The focus of chapter 11 is fixed on Dimmesdale's sorrow as he suffers beneath the burden of guilt he seems too weak to confess. Hawthorne makes a statement of the methods and degree of how Dimmesdale is to carry out his own self-punishment. His sufferings and sins has made him more understanding towards the sins of others which indirectly affects the impact of his sermons to the congregation. Hawthorne creates a sense of sympathy in the reader for Dimmesdale and his suffering so that it does not blind them to the fact that the minister is a sinner whose troubles are greatly of his own flesh despite having taught against that. In addition the reader can see how Chillingworth is becoming more evil in this chapter. The revenge that he desires is coming at a higher price than he can understand right now. He is losing himself and becoming the personification of evil.      

The Rose Bush

When asked who was her creator, Pearl responded that she had "not been made at all, but had been plucked by her mother off the bush of wild roses, that grew by the prison-door.." ( page 93)
 Do you think this is simply an incident of Pearl's imagination getting out of hand, or that there is a significant underlying meaning in her response?

Hester = Ester?

I just wanted to add the idea I had of Hester's name being almost the same as Ester from the Old Testament in the Bible. I'm not sure if anyone had thought of it this way, but I had the idea when Hester went to the Governor to appeal to him for her to keep Pearl. This reminded me of the story of Ester when Ester decided to go meet the king in order to prevent a war with the Jews. Perhaps this reflects Hester in which Hester wants to prevent a horrible event from happening, in this case, losing Pearl.

Pearl

What are your thoughts on pearl? What really is her purpose? Does she have evil being born from sin?

Sincerity

In chapter 8, Hester encounters with the Governor and the three other guests who follow him. Hester then speaks about how they want to take little Pearl away from her though; their reply is that Hester can't teach Pearl because of her sin. “I can teach my little Pearl what I have learned from this!" "....this badge hath taught me, -it teaches me daily,- it is teaching me at this moment,- lessons whereof my child may be the wiser and better..." (pg. 92) The red token that Hester carries has taken her through new experiences that are either good or bad but they become lessons to her life. I really like the sincerity that Hester has which makes her different than everyone else. Many who carry a red token wouldn't be able to confront an authority that has the power to do anything yet; Hester is fearless when saying these words in order to protect Pearl.

Vengeance

When we are introduced to Hester's husband, we there  begin to realize his motives regarding what Hester did while he was talking to the townsman  In the chapter "The Interview" we now know that he is looking for revenge. Not with Hester but with her unknown lover. So the question becomes what will happen if he does find the classified lover?

The Scaffold

After reading chapter two, I had a sense of admiration for Hester. She was able to take full responsibility for her actions and when she was punished, was able to keep her emotions under control despite the fact that everyone looked down upon her.

If you were in Hester's shoes, and had to stand on the scaffold for hours for all the town to see, how would you have reacted? Would you have been able to keep your composure as long as she had?