In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter the character of Pearl, child of Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale, plays many roles throughout the book. A physical reminder and anchor for Hester in the real world and an extraordinary spiritual counterpart to Dimmesdale in the other world. Anne Marie McNamara discusses in The Character of Flame: The Function of Pearl in The Scarlet Letter the true importance of Pearl’s role in the story and her help in the ultimate outcome of Dimmesdale’s confession.
First, Pearl’s dynamics throughout the novel ranges from “the real and the preternatural” (McNamara, 540) almost constantly. Around Hester the more realistic part of Pearl is revealed, on average her energy seems to be “more-than-child”(540) though she still acts as a real child for the needs of Hester. Whose exigencies consist of “the restoration of …show more content…
Hester soon realizes she is looking at a dramatically changed man and McNamara suggests that Pearl was the catalyst for it. Ever since she rejected him back in the forest, Dimmesdale “has moved in bewilderment and agony at the conflict within in him towards this moment when he will identifying her as his daughter to the world.” (McNamara, 552). Upon his collapse, Pearl and Hester rush to him, guiding him up to the “platform of disgrace” (552) where he inevitably confesses and meet his somber ending.
In conclusion, Pearl is a pivotal role in The Scarlet Letter, more so than many give her credit for. “Pearl and Chillingworth probed that [Dimmesdale’s] wound for seven years, the one for the angelic purpose of redemption, the other for the satanic purpose of damnation.” (553) and at the end of it all Pearl emerged the victor. She helped redeem both Hester and Dimmesdale in a fight for good and provided them with the healing the both inevitably
First, Pearl’s dynamics throughout the novel ranges from “the real and the preternatural” (McNamara, 540) almost constantly. Around Hester the more realistic part of Pearl is revealed, on average her energy seems to be “more-than-child”(540) though she still acts as a real child for the needs of Hester. Whose exigencies consist of “the restoration of …show more content…
Hester soon realizes she is looking at a dramatically changed man and McNamara suggests that Pearl was the catalyst for it. Ever since she rejected him back in the forest, Dimmesdale “has moved in bewilderment and agony at the conflict within in him towards this moment when he will identifying her as his daughter to the world.” (McNamara, 552). Upon his collapse, Pearl and Hester rush to him, guiding him up to the “platform of disgrace” (552) where he inevitably confesses and meet his somber ending.
In conclusion, Pearl is a pivotal role in The Scarlet Letter, more so than many give her credit for. “Pearl and Chillingworth probed that [Dimmesdale’s] wound for seven years, the one for the angelic purpose of redemption, the other for the satanic purpose of damnation.” (553) and at the end of it all Pearl emerged the victor. She helped redeem both Hester and Dimmesdale in a fight for good and provided them with the healing the both inevitably