The Scarlet Letter is a gothic romance novel published in 1850 and written by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Throughout the novel, Hawthorne focuses on the struggles and hardships of Hester Prynne, a young maiden dealing with the strict, austere, Puritan punishment for the adulterous birth of her child, Pearl. One of the most complex and intricate characters in the novel is Pearl. While seen by many as a minor detail to the overall theme of the story, she is a central aspect designed to make sure that Hester never forgets her sin. Pearl is an outcast of the society she lives in, and, because of her mother’s sin, the members of the community oftentimes shun her. Pearl is a living image of the scarlet letter and serves as a constant reminder of Hester’s
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Hawthorne shows this relation many times throughout the novel. In chapter seven, “The Governor’s Hall,” Hester and Pearl visit the home of Governor Bellingham. Pearl’s gown “inevitably reminded the beholder of the token which Hester was doomed to wear on her bosom. It was the scarlet letter in another form; the scarlet letter endowed with life!” (Hawthorne 84). Hester dressed Pearl in a scarlet gown with gold embroidering, exactly like the scarlet letter on Hester’s chest. Many times throughout the novel, Pearl would often become infatuated with the letter and focus endlessly on it. “…Pearl took some eel grass, and imitated, as best as she could, on her own bosom, the decoration with which she was so familiar with on her mother’s.” (Hawthorne 147). Throughout Pearl’s regular questioning, Hester has never denied the importance of the scarlet letter she wears. However, in this scene, Hester must ultimately deny its meaning to Pearl after she incessantly questions her about it. During the forest scene in Chapter 16, Pearl tells Hester that the sunshine runs away from her and is afraid of the scarlet letter that she wears. In the novel, Hawthorne uses nature and sunlight to symbolize goodness and happiness, but, in this scene, the sunlight refuses to shine on Hester because of her sinful life. “Hawthorne’s Hester is punished by the community which she has offended; she has not been able to keep her secret, Pearl being the evidence of her sin.” (Donoghue 221). Pearl is constantly telling Hester things that bring back memories of her sin and means no real harm by it. However, to Hester, Pearl’s remarks are a tribute of the punishment she must
Hawthorne shows this relation many times throughout the novel. In chapter seven, “The Governor’s Hall,” Hester and Pearl visit the home of Governor Bellingham. Pearl’s gown “inevitably reminded the beholder of the token which Hester was doomed to wear on her bosom. It was the scarlet letter in another form; the scarlet letter endowed with life!” (Hawthorne 84). Hester dressed Pearl in a scarlet gown with gold embroidering, exactly like the scarlet letter on Hester’s chest. Many times throughout the novel, Pearl would often become infatuated with the letter and focus endlessly on it. “…Pearl took some eel grass, and imitated, as best as she could, on her own bosom, the decoration with which she was so familiar with on her mother’s.” (Hawthorne 147). Throughout Pearl’s regular questioning, Hester has never denied the importance of the scarlet letter she wears. However, in this scene, Hester must ultimately deny its meaning to Pearl after she incessantly questions her about it. During the forest scene in Chapter 16, Pearl tells Hester that the sunshine runs away from her and is afraid of the scarlet letter that she wears. In the novel, Hawthorne uses nature and sunlight to symbolize goodness and happiness, but, in this scene, the sunlight refuses to shine on Hester because of her sinful life. “Hawthorne’s Hester is punished by the community which she has offended; she has not been able to keep her secret, Pearl being the evidence of her sin.” (Donoghue 221). Pearl is constantly telling Hester things that bring back memories of her sin and means no real harm by it. However, to Hester, Pearl’s remarks are a tribute of the punishment she must