What unwelcome news does the master of the ship have for Hester?

• A. That Chillingworth is also going on the ship
• B. That Pearl is ill
• C. That Dimmesdale won't sail
• D. That the ship will not sail

Answer: (C)

The key idea here is the tension between escaping with someone you love and facing the consequences of your actions. When the master of the ship brings news, it reveals Dimmesdale’s choice to stay behind. He will not sail with Hester and Pearl to Europe. This is unwelcome for Hester because she has been hoping for a fresh start away from the town’s judgment, a chance to leave the scarlet letter and the scrutiny behind. Dimmesdale’s decision to remain signals that he intends to confront his guilt rather than flee, foreshadowing the dramatic public confession that will follow and altering the trajectory of their plans together. The other options don’t fit the scene: there isn’t news about Chillingworth joining, Pearl’s health, or the ship’s departure being canceled for unrelated reasons. The scene centers on Dimmesdale’s choice to stay, not on those other possibilities.