Chapters 7-8

Hester visits the Governor's mansion and apparently that is good enough for them. Hester hears rumors that if her child is human it needs to be brought up in a Christian home. That sounds counter-productive. If someone were to raise her as their own, she would still have the sin follow her. I can't imagine the Puritans forgiving and forgetting.

I do like the twist that the Governor's sister is into witchcraft. Hopefully that will come out a little more to make it interesting.

I would like to know what you think about Hester willingly keeping this lifestyle of of misery which in turn transfers it to her daughter. If Hester was such a devoted Puritan she wouldn't have committed adultery. Therefore, since by the action of adultery she should have left Boston and tried to make a new life for Pearl. I don't know a lot about the Puritan religion, but some religions forgive and move on (except for the Mormon's they shun people too). Maybe someone can enlighten me about these religious beliefs.

I think that it is sad that Hester considers her daughter a living reminder of her sin. Pearl is “the scarlet letter endowed with life.” I think that as a mother she should give her daughter a chance as her own person and a chance at a 'normal' life, instead of physically and verbally branding her.

That's what I didn't understand too about Hester. She put Pearl through the sin too. Pearl was so aware of the letter on her mothers dress and it made Pearl an "odd" child. Pearl had no good social skills because of this. I don't think it was right either.

I thought it became obvious that the minister was the father of her child by the force of hesters intreaty to have him speak for her when the governer was considering removing her child from the home. What was she feeling when she saw that her husband had attached himself to the minister? What about pearls preternatural ability to feel the connection between the minister and her mother?
The author alludes to the Puritan life that many had sinned and were still sinning but had been fortunate enough not to have physical evidence of such. I believe this to be the case with all human kind and the respective religions.

the governors sisters name almost sounds like a real historical character of that time. How interesting that she was allowed to be as she was, at least while her brother was in office!

I could almost agree with the governor's sister. She was playing with witchcraft, but I get the governor was no angel either.