The Scarlet Letter A Look At Pearl

The Scarlet Letter: A Look At Pearl Essay, Research Paper The Scarlet Letter The Scarlet Letter is a novel with much symbolism. Throughout the novel several characters represent other ideas. One of the most complex and misunderstood characters in the novel is Pearl, the daughter of Hester Prynne. Pearl, throughout the story, develops into a dynamic symbol ? one that is always changing. Although Pearl changes, she always symbolizes evil. Pearl symbolizes evil in the story by representing God?s punishment of Hester?s sin, symbolizing the guilt and the scarlet letter that controls her behavior, and defying Puritan laws by being cheerful and associating with nature. Pearl represents God?s punishment by her mocking and nagging of Hester. Throughout the novel she sometimes seemed

to her mother as almost a witch baby (Matthiessen 104). She is a baffling mixture of strong emotions with a fierce temper and a capacity for evil. With Pearl, Hester?s life became one of constant nagging, and no joy. The child could not be made amenable to rules. Hester even remarks to herself, ?Oh Father in heaven ? if thou art still my father ? what is this being which I have brought into the world? (Hawthorne 89)? Pearl would harass her mother over the scarlet ?A? she wore. In time, Hester was subjected to so much ridicule from Pearl and others that she was forced into seclusion. Pearl represents the sins of both Hester and Dimmesdale. Pearl is said to be the direct consequence of sin (Martin 108). Their sins include lying to the people about the affair that led to Pearl.

Hester realizes what Pearl represents when she does not hold Pearl up in front of the ?A.? She carries the child around because it is a direct reflection of her sin. Hester is, ?wisely judging that one token of her shame would but poorly serve to hide another? (Hawthorne 48). Dimmesdale?s sin is not adultery but not having the courage to admit that he had adulterated. Therefore his is a ?concealed sin.? The scarlet letter amuses Pearl, and also controls her behavior. It is noted that, Pearl has been described in terms almost exclusively of uncontrolled, chaotic passion (MacLean 54). Throughout the novel Pearl is attracted to the ?A.? Even when she is just a baby, ?her infant?s eyes had been caught by the glimmering of the gold embroidery about the letter? (Hawthorne 90). When

Pearl is older and Hester throws the letter on the ground, Pearl yells at her mother until she places the ?A? back on her bosom. Hawthorne says that Pearl is, ?the scarlet letter in another form; the scarlet letter endowed with life,? (95) which proves the she is truly the scarlet letter. Throughout the book the ?A? is the sign by which the colonial authority seek to fix the crime and the criminal (Ragussis 97), although the cloth shows the sin so does Pearl. She is a far stronger device for punishing Hester than the piece of cloth on Hester?s chest. Due to her influence, Pearl becomes the chief agent to her mother?s salvation. Hester and Dimmesdale share much guilt because of Pearl. Dimmesdale?s guilt is filled with mental anguish, and serves as a constant reminder of his sin.

Dimmesdale is a minister [who] commits adultery and is driven to public confession by remorse (Martin 108). He remains silent so that he can continue to do God?s work as a minister. It is said that he was a guilty character [who] finds empathy in connection with others (Peckham 92). Pearl brings him guilt when he would not stand with them on the scaffold; ?Thou was not bold! ? thou wast not true! ? Thou wouldst not promise to take my hand, and my mother?s hand, tomorrow noontide? (Hawthorne 150)! Hester?s guilt, however, is derived from both Chillingsworth and Dimmesdale. Chillingsworth married a woman who did not love him, which is one of the causes of Hester?s guilt. Dimmesdale causes her guilt when he sees her suffering alone for the sin that they both committed. Though they