Question

Read the question carefully and select the best answer.

What causes the conflict between Hester and Governor Bellingham in Chapter 8?
A. Governor Bellingham takes issue with Hester's decadent style of sewing.
B. Hester refuses to give up her daughter.
C. Governor Bellingham criticizes Hester for raising such a wild and reckless child.
D. Dimmesdale supports Bellingham's decision to remove Pearl from the care of her mother.

Answer 1

Answer: B. Hester refuses to give up her daughter.

Explanation: In the context of Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Scarlet Letter," Hester Prynne is being pressured to give up her daughter, Pearl, because there are concerns about Hester's ability to raise the child properly due to her perceived sin of adultery. Hester, however, refuses to reveal the name of Pearl's father and adamantly refuses to surrender her daughter. This refusal to give up her child contributes to the conflict between Hester and Governor Bellingham.