Set in Governor Bellingham’s house this chapter highlights Pearl’s importance in Hester’s life. This scene includes John Wilson, governor Bellingham, the cold Chillingworth and the reverend Dimmesdale. The ministers believe Hester is not a good influence on Pearl and hence want to separate them. Hawthorne brings out a firm side to Hester, as he shows she can go to any length tor Pearl which also depicts that Pearl is the sole reason for her living. I feel it’s unfair how the ministers want to rip off Hester of the only source of happiness she has. On the other hand, Dimmesdale comes to Hester’s rescue and pleads to the ministers that they shall not deprive Hester of her little Pearl. For some odd reason I can sense a connection between Hester and Dimmesdale, through his spoken words. Moreover for the first time, we see Pearl being touched by someone other than Hester. Dimmesdale’s affectionate kiss to pearl assures me that there is definitely something the reverend is hiding. Hawthorne’s language makes it easy to imagine the whole scene. For instance, “Little Pearl's unwonted mood of sentiment lasted no longer; she laughed, and went capering down the hall, so airily, that old Mr. Wilson raised a question whether even her tiptoes touched the floor.” I love how Pearl feels happiness even in the smallest of things that life has to offer. The ending of this chapter is interesting as Mistress Hibbins try to take advantage of Hester’s emotional state and invites her in the forest with a meeting with the devil. But its good to see that Hester has learned from her mistake and kindly refuses the Mistress
“God gave me the child!” cried she. “He gave her in requital of all things else, which ye had taken from me. She is my happiness!—she is my torture, none the less! Pearl keeps me here in life! Pearl punishes me too! See ye not, she is the scarlet letter, only capable of being loved, and so endowed with a million-fold the power of retribution for my sin? Ye shall not take her! I will die first!
I find Hester’s dialogue important because for the first time I see Hester refusing to something. I mean all this while whatever happened she went with the flow but her refusal to give up Pearl implies that she dearly loves Pearl. Also I like how she fuses her pain with pleasure when she says ‘she is my happiness! She is my torture’. It just shows that although Pearl has come with a great cost she is all what Hester lives for.
“God gave me the child!” cried she. “He gave her in requital of all things else, which ye had taken from me. She is my happiness!—she is my torture, none the less! Pearl keeps me here in life! Pearl punishes me too! See ye not, she is the scarlet letter, only capable of being loved, and so endowed with a million-fold the power of retribution for my sin? Ye shall not take her! I will die first!
I find Hester’s dialogue important because for the first time I see Hester refusing to something. I mean all this while whatever happened she went with the flow but her refusal to give up Pearl implies that she dearly loves Pearl. Also I like how she fuses her pain with pleasure when she says ‘she is my happiness! She is my torture’. It just shows that although Pearl has come with a great cost she is all what Hester lives for.
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