Nicholas Pearson Mrs. Reigle Honors American Literature 1 March 4 2024 Truth Over Expectations Social psychology is relevant in everyday life, which contributes to why it is the most studied topic of psychology. Within social psychology, it is discussed that many people will follow a herd mentality, meaning everyone follows each other, and eventually “norms” are set. In Boston, Nathaniel Hawthorne, the author of The Scarlet Letter, introduces a woman, Hester, living in the mid-1600s who is forced to wear a letter on her chest for the rest of her life as a punishment for a crime. She has to navigate through the rest of her life with a scandal and her child, Pearl, as a result of the scandal. Essentially, in his novel, The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne …show more content…
She screamed and shouted, too, with a terrific volume of sound, which, doubtless, caused the hearts of the fugitives to quake within them. The victory accomplished, Pearl returned quietly to her mother, and looked up, smiling, into her face” (Hawthorne 99). As Hester and Pearl meet with Governor Bellingham in his palace, Pearl causes a mess in the Governor's Hall, as she has tantrums and acts abnormally compared to other Puritan kids. Pearl’s intent to “punish the sins of the rising generation” reveals that she does not agree with the Governor and the others, such as she does with the rest of society. However, towards the end, Pearl is seen as happy, with her mother, which is the only component Pearl needs to be truly happy, which shows how Pearl’s individuality brought her happiness. Finally, Pearl and Hester begin their walk in the Forest to meet Dimmesdale. Until they both encounter the sunshine and its actions, Pearl figures out the meaning behind it, after the sunshine does not touch Hester, as Pearl says “Mother,” said little Pearl, “the sunshine does not love