The change of Hester Prynne and her family and Friends Hester Prynne and her companions in the novel, “Scarlett Letter” by Nathaniel Hawthorne, changed quite a bit. They changed both physically and emotionally, and in some cases even mentally. Some of the characters grew stronger, and learned valuable lessons. While others grew weaker and began to decline. No matter how you look at it though, the characters in the Scarlett Letter changed, whether for the good or bad, that is for you to decide. We shall start by talking about Roger Chillingsworth. Roger was Hester’s husband from the old world. At the beginning of the story he seems like a nice, understanding fellow, however that quickly changes. He tells Hester that he was a fool for thinking …show more content…
Pearl is Hester’s daughter from her illegitimate relationship. In the beginning Pearl is just a sign of sin, Hester feels that she is the only thing that she has left. With the story continuing, we begin to see Pearl interact with her surroundings. She never shows any desire to be with the other people in town and shows an interest in the “A” on her mother’s chest immediately. As she continues to grow older, she also begins to become more curious, she seems to understand her mother’s situation and does not interact with others in the village. She begins poking and throwing things at the scarlet “A” on her mother’s chest. She begins to show her great understanding of the situation when interrogated by the reverend Wilson. When asked who her father is, she tells him she has no father, but was rather picked like a rose from a bush. As Pearl grows older she becomes naughtier. She seems to understand her mother’s pain when Pearl throws things at the scarlet letter, so she does it more. She points at it and constantly reminds Hester that it is in fact still there trying to burn its way into her soul. Hester begins to wonder if the village people were right when they said Pearl was a devil. However, when Hester would think this way, Pearl would do something really kind and nice, and make Hester feel alright again. In the end of the story Pearl refuses to give Dimmesdale a kiss until he recognizes them as family. When Arthur finally …show more content…
In the beginning, we find Hester with the scarlet “A” on her chest, this “A” stood for adulteress. In the beginning she could hardly live with the “A”. It seemed to almost consume her with grief. The only thing she had left was her little Pearl, the child born from the illegitimate relationship. As the story continues on we see Hester beginning to mellow out and find her purpose. She moved to a little shack by the sea and took up sewing. She made all the fancy clothes for all occasions except for weddings. This is when the “A” transformed to means “able”. She was now able of sustaining herself without the need for a man or even society. Hester and Pearl could survive on what they made and live a life by the sea. However, Hester seems still wounded by the “A”, every time any attention is brought to it she relives all the pain and grief that it brought. She has not gotten over the scarlet letter, but has learned to cope with it a little better. Further on in the story, as Pearl is growing older, Hester begins to feel mocked by Pearl and wonders if she might be a devil. Hester thinks this, because every time Pearl does something sweet, kind, or caring she immediately does something rude, typically bringing attention to the letter “A” on Hester’s chest. Towards the end of the story the “A” again changes meaning. This time it has changed to “Angel”. At the conclusion of the story
Pearl has spent her entire life knowing who her mother is and identifies her with and only with the letter on. “Pearl’s image, crowned, and girdled with flowers, but stamping its foot, wildly gesticulating, and in the midst of all, still pointing its small forefinger at Hester’s bosom!” (Hawthorne 173). In this scene, Hester takes the letter off when she is with Dimmesdale, and Pearl refuses to come near her until she puts the letter back on; she recognizes that the letter is a part of who her mother is. The identity of herself is also uncovered as a result of the letter. Pearl sees how the Puritan society treats her mother and refuses to act likewise. Not only does she stand up to those who judge Hester, but she also practices being kind instead. “Pearl was almost sure, [the bird] had been hit by a pebble and fluttered away with a broken wing. But then the elf-child sighed, and gave up her sport; because it grieved her to have done harm to a little being that was as wild as the sea-breeze, or as wild as Pearl herself” (Hawthorne 147). Pearl cares for the wellbeing of those around her, both human and animal. This has shaped who she is through her kindness and her intelligence; it becomes what her identity is and displays how she identifies her mother, verifying that she was impacted the most by the scarlet
Pearl is a symbol of Hester’s transgressions and even has similar qualities as the sin which she represents. Pearl’s life and behavior directly reflects the unacceptable and abnormal nature of Hester’s adulterous sin. Hester is plagued with more than just a letter “A”; she is given a child from her affair who is just as much a reminder of her sin as the scarlet letter. Ultimately Hester overcomes the shame associated the scarlet letter and creates a sense of family for herself and Pearl. This relationship is integral to the theme of this novel and the development of its characters.
