The Symbolism Of Pearl In The Scarlet Letter

According to Dictionary.com symbolism can be defined as, “the practice of representing things by symbols, or of investing things with a symbolic meaning or character.” Nathaniel Hawthorne places many symbols in The Scarlet Letter, such as Pearl. In the novel, Pearl is known as a symbol of treasure for Hester, sin, and unusualness. In the Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne refers to the book of Matthew when he gives the name Pearl to the character. Matthew 13:45(NIV) says, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.” When Hester has Pearl, she sees her as a treasure that she will care for as long as Hester lives. Hester battles to keep Pearl, so that she can teach Pearl to not follow in Hester’s footsteps by committing the same sin later in life. Hawthorne writes, “...as she watched the growth, and the beauty that became every day more brilliant, and the intelligence that threw its quivering sunshine over the tiny features of this child! Her Pearl!” This shows how much Hester really cared about her child, Pearl.

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. She got to be able to have the opportunity to teach her not to make the same mistake as Hester has