ipl-logo

Scarlet Letter Symbolism Essay

455 Words2 Pages

Lawaan Harris
English II Honors
Ms. Litos
Scarlet Letter Essay

There can be a lot of important symbols in a novel, and some characters may be a symbol. The narrator uses symbols to foreshadow and perceive events in the novel. During the course of the entire novel, Hester’s daughter Pearl was seen to be an important character and symbol. In the novel Hester tell us that “Pearl is the Scarlet Letter”, and this is very symbolic in many ways. The way the characters are portrayed in the novel tells the readers a lot about them and how they would play out throughout the rest of the novel. In the book the Scarlet Letter, the character Pearl has been portrayed as both a sin and a gift of Hester. For instance, Hester says Pearl “is the Scarlet Letter”. …show more content…

It also says in the book if pearl was taken away from her, she would have given herself to the devil. This shows the readers how symbolic she can be in the story. If pearl wasn’t born, the story would have changed drastically because she influenced most of the events that had occurred. Everyone in town hated Pearl even the children. They all believed that she is a sin and her mother should have suffered more consequences. Hester’s daughter pearl was mistreated by every child and wasn’t viewed the same. Even though she didn’t cause these things to happen, society made her feel as if she didn’t belong. In the towns eyes Pearl symbolizes sin and corruption. In Hester’s eyes Pearl symbolizes purity and life. In conclusion, Hester’s daughter Pearl plays a major role in the novel the Scarlet Letter. As I said in the one of the paragraphs above Pearl symbolizes both a gift and sin in Hester’s eyes. Everyday Hester is reminded of the sin she has committed but, also she is reminded of what she has created in the process. The people of the town view Pearl as a sin that should have never happened. Without Pearl in the story, most of the plot would have been changed. She symbolizes various things in the story, but the most important things she symbolizes are explained in the paragraphs

Show More
Related
570 Words | 3 Pages

Hester sees Pearl as a breathing version of her scarlet letter. Although she is a reminder of Hester’s sin, Pearl is also a blessing. She represents the spirit of the sin that Hester committed. Her existence strengthens her mother to help her continue each day without giving up. Her name was specifically chosen to represent how she is her others only treasure.

Read More
907 Words | 4 Pages

She is responsible for all of the hate that is portrayed upon Hester. However, what pearl represents to Hester, is her wild side, how she can be herself and not care about what the town thinks. In chapter 14 Hester and Pearl are at the beach, “Hester bade little Pearl run down to the margin of the water,and play with the shells and tangles 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...the image of a little maid, whom Pearl, having no other playmate, invited to take her hand, and run a race with her. ”(154) Pearl is happy and free and influences Hester be the same way.

Read More
465 Words | 2 Pages

The townspeople often despised Pearl, due to her being a representation of her mother's sin. In The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne describes Pearl as being a real life image as adultery. Hester is constantly reminded of her sin, just by seeing and raising Pearl everyday. Though Hester is reminded about her sin, she takes on the task of being a mother of Pearl. Hester loved Pearl, even though she had to go through a lot to keep her.

Read More
581 Words | 3 Pages

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.

Read More
426 Words | 2 Pages

Throughout the passage from The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne uses Hester’s baby, Pearl, to illuminate the theme of beauty in a dark place. Once released from prison, Hester, an adulterer, becomes a public spectacle. Through this hard time, Hester has her daughter Pearl to soothe her and to bring her strength and hope for a better future. By using vivid imagery and juxtaposition, Hawthorne depicts Pearl as Hester’s happiness, light, and beauty during a sad and lonely time. While in Prison, Hester is all alone and depressed.

Read More
867 Words | 4 Pages

In the novel the scarlet letter, the scarlet letter is shown through the use of imagery and figurative language to demonstrate that judgment through society as well as sin is bad while the scarlet is a symbol of sin wrapped in good and beauty. Hester is able to take something that was meant to be a punishment for a crime she committed and turn it into something absolutely stunning. Hawthorne portrayed Pearl

Read More
1051 Words | 5 Pages

“In a moment, however, wisely judging that one token of her shame would but poorly serve to hide another…” (p 45). One of the most significant scenes is in Chapter nineteen, when Hester lets down her hair and removes the scarlet letter, causing Pearl to “burst into a fit of passion” (p 180) Pearl was so upset that Hester removed her scarlet letter, because she felt as if she removed a part of herself. Pearl knows what the scarlet letter means, and that it is somehow associated with her. No matter how much Hester wants to cover up her sin, Pearl prevents her

Read More
502 Words | 3 Pages

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

Read More
616 Words | 3 Pages

Symbolism Within The Scarlet Letter Hawthorne created symbolism throughout The Scarlet Letter in order to develop the theme throughout Hester’s life. Hester is portrayed as a sheltered soul, shunned from society due to her adulterous acts. The red A and her daughter, Pearl, are symbols of Hester’s shame which she bares proudly despite society's harsh judgements. Hawthorne is able to use symbolism to develop themes, characters, and analogies in the Scarlet Letter.

Read More
562 Words | 3 Pages

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.

Read More
567 Words | 3 Pages

Anxiety and fear are emotions that no one likes to feel. Unfortunately, George and Lennie feel anxiety and fear in most situations in Of Mice and Men. The color yellow represents Of Mice and Men the best because there is lots of anxiety and fear with the characters of George and Lennie. Anxiety and fear are present with George in Of Mice and Men. In Steinbeck’s book, George was faced with lots of problems.

Read More
741 Words | 3 Pages

I intervened a 67 years old men who I will identify as Mr. FA. The goal of first interview is to collect basic information of the client. Mr. FA was born and raised in Saudi Arabian, Mecca. He is a caucasian male and the oldest son of nine children. His father passed away when he was 60 - year old, and his mother suffering from Alzheimer disease.

Read More
748 Words | 3 Pages

This child is not meant to be a realistic character but rather a symbol of Hester’s sin, blessing and scarlet letter. Pearl is the scarlet letter, a blessing and curse, and the love and passion of a dangerous relationship. More than a child Pearl is a symbol of the love and passion between Hester and the minister. Pearl is a symbol that connect her parents forever even if they couldn’t be together. The narrator says, “God, as a direct consequence of the sin which man thus punished, had given her a lovely child, whose place was on that same dishonoured bosom, to connect her parent forever with the race and descent of mortals, and to be finally a blessed soul in heaven!”(86)

Read More
744 Words | 3 Pages

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.

Read More
705 Words | 3 Pages

Pearl is a symbol of the scarlet letter. She was born due to adultery, which is the same reason as to why Hester wears the scarlet letter A. In chapter 7, Pearl is coincidentally put into a red tunic, “...arraying her in a crimson velvet tunic … and flourishes of gold-thread” (Hawthorne 92), which makes Hester realize that she is the human version of the scarlet letter. By Hester realizing this, it shows to the reader that Pearl can be a “sin” and a “blessing” all at the same time.

Read More

More about Scarlet Letter Symbolism Essay

Related Topics

Open Document