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Truth Over Expectations In The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne

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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

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This interaction between infant Pearl and Dimmesdale is significant because Pearl is described as a child who only shows affection towards her family (Hester). As Pearl ages, many Puritans conspire to separate her from her mother. Upon hearing this, Hester visits the governor’s hall to try and persuade him to allow Pearl to remain with her. Hester is ultimately allowed to keep Pearl, not because of her words, but because of the words spoken by Dimmesdale, who convinces Governor Bellingham and Reverend John Wilson. Afterwards, Pearl “stole softly towards him, and, taking his hand in the grasp of both her own, laid her cheek against it” (79).

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Pearl is a constant reminder of their sin, in which Hester holds onto public guilt, and Dimmesdale onto private guilt. Both Hester and Dimmesdale are destroyed by their guilty consciences, but Hester can redeem herself in the town. Dimmesdale continues to be brought down by sin. In the novel

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Dimmesdale speaks up for the family and says how God sent Pearl to the world and to Hester. He says that Pearl is both a blessings but she is also a curse. This persuades the other men and they say Hester is allowed to keep Pearl. Pearl

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He discusses Hester's daughter, Pearl, and how the fall of Hester would also affect Pearl's livelihood. Hawthorne explains, “often impelled Hester to ask, in bitterness of heart, whether it were for ill or good that the poor little creature had been born at all.” Hesters admittance of the fact that she has contemplated whether or not Pearl deserves to be alive signifies Hawthorne's use of a complex tone. Within the statement, he shows how Hester is recognizing that the life she has brought Pearl up in is not ideal. Out of the sorrow in her heart that she has for Pearl, Hester realizes that her daughter may have been better off never being born, as Hester has lost the abilities that she once had to be a loving mother.

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Her only form of comfort is her daughter, Pearl. Once free from jail, Hester and Pearl move into a dark and isolated cabin. Pearl brings light into the “darksome cottage” through her “radiance” and “splendor of [her] proper beauty”. The use of juxtaposition to contrast Pearl’s grace to the cottage’s depressing nature expresses Pearl’s presence as happy and bright, giving Hester the strength to continue living with optimism for a better future. Although Hester is depressed and living in a gloomy cabin, her daughter brings happiness and hope into her life.

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