"The scarlet letter was represented in exaggerated and gigantic proportions, so as to be greatly the most prominent feature of her appearance. In truth, she seemed absolutely hidden behind it" (97).
- This quote shows how the scarlet letter has consumed Hester’s life. It is the only thing people see when they look at her. They do not see her or her actions. They only see the scarlet letter and are reminded of Hester’s sin. It will be important to see how this continues on throughout the story. It will also be important to see how Hester feels as is she has no good left inside her, and how Pearl is a living and constant reminder of Hester’s sin. The affect the situation is having on Hester seems to be growing as the book develops, and sadly it seems as if it will only get worse.
To what extent is this situation going to affect Hester? Will it get better or worse?
"‘God gave me the child!’ cried she. ‘He gave her in requital of all things else, which he had taken from me. She is my happiness! - she is my torture, none the less! Pearl keeps me here in life! Pearl punishes me too! See ye not, she is the scarlet letter, only capable of being loved, and so endowed with a million-fold the power of retribution for my sin? Ye shall not take her I will die first!’"(103).
- In this quote we see Hester defending Pearl. The townspeople want to take her from Pearl because they think that Hester is not fit to raise her, and even if she was there is the chance that Pearl is of demon descent because of the way she was conceived. Hester obviously does not want to give up her daughter. She loves her. She is the only thing that makes her happy in a world that frowns upon her, but it is much more than that. She is a constant reminder of her sin. She is the consequence of her actions, and there is nothing that can take that away.
How will this continue to play on in the story? Will Pearl have a greater affect on Hester?
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