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Chapter 24
While Dimmesdale was on the scaffold, a
scarlet letter was said to have been seen on his
chest. Three theories of why it was there were
mentioned, and a fourth denied its presence.
Within a year after Dimmesdale’s death,
Chillingworth also died. Hawthorne
explained how the relationship between love
and hatred is similar -- how they each
require the presence of the other person and
without them the other would become
forlorn and desolate. This relationship
accounted for his death.
Pearl was bequeathed much of the physi-
cian’s property. She left New England with
her mother, but Hester returned and counseled
women. It was believed Pearl was married,
cared for her mother deeply, and lived well.
When Hester perished, a piece of slate by
her grave bore a message which read:
"On a field, sable, the letter A, gules"
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An interpretation of the last
line of the Scarlet Letter
is illustrated above.
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