Алая буква
Another View of Hester
Yet,hadlittlePearlnevercometoherfromthespiritualworld,itmighthavebeenfarotherwise.Thenshemighthavecomedowntousinhistory,handinhandwithAnnHutchinson,asthefoundressofareligioussect.Shemight,inoneofherphases,havebeenaprophetess.Shemight,andnotimprobablywould,havesuffereddeathfromthesterntribunalsoftheperiod,forattemptingtounderminethefoundationsofthePuritanestablishment.But,intheeducationofherchild,themother’senthusiasmthoughthadsomethingtowreakitselfupon.Providence,inthepersonofthislittlegirl,hadassignedtoHester’scharge,thegermandblossomofwomanhood,tobecherishedanddevelopedamidahostofdifficulties.Everythingwasagainsther.Theworldwashostile.Thechild’sownnaturehadsomethingwronginitwhichcontinuallybetokenedthatshehadbeenbornamiss—theeffluenceofhermother’slawlesspassion—andoftenimpelledHestertoask,inbitternessofheart,whetheritwereforillorgoodthatthepoorlittlecreaturehadbeenbornatall.
Indeed,thesamedarkquestionoftenroseintohermindwithreferencetothewholeraceofwomanhood.Wasexistenceworthacceptingeventothehappiestamongthem?Asconcernedherownindividualexistence,shehadlongagodecidedinthenegative,anddismissedthepointassettled.Atendencytospeculation,thoughitmaykeepwomenquiet,asitdoesman,yetmakeshersad.Shediscerns,itmaybe,suchahopelesstaskbeforeher.
