Chapter 15
The Devil's Bargain Revealed
HESTER AND THE PHYSICIAN. Hester bade little Pearl run down to the margin of the water, and play with the shells and tangled sea-weed, until she should have talked awhile with yonder gatherer of herbs. So the child flew away like a bird, and, making bare her small white feet, went pattering along the moist margin of the sea. Here and there she came to a full stop, and peeped curiously into a pool, left by the retiring tide as a mirror for Pearl to see her face in. Forth peeped at her, out of the pool, with dark, glistening…
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Critical Thinking Exercise
Track Your Revenge Temperature
Think of someone who wronged you - at work, in your family, or in your community. Write down what they did, then honestly assess your current feelings and actions toward them. Are you seeking resolution or are you enjoying their struggles? Rate your 'revenge temperature' from 1-10 and identify what specific outcome would actually resolve the situation.
Consider:
- •Justice has a clear endpoint - what would 'resolved' actually look like?
- •Revenge feeds on the other person's pain - do you find yourself hoping they suffer?
- •Notice if you've started treating innocent people badly because of this one person's actions
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you held a grudge longer than necessary. What did focusing on that person's wrongdoing do to your own character and relationships? What would have happened if you'd chosen justice over revenge?
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