Chapters VI-X

Chapters VI-X
Pearl
The Governor’s Hall
The Elf-Child and the Minister
The Leech
The Leech and His Patient

Hester names her baby Pearl in reference to the parable of the Pearl of Great Price. Pearl is a beautiful child full of a wild energy. Hester sometimes forgets that Pearl is a human child, because she seems more elf or nymph like. On their walks through town, Pearl only talks with her mother, effectively isolating her from the rest of the Puritan community in the same way that Hester is isolated. Pearl looks at the scarlet letter in a queer way that makes her mother feel guilty.

Hester goes to the governor’s hall for his help in allowing Hester to keep Pearl. On the way there, Pearl has a slight scuffle with Puritan children. Pearl admires many of the decoration around the Governor’s hall, including shiny armor. She sees her mother’s scarlet letter reflected grotesquely in the armor, and conversely, Hester sees Pearl deformed in the armor. Upon exploring the governor’s garden, Pearl expresses her desire for a red rose.

Hester sees Governor Bellingham, Arthur Dimmesdale and Reverend John Wilson. The governor talks briefly with Pearl and has the reverend test her theological knowledge, which proves to be very limited. This disturbs the pair, and they advocate removing Pearl from Hester’s care for Pearl’s own well being. Upon Hester’s request, Dimmesdale supports Hester’s cause by saying that God gave Hester the girl for a reason. Pearl runs over to the minister and holds his hand and accepts a kiss.

After his encounter with Hester earlier in the book, Chillingworth has abandoned his old life and taken up residence in town as a doctor, the whole time dedicating himself to his revenge. Dimmesdale and Chilingworth become closely associated because of the formers ailing health. Throughout their talks, Chillingworth begins to believe that Dimmesdale may have been the adulterer. His revenge has made Chillingworth grow physically dark and twisted.

Chillingworth continues his excavations into Dimmesdale’s heart, but does not find any conclusive evidence. He attempts to pull out the secret, whatever it may be, through the use of a story about a man who had a guilty heart and weeds grew out of it after his death. Dimmesdale brings up the point that sometimes confessing can do more harm because by losing his public credibility, he loses his ability to do any kind of public good. The pair encounters Pearl and Hester walking in a graveyard. Pearl throws a burr at the minister and it sticks to him. She then tells her mother to get away from Chillingworth, calling him the Black Man. Finally, at night, Chillingworth sneaks into the minister’s room and discovers a letter A on Dimmesdale’s chest.