The Scarlet Letter and everything it means and has meant throughout time could not exist without Pearl as a character. Pearl as a character reinforces the fact that Hester and Dimmesdale did, in fact, commit adultery and inflicts pain on both Hester and Dimmesdale just by living. Pearl is essential in conveying the story of Hester and Dimmesdale, without her being around them they would just be two adults that committed adultery; Pearl drives the nail into the coffin of this awful sin they have committed. While committing adultery is a sin all its own, producing a child from that sin is even worse, especially in a town of strictly religious puritans. Had Pearl not been born, the town may have never even known about Hester and Dimmesdale committing adultery. Pearl serves as a physical and real example of the sin they have …show more content…
Hawthorne had to include her so that the town could not deny that a woman like Hester would commit adultery. Without Pearl, the town might have somehow known about the sin but ignored that it had actually happened. Pearl also acts as a physical barrier between Hester and the town. For example, Hester could likely walk into the town on her own without being noticed, but because she always has Pearl with her, children and adults notice them and fling harsh words in their direction. Pearl and the sin that created her will never be accepted by the town, and therefore Hester will never be accepted by the town as long as Pearl is with her. Pearl reinforces the separation between Hester and the town because of the sin Hester committed. The puritans of this town follow the bible strictly, and the bible calls for punishment of sins. The act of adultery, which both Hester and Dimmesdale are guilty of, is a sin. Hawthorne included Pearl to serve as a living breathing punishment for