From the moment she is born in the cold, heartless prison, Pearl is placed under scrutiny. The townspeople see her as a visible reminder of sin, and it isn't long until even her own mother searches for evil in her. The girl is described as "the scarlet letter in another form; the scarlet letter endowed with life!"(Hawthorne 103). With her fascination from an early age with the scarlet letter, Hester believes that Pearl's very reason for existence is to torment her mother. Hester fails to realize that the letter is just something bright and significant to which Pearl reacts; instead, she sees every glance, every word aimed at the letter, every touch of Pearl's tiny fingers to her bosom as an added torture resulting from her adultery. Hester, considering Pearl's very existence, goes so far as to question if the impish child is even her own. "Thou art not my child! Thou art no Pearl of mine!"(Hawthorne 99) she tells Pearl, only half-jokingly. In her own way, she wonders whether Pearl was sent to her by God or by a demon wishing to cause her pain. She is not alone in this speculation; many of the town's citizens believe there is something of the Devil in Pearl.
Pearl displays her kindness towards others despite being placed in a situation where her life could be subjected to change. During the scene where Pearl flings wildflowers at her mother, she dances around the garden every time she hits the scarlet letter, exhibiting that she was having a good time. Pearls mother asked whose child Pearl was, and was given a response filled with joy and compassion. Hawthorne describes Pearl’s response as saying “Oh, I am your little Pearl!”(Hawthorne 89) Pearls response means that Pearl is Hester's child, and Hester's child only. Her response, and creation of a game that was originally made to be a punishment displays not only her compassion for her mother, but also her utilization of her imagination to make the most out of an unfortunate situation. Perhaps the most painful example of Pearl’s compassion comes through a passage which Hawthorne writes about the conversation between Dimmesdale and Pearl writing “But wilt thou promise to take take my hand and my mother's hand, to-morrow noontide,” and
Pearl was the result of Dimmesdale and Hester committing adultery. She has wild behavior and serves as a reminder to Hester of her sin, as she reminds her of the Scarlet Letter. She plays a vital role in pushing the story along. Her attitude towards Dimmesdale changes as time goes on. At first, she puts her hand on his cheek and accepts him. Then, she regards him as man entangled in the devil’s doings. Then, she wouldn’t accept him as her father until he revealed himself as her father. At last, she accepts him as her father as he reveals himself on the scaffold. She could finally live her life as a person, instead of this constant reminder to her parents of their sin. The changing attitudes of Pearl towards Dimmesdale really shows how influential Pearl is and how it reflects on the story
Pearl is a young child that has a lot more knowledge then any other kid her age. Pearl is like a reminder to Hester's passion. Even though she is the outcome of the affair with Dimmesdale. Pearl is aware of something between her mother and Dimmesdale when they are in the woods. She picks up that Dimmesdale may be her father. So she creates a type of bond with Dimmesdale. She then questions her mother and ask " will he go back with us, hand in hand, we three together, into the town?"(318). Pearl had created something with Dimmesdale which she felt like they were a family. This shows that she brings light upon Hester, and that they feel like their lives are getting closer to
After Hester committed adultery, she was marked with the Scarlet “A”. The Scarlet “A” was embroidered onto Hester’s clothing. It was eventually put on every article of clothing Hester owned (Korobkin 1). The Scarlet “A” served several purposes. It was a symbol of sin, evidence of guilt, a reminder and it served as Hester’s identity (Magill Masterpieces 5). Hester was not the only person nor object to be marked with the scarlet letter. There are several occurrences of the scarlet “A” throughout the novel (Korobkin 1).
hell, the secret man who fathered her. Pearl affects Hester deeply in numerous instances throughout the story. Hester first decides to dress her daughter in scarlet, the color of the shameful letter on. her chest. During their adventures into the woods, Pearl plays a game where she throws. small flower spears at the 'A' on her mother's chest and when each stalk hits its target.
