“’Make my excuse to him, so please you!’ answered Hester,
with a triumphant smile. ‘I must tarry at home, and keep watch over my little
Pearl. Had they taken her from me, I would willingly have gone with thee into
the forest, and signed my name in the Black Man’s book too, and that with mine
own blood!’” (80). This quote is from the part when Hester is leaving Governor
Bellingham’s house. As she leaves, the governor’s sister, Mistress Hibbins
takes her head out of her window and invites her to witches’ gatherings at the
forest. Hester rejects the invitation explaining that she needs to take care of
Pearl. She also mentions how if they were to take Pearl away from her, she
would willingly go to the forest. The quote is of stressing significance
because it implies Pearl’s importance to her mother and the story. She seems to
save her mother from Satan’s temptations, which is stated with a metaphor of
“Black Man” in the quote. Even though Hester is facing shame and embarrassment
to the extreme where dying can seem to save her from suffering, she still loves
her child and wants to live for her. Moreover, Pearl saves her life even though
she makes her go through all that trouble, which is also quite ironic. This is
important to the story because the author makes the reader understand the
primary reason for why Hester is keeping herself strong. Pearl is not only the
product of her adultery, but also the reason for why she still lives.
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