Scarlet Letter Persuasive Essay

Pearl’s specific function in the novel is to be a living reminder of Hester’s sin. Pearl is considered as

     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,

Hester was in a situation she could not escape and also had no support from the father

Hester's ultimate consequence of sin is her daughter Pearl. With Pearl, Hester has to assume full responsibility because she is raising a child of her own. Hester loves Pearl because she is her

In order to pacify Pearl, Hester decides to put her scarlet letter back on and says, “I must bear this torture yet a little longer” (181). The letter physically and emotionally drains the life out of Hester and yet she still endures this agony to appease her child. Hester constantly puts her daughter over her own feelings and aspires to make her happy and joyful. She reveals how considerate and loving she remains by putting others’ needs above her own. As Pearl throws flowers at Hester’s letter, Hester “[resists] the impulse, and [sits] erect, pale as death…with hurts for which she [can] find no balm in the world” (83). Hester obviously suffers through this pain and torture just so her child will remain content and pleased. She clearly demonstrates her motherly nature by putting Pearl’s wishes above her own. Hester may not verbally announce her feelings to everyone, but her actions show others how kindhearted and compassionate she remains after all this

In page 100, after Mistress Hibbins, the governor’s sister asks Hester to partner with her to a party at the forest where she promises the devil that Hester will go; 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 mine own blood.” If Pearl is taken away from Hester, The Devil will take advantage of it and drag Hester deep into sin that she’ll end up in hell. This connection between Hester and her daughter cannot be broken. Hester treasures her young one, and sees her as the light of her life. If Hester wouldn't be a quality mother for Pearl, she would have not cared about the naming of her daughter. Hester wouldn't have thought about "Pearl", she would have just named her with any insignificant name. However she did contemplate over Pearls naming, she wanted her daughter to have a significant name that would show how much she means to her. Hester has proven once more that she does worship her daughter and deserves to have her stay in her safe-keeping.

To this Hester replies, "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! " (Hawthorne 107) Thus, one can see that Hester's sense of duty and love toward Pearl saved her from succumbing to the temptation that her natural desires would otherwise have driven her to give in to.

Raising this silent, fierce tempered, intelligent, determined and curious being, helps Hester become a vigorous and independent person. Because Pearl is so unique and different from the other children in Boston, she influences Hester’s ability to think differently than those who have judged her. For instance, it is Pearl who questions why the three - her, Hester and Dimmesdale - cannot be seen together in the light or in public. She constantly asks her mother if, “‘he [can] go back with us, hand in hand, we three together into town?’”(page 198). Pearl becomes Hester’s conscience. Pushing her into realizing that she has the right to love again. Pearl’s love of life and free spirit, inspires Hester to resurrect her love for Dimmesdale. When the governor threatens to take Pearl away, Hester remains strong stating that Pearl is, “‘my happiness!-- she is my torture, nonetheless! … Pearl keeps me here in life!..Ye shall not take her! I will die first!” (page 104). Pearl keeps Hester grounded, and her love for Pearl leads her to love for others. A pearl is a gem, made from an oyster and sand, that forms when an irritant of sand invades the oyster and creates layers of nacre. Hester chooses to see Pearl not as a constant reminder of her sin, but as a treasure that has been formed from this

Hester thinks of Pearl as evil. Hester is with Pearl every day, and she knows Pearl best. Pearl is a wicked little girl, and can be a nuisance to her mother. Hester can’t discipline her daughter and “[is] ultimately compelled to stand aside, and permit the child to be swayed by her own impulses.” (81) Hester can always use force to deal with her daughter, but this only lasts for so long. Pearl does her own thing, and Hester is forced not to discipline her, because she is so repugnant. Hester loves her daughter and loves to look in her eyes, but sometimes “[i]t [is] as if an evil spirit [possesses] the child, and … just then [peeps] forth in mockery.” (86) When Pearl looks at her mother Hester can see something evil and know that her child is nefarious. Pearl tells her mother that she has “no Heavenly Father.” (87) Pearl begs her mother to tell who her father is. Pearl gets her roots

Upon the gallows, she is ordered to reveal the name of the father of her child yet she remains steadfast in her resolve to remain silent and create a life for herself and Pearl. This decision allows the reader to understand the tension that the puritan way of life created for all of the citizens. The novel begins with the story of the narrator and his role within his customs house duties two hundred years after Hester’s story ended. The narrator’s story is a direct reflection of Hester’s story and has many of the same symbolisms. Within the custom house the narrator is surrounded by men who are the embodiment of do as I say not as I do.

Hester names her daughter Pearl because of her beauty and intelligence, however also because she is Hester’s treasure. It mays seem contradictory, however, the one thing that causes her immense pain is also her greatest gift. Pearl has a innocent, independent, and non judgmental personality yet loyalty bold with wise outlooks on the world (76). The other children stare and tease Pearl for her unique circumstances that have taught her different struggles. For example, Pearl makes do with her confinement by making scrapes her playthings to fight the loneliness; a pine tree branch or weeds from the garden was used. One day, as an infant, Pearl grasps at her Mother’s “A” and smiles it it, causing Hester distress, however, this only reflect

Despite being considered God’s punishment for Hester, Pearl was also a blessing in disguise. Her whimsical behavior enthralled people. She was the light in Hester’s sad world, and she was the reason Hester did not lose herself completely due to sorrow and isolation. Pearl’s acts of affection gave her mother hope. Her affection also pleased the minister even though he was

In given her existence, a great law had been broken.” That great law that society created and that society made sure to plaster on Hester’s bosom. With Pearl already not amenable to rules she was an outcast and an abomination even before she was born and Hester knew this when she explains that “her deed had been evil” therefore “she could have no faith.” The bond between Hester and Pearl goes farther than just blood-Pearl is the free wild version of Hester.

Hester keeps this in mind all the time and when you, Governor Bellingham, try to take Pearl away from her, as a protective mother she reacted in an impressive way. “God gave her into my keeping! I will not give her up!” (Hawthorne… pg. 169). Hester is fully aware on her decisions as a mother, she will take bad decisions because of course she is a human like anyone else, but when she takes the right decisions, everyone can see clearly that she does care, and that she will do anything that is in her power, to make things right and to have the things she love not taken away from

Pearl is Hester’s daughter, it’s easy to know or at least assume what her name means by how she’s described. Pearl is all Hester has now that she’s seen and treated as a sinner. Hester doesn’t seem to care about that, she only cares about Pearl. Pearl is her “...great price,-purchased with all she had- her mother’s only treasure!” (Hawthorne, 61). A pearl is a very precious and beautiful piece of jewelry, which is how Hester sees Pearl.