In this chapter, Hester becomes aware of an Indian amongst the crowd and an English man standing next to him dressed in a combination of English and Indian garments. Of course, Hawthorne goes into great detail with this gentleman. You can tell from Hester Prynne's reaction is that this character is important to the story:
"Again, at the first instant of perceiving that thin visage, and the slight deformity of the figure, she pressed her infant to her bosom, with so convulsive a force that the poor babe uttered another cry of pain. But the mother did not seem to hear it." -Hawthorne.
It turns out that this man is the husband she cheated on. The husband who lived in England and sent Hester to American to live while he finished up some business work. I find it very ironic that he arrived on the day of her penalty.
When Reverend Wilson tries his best to persuade her to tell the truth about Pearl's father, he only fails and his fury gets rejected. That's when he calls to Reverend Dimmesdale to persuasion. Suspicions start to grow when you read about Dimmesdale's nervousness. The novel clearly stated that he was nervous yet i didn't pick up on it till his reaction was revealed:
“She will not speak!” murmured Mr. Dimmesdale, who, leaning over the balcony, with his hand upon his heart, had awaited the result of his appeal." -Hawthorne
Dimmesdale was leaning over the edge of the balcony, with his hand over his heart. This raises questions to the readers.
"Again, at the first instant of perceiving that thin visage, and the slight deformity of the figure, she pressed her infant to her bosom, with so convulsive a force that the poor babe uttered another cry of pain. But the mother did not seem to hear it." -Hawthorne.
It turns out that this man is the husband she cheated on. The husband who lived in England and sent Hester to American to live while he finished up some business work. I find it very ironic that he arrived on the day of her penalty.
When Reverend Wilson tries his best to persuade her to tell the truth about Pearl's father, he only fails and his fury gets rejected. That's when he calls to Reverend Dimmesdale to persuasion. Suspicions start to grow when you read about Dimmesdale's nervousness. The novel clearly stated that he was nervous yet i didn't pick up on it till his reaction was revealed:
“She will not speak!” murmured Mr. Dimmesdale, who, leaning over the balcony, with his hand upon his heart, had awaited the result of his appeal." -Hawthorne
Dimmesdale was leaning over the edge of the balcony, with his hand over his heart. This raises questions to the readers.
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