Pearl In Nathaniel Hawthorne's Scarlet Letter

From her initial introduction to the reader as the “yonder babe, (…) of some three or four months old”, Pearl represents the beauty of the truth (54). As she struggles to find answers about her mother’s scarlet A while simultaneously growing up, Pearl identifies as an innocent character, despite her creation. It is frequently noted that she looks similar to the scarlet letter that her mother so reluctantly bears, with her “bright complexion [and] eyes possessing intensity both of depth and glow, and hair already of a deep, glossy brown” (76). Her similar appearance to the scarlet letter furthers her permanent connection to the letter. Additionally, it highlights the notion that her mother will likely never be able to look at her without reminiscing upon her sin. As Pearl develops, her fire-like actions and dark appearance further molds her into the fleshly expression of Hester’s adultery. Furthermore, Hawthorne ensures to characterize Pearl throughout the novel as a friend to the sunlight, a friend to the truth. As she begins to pick determine that Dimmesdale is her father, the sunlight welcomes her. This is because she is the only innocent character who is not afraid to step into the sun’s rays. Pearl recognizes the light’s love for her and audibly notes, “the

"But she named the infant 'Pearl,' as being of great price- purchased with all she had- her mother's only pleasure" (Hawthorne 85). Pearl being one of the main characters and symbols in Hawthorne's, The Scarlet Letter, is one of the biggest character because of what she represents. Pearl represents many things in this novel. Although many believe that Pearl is more of just a character to be the realistic symbol of Hester's mistake, Pearl is the main idea in this story. Pearl is a character that represents the complicatedness of love, proudness and pride, and most of all adultery involving Hester and Dimmesdale.

She touches the scarlet letter, but little does she know that she is the reason for the punishment. They are social outcasts, so they don’t leave their house much. Pearl plays alone and has best friends that are imaginary. She distrusts her own imaginary friends for the same reason that she distrusts all the Puritans in the colony. People treat Hester and Pearl differently than everyone else is treated. She only loves Hester, because Hester spends time with her and is a good mother. She plays with her and teaches her Bible stories. Pearl knows the whole catechism at the age of three, but refuses to say it to anyone. She is smarter than everyone thinks she is. Chillingworth speaks to Pearl about the scarlet letter. He asked her if she knew the reason why her mother must wear the scarlet letter all the time. She replies, “Yes, that is the same reason why the preacher holds his hand over his heart.” Pearl asks her mom all the time the reason why she wears the scarlet letter and why the preacher holds his hand over his heart. She knows that they both do, but she doesn’t know why. Hester tells her that she wears it because of the pretty gold thread, but she doesn’t know the minister’s reason. Later in the story, Dimmesdale, Hester, and Pearl meet in the forest, and Hester rips the scarlet letter off. Pearl gets mad then, because she knows that her mother is supposed to wear it. Dimmesdale kisses Pearl, but she washes the kiss off with

This, as Arthur Dimmesdale almost prophetically expresses in the early scenes of Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, was the role of Pearl, the elfish child borne of his and Hester Prynne's guilty passion. Like Paul's thorn in the flesh, Pearl would bring trouble, heartache, and frustration to Hester, but serve a constructive

Children accept who they are with no influence from society or feelings of guilt. As Hawthorne describes Pearl’s carefree attitude, he writes, “Her final employment was to gather sea-weed… and thus assume the aspect of a little mermaid… Pearl took some eel-grass, and imitated, as best she could, on her own bosom, the decoration with which she was so familiar on her mother’s… the letter A” (Nathaniel Hawthorne 115). As little Pearl plays, the scarlet letter does not symbolize shame for her. Pearl accepts the scarlet letter as nothing out of the ordinary, and even envies its beauty. Through Pearl’s actions, Hawthorne reveals how children view shame and societal pressure. Although the scarlet letter embodies the entirety of Hester’s sin and shame, Pearl does not run from it or feel ashamed because of it. Hawthorne uses Pearl as an example of how adults should view symbols of sin in their society instead of running from the sin, they should forgive readily and accept the reality of their present situation. Furthermore, in his literary criticism, The Obliquity of Signs, Millicent Bell reveals how out of Hester’s societally constructed sin and shame came this perfect example of Pearl. He writes, “Hester’s sin is not only unutterable but involves a name, that of her partner, which she refuses to utter. Her sexual history is so private that it cannot be imagined when we gaze at her in the chaste aftermath of Hawthorne’s novel. And yet that privacy has its public manifestation, the child Pearl” (Millicent Bell 23). Bell reveals how even out of Hester’s most taboo and secret sin came Pearl, whose manifestation publicly

In The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne effectively composes a “tale of human frailty and sorrow” through visions of even the holiest men sinning and depictions of the sorrow of the most revered men on Earth. Hawthorne uses Dimmesdale chiefly as the example for humanity as a whole—the man who is supposed to be overjoyed, because all revere him, and a remarkably holy man, a priest who has ease with words. Principally, Dimmesdale is viewed as a man with an extraordinary life who has everything anyone could every dream of. However, in reality, he is a somber fellow who, because of his sins, is constantly tormented. Due to his past sins, Dimmesdale’s conscience relentlessly agonizes him, with no means of outlet because of his high religious ranking.

