Excluded from the church, Hester becomes Pearl's moral guide. Yet also like the scarlet letter, Pearl becomes Hester's source of strength. Previous You've reached the end of your free preview. What is Hester’s dilemma about telling Pearl the true meaning behind the scarlet letter that she wears? Like the scarlet “A”, the infant Pearl was attached to her mother’s breast both physically for nourishment and emotionally, as Hester loves her dearly. Like the letter, Pearl is the public consequence of Hester's very private sin. One of the most complex and misunderstood symbols in this novel is Pearl, the daughter of Hester Prynne. THE SCARLET LETTER: INTERPRETIVE ESSAY The essay topic chosen is Topic 3, Pearl’s words and actions as the means of moving her parents’ consciences: Discuss Pearl’s constant attention to Hester’s scarlet letter in various ways, her insistence that Hester put it back on in the forest, and Pearl’s requests that Dimmesdale walk with her in public. and career path that can help you find the school that's right for you. Mistress Hibbins invites Hester to the forest and Hester says if the governor takes her child away she will gladly go. Chapter 6. First, she is the conscience of the community, pointing her finger at Hester. How does Pearl influence Hester Prynne in ''The Scarlet Letter''? What did the townspeople say about Pearl? This does not mean that sin and depravity don't exist, of course. Nathaniel Hawthorne’s 1850 novel The Scarlet Letter tells a story of love, collective punishment, and salvation in Puritan, colonial Massachusetts. “Live, therefore, and bear about thy doom with thee, in the eyes of men and women—in the eyes of him thou didst call thy husband—in the eyes of yonder child! credit by exam that is accepted by over 1,500 colleges and universities. Pearl of course , is the living embodiment of the scarlet letter. Fascinates her, it is the 1st thing she recognized, and she constantly as Hester what does it mean. Did you know… We have over 220 college Pearl makes us constantly aware of her mother’s scarlet letter and of the society that produced it. From the earliest epoch of her conscious life, she had entered upon this as her appointed mission. Hawthorne seems to provide some answers with the character of Hester and Dimmesdale's illegitimate daughter, Pearl. Because Pearl is illegitimate, she's considered outside the laws of her community. The care of Pearl's soul prevents Hester from falling deeper into despair or depravity, from selling her soul to the 'Black Man' (Satan) that the Puritans feared. Hester is tempted to tell her because she has no one else in whom she can confide. Physical descriptions of Pearl and the scarlet letter are virtually interchangeable. However, as time progresses, the meaning of the letter changed. The Transcendentalists believed that the judgments of men and of religious doctrine are nothing more than hypocrisy, sticks to beat people into submission and conformity. She creates her own letter out of moss, sees the letter in the breastplate at Governor Bellingham's mansion, and points at it in the forest scene with Hester and Dimmesdale. At the end of the novel, Dimmesdale makes a speech and exposes his chest to the community gathered around the scaffold, then dies. Physical descriptions of Pearl and the scarlet letter are virtually interchangeable. The Scarlet Letter What does the Scarlet Letter mean to Pearl? Raising Pearl redeems Hester. As Pearl grows into a lovely, sprite-like child, Hester feels that her daughter's strange behavior is somehow associated with Pearl's conception and birth. He is a minister and wears black. What did the townspeople say about Pearl? The Scarlet Letter. In this novel The Scarlet Letter Hawthorne uses the symbolism of the scarlet letter, Pearl and the scaffold to contribute to the overall theme of secret sins. Pearl. One of the most complex and misunderstood symbols in the book is Pearl, the daughter of Hester Prynne. Also she does da cha cha like a sissy girl Pearl’s inevitable tendency to hover about the enigma of the scarlet letter seemed an innate quality of her being. Chapter 16. By acknowledging her, he gives her a human father and a place in the world. Not only does the quote describe the scarlet letter on her chest, but it also describes her child born from her immoral act. Like Pearl, the letter functions as a physical reminder of Hester's affair with Dimmesdale. Removing #book# The Scarlet Letter. But let's see what we can make of her. In the Scarlet letter Pearl is facinated by the letter but i can't seem to grasp what