A Character Analysis of Pearl in Nathaniel Hawthornes The Scarlet Lett

A Character Analysis of Pearl in Nathaniel Hawthornes The Scarlet garnerWord Count Includes Outline at the End of the PaperThe Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a book of much symbolism. One of the most mazy and misunderstood symbols in the book is Pearl, the illegitimate daughter of Hester Prynne and Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale. Throughout the novel Pearl develops into a dynamic symbol one that is always changing. In the following essay, I will explore Hawthornes symbolism of Pearl from birth, age three, and age seven. Also, I will attempt to disprove the notion that Pearl is brand with a metaphorical flushed letter A representing amorality instead she represents the immorality of her mothers adultery. In The Scarlet Letter, Hester Prynne, for her sins, received a scarlet letter A which she had to go to pieces upon the breast of her gown(Hawthorne 39). It was the Puritan way of treating her as a criminal for the crime of adultery. The Puritan treatment of Hester did not st op simply with the assignment of the letter. As she walked through the streets, she was looked down upon as if she were some sort of evil spirit among them, being punished for some ghastly crime. This gave Hester much mental anguish and grief. On the other hand, Gods treatment of Hester for her sin was quite different than the scarlet letter. He gave Hester the punishment of rearing a very unique child whom she named Pearl. But she named the infant Pearl, as being of great price, --purchased with all she had, --her mothers only treasure(Hawthorne, 62). Hester named her daughter Pearl because she had to give up everything, including freedom, for her. This punishment handed down from God was a constant mental and physical reminder to Hester of what she had done wrong. There was no escaping it. In this aspect, Pearl symbolized Gods way of punishing Hester for the sin of adultery.Even when she was just a baby, her infants eyes had been caught by the glimmering of the gold embroidery ab out the letter (Hawthorne 67). From birth, Pearl seemed to be attracted to the scarlet letter A that clung to her mothers chest. In one circumstantial incident when Pearl was a baby she reached up smiling to touch the scarlet letter on Hesters dress as she stooped over her cradle. This communicate by the baby mortified Hester because of Pearls innocent recognition of the underl... ...final note, Pearl was more than her mothers only treasure or sometimes headache she was her mothers only source of survival. thesis In the following essay, I will explore Hawthornes symbolism of Pearl from birth, age three, and age seven.I.Describe the basic foundation for the novelA. Hester received the scarlet letterB. Punishment by the PuritansC. Punishment by GodII.Pearl at birthA. Pearls attraction to the letterB. Hesters shame of the letterC. Hesters realization of Pearls remaining verbal expressionIII.Pearl at age threeA. Same attraction to the letterB. Pearl associated the letter with a gam eC. Reappearance of Pearls odd expressionIV.Pearl at age sevenA. Bolder acts towards the letterB. Pearls association of Dimmesdale with the letterC. Pearls association with the letterV.ConclusionA. Pearls sources of symbolismB. Pearl as the scarlet letterC. Pearl as her mothers source of survivalWorks CitedHawthorne, Nathaniel., et al., eds. The Scarlet Letter. 3rd ed. New York Norton, 1988.