Pearl created her own “A,” showing the attachment she has to Hester’s; it is also significant, though, that she made it green, rather than scarlet, because it reinforces the strong connection Pearl has with nature and her aware, curious personality. Another example is when Pearl questioned Hester about the significance of the “A”: “what does this scarlet letter mean?—and why dost thou wear it on thy bosom?—and why does the minister keep his hand over his heart?” (*). Pearl is an omniscient character, as she is very aware of the connection between Hester’s “A” and Dimmesdale clutching his chest in pain. Hester begins “half smiling at the absurd incongruity of the child's observation; but on second thoughts turning pale” after Pearl’s constant questioning about the topic (*). She is effectively reminding Hester of her sin and acting as her tormentor. The most prominent example of Pearl’s attachment to the Scarlet Letter was in Chapter 19, when Pearl refuses to come to Hester and Dimmesdale across the brook, in the forest, because Hester took off her Scarlet Letter. Hester realizes that “Pearl misses something that she has always seen me wear” (*). The fact that Pearl “misses”

she is my torture, nonetheless! Pearl keeps me here in life! Pearl punishes me too! Se ye not, she is the scarlet letter,” (Hawthorne 103). Evidently, Pearl’s bitterness negatively affects Hester.

Hawthorne uses the entire spectrum of characteristics and symbolism to distinguish Pearl as the true human she really is. From the deeper meaning of what rooted Pearl to this life, and even why she is called pearl opens up the speculation of the characters around her, into what Pearl really is. After analysis it is clear that Pear is simply human, ahead of her time in puritan society, in a world that was not yet ready to accept the flaws that were a given right. Hawthorne’s brilliant transcendentalist mind shown through as he wrote and developed Pearl into the lustrous, gesticulating, and alphabet obsessed girl, who just wanted to bring to light the disease of humanity that ravages through each and every

In the ninth through eighteenth chapters of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, many things are established. The characters in the novel are beginning to be fully characterized, Pearl is described as “elvish” and to have an “elf-smile in her eyes” and at such a young age Pearl displays a supernatural intelligence that most three year-old’s do not possess. Pearl is a living example representing the sin of adultery that Hester Prynne, her mother, has committed, which connects to the theme. Pearl is very much alike her mother Hester, because of their captivating beauty. Another character development is the evolution of Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale’s illness. Dimmesdale becomes extremely ill, and he punishes himself because of the sin he committed which was also adultery, with Hester Prynne. Dimmesdale slowly begins to attempt to reveal his sinfulness through his sermons, but this leads his congregation to believe he is very holy and could never be a sinful being. Hawthorne uses dramatic irony, through this situation because the reader knows who the father of Pearl is and that Dimmesdale committed adultery, but the people of the

Nathaniel Hawthorne, author of the Scarlet Letter, made Pearl be one of the most influential “characters” in the story. She comes forth as a very strong symbol rather than a character. She comes to represent many symbols throughout chapter VI, which is all about Pearl, and who and what she is. Hawthorne did something with Pearl that the reader cannot perceive unless they think in a symbolic way. He makes her a theme that is brought forward to the reader and makes it understand the true meaning of Pearl.

In the novel, The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne characterizes Pearl with contrasting personalities and roles she plays in Hester’s life. Pearl’s conflicting personality components, innocence and defiance, both derive from her isolation from society, which transpired because of her mother’s sin. Pearl represents the conflict between everything good and dark, which reflects in the role she plays in Hester’s life, as the physical embodiment of the A. While Pearl serves as a savior to Hester, representing possible redemption, she is also Hester’s tormentor, a constant reminder of her sin, and the consequences of disobeying her Puritan nature and religion. Hawthorne’s intent is established in the novel through Pearl’s attachment to the A, the mirror

In Nathaniel Hawthorne's, The Scarlet Letter, his commentary on the raw, unreserved passion of a child is portrayed through his character Pearl. He shows a distinct view on Pearl and her role in the book and to her mother. He shows the great comparison in the actions and role of a child, exaggerated through Pearl. Her intense passion in the book also makes her a sort of conscience and punishment for her mother. This is because her passion makes her strongly against views when first introduced and when learned and accepted, are taken so literally and so strongly believed in.

Just like when beautiful pearls come from grotesque oysters, Pearl is the beauty and unique product that arises out of her parent’s sin. Pearl’s first appearance in The Scarlet Letter is in the second chapter, “The Market-Place.” Her mother, Hester Prynne, steps out from the prison door with Pearl in her arms. Pearl had been living in the shadows her whole life before this moment. She squints and turns her head away from, “the too vivid light of day.”

In a surface examination of the work of Nathaniel Hawthorne, it is quickly evident that no good things come from the wilderness. Therein, the wilderness is often associated with the savages and the devil. In his work The Scarlet Letter, Hester Prynne finds herself exiled by society for having an adulterous affair with the town reverend which brought forth the child known as Pearl. Pearl is quickly established as the child of the wilderness: wild, capricious, and thought by the town to be a demon-child. She represents several entities in the novel just by her being, but when her morality is delved into, much more of the nature of the story can be revealed. Pearl’s role is often overlooked as a formative force in the novel. Some scholars have gone as far as to denounce her as unnecessary to the story’s makeup. Upon close examination, it can be determined that Pearl is indeed a necessary element. In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, Pearl presents themes of morality, both personal and cultural, as well as the divide between society and nature, through her interactions with Hester, Reverend Dimmesdale, and the scarlet letter itself.