Hester is not guilty and she should be able to be completely free and have full custody of her daughter. Hester is a very nice, young woman and her one mistake should not define her as a person. Yes, it is true that adultery is sexual intercourse between a married person who is not their spouse, but she still doesn’t deserve to have her child taken out of her life forever. Hester should be able to keep Pearl because her child shouldn’t have to suffer for her mistakes; Having Pearl around might help Hester realize her mistakes; and Pearl needs a steady mother figure in her life. First and foremost, Pearl is a poor victim of circumstance. It’s not Pearls fault that her she was created under one of her mother’s bad choices. It is obvious that
Pearl is an example of the innocent result of sin. All the kids make fun of Pearl and they disclude her from everything. She never did anything wrong, but everyone treats her like she committed the sin also. Pearl acts out against the children that make fun of her and acts like a crazy child. She cannot control the sins that her parents committed.
Like Yin and Yang, Pearl generates all things around her and is a necessity to this story. Without Pearl, there would be no story. Pearl teaches everyone in the novel and the readers that someone or something can be what brings two people together, good outcomes can arise from irresponsible choices, and finally that in our own way we all symbolize something greater than we consider ourselves to
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 may be Hester’s only hope of a “successful” life after she is convicted of adultery. "' I will not lose the child! '" Pearl says, "'…thou knowest what is in my heart, and what are a mother's rights, and how much the stronger they are, when that mot...
Hester wants to protect the ones that she loves --, Pearl, Dimmesdale, her husband -- , even though she suffers more from it. In the Bible, it is one of the commandments is, to not commit adultery. When the gGossips were saying that they wanted Hester put to death (Hawthorn, 1994, p.g 36 lines 17-18), they were following the law of the Old Testament, but now that Christ died for our sins, we do not have to be put to death for our sins; we can ask for forgiveness of our sins. Nathaniel Hawthorne wanted to portray the life of an adulteress in a Puritan colony; he did so by writing how Hester’s sin affected other people, as well as the character’s strength throughout the book. The law from the Old Testament is portrayed by the people of the colony when Hester was on trial. At the end of the book, Hester Prynne is still wearing the letter, but she was presenting herself differently compared to the beginning despite the fact that the letter still made her heart ache from memories of the
First of all, Hester is hardly repenting for her sinful acts. She cheated on her husband, breaking a sacred vow she made not only with him, but also with God. Although one can make the argument that her husband was gone so long without any contact that he could be presumed dead, making Hester a widow, she still would have been having intercourse with a man out of wedlock. Her sinful acts are ones that should not be taken lightly, and should have her begging for forgiveness from God. Despite this, hers sins, and the severity of such, Hester doesn't seem to be repenting
The conclusion in Chapter Twenty-four proved that Hester's decision was the best for Pearl, which was all she had wanted. "Pearl was not only alive, but married, and happy, and mindful of her mother" (177). Pearl was successful after her outcast childhood, free from the mistakes Hester had made and able to be true to everyone around her. Pearl was a better person because her mother was brave enough to keep them there in the fire and teach her daughter how to lead a life without shame.
From the very beginning of The Scarlet Letter, while Hester is shamed by having a baby as tangible evidence of her sin and shame, the responsibility of caring for Pearl and raising her with love and wisdom serves to calm the defiant, destructive passion of Hester's nature and to save her from its wild, desperate promptings. This sentiment is poignantly portrayed in Hester's visit to the Governor's mansion. While there, she pleads with the Governor, magistrates, and ministers that she be allowed to keep Pearl, exclaiming, 'She is my happiness!--She is my torture, none the less! Pearl keeps me here in life! Pearl punishes me too! See ye not, she is the scarlet letter, only...
Pearl still brings Hester happiness along with the shame, because of the fact that Pearl loves her dearly. Hester is also a good mother because she has done a fairly well job at raising Pearl. They have had a shelter to live in, Pearl is treated well, and is in good condition. Hester has also tried to teach her some lessons, like the example in chapter 6 on the last page when Hester is stating,”He sent us all into this world. He sent even me, thy mother. Then, much more, thee!” This is when Hester is trying to teach Pearl about the Heavenly Father, and how he has sent us all here into this world. Hester is a good mother and should be allowed to keep Pearl. She has regret for her sin, Pearl repeatedly gives her happiness and shame for her sin which makes her a constant reminder of it, and although Pearl is very protective and feisty, Hester has done a well job of raising her. Others would argue and say that she is not a good mother, because of her sin, but I believe that the fact that Hester regrets and is put to shame for it make up for her sin. She loves Pearl, even if she doesn’t quite know what she is. These components all contribute to a good mother, therefore, she should be
One theme that Pearl displays is Appearance vs. Reality. The Puritan people label Pearl as an evil child throughout the entire novel. In fact, they picture her as a devil child, but really she is just a little girl who is growing up normally like any other child. In the end, though, she becomes a sympathetic being after Dimmesdale dies. Hawthorne gives insight when he describes pearl as, "Pearl, that wild and flighty little elf, stole softly towards him, and taking his hand in the grasp of both of her own, laid her cheek against it; a caress so tender, and withal so unobtrusive, that her mother, who was looking on, asked herself, 'Is that my Pearl?'" (115). This shows who Pearl truly is; she is just an innocent girl, but people think she is the complete opposite. The author, Hawthorne, gives his input on Pearl here,
The development of Pearl was highlighted through the narration of the book, explicitly describing how she felt when Ellis would express his conflicting opinions on Papa S’ practices. Pearl’s narrative point of view conveyed her as an innocent character who was unaware of the good from people outside of her cult, named Seed. She only knew what she was taught, such as the belief of wickedness of the Outside influencing Seed (pg. 75). Nonetheless, her beliefs changed gradually after the appearance of Ellis. Ellis was more educated
Every individual at some point has questioned their mother’s effectiveness and ability to do her job, be a mother. However, many still ponder at what qualities actually describe a good mother, and sometimes causes legal issues and debate. One of these debated mothers is Hester Prynne, the malefactress who committed adultery and gave birth to a daughter, whom she named Pearl. That said, Mrs. Prynne also shows signs of being a very good mother, whereas she teaches her daughter about the religious practices of the time, she never lets her daughter out of her sight, and she actively cares about her daughter’s well being. Overall, Hester Prynne is a good mother and should be able to keep her fateful daughter, Pearl.
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).
Pearl is an offspring of sin whose life revolves around the affair between her mother and Reverend Dimmesdale. Due to her mother's intense guilt during her upbringing, she is not able to become more than a mirror image of her surroundings; like a chameleon, she mimics everything around her, and the changes that occur externally affect her internally. Pearl stands out as a radiant child implicated by the sin of her parents. Without a doubt, if Pearl hadn't been born and such a burden had not been put upon Hester, she would have experienced a life without visible ridicule. It is only when the sin is publicly revealed that she is liberated by the truth.
Throughout all the sinful things Hester Prynne has done, she still managed to obtain good qualities. Hester was an adulterer from the book The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Hester was looked down upon by the citizens of Boston because of the sin she and another person committed, but no one knew who her partner in crime was because she refused to release his name. Towards the very end of the story Hester’s accomplice confessed and left Hester and Pearl feeling joyous, because now they didn’t have to keep in a secret. Hester is a trustworthy, helpful, and brave woman throughout The Scarlet Letter.