If Pearl had been taken away from Hester in "The Scarlet Letter," it would have compounded Hester's isolation and loneliness. Pearl is not only Hester's daughter but also her source of love and connection to the world. Losing Pearl would have intensified Hester's feelings of guilt and shame, making her punishment even more severe.
Hester and Pearl had been visiting Governor Bellingham's house, where they were discussing Pearl being taken away from Hester. On their way home, they stop at the scaffold where Hester was punished.
Pearl was a demon child she would have to be taken for Hester's sake and the other reason was that if Pearl was a human child then she should be taken for her own good to have a better mother than Hester.
Chillingworth believes that Pearl should be taken away from Hester because he sees her as a constant reminder of Hester's sin and wants to further punish Hester through separating her from her daughter. Chillingworth is more concerned with his own revenge and control over Hester than he is with what is best for Pearl.
Chillingworth took the side of advocating for Pearl to be taken away from Hester, believing it would be a way to extract revenge on both Hester and Dimmesdale for their affair and betrayal. He saw this as a way to inflict maximum suffering on Hester.
Pearl asks Hester to tell her a story about the Black Man, who is rumored to have taken Hester's hand and led her to make a deal with the devil. Pearl wants to hear more about this mysterious figure and the consequences of dealing with him.
Chillingworth secretly supports Hester and Pearl financially out of guilt for his mistreatment of them. He sees helping them as a way to atone for his past actions and maybe gain redemption. Despite his outward animosity towards Hester, he still cares for her and wants to ensure she and Pearl are taken care of.
Hester goes to return some gloves, and to find out if there is any truth to the rumors that Pearl, now three, may be taken from her.
Pearl is upset because Hester has taken off the scarlet letter, which Pearl has always seen on her since her birth. She cannot accept change.
She wanted to deliver a pair of gloves and ask whether or not Pearl will be taken from her.
Hester came to deliver gloves for the Governor, but at the same time, to discuss with him the matter of keeping Pearl. People had been gossipping that Hester was an unfit mother, so she wanted to make sure that her child wouldn't be taken from her.
Hester visits the governor's mansion to deliver a pair of gloves she embroidered for him and to discuss the possibility of keeping custody of her daughter, Pearl. She hopes the gloves will soften the governor's stance on her custody case.
Hester has heard that certain influential citizens feel Pearl should be taken from her. Alarmed, Hester sets out with Pearl for Governor Bellingham's mansion to deliver gloves that he ordered. More important, however, Hester plans to plead for the right to keep her daughter.