Discussion Questions ( Ch. 4-7)

The Interview: 
1) On pg. 67, Hester says, "I was frank with thee. I felt no love, nor feigned any." Does Hester believe that it was okay for her to have an affair with someone else on the pretense that her husband knew she didn't love him?

2) "Without further expostulation or delay, Hester Prynne drained the cup.." (pg. 66) How could Hester really believe that her husband would poison her? Does she really believe he would essentially murder her? If so, why?

Hester at her Needle:
1) In the middle of the first passage on pg. 71, the narrator talks about Hester Prynne being the "figure, the body, the reality of sin." and embodying the "image of women's frailty and sinful passion." Why does Hawthorne place this passage in the novel? What is he saying about a woman's image during this time period?

2) "But there is a fatality, a feeling so irresistible and inevitable... compels human beings to linger around...the spot where some great... has given color to their lifetime; and still the more irresistibly, the darker tinge that saddens it." (pg.71) It almost feels like the narrator is saying that Hester Prynne purposely had an affair, to add drama or something of interest into her life. Is this what Hawthorne intended? If so, what are other pieces of evidence?

3) According to the fairytale of sleeping beauty, princess Aurora was bewitched by Maleficient to die on her 16th birthday. When she touched the poisonous needle, she fell into a everlasting sleep, only to be awoken by true love's first kiss. Due to the title of this chapter, are there any parallels between this fairytale and the story of the Scarlet Letter? If so, how do these two stories connect?

Pearl

1) What is the symbolism of Pearl touching the scarlet letter on pg. 87?

2) "But she said it with a hesitation that did not escape the acuteness of the child." pg. 88. What is the cause for Hester's hesitation before she replied to pearl?

The Governor's Hall

1) On pg. 96, Hester tells Pearl to not cry infront of the Governor and his gentlemen. Why does Hester not want to show the males in the novel any signs of weakness?

2) What does Hester mean when she says, "Thou must gather thine own sunshine. I have none to give thee!" pg. 93, to her daughter Pearl? What does sunshine symbolize in this case?















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