The Symbolic Pearl In The Scarlet Letter

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. 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) The narrator explains how Pearl is a symbol of love between her parents. The author says, “Will he go back with us, hand in hand, we three

In many parts of the novel she is described as a demon child or elf-child. She is mean, obstinate, and has a fierce temper. Hester says, “She is my torture!”(109) Hester is literally saying that Pearl is not only a blessing but also a curse. Pearl is often evil to everyone even to her mother, but was this Pearls nature, or was it just a reaction of her being isolated and looked down since childhood? The author says, “But Pearl, who was a dauntless child, after frowning, stamping her foot, and shaking her little hand with a variety of threatening gestures, suddenly made a rush at the knot of her enemies, and put them all to flight.”(98-99) Pearl is evil to other kids, she tortures animals, she is a symbol of