Quote from chapter 5 of The Scarlet Letter

In the book The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, the statement is made, “Women derive a pleasure, incomprehensible to the other sex, from the delicate toil of the needle.” (78) The chapter in which this statement can be found describes Hester Prynne’s love for the art of needlework. It is explained that Hester makes a living by doing needle work on many cloths and robes etc. for many people in the town by which she lived. It is also implied that she is very good at needle work and made some beautiful clothing. The quote stated above describes how women find a sense of peace and pleasure from working with needles.
I think this quote is basically saying that although working with needles can be a very tedious and maybe even frustrating job, women find pleasure in it. The quote also mentions that this concept cannot be understood by men. Therefore, the tedious job of needlework is not a pleasurable job in general, but is only pleasurable for women. I think the reason that women appreciate and enjoy needlework is because women appreciate clothing and their appearance more than men do in most cases. It is enjoyable for women because by hand crafting materials together and making designs on clothing they are playing a part in creating the beauty of clothing and adornment.
This quote is significant to this book because it describes a way in which Hester can get some kind of relief from all the guilt and shame that terrorizes her. Although while she was on the pedestal she appeared to be almost unaffected by the scarlet letter of shame on her garment, it burned to the depths of her heart and her shame and guilt grew stronger every day. The needlework which occupied much of her lonely life gave her a sense of joy. It seems like Hester almost feels guilty for being able to do the needlework because she doesn’t think that she deserves to enjoy anything anymore. I think that the needle work that she does will play a big role in helping her cope and get through life.