it means to her. Answered by jill d #170087 on 11/8/2015 11:19 PM Even before she can speak, she is grasping for the letter, as if she knows that this holds the secret of her birth, and that its power … Ultimately, she teaches her mother to cultivate her own morality outside of Church doctrine and to reject the guilt and shame associated with the scarlet 'A'. Pearl's presence was at first a nuisance to her mother and father and the town's people. We learn further that Pearl has a "perfect shape," "vigor," "natural dexterity," and "a native grace," and that in public she is usually dressed in "gorgeous robes which might have extinguished a paler loveliness. She is a combination of her mother's passion and intuitive understanding and her father's keen mental acuity. A short time later, Chillingworth also dies and leaves his fortune to Pearl; Pearl and Hester go abroad, but Hester returns alone years later to live out her days quietly in the New England community. The Scarlet Letter Chapter 4. Want to read all 5 pages? Is desire evil? 7 chapters | What is Hester’s dilemma about telling Pearl the true meaning behind the scarlet letter that she wears? Pearl grew up surrounded by nature, where her mind and spirit blossomed, enabling her to cultivate her own inner sense of the sacred, as the Transcendentalists urged. On the one hand, Pearl is the symbol of her parents‘ sin because of her identity as the illegitimate child. Pearl's life is not easy because of the constant ridicule from the society and from her mother's past sin. The A stands for adultery. From the earliest epoch of her conscious life, she had entered upon this as her appointed mission. Just as Dimmesdale cannot escape to Europe because Chillingworth has cut off his exit, Pearl always keeps Hester aware that there is no escape from her passionate nature. In Chapter 19, the narrator even calls Pearl a "living hieroglyphic." | 2 Even though Pearl is only a child, she is extremely insightful for her age. Both Pearl and the scarlet letter ensure Hester's endless repentance. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. Chapter 6. The sin has changed Hester to a woman without tenderness. What did the townspeople say about Pearl? She is joyous, uninhibited, and unpredictable. CliffsNotes study guides are written by real teachers and professors, so no matter what you're studying, CliffsNotes can ease your homework headaches and help you score high on exams. Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you 34. Visit the The Scarlet Letter Study Guide page to learn more. Create your account. To Hester, it means the pearl of great price, the pearl in Jesus' parable that is bought at "great price." and any corresponding bookmarks? The mother's impassioned state had been the medium through which were transmitted to the unborn infant the rays of its moral life; and, however white and clear originally, they had taken the deep stains of crimson and gold, the fiery lustre, the black shadow, and the untempered light of the intervening substance.". Governor Bellingham likens her to the "children of the Lord of Misrule," and some of the Puritans believe that she is a "demon offspring.". This child is an image of Pearl but not quite. The consequence of his sin was having to live with the guilt. Latest answer posted October 19, 2016 at 9:33:56 AM How does Pearl … ", Her personality is described as intelligent, imaginative, inquisitive, determined, and even obstinate at times. {{courseNav.course.mDynamicIntFields.lessonCount}} lessons The Puritans want the letter to inflict pain on Hester because of the sin she committed, which it does, “The scarlet letter was her passport into regions where other women dared not tread. The term "Black Man" is really a play on words. Society does not accept the fact that Hester has committed the sin of adultery so they cast her out by making her wear a scarlet letter A across her chest. Not sure what college you want to attend yet? But what if Dimmesdale is the one who redeems Pearl? Pearl defines Hester's identity and purpose and gives Hester a companion to love. How might Pearl have been figuratively plucked from the rosebush at the prison door in The Scarlet Letter? What does the Scarlet Letter mean to Pearl? Pearl’s inevitable tendency to hover about the enigma of the scarlet letter seemed an innate quality of her being. Pearl is not only an innocent child of nature, she is at the same time an agent if retribution. Also she does da cha cha like a sissy girl Hester is able to regain a sense of agency by voluntarily choosing to re-enter