Analysis Of Pearl Character In The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne
In the story, Hawthorne makes Pearl as a invocation and a curse. Pearl was born from sin and was rejected by everyone including the children. Pearl served as her mother’s indignity. However, she also served as her mother’s joy. Pearl’s actions represented the reckless side of her. She is often described as a wild child.
Pearl’s being was notable in some key events and was just remarkable in the story as a whole. Pearl’s action described her indistinct behavior. Her mischievous behavior describes her as a whole. Although Pearl is the consequence of Hester’s sin, she also represents the “problem-solver”. Throughout the story Pearl’s mother was self conscience of herself with the Scarlet letter. Pearl was like the vindication and relived her mother of her “self conscience” sin. Pearl really isn’t a bad child, she does questionable things but really she is just being a kid. Being around the environment she grew up in she had her own thoughts on the scarlet letter. Pearl was not ashamed of the scarlet letter or being the living scarlet letter. So, she did not understand why people were so ashamed of it. Pearl being young did not understand why her and her mother acted as a reject. Everytime she asked her mother about the scarlet letter, her mother covered it up with a lie. Hawthorne imbues Pearl’s character as a unique character. The reason he did was to explain that difference is not sinful. In the story, they often referred to Pearl as a wild child. Even though Pearl is described as a “demon” she did not care what others thought of her. The reason he described her as unique was that at such a young age, Pearl had accepted the scarlet letter, she had a positive attraction to it. In the story, it was describing when Pearl was an infant she would try to grab at the scarlet letter on Hester’s bosom. She acknowledges that the scarlet letter was also part of her.
Pearl’s nature in the Scarlet letter relates to the Tiger in the poem “The Tyger and The Lamb” because they are exemplifying the same characteristics. In the poem, the author questions the creation of the Tiger, “What immortal hand or eye could frame thy fearful symmetry. ” Along with people in the Scarlet Letter questioning Pearls existence. In the Scarlet Letter, they say “She’s a being of all in disorder. ”
Pearl also had an innocent nature. In the Scarlet Letter, the name Pearl itself meant “ of great price purchased”. In the early chapter of the book, Hawthorne had described Pearl’s life as innocent. “We have as yet hardly spoken of the infant, whose life had sprung. ” Pearl really did not do anything wrong she just was born. Pearl was born and because of the sin her mother committed she was a reject to others. Pearl’s innocence also played a key role in Dimmesdale confession. Dimmesdale had seen Pearl and finally broke down because he felt like Pearl was innocent, she did not deserve all of this dismissal from the town. Arthur felt like Pearl needed to know the truth. This further describes Pearl’s innocence.
Pearl’s significance through the story was she was acting as the “living scarlet letter”. Her significance in the story was she acted as a burden. Pearl was a child born from wedlock. People looked at her as the devil’s child, just because she was born from sin. Also, she acted as a blessing.
Pearl really symbolizes a blessing too. Pearl serves as a blessing to Hester because she is the reason that Hester accepts her sin. Another example of her acting as a blessing is when Dimmesdale dies Pearl inherits all of his riches. Pearl also plays a key role into Dimmesdale confession. At the end of the story Pearl, Hester, and Arthur decide to run away. In doing so, Dimmesdale dies. As dimmesdale dies Pearl kisses him. In result of Dimmesdale’s death, Pearl inherits all of his riches. Hester and Pearl disappears for several years. Later Pearl marries a European aristocrat. She then starts a family of her own.
