The Scarlet Letter is seen by many as a story about sin, forgiveness and love and although these are all key points to the story, there are many other symbols and parts to the story that may not be plain to see at first glance. Symbols can be found in many different areas of the book, like the symbol for public shame, which can be found in the scaffold where Hester stood. Although there are multiple symbols found throughout the story, perhaps the most interesting and numerous one is the symbols that surround Pearl. From the very beginning of the story Pearl is introduced as wild and crazed and for the majority of the time she seems angry. Although there are other instances throughout the story where the reader is able to experience a different
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Throughout the story Pearl has a mind of her own and does and thinks what she pleases. She does not fit in well among the other people of the village and many of these people treat her poorly. There are many times that Pearl states that she would willingly go into the forest with the wild things about, to see the Black Man. Pearl has no fear of the forest and she feels very at home and safe here, unlike many people from the village that are terrified to enter. A very influential part, where the reader is clearly able to see this symbol, is the scene in the forest. As Hester speaks to Dimmesdale, Pearl wanders and plays in the nearby woods. She get along well with many of the wild things and it is even believed that the wild things accepted her also for her wild nature. Although it is not known in the story whether to be true but that even the wolves accepted her from the quote “A wolf, came up and smelt of Pearl’s robe, and offered his savage head to be patted by her hand. The truth seems to be, however, that the mother-forest, and these wild things which it nourished, all recognized a kindred wildness in the human child” (Hawthorne 226). Pearl was able to feel very at home with nature and the wilderness because her personality is so similar. The wilderness seems to embrace Pearl in a way many of the people around her don’t. As Ed Wagenknecht stated in Characters in the Scarlet Letter, “There is a circle of radiance about her, and in the forest scene it is she alone whom the sunshine follows” (Wagenknecht 70). Pearl, much like nature hates to be controlled and she wants to be able to make her own choices and do as she
Throughout the story Pearl has a mind of her own and does and thinks what she pleases. She does not fit in well among the other people of the village and many of these people treat her poorly. There are many times that Pearl states that she would willingly go into the forest with the wild things about, to see the Black Man. Pearl has no fear of the forest and she feels very at home and safe here, unlike many people from the village that are terrified to enter. A very influential part, where the reader is clearly able to see this symbol, is the scene in the forest. As Hester speaks to Dimmesdale, Pearl wanders and plays in the nearby woods. She get along well with many of the wild things and it is even believed that the wild things accepted her also for her wild nature. Although it is not known in the story whether to be true but that even the wolves accepted her from the quote “A wolf, came up and smelt of Pearl’s robe, and offered his savage head to be patted by her hand. The truth seems to be, however, that the mother-forest, and these wild things which it nourished, all recognized a kindred wildness in the human child” (Hawthorne 226). Pearl was able to feel very at home with nature and the wilderness because her personality is so similar. The wilderness seems to embrace Pearl in a way many of the people around her don’t. As Ed Wagenknecht stated in Characters in the Scarlet Letter, “There is a circle of radiance about her, and in the forest scene it is she alone whom the sunshine follows” (Wagenknecht 70). Pearl, much like nature hates to be controlled and she wants to be able to make her own choices and do as she