth that he was called back to Europe from the other scholars that he worked with. They said he shall go back to them at once, for they have something very important to tell and give him. With that announcement Mr. Dimmesdale also has a letter from them(written by himself of course) that says Chillingworth needs to get there as soon as possible. When Chillingworth hears this, he thinks he has discovered something profound and wants to make the trip back to Europe as quickly as he can. Chillingworth catches the ship that he was going to take anyway with Mr. Dimmesdale, Hester, and Pearl but this time it is all by himself. As soon as Chillingworth left town, Mr. Dimmesdale found out when the next ship was coming and where it was going. For Hester, him, and Pearl were willing to go anywhere except near the location of Roger Chillingworth. Mr. Dimmesdale got word that a ship was coming in two days, just enough time to leave before Chillingworth comes back knowing about Mr.Dimmesdale's clever plan. Hester, Pearl, and Mr. Dimmesdale quickly pack up some of their belongings, say their quick goodbyes to any of the townspeople who are willing to listen (without telling them where they are going), and head off as a true family into a journey of grand possibilities.
ReplyDeleteMy conclusion to the story would be that Dimmesdale tells Hester and Pearl to get unto the stage, so that he can confess his terrible sin to the world. He tells of how his why his hand has always was covering his heart and of why he has been so weak. He starts with his confession telling of how he committed adultery with Hester and the "demon child" Pearl, was his daughter. Dimmesdale says "Lord forgive thou for thee sins" , and then reveals his red stigma to the townspeople. There was an out cry from all of the townswomen and quite a bit of murmur about the situation at hand. "He should die for committing this. sin," cried Chillingworth from the crowd. Hester spoke up with great dignity saying that " if thou shall be put to death so shall I." Dimmesdale looks at both Hester and Pearl with loving eyes wishing that he could stay with them a while longer. Pearl ran upon Dimmesdale and kissed him lovingly with all her might. Pearl speaks in a pure childish manner," This time will thou stand with Mother and me"? Dimmesdale looked into both Pearl and Hester's eyes and told them that God willing,they would be together on Judgement Day. Then he collapsed on the scaffold and died. Hester and Pearl attend his funeral the next day bringing flowers and Hester makes him a scarlet black A to put into his background. Hester and Pearl move to Europe to begin a new and peaceful life away away from the townspeople and far away from Chillingworth.
ReplyDeleteMy alternate ending of the Scarlet Letter would continue as follows. Beginning the alternative with the scene when Reverend Dimmesdale is finishing his final sermon.
ReplyDeleteThe congregation filed out into the market place after Dimmesdale's sermon. The large crowd began to celebrate Reverend Dimmesdale and his new found health, with each person curious of the miraculous change. However, the inspiring sermon seemed to overshadow their curiosity. The remainder of the Election day consisted of the townspeople rejoicing but, in the case of the eager escapees, the remainder of the day was full of nerves and anticipation. After all were in slumber within the town, Hester and Reverend Dimmesdale planned to meet in the woods in order to finalize their plans for the following day. When this time came the two made their way to the woods. Dimmesdale and Hester greeted one another with an abundance of emotions. Hester then began to tell Dimmesdale about the issue of Chillingworth which seemed to be their only obstacle in the way of their freedom. They had to figure something out. Hester came up with the idea for Dimmesdale to sneak from his home at dusk and from there the three would make their way to the ship.
The time for the great escaape arose as the sun did that morning. Hester woke Pearl and explained to her that they were no longer outcasts and it was time for them to move on. Pearl packed her things questioningly but, eager to see what her mother had meant by this. Hester and Pearl then quietly started to make their way to the ship, sensing a silent glare from the townspeople and the Black Man. Dimmesdale was waiting at the ship for his new family when they arrived. The three mounted the ship into their new and free unknown future. The ship cast off and Reverend Dimmesdale, Pearl, and Hester Prynne were never heard of again.
