Essay on Pearl in The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Pearl in The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne Hesters daughter, Pearl, functions primarily as a symbol. She is quite young during most of the events of this novel—when Dimmesdale dies she is only seven years old—and her real importance lies in her ability to provoke the adult characters in the book. She asks them pointed questions and draws their attention, and the readers, to the denied or overlooked truths of the adult world. In general, children in The Scarlet Letter are portrayed as more perceptive and more honest than adults, and Pearl is the most perceptive of them all. 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†¦show more content†¦She touches the scarlet letter, but little does she know that she is the reason for the punishment. They are social outcasts, so they don’t leave their house much. Pearl plays alone and has best friends that are imaginary. She distrusts her own imaginary friends for the same reason that she distrusts all the Puritans in the colony. People treat Hester and Pearl differently than everyone else is treated. She only loves Hester, because Hester spends time with her and is a good mother. She plays with her and teaches her Bible stories. Pearl knows the whole catechism at the age of three, but refuses to say it to anyone. She is smarter than everyone thinks she is. Chillingworth speaks to Pearl about the scarlet letter. He asked her if she knew the reason why her mother must wear the scarlet letter al l the time. She replies, â€Å"Yes, that is the same reason why the preacher holds his hand over his heart.† Pearl asks her mom all the time the reason why she wears the scarlet letter and why the preacher holds his hand over his heart. She knows that they both do, but she doesn’t know why. Hester tells her that she wears it because of the pretty gold thread, but she doesn’t know the minister’s reason. Later in the story, Dimmesdale, Hester, and Pearl meet in the forest, and Hester rips the scarlet letter off. Pearl gets mad then, because she knows that her mother is supposed to wear it. Dimmesdale kisses Pearl, but she washes the kiss off withShow MoreRelatedThe Symbol Of Pearl In The Scarlet Letter, By Nathaniel Hawthorne1414 Words   |  6 Pages Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter exhibits 17th century Boston, Massachusetts and the puritans’ lifestyle through the story of Hester Prynne and her sin. Society casts Hester out for her sin of adultery by making her wear a scarlet ‘A’ on her bosom. Hester commits adultery with another man, and later gives birth to a baby girl, Pearl. Although Pearl at first seems to be just the child of Hester and is a supporting character, she later becomes a significant part of the novel and is a prominentRead MoreTheme Of Guilt In The Scarlet Letter820 Words   |  4 PagesNathaniel Hawthorne was a famous american author. 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In the following essay, I will explore Hawthornes symbolism of Pearl from birthRead More Scarlet Critique Essay870 Words   |  4 Pages The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne was written in 1850. It was based on the Puritans of the 1600s, which were revived in Hawthornes era. Hawthorne descended from Puritan heritage and harbored a sense of guilt and hatred for their way of life. He used many themes and literary techniques in The Scarlet Letter including symbolism and irony. He emphasized the individuals role in the community and the role of women in society. Hawthorne used romanticism as opposed to the classical correctness