Irony plays a major role in “The Scarlet Letter” by Nathaniel Hawthorne in chapters 6 through 9 that preludes to Hawthorne's main plot. The author uses irony to communicate a deeper meaning and express the truth to the reader in many ways. Throughout the chapters 6-9, irony juxtaposes characters usually in the light they are seen in and the light they actually are in.
In chapter 6, Pearl, Hawthorne portrays irony within the reasoning for Hester naming her child. But she named the infant 'Pearl,' as being of great price, purchased with all she had, -her mother's only treasure," (Hawthorne, page 82, chapter 6). This is ironic because Hester's daughter's name is Pearl. The name 'Pearl' symbolizes purity, however, Hester's daughter is seen with …show more content…
In Pearl's name, the irony is from the sinful deed she is already made of from her mothers wrong doing but that she really is of innocence. Pearl is a child born in shame, looked upon as tainted or arguably of less value in Puritan society, yet by naming her Pearl, Hawthorne emphasizes her worth. Indeed, isolated from her peers, she is high-spirited and close to nature, standing out in contrast to the drab, constrained children of the Puritan elders. Dressed unconventionally in decorative clothing, she is a dynamic personality, shining brightly in the dull, gray landscape of her society. Also, in the Bible, a pearl is compared to heaven, something man will strive to achieve at great cost (Matthew 13:44-45). Pearl likewise is conceived and born at great cost to her parents. Irony that feeds to the plot in The Scarlet Letter is that Dimmesdale remains a respected, well-liked, admired, highly-followed, trendy, beloved, praised and nearly-adored pastor whose following got bigger and bigger the more emaciated, sick-looking, and odd he became. This is especially ironic because it is as if Hawthorne is laughing at those die-hard churchgoers who see right in front of them that their shining light of a leader is obviously going through some very odd and psychologically detrimental issues that are beginning to show physically- and yet- that is precisely what their blindness leads
In chapter 6, Pearl, Hawthorne portrays irony within the reasoning for Hester naming her child. But she named the infant 'Pearl,' as being of great price, purchased with all she had, -her mother's only treasure," (Hawthorne, page 82, chapter 6). This is ironic because Hester's daughter's name is Pearl. The name 'Pearl' symbolizes purity, however, Hester's daughter is seen with …show more content…
In Pearl's name, the irony is from the sinful deed she is already made of from her mothers wrong doing but that she really is of innocence. Pearl is a child born in shame, looked upon as tainted or arguably of less value in Puritan society, yet by naming her Pearl, Hawthorne emphasizes her worth. Indeed, isolated from her peers, she is high-spirited and close to nature, standing out in contrast to the drab, constrained children of the Puritan elders. Dressed unconventionally in decorative clothing, she is a dynamic personality, shining brightly in the dull, gray landscape of her society. Also, in the Bible, a pearl is compared to heaven, something man will strive to achieve at great cost (Matthew 13:44-45). Pearl likewise is conceived and born at great cost to her parents. Irony that feeds to the plot in The Scarlet Letter is that Dimmesdale remains a respected, well-liked, admired, highly-followed, trendy, beloved, praised and nearly-adored pastor whose following got bigger and bigger the more emaciated, sick-looking, and odd he became. This is especially ironic because it is as if Hawthorne is laughing at those die-hard churchgoers who see right in front of them that their shining light of a leader is obviously going through some very odd and psychologically detrimental issues that are beginning to show physically- and yet- that is precisely what their blindness leads