Two days later back in Boston a member of the Reverend Dimmesdale's congregetion came to see about the state of his health. However, the member found a slightly opened door. She crept in after no response to her knocks. Dimmesdale was no where to be found but, what the woman did find was Chillingworth's body, dead on the floor of his labortory. Terribly frightened, the woman shrieked to herself, "Oh God, the old man must have killed himself working with those native medicines. What a shame."
Dimmesdale goes onto the scaffold and praches his sermon to the whole town. Once again his sermon was about sin, its meaning, and how it affects everyone as a whole. At the end of his sermon he confesses his sins to the townspeople revealing that he is Pearls father. He explains his love for Hester and the fact that they needed to get away from the town. Hester then reveals that Chillingworth is acctually her husband. All the townspeople already believed he was the devil in disguise, and they now shun him even further. He himself would go into the prison for having fooled them all. Hester, Pearl, and Dimmesdale then take the ship that afternoon to England and never return to the town. Pearl now has a father figure, and Hester can finally remove her scarlet letter "A" and put her hair down. She no longer has to be ashamed of her actions, but can live with the man she loves and the daughter they had together. They learned from their years of hardships back in their home town and Hester worked hard to help get Dimmesdale back to health.
ReplyDeleteEven as Chillingworth tried to stop Dimmesdale from confessing his sin he did not succeed. As he showed the crowd the scarlet letter which was on his chest he fell to the ground. Chillingworth was angered that Dimmesdale escaped his power which he had gained when he learned his secret. Dimmesdale, who felt as if he were dying and finally at peace, asked Pearl for a kissed. Pearl kissed her father, and as she did, he let out a cry. Her kiss had broken the spell. The scarlet letter on his chest disappeared. As Hester noticed that the letter had disappeared, she exclaimed, “God has been merciful with us,” and she hugged Dimmesdale. Chillingworth enraged turned to the townspeople and told them it would not be fair that Dimmesdale get away with his crime. He even came close to revealing his true identity. Governor Bellingham, not knowing what to do, sentence Dimmesdale to the same punishment that Hester had received, a punishment that Dimmesdale accepted. Hester and Pearl did not abandon him. Throughout his sentence, they were Dimmesdale only companion. When Dimmesdale had served his sentence, Hester, Pearl and Dimmesdale, as a family left for England. We learned that Chillingworth had lived and a lonely life and died not repenting for his own sins. He left all his possession to pearl in his will. When Pearl was older, the family moved back to the same stone cottage. Pearl married a nice gentleman and had a good family. After many years Dimmesdale and Hester die at an old age. We read that they are buried together near the rosebush of the prison door.
ReplyDeleteAfter delivering his exuberant sermon on Election Day, Arthur Dimmesdale approached the scaffold with an assuredness that only accompanies men who know that God is on their side. Looking unto the mass of people that so eagerly awaited, week after week, the words he spoke on the pulpit, Dimmesdale breathed deeply, knowing that within moments he would be a free man. He called unto Hester and their child, the beautiful Pearl, to join him. They did so, imitating the confidence that flowed from the young reverend. Together they stood on the scaffold, and Dimmesdale summoned his voice to proclaim, finally, to the world that Hester was his love, and Pearl his child. He assured the multitude that he had suffered the guilt of his actions and had repented. To prove this point, he showed the crowd the scarlet letter blazed on his own chest. The crowd, comprised of his constituents who loved him dearly, was moved by his adamant repentance and rejection of his sin, but also by his undying love for his rightful family. They bade Hester cast off her scarlet letter, and as she did so, the pain in Dimmesdale’s chest subsided for the first time in seven years. Together they lived with their daughter Pearl in the town of Boston as a constant reminder to all of the power of repentance and God’s loving grace. Mysteriously, though he was searched for far and wide, the wicked Roger Chillingham was neither seen nor heard from again, and the family was left to their happy togetherness.
ReplyDeleteMy ending to the book would be that when Dimmsdale goes up on the scaffold to have him incited Hester and Pearl up on the stage with him. I think this would be good because Hester is not upset about commiting adultry and after all these years he should not have any reason to feel though he did someting bad. I Also think that Hester should have explained to everyone that Chillingworth is her husband and that Dimmsdale is the real father of her child and that they are lovers. If this all played out the way it would have if i wrote the story Pearl would have been excited to see her father and been happy that they could all be together. After all the truth came out Hester would finally put away her letter A on her chest and that Pearl would except that she isnt wearing the letter anymore.
