The Scarlet Letter Chapter Summaries 5-8

Chapters 5-6
Chapter five begins by skipping ahead a few months, to the point where Hester is released from prison. She then takes up residence in an old cabin on the edge of town. To make money, Hester uses her extraordinary skill at sewing to make clothes for the wealthier people in town. despite her talent, people still disregard Hester, and make her feel lonely.

Chapter six gives the reader the first details about Hester's child, now called Pearl. Hester calls her this because, like a pearl, Hester had to give up a great deal in order to hae her, and the child is now Hester's prized possession. Pearl seems very interested in the scarlet letter, and ofter makes remarks about it. She knows she is different from the other children and she often harasses them. Late in the chapter, Hester begins to believe that Pearl is a demon-child, much like how all the other people believe.

Chapters 7-8
In chapter seven, Hester and Pearl go to the governor's hall to both deliver a pair of gloves, and to ask the governor about whether or not Pearl is going to be taken away from her. On the way there, a group of children harass Pearl and Hester, but Pearl scares the children off. When they get to the mansion, Pearl is fascinated by all the armor and other decorations in the mansion. Pearl begins to scream, but then stops when a group of men comes in.

The governor, Wilson, Dimmesdale, and Chillingworth come into the room and begin to mock Pearl by calling her a demon and a bird. They then notice Hester is there, and they begin to ask her why she deserves the child. By trying to prove that she has educated Pearl, she actually proves the opposite. She then begins to beg Dimmesdale, who in turn convinces the other men to let Hester keep Pearl. Pearl then, in a rare showing of emotion, goes over and hugs Dimmesdale.