In the corners of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, stand two fascinating
characters—Pearl Prynne and Roger Chillingworth. Both of these characters are intimately
connected with the protagonist, Hester Prynne, as her illegitimate child and her estranged
husband. They each have a surreal presence and are deeply involved in Hester’s life, particularly
her life after the discovery of her adultery. They are made to be very similar throughout the
story and come to play nearly identical roles. Pearl’s birth is not only the result of the very act
that beings about the scarlet letter, but she becomes just as constant in her mother’s life as that
symbol. In a similar …show more content…
They both are introduced to the reader at the scene of public shaming and are
intimately connected to Hester. In addition, both are characters acquainted with wildness and
mystery—traits associated with the crime itself. In the beginning, Pearl demonstrates a “wild,
desperate, defiant mood” (63). This mood reflects the feelings of Hester at the time of Pearl’s
birth. While, Hester is still in turmoil about the discovery of her sin, Pearl embodies this with
her wild passions. The mystery of her father’s identity is also the mystery of Hester’s fellow
sinner. In these two ways she starts out as a symbol of her mother’s actions. Chillingworth’s
history is also shrouded in mystery. The people of the town wonder at his sudden presence and
are, “inclined to see a providential hand in Roger Chillingworth’s so opportune arrival” (81).
None of them know who he is, but they believe him to be a good man. Their idea of him
parallels Dimmesdale’s situation. The people see Dimmesdale as holy and would never …show more content…
Just as
Dimmesdale’s symbol is secret, so is his tormentor. Both characters constantly shadow their
counterparts and remind them of the sin committed. They are even more effective and
tormenting the sinner than the letter itself. While Pearl is a public embodiment of her mother’s
publicly known sin, Chillingworth is a private tormentor of the sin kept secret.
The role of these characters as embodiments of the scarlet letter intensifies near the end
of the book. Later in the book, we are told that “The scarlet letter had not done its office” (109).
Note that when Hester has decided to run away with Dimmesdale, she throws off her letter,
thinking she can be rid of it. It is Pearl who makes her put it back on, fussing and finally
shouting, “’Come thou and take it up!’” (135). The letter at this point has ceased to keep Hester
from continuing in sin, but Pearl fulfills its role better by forcing her to remember the letter and
the truth of their sin. Dimmesdale, also willing to run away with Hester, has clearly in turn
neglected to learn anything formed his own Scarlet Letter. He very nearly does run away,