ReplyDeleteWith a rapidly pulsating heart, Dimmesdale makes his way to the scaffold. His body is becoming weaker and weaker the closer he gets to Hester and Pearl. Chillingsworth who is ahead of Dimmesdale, leaps through the crowd and onto the platform to reveal his identity as Hester's husband. The crowd gasps in suprise. Dimmesdale reaches for his chest to brace himself of what he was about to do next. He clasps Hesters hand, who grabs ahold of Pearl's. " I hope the Lord will forgive me for my confession....I am the father of Hester's child." He bends down to give Pearl a kiss. " I hope that all that had trust in me as your minister will forgive as well. Yes, what I did was a sin, but it was no mistake. I wish to spend everyday forth with my child and her mother." The affection of Pearl and Dimmesdale break the spell. At the end of this moment, Dimmesdale calls Chillingsworth out on his evil was as a doctor. It ends up in a confrontation, but chillingsworth was then brought to be tried for attempt. Dimmesdale, Hester, and Pearl continue on together in life. They continue on with their plan to board a ship to start new in a new era. Hester will forever be known for her needle work and she will forever be know as the person who gave the scarlett letter a whole different perspective.
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ReplyDeleteAs the Reverend Mr. Dimmesdale made his way toward the pulpit, the crowd fell instantly silent. A thousand pairs of questioning eyes were fixed on the young minister’s chest. Upon the Reverend’s priestly garments was sewn a scarlet “A”, not nearly as craftily stitched as the like on Hester’s robes, but made all the more effectual by its harsh simplicity. A thousand pairs of eyes were fixed on the sickly priest as he gradually crept toward, and then passed, the pulpit. Dimmesdale continued his somber march until he reached the scaffold that had once been the site of his partner-in-sin’s social demise. He ascended the scaffold and gazed out into the crowd, swaying from dizziness and not uttering a single syllable. His eyes searched the crowd until they met the sprite-like stare of young Pearl, who was smiling a twisted smile and thrashing about convulsively out of excitement. Pearl’s energy and confidence seemed to transfer through her unyielding stare directly into her father, for without once breaking her gaze, Dimmesdale began to speak. His confession was short: “For seven years a scarlet letter has been sewn upon my heart, invisible to the naked eye but perceptible to the one who bore it. It has been a constant source of guilt and pain, for the letter belongs not hidden beneath garments of secrecy and pride, but to be plainly displayed in humbleness and repentance. I now choose to hide my scarlet letter no longer, whatever the repercussions. I am the father of Pearl Prynne.”
ReplyDeleteThe crowd was still. Roger Chillingworth seized the opportunity for final vengeance, calling out from where he stood hidden in the mass of incredulous church members, “Hang him! Hang him!” The crowd did not hesitate to join in on his chanting. The angry assembly moved in on their former pastor, some picking up stones and readying themselves to wield them in his direction. Arthur Dimmesdale stood erect, overflowing with so much strength and calm that he was hardly recognizable as the weak, deteriorating convalescent he had been for the past seven years.
“He who is without sin, cast the first stone,” challenged Dimmesdale. General Bellingham was the first to draw back his arm, stone in hand, and wind up in preparation to throw. Just as he began to bring his arm forward, however, he doubled over in pain, clutching his heart. Throughout the crowd, it seemed that whatever affliction was troubling the poor General was spreading, and several other townspeople began to writhe about in pain, then dozens. Each of the afflicted ones was holding his or her chest, and when each one tore at their clothing to reveal the source of their torment, a scarlet figure was uncovered on each chest. Some of the symbols were “A’s”, reminiscent of the letter on Hester’s and now Dimmesdale’s vestments. There were, however, many variants of the scarlet figure. On Mistress Higgins’s chest, for example, there was a scarlet “1”, and on all four of the town gossips’ chests were “8’s”. Governor Bellingham unbuttoned the top of his shirt only to reveal two scarlet shapes, a “2” and a “5”. Observing the peculiar situation, an objective bystander may have easily deduced what was going on: each scarlet number indicated the commandment that had been broken by its wearer. With the majority of the crowd now plagued by at least one of these strange symbols, Hester and Dimmesdale sank into the backlight, and their escape to the Old World was made all the easier.
