One of the most multifaceted, elaborate, and symbolic characters in The Scarlet Letter is Pearl, the daughter of Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale. Although she is fairly young during the majority of this novel, she possesses the unique ability to provoke the adult characters in the book. She asks them pointed questions and draws their attention to the repudiated or disregarded truths of the adult world. This typically would be unusual behavior for a child her age, but she continually acts abnormal throughout the majority of The Scarlet Letter. Her symbolism catches the attention of the reader and characters as well.
While reading The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, it is obvious that he uses a lot of symbolism throughout his writing to give the readers a deeper understanding of the Puritans and their views in these times. In this book, the community forces Hester Prynne to wear a scarlet letter on her chest to show her abashment for committing adultery and having a child, Pearl. However, Pearl is actually used as a symbol throughout this book to represent the physical embodiment of Hester’s sin, the repercussions of her breaking the law, and an unworldly being in the usual strict Puritan society. In the beginning of the book, Hawthorne uses Pearl as a way to constantly remind Hester of her sin and as a link between the secret relationship of Hester
“Pearl took some eelgrass, and … imitated, on her own bosom, the decoration… on her mother’s : A letter “A”, but freshly green, instead of scarlet!”, a quote pulled from Chapter 15, is another attempt by Hawthorne to convey the contrasting ideal of Pearl’s innocence and purity to Hester’s sin. The green of this imitated scarlet letter worn by Pearl is associated with nature and purity, while the scarlet of Hester’s original letter is typically associated with passion and
Not the wealth that is all money and riches, but wealthy in a way where she has all that she needs in life as long as she has Pearl. Pearl is a symbol of her Mother's red letter, she represents Hester's sin and shame, but also all of the wealth she needs. Hester dresses her in scarlet as a constant reminder of what she did, but also all the good that has come from having Pearl in her life. With the fate of Pearl unknown, the reader does not know for certain whether the work is sorrowful or
The Symbolic Pearl Symbolism is a technique used by all writers, and The Scarlet Letter is no exception. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne is full of symbolism. Actually Hawthorne is one of the most prolific symbolist in American literature. Characters, events, relationships, feelings, and even weather are part of or are symbolism. Pearl is a complicated symbol of an act of love and passion.
Hester’s belief is that by noticing the embroidered A, Pearl is mocking her act of sin. The adultery she committed engulfs her becoming more important than the person itself. Hester fears that she is no longer known as herself and is only defined by the Scarlet Letter. The internal torture she experiences intensifies as Pearl finds ways to enlarge the weight of the sin she wears on herself. She “punishes” (SL 103) her mother by never letting her forget about what she
It would have been impossible to guess that this bright and sunny apparition owed its existence to the shape of gloomy gray; or that a fancy, at once so gorgeous and so delicate as must have been requisite to contrive the child’s apparel, was the same that had achieved a task perhaps more difficult, in imparting so distinct a peculiarity to Hester’s simple robe. The dress, so proper was it to little Pearl, seemed an effluence, or inevitable development and outward manifestation of her character, no more to be separated from her than the many-hued brilliancy from a butterfly’s wing, or the painted glory from the leaf of a bright flower. As with these, so with the child; her garb was all of one idea with her nature (238). Pearl is decked out in this beautiful dress that describes her personality while Hester is just in a simple robe. Hester did this because she wanted Pearl to have a special dress that was perfect for her.
In Chapter 13, we see her become the radiant beauty she was several years earlier when she frantically removes her cap that is covering her beautiful hair and the scarlet letter sewn to her bosom. In this action, we can see Hester light up as she tears the letter away from her bosom and we see her really happy for the first time in the book, this shows the physical and psychological torment that the letter causes her. Hester only has a brief feeling of freedom and empowerment though, as Pearl ballistically demands she returns the letter back to her bosom. While the punishment over her sin effects her physical beauty, it has a much more massive effect on her internal identity. Even though Hester possesses this great beauty she is overlooked because of the letter She is only known as the immoral woman who committed adultery, she is still known as the woman possessing the scarlet
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.
Pearl is trying everything to make her mother realize she is a sinner but to not let the sin take over her whole life. At one point in the book Hester removes the scarlet
In the Scarlet letter, the influence and characteristics of Pearl, Hester Prynne daughter is used to convey the theme of sin and hypocrisy in the novel. Hawthorne uses pearl to draw a parallel between forgiveness and punishment From the beginning of her life she is viewed as, a product of sin. The puritans shunned her, their treatments affected Pearl
An additional linkage exists in that Pearl possesses similar artistic abilities to her mother, however Pearl’s artistry always involves nature. Hawthorne describes how nature calls to Pearl, “and to please them, Pearl gathered the violets, and anemones, and columbines, and some twigs of freshest green… With these she decorated her hair and her young waist” (115). Hence, similar to her mother’s flair for stitching, Pearl possesses an uncanny flair for adorning herself with innumerable items found in nature. Hester’s stunning “A” symbolizes her ostracism; likewise Pearl’s adornment of nature symbolizes her ostracism from society as well.
Hester Prynne as everyone knows has committed some pretty horrendous crimes. But taking away her child Pearl is an unacceptable punishment Hester does not deserve. Hester should keep Pearl because if she doesn 't Pearl might be abused by her new family, Pearl needs her birth mother and Hester has been through a lot of pain and punishments for her crimes and needs Pearl for support and companionship. So before you Gov. Bellingham take Pearl away take into account what has been said here today.
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a novel chock full of symbolism, thematic statements, and long tedious sentences that seem to go on forever. With four main characters, readers a receives a mere four characters, with Pearl Prynne playing the most minor of them all. Throughout the novel, Pearl’s identity as a person is of the interpretation of everybody else in the novel; Pearl’s identity becomes her context in the lives of Hester and Dimmesdale, along with her context to nature and the townspeople. Hawthorne uses Pearl as an example of the theme that all people are shaped by personal experience, and he makes it blatantly obvious within the lines of the novel.
Andrea Seabrook says that “Hester Prynne is the protagonist of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s magnum opus “The Scarlet Letter.” ” Any serious literary scholar will tell you that Hester is one of the first strong women in American literature, and is still among the most important. Professor Jamie Barlowe of the University of Toledo comments that Hester is veiled, complex, and deep, so much so “that her character is much bigger than the book itself” (NPR website 1). I agree with Andrea Seabrook because Hester continues to manage and keep Pearl and herself safe and out of trouble with all of the mental pain and torture she suffers.
