Answer: B. arrogance
In this excerpt, Hawthorne paints Reverend Mr. Wilson as a cold, serious man from a different generation. He is trying to impart judgment on Hester's transgression. However, the author argues that due to his characteristics (male, old, extremely religious and conservative), he has no way of understanding Hester's problem, which stems from passion and guilt. The fact that he wants to participate in a discussion concerning topics he cannot relate to shows that he is arrogant.