Scarlet Letter 2 Page 72-96

Quote 1: "As her motive for continuing a resident of New England- was a half a truth- half a delusion. Here, she said to herself, had been the scene of her guilt, and here should be the scene of her earthly punishment; and so, perchance, the daily torture of her shame would at length purge her soul" (Hawthorne).

Explanation: Here the author makes it clear that Hester is trying to tell herself that the reason she is staying in New England because this is where she sinned, so this is where she will redeem herself. The underlying reason she stays because she fears what might happen during her final judgement with God if she does not stay near her husband . From this it can be interpreted that she is a God fearing person. She fears for her own life, not for others, so she has some morals that reflect more inward then outward.

Question: How will this affect how she may act in later dilemmas that affect her?

Quote 2: "'Art thou my child, in very truth?' asked Hester. Nor did she put the question altogether idly, but for the moment" -Hester

Explanation: Here we see that she grapples with inner conflict about her affair and she shows her turmoil by questioning whether Pearl really is her child. This questioning shows that she believes that her child in essence is a symbol of this evil act, so she has some resentment for the child but still cares for it out of maternal instinct.

Question: How does her viewing of her child as an emblem of her sin effect how she will treat her child and how she loves her child?