What Does Pearl's Intent Symbolize In The Scarlet Letter

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,

She was conceived by mistake, and is born into a miserable life. In other words, Pearl does not fit in. And it is not that she does not want to but for the fact that she cannot fit in. “ 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…” (Ch. 6). In this quote, Hawthorne is showing that Pearl is a complicated child. She is conceived within a sin, but turned out to be a truly amazing child. Also, Pearl knows how and why her life is like this. For example, Pearl notices that Dimmesdale is her father, but she wanted him to show it publically. “‘Doth he love us?’ said Pearl, looking up, with acute intelligence, into her mother’s face. ‘Will he go back with us, hand in hand, we three together, into the town?’” ( Ch. 19). Pearl is too smart to let this go unseen. She also notices that Hester takes off the scarlet A in the forest and she throws a

     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,

For example, the first thing she instinctively clutches to is the A fastened on Hester’s chest: “But that first object of which Pearl seemed to become aware was the scarlet letter on Hester's bosom” (Hawthorne). Here, Pearl’s aberration illustrates her deviation from normality. While Hester believes Pearl’s outlandish nature is God’s punishment for her sin, Hester also recognizes that Pearl is a gift from God, representing possible redemption. Pearl’s shift from endearing to demon-like behavior reinforces the idea that Pearl is Hester’s savior, yet also her tormentor. Pearl’s attachment to the A was further exemplified when she “imitated, as best she could, on her own bosom the decoration with which she was so familiar on her mother's” (Hawthorne). Despite society’s belief that Hester can only redeem herself through public shame, wearing the A, Pearl believes that the only escape from sin is in nature, as shown through her creation of a green A. Additionally, Pearl intentionally made the A to provoke her mother, wondering “if mother will ask me what it means,” characterizing Pearl as Hester’s tormentor (Hawthorne). Furthermore, while Pearl is physically attached to the A, she is also mentally, as shown through her constant questioning of Hester. “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?” (Hawthorne). Pearl is

It is noticed that Hester dresses her daughter differently from the other children in the town. All of Pearl's clothing are scarlet. However Hester is not trying to make her daughter look like no clown

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.

Hester continues to face conflict, this time with herself. When Hester faces the reality of the unpleasant situation she is faced with, her self conflict begins. Hester’s feelings are expressed when it is stated, “She clutched the child so fiercely to her breast that it sent forth a cry; she turned her eyes downward at the scarlet letter, and even touched it with her finger, to assure herself the infant and the shame were real” (52). Conflict within Hester’s life continues in mothering her curious child. Pearl’s curiosity is revealed when she asks, ‘ “. . . Mother dear, what does this scarlet letter mean? –and why dost thou wear it on thy bosom?” ’ (161). Hester feels the responsibility of protecting Pearl from knowing her mother’s sinful actions. The constant questioning puts Hester in a contradictory position. Mothering Pearl causes conflict a second time when Pearl is considered an outcast from other

Short Summary: Hester and Pearl are waiting in the forest for the minister. Hester learns that Dimmesdale is going to be returning from a trip that afternoon and she'll be able cross paths with him in the woods. On the way there, Pearl makes the observation that the sun "does not love" Hester and won't shine on her. Pearl dances around, enjoying the sun. Additionally, while they wait at the forest, Pearl asks Hester to tell her a story about the "Black Man.” since she has heard a story about witches like old Mistress Hibbins meeting with the Black Man in the woods and performing various satanic rituals. However, when Hester seeing Dimmesdale near, she asks the Pearl to

So, the scarlet letter is Hester's punishment. She showed the act of adultery, she accepted her consequence. After all of this madness is over with she should have something to look back on to show how she made it through. In "The Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne it says, "A lovely and immortal flower, out of the rank luxuriance of a guilty passion."( chapter 6, page 73). Hester may not know what to do now, but if she doesn't keep Pearl she might feel alone or as if everyone is teaming

Hester not only has to live with what she did in her head but she literally has to live with what she did and that is Pearl. Every time she looks at Pearl she is reminded of the sin she has committed. There are symbols everywhere in our lives from the ones on a keyboard to the ones that mean a lot to us, such as a symbol of friendship. In Nathaniel Hawthorne's book The Scarlett Letter he identifies Pearl's function of being a symbol, her being a human symbol and that she is just a symbol in the story. Pearl is a symbol of hope for Hester and for us.

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 shields Pearl from the truth of her conception for as long as she can. Hester wants Pearl to grow up innocent to the sinful ways of her parents. God blessed her with a lovely child that some may say was not deserved.

Pearl’s personality and actions are described in many different ways throughout the story, all of which makes Hester ambivalent towards her own child. In the story Pearl is described as “so intelligent, yet inexplicable, perverse, sometimes so malicious…” (Hawthorne 61). Even though Hester does see positive traits about Pearl, she can easily see her negative traits more; they are all very obvious to Hester. The use of juxtaposition shows that Pearl is the product of a mistake and not only will Hester be punished by the scarlet letter, but she will constantly remind of her poor actions through Pearl’s behavior.

Hester’s battle with herself can only be understood by taking a glimpse into her daily life with her beloved daughter, Pearl. Pearl is the physical manifestation of her sin, of the adultery that Hester committed with her secret lover; with every waking hour, Pearl is always alongside Hester, constantly reminding Hester of her transgression. Whenever Hester sees Pearl, she sees a young and energetic girl, who also possesses the same attributes that she loathes about herself, the difficult and wild side of herself that would never give up. Hawthorne writes that Pearl, “lacked reference and adaptation to the world into which she was born. [Pearl] could not be made amenable to rules” (Hawthorne

Pearl is connecting the Black Man with Hester, and the scarlet letter. Pearls interest in the Black Man revolves around the scarlet letter. Pearl mentions the big heavy book that the Black Man carries. This can be referred back to when Mistress Hibbins asked Hester to join her in the woods. The Black Man is described as manipulative and tempting. Pearl asks Hester if she has ever met the Black Man. Pearl is being sarcastic, she knows that Hester is marked forever by the