Why is it that Pearl is the direct object that came from the scarlet letter? In The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, the character Pearl is born as a result of her mother Hester committing adultery and sleeping with Reverend Dimmesdale while her husband is away. In “A Pre- Symbolic Struggle: Pearl’s Subject- construction in The Scarlet Letter” by Chenghe Yao, the topic of the way the scarlet letter symbolizes her morals and the way she was brought up. In Yao’s article, it shows how Pearl's entire life is based on the effects of the scarlet letter, the way she is taught, and the way society views her is vital in a way that we can better understand the character of Pearl. Pearl is raised by only her mother, becoming very attached …show more content…
Yao states “Hester announces that she can teach the girl what she has been taught by the scarlet letter” Hester believes that what she has been taught by the letter should be passed onto pearl instead of her being molded to fit in with everyone else. In the novel, there is a scene where Pearl is told to talk about her father (God), knowing the answer she says that she was “plucked from a rose bush” (chapter 8). So instead of this little girl saying what she's been taught she strays from the ways of everyone else and decides to be her own person, even though she knows it could cause trouble. The article says “ It enables infinite space for imagination and explanation” (Yao) referring to the scarlet letter, and Pearl does just that. In the novel, Pearl insists for an answer on what the letter means, put Hester refuses to tell. Pearl is fascinated by the idea of “The Black Man” otherwise known as the devil, and Hester tells her that she has met him. Pearl is constantly wanting to see him……... In the Pearls interest in the scarlet letter is displayed when she asks questions and wants to learn about it, even though it’s what she has grown up …show more content…
Yao says that “It seems that Pearl is more proficient in communicating with the wild, even barbaric creatures then civilized people” thus showing that since society has shunned pearl is not normal and does not know how to communicate with others. Society creates it nearly impossible for pearl two have relationships with children her age because of the portrayal of her being this demonic, child of sin. So when Pearl sees children she does not know how to react and therefore has no friends. The article states, “She is curious about the world, in which wild behaviors are regarded as being driven by devils” this giving a representation of how society viewed her. Pearls erratic behaviors were a result of the way she was treated and never interacting with anyone other than her mother. Yao states, “Pearl's harmonious relation with nature, indicates that she is a part of nature.” showing that Pearl is not apart of society, but better identifies with nature so Pearl is not a normal girl. Pearls strange demeanor is what causes her to not fit in with others and is one of the key reasons she fits so well with nature, acting as an escape from reality.
The article gives compelling evidence to support how pearls behavior is displayed, the meaning behind her connecting two the scarlet letter, and her inability to connect with society. Pearl is depicted as this demon child that is the result of sin. The article
Pearl looks like the human version of the scarlet letter. 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 sin that her parents committed. Hester accepts the Puritan way and sees Pearl as a creature of
The naivete of a child is often the most easily subjected to influence, and Pearl of the Scarlet Letter is no exception. Throughout the writing by Nathaniel Hawthorne, she observes as Dimmesdale and the rest of the Puritan society interact with the scarlet letter that Hester, her mother, wears. Hawthorne tries to use Pearl’s youth to teach the reader that sometimes it’s the most harmless characters that are the most impactful overall. In the novel, The Scarlet Letter, Pearl has learned the greatest lesson from the scarlet letter through her innocence as a youth and her realization of the identity of both herself and her mother.
All three of them share one thing in common. They are sinners and outcasts in the eyes of Puritan society. To the members of the puritan community the forest is a secretive place of sin; yet when Pearl enters the forest it is almost as if she is at home, “that the mother-forest, and these wild things which it nourished, all recognized a kindred wildness in the human child” (P.140). Pearls connection to the forest demonstrates her disconnect from society. She feels more regretful for throwing pebbles at a “little gray bird, with a white breast” (P.122) then she does for assaulting the scarlet letter upon her mothers chest. This demonstrates how the scarlet letter has alienated her from human
Furthermore, Pearl is repeatedly described as having elfish qualities and as being something other than human. Despite the townspeople’s original intentions, the meaning of the scarlet letter evolves from “adultery” to “able,” and is transferred from the letter to Pearl, all while conveying the hypocrisy of Puritan society.
