Question

“Speak thou for me!’ cried she. ‘Thou wast my pastor, and hadst charge of my soul, and knowest me better than these men can. I will not lose the child! Speak to me! Thou knowest, – for thou hast sympathies which these men lack! – thou knowest what is in my heart, and what are a mother’s rights, and how much the stronger they are when that mother has but her child and the scarlet letter! Look thou to it! I will not lose the child! Look to it!” Which among the following lines/phrase that Hester speaks to convey a subtle message to Dimmesdale? “Speak thou for me!’ cried she.” “Thou knowest, – for thou hast sympathies which these men lack!” “Thou knowest what is in my heart” “How much the stronger they are, when that mother has but her child and the scarlet letter!”

Answer 1

The line/phrase that Hester speaks to convey a subtle message to Dimmesdale is: "Thou knowest, – for thou hast sympathies which these men lack!"

In this line, Hester is appealing to Dimmesdale's understanding and sympathy, suggesting that he knows her true feelings and predicament better than the other men present. She implies that he can empathize with her situation and therefore should support her in her plea to keep her child.