| The Scarlet Letter is a novel with much symbolism. | | | | connection with others (Peckham 92). Pearl brings him |
| Throughout the novel several characters represent | | | | guilt when he would not stand with them on the |
| other ideas. One of the most complex and | | | | scaffold; "Thou was not bold! - thou wast not true! ... |
| misunderstood characters in the novel is Pearl, the | | | | Thou wouldst not promise to take my hand, and my |
| daughter of Hester Prynne. Pearl, throughout the | | | | mother's hand, tomorrow noontide" (Hawthorne 150)! |
| story, develops into a dynamic symbol - one that is | | | | Hester's guilt, however, is derived from both |
| always changing. Although Pearl changes, she always | | | | Chillingsworth and Dimmesdale. Chillingsworth married |
| symbolizes evil. Pearl symbolizes evil in the story by | | | | a woman who did not love him, which is one of the |
| representing God's punishment of Hester's sin, | | | | causes of Hester's guilt. Dimmesdale causes her guilt |
| symbolizing the guilt and the scarlet letter that | | | | when he sees her suffering alone for the sin that |
| controls her behavior, and defying Puritan laws by | | | | they both committed. Though they both committed |
| being cheerful and associating with nature. Pearl | | | | the same sin, only Hester's shines through. Pearl was |
| represents God's punishment by her mocking and | | | | cheerful due to the scarlet letter her mother |
| nagging of Hester. Throughout the novel she | | | | possessed. When the breastplate at Governor |
| sometimes seemed to her mother as almost a witch | | | | Bellingham's Mansion distorts the scarlet "A" into |
| baby (Matthiessen 104). She is a baffling mixture of | | | | something overpowering and horrible, it is Pearl who |
| strong emotions with a fierce temper and a capacity | | | | points at it, "smiling at her mother with the elfish |
| for evil. With Pearl, Hester's life became one of | | | | intelligence that was so familiar an expression on her |
| constant nagging, and no joy. The child could not be | | | | small physiognomy" (Hawthorne 99). Even as a child, |
| made amenable to rules. Hester even remarks to | | | | Pearl is affixed to the letter "and, putting up her little |
| herself, "Oh Father in heaven - if thou art still my | | | | hand, she grasped it, [the letter] smiling, not |
| father - what is this being which I have brought into | | | | doubtfully, but Piyasena/Pine 4 with a decided gleam" |
| the world" (Hawthorne 89)? Pearl would harass her | | | | (Hawthorne 90). |
| mother Piyasena/Pine 2 over the scarlet "A" she | | | | Pearl's tendency to focus on the scarlet letter is fully |
| wore. In time, Hester was subjected to so much | | | | developed when she mimics her mother by placing a |
| ridicule from Pearl and others that she was forced | | | | seaweed "A" on her own chest. Much of Pearl's |
| into seclusion. Pearl represents the sins of both | | | | strangeness comes from her exceptional quickness |
| Hester and Dimmesdale. Pearl is said to be the direct | | | | of mind and the abnormal environment in which she is |
| consequence of sin (Martin 108). Their sins include | | | | reared with only her mother as a companion. As Pearl |
| lying to the people about the affair that led to Pearl. | | | | develops a personality, she becomes symbolic of the |
| Hester realizes what Pearl represents when she does | | | | kind of passion that accompanied Hester's sin. Hester |
| not hold Pearl up in front of the "A." She carries the | | | | tolerated Pearl's pretentious behavior but could not |
| child around because it is a direct reflection of her sin. | | | | find it in her heart to condemn the child. As Pearl thus |
| Hester is, "wisely judging that one token of her | | | | becomes so closely associated with the letter "A" on |
| shame would but poorly serve to hide another" | | | | Hester's breast she becomes the embodiment not |
| (Hawthorne 48). | | | | only of Hester's sin but also of her conscience. Nature |
| Dimmesdale's sin is not adultery but not having the | | | | is an amusing hobby for Pearl; therefore one of her |
| courage to admit that he had adulterated. Therefore | | | | favorite activities is playing with flowers and trees. |
| his is a "concealed sin." The scarlet letter amuses | | | | She fits in with natural things, "and she was gentler |
| Pearl, and also controls her behavior. It is noted that, | | | | here [the forest] then in the grassy margined streets |
| Pearl has been described in terms almost exclusively | | | | of the settlement, or in her mother's cottage" as |
| of uncontrolled, chaotic passion (MacLean 54). | | | | Hawthorne notes in the novel (202). She is so closely |
| Throughout the novel Pearl is attracted to the "A." | | | | affiliated to nature that the creatures of the forest |
| Even when she is just a baby, "her infant's eyes had | | | | approach her instead of disperse. "The |
| been caught by the glimmering of the gold | | | | mother-forest, and these wild things which it |
| embroidery about the letter" (Hawthorne 90). When | | | | nourished, all recognized a kindred wildness in the |
| Pearl is older and Hester throws the letter on the | | | | human child" Hawthorne notes as Pearl is on a walk |
| ground, Pearl yells at her mother until she places the | | | | with her mother (202). |
| "A" back on her bosom. Hawthorne says that Pearl is, | | | | However, the Puritans believed that anything |
| "the scarlet letter in another form; the scarlet letter | | | | affiliated with the forest was evil; therefore, Pearl |
| endowed with life," (95) which proves the she is truly | | | | defies their laws by being effervescent and joyful in |
| the scarlet letter. Throughout the book the "A" is the | | | | the woods. Some of the Puritans even believe her to |
| sign by which the colonial authority seek to fix the | | | | be a demon offspring. So unusual is her behavior that |
| crime and the criminal (Ragussis 97), although the | | | | she is often referred to in such terms as "elf child," |
| cloth shows the sin so does Pearl. She is a far | | | | Piyasena/Pine 5 "imp," and "airy sprite." Pearl is a |
| stronger device for punishing Hester than Piyasena | | | | virtual shouting match between the Puritanical views |
| Pine 3 the piece of cloth on Hester's chest. Due to | | | | and the Romantic ways. Pearl is a source of many |
| her influence, Pearl becomes the chief agent to her | | | | kinds of symbolism. She is both a rose and indeed |
| mother's salvation. Hester and Dimmesdale share | | | | the scarlet letter. If she had not been born, Hester |
| much guilt because of Pearl. Dimmesdale's guilt is filled | | | | would not have had to wear the letter. Pearl is a |
| with mental anguish, and serves as a constant | | | | burden to Hester; yet Hester loves her. She is also |
| reminder of his sin. Dimmesdale is a minister [who] | | | | her mother's only treasure and her only source of |
| commits adultery and is driven to public confession | | | | survival. Without Pearl, Hester would have lived a |
| by remorse (Martin 108). He remains silent so that he | | | | different life, one without the scarlet letter, one |
| can continue to do God's work as a minister. It is said | | | | without sin, and one without her treasure. |
| that he was a guilty character [who] finds empathy in | | | | |