Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Discussion Questions

The Interview
1)  If Hester claims to have never loved "Roger Chillingworth," why did they marry?
2)  If Chillingworth is so ashamed of Hester, why does he insist on living in the same town?  He could easily move far away and begin his life again.
3)  What other reasons could Chillingworth have for keeping his true identity secret other than to avoid the shame of being associated with Hester?  Why does he repeatedly smile sinisterly at Hester?  I think that Roger Chillingworth isn't as pure as he seems.


Hester at Her Needle
1)If Hester is free to move anywhere, to a place where she wouldn't be constantly ridiculed, why doesn't she go?  Does she hope to maintain a relationship with the father of her child?  If you were Hester, would you stay or leave?
2)How is Hester's needlework ironic?


Pearl
1)What does Hawthorne mean when he writes "in this one child there were many children"?
2)How does Hester feel about Pearl?  She seems like both a torment and a treasure for Hester.


The Governor's Hall
1)If Pearl was raised by someone other than Hester, would she still be treated as an outcast?
2)The material from which the governor's house is made glitters, as does the armor within.  What does light represent in this chapter?

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