Scarlet Letter #9

Quote
"But Pearl, not a whit startled at her mother's threats any more than mortified by her entreaties, suddenly burst into a fit of passion" (189).

Response
I am not completely sure that Pearl is the spawn of Satan. She seems to be acting like a little child that has her mother wrapped around her finger. She throws fits when she does not get her way; she is suddenly a pleasant little girl when her mother appeases her. The strangest aspect of this is that Pearl throws a fit because her mother takes off the scarlet letter, what does the scarlet letter have to do with Pearl. Pearl is a child whose innocence seems to have been taken by her, she is a mature child but this maturity may not be the best thing for her. A young child needs to experience the care free childhood that they deserve, Pearl does not seem to have a childhood.

Quote
"The excitement of Mr. Dimmesdale's feelings. as he returned from his interview with Hester, lent him unaccustomed physical energy, and hurried him townward at a rapid rate" (194).

Response
Mr. Dimmesdale's redeption may be complete, finally. What I cannot understand is why Mr. Dimmesdale, the man who was supposed to be so strong, could not break away from Chillingworth without Hester. Yes he felt guilty, but it's been seven years; he needed to get over what happened and move on. At first Dimmesdale could not bring himself to betray the citizens of the town, now he is running off to Europe with the town sinner. Dimmesdale's motives are sometimes unclear.