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In Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel, The Scarlet Letter, Pearl abandons her once wild, untamed nature for a mature and humane lifestyle, because of her father's public confession. Pearl is originally described as a wild, inhumane child with no regards to the laws of both the town and the Puritan society. Pearl often surprised her mother with her elfish behavior: “It was a look so intelligent...but generally accompanied by a wild flow of spirits, that hester could not help questioning, at such moments, whether Pearl was a human child” (Hawthorne 84). At first Pearl can be seen acting out in direct defiance to the law.
As she is attempted to sign the book, the reminder of her life is there. Pearl is there as a reminder that she has a reason to live for and to care about which prevent her from signing the book. “...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” (Evans). Feeling of motherly concern is filled in Prynne’s heart especially when she does not sign the book because of Pearl. The gloomy forest is represented as darkness.
How does it change the reader’s view of the prison? 4. Many times Pearl is portrayed as innocent and full of light. Why does Hawthorne then describe her as witch-like and how does this relate to the theme of the human tendency to transgress?
In the Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Pearl starts of as a secondary character as the novel progresses Pearl becomes significant to many of the key events of the story. Some examples of this are the scene in the scaffold at night, when Hester meets Dimmsdale in the woods, and when she makes the connection about the letter in her mother's bosom and the reason why the minister holds his hand on his chest. Pearl is a very intuitive, smart, wild and clever child; and at her young age is impressive how this child knows who to trust. She is acts as Hester's conscience as the novel progresses in many ways. Pearl is a very intuitive character making her more interesting.
He discusses Hester's daughter, Pearl, and how the fall of Hester would also affect Pearl's livelihood. Hawthorne explains, “often impelled Hester to ask, in bitterness of heart, whether it were for ill or good that the poor little creature had been born at all.” Hesters admittance of the fact that she has contemplated whether or not Pearl deserves to be alive signifies Hawthorne's use of a complex tone. Within the statement, he shows how Hester is recognizing that the life she has brought Pearl up in is not ideal. Out of the sorrow in her heart that she has for Pearl, Hester realizes that her daughter may have been better off never being born, as Hester has lost the abilities that she once had to be a loving mother.
Rossi1 Matthew Rossi Asha Appel English 4 11/15/14 Growing up Through the Actions of Others In The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne Pearl changes when different characters thoughts and believes are portrayed through voice or objects. This leads her to be very malleable to and be ever evolving. The townspeople, Hester, and Dimmesdale now play a key role in shaping Pearl from a product of sin into a god like child.
Pearl’s estranged behavior is believed to be a result of the way she was conceived through sin, which is just another example of how Pearl is the physical representation and constant reminder of Hester’s sin. Towards the end of the book, Pearl is finally allowed to be a real human being once Dimmesdale confesses his sin. In Chapter 23, Hawthorne writes, “The great scene of grief, in which the wild infant bore a part had developed all her sympathies; and as her tears fell upon her father’s cheek, they were the pledge that she would grow up amid human joy…” (Hawthorne 142).
Who had enough of shadow in her own little life, chose to break off all acquaintance with this repining brook." (Hawthorne 126). Pearl's only way of comfort in her lonely world is through nature. At times of loneliness, one typically will look to the comfort of another person, but Pearl's loneliness forces her to turn towards nature, the only thing that is pure in her life. Her mother denies any answers that Pearl seeks about her father, and tells her to go find somewhere else to tease.
Jackie Prokopeas Professor Crombar English 3 GT AP 23 September 2015 The Will Years had passed since Pearl and Hester had fled the New World and returned to Europe. Although no one in Europe knew about their past, it seemed almost as if their sins had followed them on their voyage across the Atlantic because wherever they fled to they had no companions, and were ostracized from the rest of society. Being so secluded, it was very unlikely for a letter to make its way to either Hester and Pearl, however on one very peculiar day, on a day Pearl was about to ensconce on a walk, until she noticed an envelope on her doorstep, handwritten across the top read, “For the eyes of the one who never wronged me, Pearl” Pearl, quite perplexed as
Pearl is the living embodiment of of the scarlet letter. Pearl constantly reminds Hester of her sins, without meaning to. Whenever she asks questions about Dimmesdale or about the scarlet letter, Hester is reminded of the things she did wrong. Pearl is very smart child, and she likes to ask questions and learn about things. If she sees something that confuses her, she will ask her mother about it.
The reader more evidently notices that Hawthorne carefully, and sometimes not subtly at all, places Pearl above the rest. She wears colorful clothes, which can be seen as a symbol of the scarlet letter, is extremely smart, pretty, and nice. He also shows her intelligence and free thought. One of Pearl's favorite activities is playing with flowers and trees. " And she was gentler here [the forest] than in the grassy- margined streets of the settlement, or in her mother's cottage.
Later on, Pearl was being asked by Reverend Wilson and Reverend Dimmesdale where she came from because they were contemplating whether or not they should take Pearl away from Hester. Hawthorne explains, “... The child finally announced that she had not been made at all, but had been plucked by her mother off the bush of wild roses that grew by the prison door” (Hawthorne 102). This quote proves that the wild rose bush is a constant symbol of imperfection. Pearl has been seen as a troubled child and very unnatural, but Hester loved her anyway, and that goes to show how the rose bush is imperfect since Pearl was plucked from it.
It is quite obvious in Nathaniel Hawthorne 's The Scarlet Letter that Pearl, Hester Prynne 's daughter, plays a major role. Not only is she one of the main characters, but she is prevalent theme in the novel, as well. Pearl is not written like a regular character. Most of the other symbols in the story, such as the scarlet letter or the rose bush, lead back to Pearl. Pearl takes on many symbols and serves great purpose.
In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s, The Scarlet Letter, the protagonist, Hester Prynne is a Romantic Hero. Throughout The Scarlet Letter, we see Hester Prynne’s struggle in Colonial America after she is condemned by the Puritan society. She is sent to America by her husband, but he never returns, and Hester later conceives a child with the local minister. She is convicted with the crime of adultery, but refuses to identify the father, she is then forced to wear the Scarlet Letter. The novel captures her experience as she struggles to survive the guilt, sin, and revenge.
In comparing the darkness of Pearl’s eye to a mirror the novel states “not her own miniature portrait, but another face in the small black mirror of Pearl 's eye” (Hawthorne, 134). Though the darkness and mirror are a part of Pearl they represent something much larger in Hester’s life. It is a metaphor towards reflection on herself and how she is aware of her own gloom. Overall, Hawthorne uses metaphor in oder to give readers insight to who the characters truly are and how they truly
