Through the common stories humans hear from birth, it becomes an assumption that the main character of the story is the name that appears most often in the text. This is just a poor example of imprinting that so often misleads humans, they simply follow basic patterns and never stray from the path. Nathaniel Hawthorne was not the average human though, he strayed from the path. In his novel The Scarlet Letter, he demonstrates that the main character, in this case Pearl, does not even have to be in a large portion of the book. Everything that occurs in the story is due to Pearl, all the events occur because of Pearl, thus demonstrating the book is written around her existence, that is what determines a main character, who effects and controls the story the most, which is often mistaken as the main focal point. While many may argue that Hester is the main character, Hawthorne clearly creates Pearl as the main character …show more content…
Hester life completely changes based on Pearl’s birth. She becomes ostracized from the town, has to wear a scarlet “A” around, and has to be a single mother because of Pearl. Every action that Hester takes in the book is based off her having Pearl, what she chooses to do and not to do all centers on Pearl. For instance, she chooses to not go to the forest with Mistress Hibbins, describe in this quote,
“‘Hist, hist!’ said she, while her ill-omened physiognomy seemed to cast a shadow over the cheerful newness of the house. ‘Wilt thou go with us to-night? There will be a merry company in the forest; and I wellnigh promised the Black Man that comely Hester Prynne should make one.’ ‘Make my excuse to him, so please you!’ answered Hester, with a triumphant smile. ‘I must tarry at home, and keep watch over my little Pearl. Had they taken her from me, I would willingly have gone with thee into the forest, and signed my name in the Black Man’s book too, and that with mine own blood!’” (Chp.
Next we can view the sin of pride in the characters of the Puritan individuals and Roger Chillingsworth. Pride is seen as the internal belief that one’s self is more valuable than others. The Puritans are also quick to pass judgment on Hester who appears to them as having too much pride. When Reverend Dimmesdale tries to appeal to Hester to reveal Pearl’s father’s earthly name. She refuses by saying, "I will not speak! My child must seek a heavenly Father; she shall never know an earthly one! (1206). But quite frankly she is doing the opposite of that, Hester is acting with a great deal of chastity; or self-control to the outside world to the true knowledge of her lustrous act with Arthur Dimmesdale. She spears Dimmesdale of the pain and humiliation she must endure herself.
Pearl is the one in control of the scarlet letter, through the novel. She has a fixation on the letter since she was a baby and carries it through the book, causing there to be no escape from the symbol for her mother. She is also a living representation of the scarlet letter, through her fixation and her physical appearance. She is one of the aspects controlling the stigma of the letter. Pearl is the scarlet letter shown through her fascination, appearance, and control.
Although Pearl is a nightmare to deal with, she is also the only one that Hester can
In spite of that, what makes her the protagonist of the story is how she is able to overcome her punishment that was meant to give her shame. Throughout Chapter 13 of the book, Hawthorne shows how Hester’s confidence has developed in herself and in view of the town, most noticeably when considering the meaning of the scarlet letter, “Such helpfulness was found in her ... that many people refused to interpret the scarlet A by its original signification. They said that it meant Able; so strong was Hester Prynne, with a woman’s strength,” (Hawthorne 107). Instead of subjecting to the shame that was forced upon her, she grew above it, conveying a different aspect of the theme of guilt, which is redemption. This is not to say that Hester did not care about the sin she committed, as she is very much reminded of it every day of her life while living with the child of that sin. In fact, the author addresses this by saying, “In giving her existence a great law had been broken; and the result was a being whose elements were perhaps beautiful and brilliant, but all in disorder,” (Hawthorne 60). Hawthorne is implying how Pearl represents the outcome of a sin and arranged it so that Hester is always living with that sin, therefore, always being reminded of the shame she is supposed to
Hester's daughter, Pearl, functions primarily as a symbol. She is quite young during most of the events of this novel—when Dimmesdale dies she is only seven years old—and her real importance lies in her ability to provoke the adult characters in the book. She asks them pointed questions and draws their attention, and the reader's, to the denied or overlooked truths of the adult world. In general, children in The Scarlet Letter are portrayed as more perceptive and more honest than adults, and Pearl is the most perceptive of them all.
