“Be the forgone evil what it might be, how could they doubt that their earthly lives and future destinies were conjoined, when they beheld at once the material union, and the spiritual idea in whom they met, and were to dwell immortally together?”
This quote brings up the point that Hester and Dimmesdale could never doubt that they were meant to spend the rest of their lives together whether it be in hell or on earth. The material union is Pearl, she is the thing that they created together, while the spiritual idea is the passion that they both strongly posses. Hawthorne’s point is to forget about the sin of passion, and understand that some things cannot be changed.
“In the brook beneath stood another child – another and the same,-- with likewise its ray of golden light . Hester felt herself in some indistinct, and tantalizing manner, estranged from Pearl; as if the child, in her lonely ramble through the forest, had strayed out of the sphere in which she and her mother dwelt together”
In the previous chapter Hester removes the Scarlet letter from her chest, and this really separates her and pearl. As noted before, Pearl is the embodiment of the scarlet letter, so when Hester takes it off she and pearl don’t have this close invisible bond that holds them together against everyone else. This also shows the ambiguity of Pearl's character.
“Pearl stretched out her hand, with the small forefinger extended, and pointing evidently towards her mother’s breast.”
This is Pearl’s first realization that the letter was removed, it makes her very upset. She also feels a separation from her mother that she had never had before.
“Will he go with us, hand in hand, we three together, into town?”
This quote brings up the idea of living a true life, Pearl is obsessed with this idea thorughtout the book. She and her mother have been forced to live a true life whether they like it or not, this makes Pearl resentful of those who hide their sins, and lie.
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