"Who is that man, Hester?" gasped Mr. Dimmesdale, overcome with terror. "I shiver at him! Dost thou know the man? I hate him, Hester!" She remembered the oath and was silent. (107)
This quote was said by Reverend Dimmesdale to Hester Prynne. He said this while him, Hester, and Pearl were standing on the scaffold all together. This scene was very important because the father, mother and child were all standing by each other as a "family". However, what makes this scene more significant in the novel is when Dimmesdale says the quote above referring to Roger Chillingworth. When he sees Chillingworth from far away he frantically asks Hester if she knows who the man is. From this scene, it can be understood that Dimmesdale is living with fear that eventually his actual identity as Pearl's father is going to be uncovered. Also, when he realizes that the man coming towards them is Chillingworth, he expresses his fear and hatred towards him.
The last sentence of this quote is also very important in the novel. When Dimmesdale asks Hester who the man is twice Hester keeps her mouth shut. She remembers the day her husband came back to town and told her to keep his true identity a secret. This shows what kind of character Hester Prynne has. Even though she cheated on her husband, she still keeps the one secret that she was told to keep to herself.
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