Name 2 reasons Hester visits Governor Bellingham

• A. To deliver an ordered pair of gloves and to plead not to take Pearl from her
• B. To request a loan and to seek Pearl's education
• C. To complain about the magistrates and to demand a public hearing
• D. To deliver fabric for a new gown and to propose a festival

Answer: (A)

Two things motivate Hester’s trip to Governor Bellingham: she wants to present a tangible sign of her continued usefulness and self-respect, and she is determined to keep Pearl with her.

First, she brings a pair of gloves she has sewn for the Governor. This handmade gift isn’t just a prop; it shows that Hester remains capable, disciplined, and connected to the community through her skilled work. By offering something she has crafted, she asserts that she can contribute to society and deserves to stand before the authorities as a responsible woman, not merely as a repentant sinner.

Second, and more emotionally charged, she pleads that Pearl not be taken away from her. Hester argues that Pearl is her child and that removing Pearl would sever the only real bond she has with her daughter and deprive Pearl of a mother’s care. The visit becomes a public stage for defending her motherhood and arguing that Pearl’s place is with her, even as the magistrates weigh Pearl’s fate and the reality of Hester’s scarlet letter.

The other options don’t fit the scene: there isn’t a request for a loan or for Pearl’s education, nor is there a demand for a public hearing or a festival.