"Pearl, that wild and flighty little elf stole softly towards him, and taking his hand in the grasp of both her own, laid her cheek against it; a caress so tender, and withal so unobtrusive, that her mother, who was looking on, asked herself―"Is that my Pearl?"
Passage taken from The Scarlet Letter, Chapter 8
Pearl and her mother are at the home of Governor Bellingham and are accompanied by Mr. Chillingworth and Rev. Dimmesdale. The governor is attempting to persuade Hester that Pearl would be better off being raised by someone with a more wholesome lifestyle, in order for her to have the ability to fit into Puritan society. They feel that Hester is a poor example and is restricting her from the normal life of a child. Dimmesdale sides with Hester and explains that God brought Pearl to Hester to be both her sunshine and rain. He understands that Pearl is all Hester has and the thing held closest to her heart. Dimmesdale believes that Hester has the capabilities to be a decent mother to a child that is her joy yet can bring her great sorrow. Pearl is in some ways another one of Hester's consequences because no matter what, Pearl is a consistent reminder of her downfall. After Dimmesdale expressed his opinion, it was agreed that Pearl would remain in the custody of her mother. Pearl then has an interaction with Dimmesdale that expresses the love and maybe even passion that resides in her heart. Hester has never witnessed such gentleness come from her child. Pearl seems to have some kind of instinctive knowledge that Dimmesdale is in some way connected to her. This passage signifies the first meeting between Pearl and her father and the love contrary to her angry nature that Pearl evokes.
1. What significance does Hester's conversation with Mistress Hibbins at the end of chapter 8 have?
2. How is the relationship between Dimmesdale and Chillingworth best described?
3. What is the reason the townspeople believe Chillingworth is helping Dimmesdale versus the real reason?
The relationship between Roger and Dimmesdale can be described as secretive. They both have secrets that they are keeping from each other even though they are becoming close friends. Now, to answer your third question, the townspeople believe that Chillingworth is helping Dimmesdale versus the real reason because he is a pysician. They consider him to be of high status, but remember, some are skeptical of their relationship. Some find Roger as an evil being.
ReplyDeleteOn the surface, the relationship between Dimmesdale and Chillingworth can be seen as friendly, yet even then, as some of the society members started to see, their relationship goes much deeper than that to be sort of mysterious and cunning. While they both discuss many things and act friendly towards each other, both Dimmesdale and Chillingworth seem to have their own particular motives, their own individual secrets that neither are willing to reveal especially to each other.
ReplyDeleteI also asked the same thing to myself with your first question and upon looking back at it, I believe that the importance of that little scene not only showed more of the punishment Hester received in not being able to go out and continue living a regular life (its not that she can't but knows she shouldn't as she knows it would just lead her to more trouble) but also showed how Hester is changing and wanting to purify her soul. Lucky for her she didn't have to make up an excuse since her excuse already was the need to take care of her daughter, but nevertheless, the fact that she denied attending the event, again, showed Hester's desire for some feeling of dignity and worth again since the incidence.
Roger Chillingworth and Rev. Dimmesdale's relationship can be seen as a mysterious friendship. It is unclear why Roger had to size up the Revrend in the begining, but it is clear that some odd bond formed at some point during the time Roger was to be carrying for Rev. DImmesdale. Im not sure about the significance of the conversation with Ms. hibbs and Hestser, however it did strike me as odd. Just as hester is leaving Ms. Hibbs decides to ask her questins concerning a BLack book as if to say that her sin warrants some type of witch-craft to be thrusted into her nature, afterall in the society they are one in the same.
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