- In this chapter she seems to care for Pearl and her not getting killed, a huge difference from when she was using her shame of the baby to hide her shame of the letter. Why does she care now?
- What is Hawthorne's view on youth/old age? He describes youth/decay as an "unnatural relationship" (67). Does this mean that the older, the worse? If perhaps, then why have the youth of Pearl whose practically the devil?
Chapter 5: Hester at Her Needle
- What was Hawthorne's opinion on this hypocritical society?
- If "outward guise of purity was but a lie" (78) is anybody really pure? Is he insinuating that Hestor is pure because she doesn't lie about her impurity... except by admitting she's not pure it makes her, well, not pure. Does this mean no one is pure in Hawthorne's eyes?
Chapter 6: Pearl
- Pearl, when Hestor doubted her humanity (what kind of a mother does that?), "would turn her vivid and beautiful little face upon her mother, smile with sprite-like intelligence, and resume her play" (86). She also seems "incapable and unintelligent of human sorrow" (83) yet "sobs[s] out her love for her mother... intent on proving that she had a heart by breaking it" (83). Does she really care and is she really capable of these emotions or are these all just feigned emotions that a psycho/sociopath would fake in order to manipulate Hestor?
- Granted this is only by association and jumping to conclusions on exactly what sun means, but if you assume sunshine is a good thing why is Pearl often associated with words that evokes the feeling of the sun?
Chapter 7: The Governor's Hall
- What is the actual symbolism of the sun?
- Looking on page 95 with the mirror and page 87 when Hestor is looking into her daughters eye, what can be said about reflection?
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