Quote from the Scarlet Letter? What does it mean?

Question

Can someone explain what this quote means to me please?

"In our nature, however, there is a provision, alike marvellous and merciful, that the sufferer should never know the intensity of what he endures by its present torture, but chiefly by the pang that rankles after it."

Answer 1

Its basically saying that there is something in people that is great and merciful that allows the sufferer to understand his suffering through the slight pain that comes later rather than through the immediate intense torture.

I hope this helps. :)

Answer 2

I have not read this novel, but there are a number of online study guides, and quite a few other resources on the web that can help you with this question.  Most of them have quite a bit of good information.  Have a look at these, and you should get some help with your work.  If you do a search you will find many other links.  Best of luck with it.