In the face of god and people Pearl’s life is the consequence of her mother’s sin, Pearl not only functions as a complex character, but she is also a symbol within the novel. She is the second reminder of Hester’s sin; the first is the scarlet letter. Throughout The Scarlet Letter, Pearl is a painful reminder of evilness that resulted from adultery. She is labeled as a wicked child and referred to as the Devil’s daughter. But, she does not only signify wickedness, for she represents something far more: the pearl of great price.
After committing adultery and refusing to give up the name of the man involved, Hester Prynne was labeled with a scarlet letter A. This symbolized adultery and was a mark that could never be removed in the public’s …show more content…
Pearl immediately felt loneliness and rejection in respect to the other children. All the children would ignore her, and those whom did come and surround her were met with stones and Pearl’s screams that sounded like a witch’s. Her own mother trembled at the sound of Pearl’s tongue (Hawthorne 502). Pearl was viewed as a child of the Devil’s work. She had sticks, bunches of rags, and flowers and made puppets of witchcraft. “Her one baby-voice served a multitude of imaginary personages” (Hawthorne 502). Pearl had a vivid imagination and made toys that signified the other children. The difference between Pearl and a so-called normal child is that Pearl hated her toys and did not play house with them; instead, Pearl used her toys to smite the children. This was one of the many reasons she is labeled as a witch …show more content…
Instead, Pearl ends up the “pearl of great price” and restores Hester and Dimmesdale’s souls. Throughout the story, Pearl is rejected by her father, Dimmesdale. He acknowledges her in the deep forest and at dark-time, but never in the sunlight among all the people. Pearl symbolizes a dark secret between Hester and Dimmesdale. The moment Dimmesdale acknowledges Pearl as his own child “a spell was broken” (Hawthorne 589). Pearl cries upon her father. Dimmesdale and Pearl pledge that she would grow up and live a life where she would be a woman of the community and not forgotten or rejected. This moment offers peace to Dimmesdale, Hester, and Pearl, for Pearl is no longer a dark secret. Instead, she is set free by the truth.
Pearl serves as both a character and a symbol within the novel. She is a consequence of sexual sin. At the start of the story, Pearl is referred to as evil. To Hester, Pearl is a devastating reminder of her sin and serves as punishment. To the people of the town, Pearl is a symbol of wickedness associated with the Devil’s work. By the end of the story, Pearl is acknowledge by her father; therefore, is released from a sort of curse. She is redeemed of her mother’s sin and serves as a symbol of freedom and unleashed natural
After committing adultery and refusing to give up the name of the man involved, Hester Prynne was labeled with a scarlet letter A. This symbolized adultery and was a mark that could never be removed in the public’s …show more content…
Pearl immediately felt loneliness and rejection in respect to the other children. All the children would ignore her, and those whom did come and surround her were met with stones and Pearl’s screams that sounded like a witch’s. Her own mother trembled at the sound of Pearl’s tongue (Hawthorne 502). Pearl was viewed as a child of the Devil’s work. She had sticks, bunches of rags, and flowers and made puppets of witchcraft. “Her one baby-voice served a multitude of imaginary personages” (Hawthorne 502). Pearl had a vivid imagination and made toys that signified the other children. The difference between Pearl and a so-called normal child is that Pearl hated her toys and did not play house with them; instead, Pearl used her toys to smite the children. This was one of the many reasons she is labeled as a witch …show more content…
Instead, Pearl ends up the “pearl of great price” and restores Hester and Dimmesdale’s souls. Throughout the story, Pearl is rejected by her father, Dimmesdale. He acknowledges her in the deep forest and at dark-time, but never in the sunlight among all the people. Pearl symbolizes a dark secret between Hester and Dimmesdale. The moment Dimmesdale acknowledges Pearl as his own child “a spell was broken” (Hawthorne 589). Pearl cries upon her father. Dimmesdale and Pearl pledge that she would grow up and live a life where she would be a woman of the community and not forgotten or rejected. This moment offers peace to Dimmesdale, Hester, and Pearl, for Pearl is no longer a dark secret. Instead, she is set free by the truth.
Pearl serves as both a character and a symbol within the novel. She is a consequence of sexual sin. At the start of the story, Pearl is referred to as evil. To Hester, Pearl is a devastating reminder of her sin and serves as punishment. To the people of the town, Pearl is a symbol of wickedness associated with the Devil’s work. By the end of the story, Pearl is acknowledge by her father; therefore, is released from a sort of curse. She is redeemed of her mother’s sin and serves as a symbol of freedom and unleashed natural