Pearl is Hester’s human form of her scarlet letter; both she and the scarlet letter constantly remind Hester of her sin of adultery. Pearl is the result of Hester’s adultery; therefore she has a strong connection with the scarlet letter. As a young girl, Pearl had always had a fascination and obsession with her mother’s scarlet letter. For example “In the forest scene when Hester takes off the Scarlet letter, Pearl becomes frantically disturbed and won’t quiet down until Hester has it back on her dress, as if by discarding the letter Hester has discarded Pearl,” (Johnson: A Literary Analysis of The Scarlet Letter, pg.1). The scarlet letter is a part of Hester, as is Pearl, if Hester removes the letter, she also disowns Pearl. The only way Pearl recognize her mother is when she has the letter on. Hester dresses Pearl in red so she can represent her scarlet letter. In the chapter, “The Governor’s Hall,” Pearl was described; “The child’s whole appearance reminded the beholder of the token which Hester Prynne was doomed to wear upon her bosom. It was the scarlet letter in another form; the scarlet letter endowed with life!” (The Scarlet Letter, pg. 103 Johnson: Understanding The Scarlet Letter pg.1).
One of Hester’s greatest qualities is her unrelenting selflessness. Despite her constant mental anguish due to her sin, the constant stares and rude comments, and the
Hester values and cherishes her daughter. Pearl is named so because of the worth she possesses, “being of great price,-purchased with all she had,-her mother’s only treasure” (SL 81). Hester is defenseless against her punishment of the letter, and she cannot reverse her act of adultery. Pearl is the source of happiness in Hester’s unfortunate life. Pearl is of great importance, because with her existence comes a conclusion to Hester’s previous life. As Pearl grows to be the age of three, question arises as to whether she should be living with and raised by Hester. If Pearl is not evil, the people do not believe Hester should raise her, due to her sinful action and seclusion from the town. However, if Pearl is evil, Hester should not be involved, for Hester’s sake. Despite this being the peoples’ views, Hester refuses to have Pearl be taken away from her. She argues she will be able to teach her daughter through her scarlet letter. Claiming “Ye shall not take her! I will die first!” (SL 103), adduces Hester’s love and need for her daughter. Hester finds that, without Pearl, she has no reason to live. Furthermore, Hester is invited to a witch gathering by Mistress Hibbins, but declines. She refuses the offer, but tells Mistress Hibbins that if Pearl had been taken away, she “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” (SL 107). The loss of Pearl would send Hester into a complete downfall in life. Thus, Hester finds great endearment and necessity in her
As a living reminder of Hester’s extreme sin, Pearl is her constant companion. From the beginning Pearl has always been considered as an evil child. For Hester to take care of such a demanding child, put lots of stress onto her life. Hester at times was in a state of uncontrollable pressure. “Gazing at Pearl, Hester Prynne often dropped her work upon her knees, and cried out with an agony which she would fain have hidden, but which made utterance for itself, betwixt speech and a groan, ‘O Father in heaven- if Thou art still my Father- what is this being which I have brought into the world!’” (Hawthorne, 77).
Hawthorne uses Pearl to work on the consciences of both her mother Hester and her father Arthur Dimmesdale. He uses her to work on Hester’s conscience throughout the novel by little comments made or actions taken by Pearl that appear to be mean or spiteful towards her mother. For example, Pearl laughs and points at her mother’s scarlet letter as if making fun of it or to make Hester feel bad about it. Hawthorne also uses Pearl’s perceptiveness to point out very straight forwardly, her mother’s sin of adultery. Pearl has almost a supernatural sense, that comes from her youth and freewill for seeing things as they really are and pointing them out to her mother. Pearl is a living version of her mother's scarlet letter. She is the consequence of sin and an everyday reminder to her through her actions and being.
Initially Pearl is the symbol of Hesters public punishment for her adultery. As the novel progresses and Pearl matures she symbolizes the deteriation of Hester's like by constantly asking her about the scarlet letter "A". Pearl in a sense wants her mother to live up to her sin and, she achieves this by constantly asking her about the scarlet letter. Another peice of evidence that shows how Pearl symbolizes the sin Hester has committed, is when the town government wants to take Pearl away from her Revrend Dimmsdale convinces the government that Pearl is a living reminder of her sin. This is essentialy true, Hester without Pearl is like having Hester without sin.
One of the most complex characters in The Scarlet Letter is Pearl, the illegitimate daughter of Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale. Throughout the story, she develops into a dynamic individual, as well as an extremely important symbol. Pearl is shunned from society because of her mother's sin. She is a living representation of the scarlet letter, acting as a constant reminder of Hester's sin.