The Scarlet Letter : Chapters 7 & 8

1. The Scarlet Letter: Chapters 7 & 8 Plot • Hester visits Governor Bellingham’s mansion with Pearl to deliver a pair of embroidered gloves, but mainly to find out if Pearl is going to be taken from her custody. • While waiting for Bellingham in the mansion, Pearl begins to scream for a rose as the governor enters the room with Wilson, Chillingworth, and Dimmesdale. • Bellingham asks Hester what she could possibly teach Pearl, to which she responds that she can teach Pearl what the letter has taught herself. • Wilson tests Pearl on her religious knowledge, but Pearl refuses to answer the questions and the group is ready to take her away right there. • Hysteric, Hester asks Dimmesdale to speak for her, and he defends her, saying that God gave Pearl to her, so she must care for Pearl, and Bellingham lets her have custody. Setting Bellingham’s English-style mansion shows how the Puritan society was hypocritical. They escaped England’s lack of freedom for their own freedom of religion in America, but they still kept some of the English culture. Symbols Pearl once again symbolizes the scarlet letter with the scarlet attire she wears to the mansion. She also shows how she is somewhat of a punishment to Hester when she refuses to answer the religious questions which could decide if she will stay in Hester’s custody or not. She also shows how she is a blessing to Hester as well, for at the end of Chapter 8, the “witch” Mistress Hibbins tries to get Hester to come with her to a gathering for the Black Man. Hester replies that if she had lost Pearl, that she would have gladly gone.