Chapters 6 & 7

1. "Her mother, while Pearl was yet an infant, grew acquainted with a certain peculiar look that warned her when it would be labor thrown away to insist, persuade, or plead. It was a look so intelligent, yet inexplicable, so perverse, sometimes so malicious, but generally accompanied by a wild flow of spirits, that Hester could not help questioning, at such moments, whether Pearl was a human child. She seemed rather an airy sprite, which, after playing its fantastic sports for a little while upon the cottage floor, would flit away with a mocking smile. Whenever that look appeared in her wild, bright, deeply black eyes, it invested her with a strange remoteness and intangibility; it was as if she were hovering in the air and might vanish, like a glimmering light that comes we know not whence and goes we know not whither. Beholding it, Hester was constrained to rush towards the child to pursue the little elf in the flight which she invariably began, to snatch her to her bosom, with a close pressure and earnest kisses--not so much from overflowing love, as to assure herself that Pearl was flesh and blood, and not utterly delusive. But Pearl's laugh, when she was caught, though full of merriment and music, made her mother more doubtful than before" (89).

2. Because Hester gave birth to Pearl as a result of her sin, she begins to question whether Pearl is human or not. Simply by considering Pearl's malicious laughter and strange smile, Hester begins to find Pearl different and even devilish. However, Pearl being Hester's first and only child implies that Hester lacks experience with children. Hence, she cannot find Pearl's behavior strange because she doesn't really know how children are suppose to behave.This passage is significant because it demonstrates how Hester's religious views and the townspeople's offenses are effective to Hester's belief of her daughter's humanity. Furthermore, she is being driven by the belief that her sin has cursed her with a demon-child even though she treasures her daughter more than anything. Hawthorne really emphasizes his stance on sin by making Hester challenge her daughter's humanity. He uses Hester to demonstrate how the idea of sin can create worries in one's conscience and interrupt the sense of reality.

1. How does Hawthorne address Hester's position on her own sin?

2. How does Hester's views on the scarlet letter differ from her views of little Pearl--both being symbols of her sin?

3. Why would Hawthorne spend an entire chapter describing Governor Bellingham's mansion, instead of using a paragraph or so?

Chapters 4 & 5

1.) ""Ask me not!" replied Hester Prynne, looking firmly into his face. "That thou shalt never know!""(72).
2.) In chapter 3, when Chillingworth first arrived at the scene where Hester was being pilloried, her response to his presence seemed intimidating given to the occasion. However, when he tries to figure out the unknown sinner, Hester strongly and fearless of him refuses to answer his request. The change in Hester's attitude demonstrates her firm position in revealing the name of he who fathered her daughter. Either because of protection or simply careless reasons of her partner in crime, Hester is determine to withhold the truth of his existence.
3.) Questions:

1. 
   Why would Chillingworth want to keep his identity anonymous? Can it be for purposes such as: avoiding the shame of being known to the town as he who has an unfaithful wife or maybe to keep the townspeople thinking that Hester is a shameless sinner for committing adultery while her husband died at sea?  
2. In the passage, " There dwelt, there trod the feet of one with whom she deemed herself connected in a union, that, unrecognized on earth, would bring them together before the bar of final judgment, and make that their marriage altar, for a joint futurity of endless retribution. Over and over again, the temper of souls had thrust this idea upon Hester's contemplation, and laughed at the passionate and desperate with which she seized, and then strove to cast it from her. She barely looked the idea in the face, and hastened to bar it in its dungeon. What she compelled herself to believe--what, finally, she reasoned upon as her motive for continuing a resident of New England--was half a truth, and half a self-delusion"(77). who is the narrator referring to? 
3. When describing Pearl's apparel the narrator then adds "We may speak further of it hereafter"(80) why would would the author include this line? It sounds very much like a chemistry book.