Throughout the progression of the story, Hawthorne portrays Hester conforming into a saint-like image, contrary to the badge of shame she is bound by. As Pearl grows up, Hester teaches her as a mother should, but more importantly Pearl ultimately becomes her biggest blessing. The author elaborates on the irony of Pearl being another outward symbol of Hester’s sin, and the way Hester begins to not only cope with the degrading shame she is reminded of by both child and the letter, but additionally to allow the situation to change her heart into a state of nobility and ironically enough, purity. Although Hester is seen by the town as the dark temptress and the ultimate sinner, the underlying message of the story proves that she was simply the unfortunate one whose sin had outward consequences. Through Pearl, Hester is forced to return to her own faith as well as leading her daughter in such a direction in order for her to avoid making her mother’s
“On one side of the portal, and rooted almost at the threshold, was a wild rose-bush, covered, in this month of June, with its delicate gems, which might be imagined to offer their fragrance and fragile beauty to the prisoner as he went in, and to the condemned criminal as he came forth to his doom, in token that the deep heart of Nature could pity and be kind to him." Chapter 1, pg. 46
Because Pearl was born a woman she is capable of committing the same crime her mother had committed, Adultery. The townsmen feel that if Pearl stays in Hester’s care she will too commit the same crime or other worse crimes when she grows older. This is an example of how women were seen as easily influenced, Pearl is capable of making her own decisions but because she is a woman the townsmen hesitated in letting her remain in the care of another sinful woman.
Next, the interaction between Chillingworth and Hester further proves Hester’s strength. Chillingworth orders Hester to tell him the name of Pearl’s father. Hester refuses, “Ask me not! That thou shalt never know!” (Chapter 4). This is surprising now because during the puritan times, husbands had control over their spouses. Women were seen as disobedient if they didn’t follow their husband’s orders. The setting and Hester’s replies to Chilling worth shows Hester’s obvious strength and her
Pearl is often accused of being a witch child, but Hester tries her best not to believe it. Hester does her best to be there for her daughter, even when she was faced with her own burdens. Even though she’s been through so much in her, Hester gives out all her love whenever she can. That proves that she’s become a pure and loyal person.
Hester raises Pearl all by herself. Yes, without a father and no one else's help Hester cares and provides for Pearl all by herself. This signifies that Pearl doesn't need her baby daddy and no child support she takes all responsibilities like a rightful woman would do. She, knows that she already looks bad because she committed adultery and has the letter on her and that's
After her horrible ordeal, and her release from prison, Hester and Pearl reside for the next few years in a hut by the sea. Hester tries to keep her distance from the Puritans. She does not want them to influence Pearl. Hester wants to raise Pearl, and find peace within herself. Pearl, however,
He uses the character Pearl to make Hester feel bad about herself. The old minister says, “Pearl?- Ruby, rather! _ or Coral!- or Red Rose, at the very least judging from thy hue” (Hawthorne 100)! They make fun of Pearls name and they refer to her as a sin baby. They make it seem as if because Hester has created Pearl in a act of Sin Pearl is less of a person.
To begin, Pearl is the cause for Hester’s salvation throughout the work. For instance, when Hester and Pearl were walking back to their isolated home, Mistress Hibbons, a known witch, offered for Hester to join her in going to the forest to meet the Black Man. Hester replies, “Make my excuse to him, so please you! … I must tarry at home, and keep watch over my little Pearl. Had they taken her from me, I would willingly have gone with thee into the forest, and signed my name in the Black Man’s book too, and that with my own blood!”(Hawthorne 103). Pearl is the cornerstone of Hester’s somber life. Without her daughter, Hester would have nothing else to strive for. The forest, as interpreted by the townspeople, is all things evil and wrong with the
Pearl’s existence reminds Hester of her act of passion, which the cultural morality of Boston dictates as sinful. This is evident not only because Pearl is the product of Dimmesdale and Hester’s action, but because of who Pearl is at heart. Pearl’s personality is as stated,