The Scarlet Letter - Chapter 11 Summary & Analysis

This Study Guide consists of approximately 69 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of The Scarlet Letter.

The Scarlet Letter - Chapter 11 Summary & Analysis

This Study Guide consists of approximately 69 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of The Scarlet Letter.
This section contains 294 words
(approx. 1 page at 400 words per page)
Buy The Scarlet Letter Study Guide

Chapter 11 Summary

Chillingworth has discovered something about Dimmesdale that has motivated him even more to exact revenge, although he is not sure of the causes of his discovery. Although the reader is still left in the dark about many things, it is clear that the physician's revenge involves some kind of power over his unfortunate subject, perhaps through a form of sorcery or remote hypnotic means. Apparently, Chillingworth has the power to startle the poor minister with a "throb of agony" or "at the waving of a magician's want" to induce a thousand horrid phantoms to point their fingers at Arthur Dimmesdale's breast.

As Dimmesdale's guilt-based suffering is now amplified by the physician/sorcerer's revenge, the minister rises upwards in his prestige and acceptance by the Boston community. This veneration by the naïve populace tortures Dimmesdale even more. In fact, he is so filled...

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This section contains 294 words
(approx. 1 page at 400 words per page)
Buy The Scarlet Letter Study Guide
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The Scarlet Letter from Gale. ©2005-2006 Thomson Gale, a part of the Thomson Corporation. All rights reserved.