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Symbolic meaning of pearl in the scarlet letter
Critical essays on the symbolism in the scarlet letter
Critical essays on the symbolism in the scarlet letter
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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.
Although while she embodies, Hester’s wild side, she also represents the sin that she committed to create her. Pearl is the reason she has the scarlet “A” on her clothes. In first scaffold scene, Hester hides her scarlet “A” by shielding it with Pearl, irony was prevalent, as she was hiding what literally called her an adulterer, with something that symbolized her being an
Thus, she is not as disciplined as Hester says she is. We also see Pearl picking out prickly burrs from around the tombstones and placing them around Hester’s scarlet letter. This symbolizes the fact that Hester is placed with all this guilt throughout her life, and is weighted down by society, hence the prickly pears, but the fact that she allows them to rest upon her bosom, proves that she is acceptant of her humiliation and pain, and is willingly open towards receiving the society's punishment. The burrs seem to have a stronger connection with Dimmesdale’s sins. Dimmesdale states that he gains “relief [when he has] witnessed in those sinful brethren!...
Pearl, Hester’s baby is a symbol. Pearl is a living representation of her mother’s scarlet letter. In many eyes, Pearl is seen as a punishment, but to Hester she is a blessing. Hester is very depressed and if Pearl wasn’t there, Hester probably would not be alive. Pearl is what keeps her going.
Rossi1 Matthew Rossi Asha Appel English 4 11/15/14 Growing up Through the Actions of Others In The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne Pearl changes when different characters thoughts and believes are portrayed through voice or objects. This leads her to be very malleable to and be ever evolving. The townspeople, Hester, and Dimmesdale now play a key role in shaping Pearl from a product of sin into a god like child.
Since the introduction of the character, Pearl, there has been a strong connection happening between her and the rosebush outside of the portal. As the reader might notice, they both portray ideas of purity and contrast to the public around them. All around Pearl and the rosebush, the rest of the town is portrayed in a dull and straightforward manner. Throught the author 's use of description and detail, he is able to expose the divergence of Pearl and the rosebush, from the world around them. The first time that the author speaks about the rosebush is in the very beginning at the prison door.
Pearl is the symbol of the Scarlet "A" that Hester had to wear because she was the direct result of Hester's Adultery. Through the book, Pearl is used to remind Hester of her past transgressions, of her old life, and of her sin, which causes her shame. Hester rips off the Scarlet "A" in chapter 18 because of her shame, and in chapter 19, Hester calls to Pearl saying, "Come dearest child...,"(Pg. 190) but Pearl does not respond because she does not recognize her mother without the "A" on her chest. This symbolizes how she has known her mother my the "A" showing that even Hester's own daughter has only known her by the Adultery she has committed. In chapter 23, Dimmesdale reveals himself as Pearls father and thereby Hester's "husband," but dies shortly after revealing that information.
Pearl, in this scene, is symbolizing Hester Prynne’s sin being redeemed. Only once Dimmesdale tells everyone that he is the father, Pearl can become a real person and feel human emotions because Hester has no need anymore to be reminded of her
Her defiance becomes stronger and will carry her through different hardships. Her determination and lonely stand repeats again when she confronts Governor Bellingham over the issue of Pearl’s guardianship. When Bellingham wants to take Pearl away from Hester, Hester reply’s with, “God gave me the child! I will die first!”(Ch.). When also pressured even more for the child’s care, Hester pleads, “God gave her into my keeping.
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.
Later on, Pearl was being asked by Reverend Wilson and Reverend Dimmesdale where she came from because they were contemplating whether or not they should take Pearl away from Hester. Hawthorne explains, “... The child finally announced that she had not been made at all, but had been plucked by her mother off the bush of wild roses that grew by the prison door” (Hawthorne 102). This quote proves that the wild rose bush is a constant symbol of imperfection. Pearl has been seen as a troubled child and very unnatural, but Hester loved her anyway, and that goes to show how the rose bush is imperfect since Pearl was plucked from it.
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)
In the puritan society the adulterer has already been marked with the shame from her public hearing. In hester 's case, pearl was young kid who was too young to know what was going on with her mother. When grows up she’ll be judged by the town and others
This role of her being an antagonistic protagonist creates a paradox within the already complex and unusual child. The symbol of Pearl plays an important part in the novel The Scarlet Letter. She is a reminder of her mother 's sin and antagonist toward Hester, as well. She is the root of many other symbols in the book.
In reference to “To Build a Fire”, a key element such as Naturalism shows the true harshness of nature in its wholeness. Naturalism is shown as he walked through the unforgiving and challenging landscapes of Alaska. The extremely cold temperature and liquids freezing as soon as they hit the open air played an influenced his harsh conditions. These are all characteristics of naturalism and each relate to naturalism. The main character had limited choices to make while trying to live.