The sun's rays shone brightly through the clouds and blanketed the entire town square along with it's inhabitants. Children were laughing and playing with the primitive toys while adults shared the small colony's gossip amongst each other. Hester Pryne was hastily searching for Dimmesdale along with Chillingworth while grasping so tightly onto Pearl's fragile hand.
ReplyDelete"Will Father Dimmesdale walk hand in hand with us today through the parade?" asked Pearl as she was thrust through the thick, dense crowd.
"I think not" moaned Hester, as she thought of the ship and their new life suddenly seeming out of grasps. "Although, if you can find Father Dimmesdale, I'm sure he will tell you when that day shall come."
Pearl ran off into the crowd, accepting this challenge. Hester climbed onto a nearby stool and scanned the sea of sinners for the holy man in religious garb. Blinded by the sun, Hester heard a horrible, heart retching cackle ring deeply into her ear. She looks down only to see Mistress Hibbins.
"His scar will soon burn in the sun and will be stabbed by glares of his peers like the scarlet letter embroidered on your chest," snarled Mistress Hibbins. "But, alas, it will not be for long for--"
"Attention all!" Proclaimed Dimmesdale from the scaffold to the settling crowd. "Today is a wondrous day in which we honor our governor."
The crowd cheered and hollered but simmered down enough to let Dimmesdale preach the most eloquent sermon any man has uttered. The townspeople were in awe and content with their lack of words. Dimmesdale sees Pearl at the base of the scaffold, and calls her to join him on the stage. She skips to the top and stares him in the eye.
"Today is the day," Dimmesdale whispers into her pale, delicate ear as her grasps her doll-sized hand.
"Mother! Today is the day!" Screamed Pearl from the scaffold into the endless pit of staring eyes.
Hester pushed and pressed her way through the crowd to join her daughter and lover, hand in hand for the whole town to see. When she finally felt the pressure of Dimmesdale's palm against her own, she smiled to both him and their daughter. He looked to the crowd and ripped open his shirt and exclaimed, "I too am a sinner! This scarlet "A" is my penance!"
Just then, the sky became black and the towns people screamed to the heavens. Ciaos wreaked it's havoc among the people for the solid minute that the sun hid behind it's fellow brother, the moon.
The sunlight flooded back oven the town just and heavenly as before to behold Mistress Hibbins standing alone on the scaffold.
The memory of this incident soon faded as well as the golden stitching on the marvelous scarlet letter.
In my alternate version to the end of "The Scarlet Letter," as soon as Dimmesdale reveals the letter A on his chest, Pearl immediately rushes over to him in recognition of the A. Dimmesdale lays there, dying on the scaffold, and Pearl kisses the A. He inhales deeply, and with newly found energy, Dimmesdale rises and attempts to speak to the crowd. As he opens his mouth, Roger Chillingworth leaps onto the scaffold, brandishes a dagger and screams, "You shall not win!" He raises the dagger; Hester screams and pushes Pearl to safety. Anger and hate swells in her heart, and she flings herself between the two men. Her luxurious hair falls from her cap and spreads around her. Her eyes burn with intense passion and the sun bursts forth from the clouds. The scarlet letter is illuminated by a golden light. "You heartless fiend!" she cries. "You will not destroy my chance at happiness!" Hester claws at his wrists in an attempt to pry the weapon from his hands. By fate or by chance, the dagger slips from Chillingworth's grasp. He cries out in agony, as if he has been burned. The scarlet letter blazes on Hester's bosom and he cannot bear to look at her. "Please!" he begs. "Please." Hester wields the dagger, determined to deliver the final blow. "Stop this!" Dimmesdale darts over to Hester. "Look at him! He can do us no harm now." Hester glares at Chillingworth, who has crumpled to the ground. Dimmesdale gently unfolds Hester’s fingers and removes the dagger from her shaking hands. He sets it aside and addresses the crowd, "My beloved townspeople, I must confess to you, for you rightly deserve to know what is amiss. This man,” he points to Chillingworth, “this devil, this