DJ 9

The Governor's Hall

"On the supposition that Pearl, as already hinted, was of demon origin, these good people not unreasonably argued that a Christian interest in the mother's soul required them to remove such a stumbling-block from her path. If the child, on the other hand, were really capable of moral and religious growth, and possessed the elements of ultimate salvation, then, surely, it would enjoy all the fairer prospect of these advantages by being transferred to wiser and better guardianship than Hester Prynne's."

This is in the second paragraph on page 89. What it means is that if the Pearl is a demon child, than maybe it would be best to take the child away from Hester for her sake. And if Pearl were not of demon origin, she should be taken for her own sake, for Hester is deemed an unfit parent. This is another example, relating back to DJ 8, where an oxymoronic act is in place. This is becoming a motif; the idea of balance between good and evil is there, but society is on the side that, in our heart, is probably the wrong decision. The majority is the society, so they win...so far...