While conversing with Mr. Dimmesdale in the forest, Hester claims that shame, despair, and solitude had been her teacher. “In all things else, I have striven to be true! Truth was the one virtue which I might have held fast, and did hold fast through all extremity; save when thy good,-thy life,- thy fame,- were put in question! Then I consented to a deception. But a lie is never good, even though death threaten on the other side! Dost thou not see what I could say? That old man!-the physician!-he whom they call Roger Chillingworth!-he was my husband!” (133) Prynne’s lifestyle of truth and honest inevitably forced her into one of also secrecy and solitude, followed by shame and despair upon seeing all of the suffering caused by her silence.
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Physically, Pearl possesses “rich and luxuriant beauty...a bright complexion, eyes possessing intensity both of depth and glow, and hair already of a deep, glossy brown...There was fire in her and throughout her.” (69) However, Pearl, the aftermath of the sin of adultery, holds much more complicated character traits beneath her childish appearance. At first an innocent three year old baby forced to go through the public ignominy with her mother, Pearl’s character is later describe as imaginative and intelligent, but also stubborn, immature and life-changing. Despite her otherwise good qualities and beauty, which she had received from her mother, others often referred to her as elf-child, imp, and demon offspring; as the outcome of sinful passion, she must be a sin herself. As a reminder of her mother’s sinful passion, it would appear that Pearl’s odd behavior is associated with the unlawful components behind her birth. For example, she threw rocks at other children as a sign of friendship and, even more oddly, forced her mother to continue to wear the scarlet letter that seemed to be a burden for her mother. Keeping her mother in the reality that she tried to escape from, Pearl often provokes the other characters in the novel, and sometimes, especially in Mr. DImmesdale’s case, leaving them fearful of her. “‘Dost thou think the child will be glad to know me?’ asked the minister, somewhat uneasily.” (139) Dimmesdale’s fear of Pearl comes based on their past, principally when Dimmesdale ignores her when she offers to hold his hand. Additionally, her child-like maturity repeatedly caused issues for her mother. In one instance, Pearl acted up in response to the roses in Governor Bellingham’s mansion. And in response to the question asked of her, religiously where did she come from, Pearl responded “that she had not been made at all, but had been plucked by her mother
Physically, Pearl possesses “rich and luxuriant beauty...a bright complexion, eyes possessing intensity both of depth and glow, and hair already of a deep, glossy brown...There was fire in her and throughout her.” (69) However, Pearl, the aftermath of the sin of adultery, holds much more complicated character traits beneath her childish appearance. At first an innocent three year old baby forced to go through the public ignominy with her mother, Pearl’s character is later describe as imaginative and intelligent, but also stubborn, immature and life-changing. Despite her otherwise good qualities and beauty, which she had received from her mother, others often referred to her as elf-child, imp, and demon offspring; as the outcome of sinful passion, she must be a sin herself. As a reminder of her mother’s sinful passion, it would appear that Pearl’s odd behavior is associated with the unlawful components behind her birth. For example, she threw rocks at other children as a sign of friendship and, even more oddly, forced her mother to continue to wear the scarlet letter that seemed to be a burden for her mother. Keeping her mother in the reality that she tried to escape from, Pearl often provokes the other characters in the novel, and sometimes, especially in Mr. DImmesdale’s case, leaving them fearful of her. “‘Dost thou think the child will be glad to know me?’ asked the minister, somewhat uneasily.” (139) Dimmesdale’s fear of Pearl comes based on their past, principally when Dimmesdale ignores her when she offers to hold his hand. Additionally, her child-like maturity repeatedly caused issues for her mother. In one instance, Pearl acted up in response to the roses in Governor Bellingham’s mansion. And in response to the question asked of her, religiously where did she come from, Pearl responded “that she had not been made at all, but had been plucked by her mother