vengeful husband of my beloved, has been poisoning my heart and slowly eating away at my soul. I must say, my sinful actions have caused this in some part, but God is merciful and forgives. My sins are no more!” Here now, he takes Hester in his arms and Pearl by the hand. “This woman and I, we are in love. Yes! It is true; I am the father of this elf-child, this embodiment of our true feelings. I will no longer live with the guilt that has shadowed me and nearly obliterated my existence. Seven years ago, my place was at the scaffold, but I respected my love’s wishes and remained a mystery. I see now it was a mistake. I belong at her side and from now on, I shall never leave it.” He gazes at Hester with a look of utmost devotion and care. Hester smiles at him and the three happy members of a new family link hands, as they did on that night, alone on the scaffold. Roger Chillingworth stirs. He fiercely glowers at the three and, seizing the dagger, lets out a painful cry of misery. With one final glance at Hester he closes his eyes and plunges the dagger into his black heart. Dimmesdale stares at the deceased, and quietly whispers, “We must go. Our tormentor is gone, never to harm us again.” Hester looks at the body and then at her scarlet letter. She removes it, and places it over fatal wound. The blood seeps through and soon the letter cannot be seen. The three depart from the scaffold and the crowd is shocked. They make their way past the faces of their spectators, and head for the forest. Many have bravely ventured into the forest in search of the three, but to no avail; they have disappeared, leaving no trace of scarlet in their wake.
ReplyDeleteIn my alternate ending to “The Scarlet Letter” as Dimmesdale removes his clothes to show his A, Pearl rushes over to him. She recognizes the thing that has made her mother her mother for her entire life. She embraces him and treats him as if she has known and loved him forever. As the public begins to be outraged at what he has just revealed, Chillingworth starts screaming about how he has been betrayed, thus revealing he was Hester’s husband. When the attention turns to Chillingworth because of what he has just revealed, Pearl grabs her mothers hand and Dimmesdale’s hand and tells them it is time to leave. The three of them run off to the ship awaiting them to go to England. Chillingworth is so distracted by what the townspeople are saying to him that he does not notice the three run off together. When Chillingworth realizes that the three are gone he is outraged and begins to scream at the townspeople about how those three have ruined his life. Chillingworth dies of agony days later. Dimmesdale, Hester, and Pearl live happily ever after in England together as a family.
ReplyDeleteMy alternate ending to "The Scarlet Letter" would go somewhat along the lines of this:
ReplyDeletetowards the end of Dimmesdale's sermon, he starts ranting and losing coherency altogether. As soon as the final words fall from his lips, he starts seizing, and falls to the ground. alarmed, the townspeople gather around his body, watching him as he his shirt bloodies as he grabs it, and tears it open. There, cut upon his chest, lay a carnal symbol of his sin. He flings his arm wide, and as he dies, he flings his arms to his sides. "Stigmata!" one townsman gasps, wide eyes reflecting the bloody hands. Reverend John Wilson, realizing the meaning behind the bloody letter, turns to look at the dual perpetrator to the crime. sticking one bony finger out in accusation, he grunts out "You. You are the one who killed my Brother and Child. you are the one who seduced him, causing him this suffering." The Townspeople, recognizing that the reason they had kept her alive, to learn the secret of her accomplice, know that she has no point to exist any longer. As they rush foreword to grab the murderer of their beloved reverend, the physician leaps between the villagers and his wife, and shouts out, "Wait!" He explains, "i am the husband of this woman, and I should be the one who doles out the punishment you decide. The townspeople reluctantly agree, but are anxious to have their vengeance for the death of their savior.
yeah, i would continue with this, hester getting burned at the stake, and chillingsworth falling upon it too, but it's late, and i have to finish my own english homework.