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.
In “Pearl,” the sixth chapter of the The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne speaks of Pearl’s ability to create imaginary playmates due to her lack of real friends stating “Pearl, in dearth of human playmates, was thrown more upon the visionary throng which she created.” (Hawthorne 87) Pearl is not able to find human playmates, so instead creates imaginary friends of her own, displaying her ability to work around tough situations throughout her life. In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet letter, imagination, seclusion, and compassion are all the characteristics that represent Pearl as unusual in the puritan society.
Those who read “The Scarlet Letter” perceive Pearl as she who personifies her mother’s sinful extramarital affair. After all, Hester adorns her in the same manner as the infamous letter. Yet, near the end of the book Hawthorne revealed, through Reverend Dimmesdale’s final moments, another reason behind his characterization of Pearl:
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).
At the first of Pearl’s role in the story, it appears as though someone so grounded in her beliefs, spiritual and mental, would never be dynamic in character. However, that is not the case. This character analysis will explain the life of Pearl, and what she meant to other roles of The Scarlet Letter.
Pearl is reluctant to approach Dimmesdale, and she throws a fit when she sees her mother’s scarlet letter on the ground along with her hair down. Pearl has assumed the role of a living scarlet letter, so when she sees the letter on the ground she sees herself being disregarded by her own mother. Hawthorne’s purpose of this chapter is simple, he wants the reader to understand what is happening through Pearl’s perspective. For her or for any child, change is hard, and Hawthorne clearly demonstrates this idea throughout this
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a book of much symbolism. One of the most complex and misunderstood symbols in the book is Pearl, the illegitimate daughter of Hester Prynne and Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale. Throughout the novel Pearl develops into a dynamic symbol; one that is always changing. In the following essay, I will explore Hawthorne's symbolism of Pearl from birth, age three, and age seven. Also, I will attempt to disprove the notion that Pearl is branded with a metaphorical scarlet letter "A" representing amorality; instead she represents the immorality of her mother's adultery.
In Puritan society, nature is thought of a place where many evil things occur, but nature gives birth to innocence and beauty. This is why Hester brings her to live in the forest. She can keep Pearl hidden away from the Puritan society because her daughter is the product of her adultery. Nature also is the child of earth just like Pearl is the child of Hester. Since they’re both children, it makes a much more understandable reason why they can get along so well. Pearl considers nature her playmate. When she goes to play by the brook, the brook is described by Nathaniel Hawthorne as,“Continually, indeed, as it stole onward the streamlet kept up a babble, kind, quiet, soothing, but melancholy, like the voice of a young child that was spending its infancy without
Pearl and the other Puritan children have a huge role in Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter. Pearl is displayed as very different from any of the other children in the book. The attitudes of the children tell the reader a lot about the lives of the Puritans. The story emphasizes that children were to be seen but not heard however, Hester chooses to let Pearl live a full and exciting life. Hester does not restrict pearl or hide her from anyone or anything. This is part of the reason that Pearl becomes such a colorful child. People see Pearl as a child of sin; the devil’s child. Pearl is quite the opposite. She is a happy and intelligent little girl. Pearl is born with an incredible sense of intuition. She sees the pain her mother feels but does not understand where the pain is coming from. Pearl knows somehow deep in her heart that Dimmesdale is her father. She takes a very strong liking to him. This makes it much harder on dimmesdale to work through the guilt seeing what a beautiful thing came from his terrible secret. Pearl serves as a blessing to and a curse to Hester. Hester Prynne loves her daughter dearly but she is a constant reminder of the mistakes she has made.
In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, Pearl, is a symbol of sin and adultery in the sense that she leads Dimmsdale and Hester to their confession and the acceptance of their sins. A beauitful daughter of the towns adulturist has somtimes demon like traits. She is also the only living symblol of the scarlet letter "A". In another way Pearl also makes a connection between Dimmsdale and Hester.
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.