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Symbolism Of Pearl In Scarlet Letter

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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

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Much to the surprise of the townspeople, Pearl has become a comfort and vindication for Hester. Pearl has found fascination in the letter making it less of a penalty for Hester. She hasn’t been able to be understood by the townspeople because she is seen as a creature of heaven and therefore not understood by those who have impure motives. But Hester also sees Pearl as a burden of her past because without the pregnancy of Pearl her affair would never have been discovered and she would’ve remained as a part of the town instead of an outcast. She gave Hester a lot of grief because she had such an uncontrollable attitude, she was strong willed and crated many annoyances for her

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1464 Words | 6 Pages

(Hawthorne, 76). The sin Hester commits is so destructive to her mind, that she thinks the only way she will every be able to live a proper life is if she stays. Hester’s daily abuse from the community will allow her to cleanse her guilty conscience, and redeem herself in the society. Pearl is a continuous reminder of Hester’s guilt, she is the result of her sin. While Pearl grows up Hester is fearful of the child and the darkness she carried with her.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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849 Words | 4 Pages

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.

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1051 Words | 5 Pages

“Again, as if her mother’s agonized gesture were meant only to make sport for her, did little Pearl look into her eyes, and smile!” (p 82). Pearl herself being the product of sin, is a constant reminder to her mother that the scarlet letter cannot be neglected. Hawthorne shows this symbolism various times throughout the story. In Chapter two, during the first scaffold scene when Hester tries to hide away her scarlet letter with Pearl, Hawthorne indicates how useless that would be, considering that Pearl is the personification of her sin.

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502 Words | 3 Pages

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).

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514 Words | 3 Pages

Pearl also needs her mother in her life, not only because no one is going to take her in, but because she needs motherly influence. Every child needs their mother in their life, for guidance, love and support. Without having Hester in Pearl’s life, she could turn into a bad kid. Or even make the same mistake that Hester made. Pearl could also turn into more of an aggressive kid, she already starts to show it when the town kids started to surround her, and she threw rocks at them.

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562 Words | 3 Pages

Pearl is a blessing to Hester. Pearl is a blessing in many ways. She is the only reason Hester is still on Earth. After Pearl and Hester leave Governor Bellingham’s mansion, where he wants to take Pearl out of Hester’s care, Hester talks to Mistress Hibbons about the devil. “Wilt thou go with us tonight?

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1841 Words | 8 Pages

In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, Pearl is born an outcast from the Puritan community, who consider her an “imp of evil” and a “product of sin” (84). She represents the forbidden act of passion of her parents, one that defies the fundamental morals of Puritan society in the 17th century. She serves as a constant reminder of the adulterous act of her mother, both in the eyes of the guilty and all those who they meet. Thus, she is a living symbol of sin, an extension of the scarlet letter with which she is so obsessed. They both embody the immorality of sin, and both act as constant reinforcement of the stern Puritan ideals of the day -- or so it would initially seem.

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748 Words | 3 Pages

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

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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.

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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.

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650 Words | 3 Pages

I couldn’t resist any longer. The itch was unbearable. Pulling up my sleeves, I clawed at my forearms, leaving streaks of red where my nails trailed. I didn’t want anyone seeing me like this, but it was too late. “You’re bleeding!”

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