What does Hester want Chillingworth to do?

• A. Leave Dimmesdale to bear his burden.
• B. Expose Dimmesdale's sins to the town.
• C. Leave Dimmesdale to bear his burden.
• D. Stop torturing Dimmesdale.

Answer: (D)

The key idea here is mercy toward Dimmesdale. Hester sees Chillingworth’s relentless probing as a form of torment that deepens Dimmesdale’s guilt and keeps him from finding any real peace or redemption. She hopes to relieve him, not expose him. By asking Chillingworth to stop, she’s seeking an end to the psychological pressure that keeps Dimmesdale trapped in his burden. This choice reflects her growing sympathy for Dimmesdale and her willingness to pursue a path that could allow them to escape together and regain some honest humanity. The other options would either continue or magnify the harm—exposing his sins to the town would publicize and enshrine the punishment, while leaving him to bear the burden or simply abandoning him to that fate would not aim to ease his suffering.