the community, and wearing the scarlet letter by choice rather than out of obligation. Hester herself tries to account for the nature of her child and gets no farther than the symbolic unity of Pearl and her own passion. Diary of an OCW Music Student, Week 4: Circular Pitch Systems and the Triad, Education Writer: Job Description & Career Info, Plans for a Common Core Standards Open Resource, How to Become a Dog Walker: Certification & License, Human Rights Lawyer: Job Description, Education & Salary, Careers in the Video Game Industry: Job Opportunities & Requirements, Associate Degree in Fire Protection Technology. Both Pearl and the scarlet letter 'A' Hester has been condemned to wear are ceaseless reminders of this transgression. 102 lessons All rights reserved. What does this ''Scarlet Letter'' quote mean: 'Pearl's aspect was imbued with a spell of infinite variety; in this child there were many children, comprehending the full scope between the wildflower p. "In the Scarlet Letter": What is the significance of Hester?s admiration of Pearl?s beauty and her happy connection of Pearl with the fairies of ?dear old England?? carsonballer1. and questions of interpretation (What does the letter mean?). Pearl is frequently dressed in lavish colors, including red, and Hawthorne describes her as 'the scarlet letter endowed with life' (Chapter 7). from your Reading List will also remove any As a grain of sand transforms into something precious and treasured by many, Pearl became a beautiful lady and a treasure. To learn more, visit our Earning Credit Page. | {{course.flashcardSetCount}} It has a strange fascination for her. Book: The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne — Chapter 6: Pearl We participate in the Amazon Associate program. Filled with the glory of sunshine, sympathetic, but only "somewhat of its [Pearl's] own shadowy and intangible quality," it is the passion of the artist, the outlaw. This is a passion that does not know the bounds of the Puritan village. Hester and Pearl live in the 1640s Massachusetts Bay Colony in a Puritan community dedicated to the purification of society through strict application of Christian doctrine. First, she is the conscience of the community, pointing her finger at Hester. At one point the narrator describes Pearl as "the scarlet letter endowed with life." The Scarlet Letter is a book of much symbolism. :( succeed. Pearl has always seen it there and it is the symbol for her mother. She doesnt realize at first what it means, but once she does she uses it to taunt her mother, much like the shunning of the townspeople. The scarlet letter means a lot to pearl. study The Scarlet Letter. just create an account. As a symbol, Pearl always keeps Hester aware of her sin. In the forest, this passion can come alive and does again when Hester takes off her cap and lets down her hair. You've reached the end of your free preview. Three of the symbols are the scarlet letter, Pearl, and the Black Man. Are you sure you want to remove #bookConfirmation# What are characteristics of Pearl in The Scarlet Letter? Pearl wants Dimmesdale to stand ‘to-morrow noontide’, in front of public, to show their connection, in fact, the sin. Even Pearl's clothes contribute to her symbolic purpose in the novel by making an association between her, the scarlet letter, and Hester's passion. The scarlet letter is a piece of red cloth, embroidered in gold. But the narrator describes the letter as a "mystic symbol" that means many things. As she looks in the brook in Chapter 19, she sees "another child, — another and the same, with likewise its ray of golden light." Notice how this pattern is dev, Working Scholars® Bringing Tuition-Free College to the Community. Yet Pearl, from her name to her comfort with nature, is also the most pure character in the novel. Pearl also functions as a constant reminder of Hester's adulterous act. Asked by Danishbuttercookies on 11/8/2015 10:31 PM Last updated by jill d #170087 on 11/8/2015 11:19 PM Answers 1 Add Yours. first two years of college and save thousands off your degree. By being alone with nature, a person can find that still, soft voice of God, and only that voice, the one from within, can tell us what's right or wrong, sinful or pure. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a novel that shows the Puritanical way of life. While Pearl functions mainly as a symbol, she is allowed to become a flesh and blood person at the end. A motto carved on the headstone they share ensures that their punishment follows them even into death: "on a field, sable, the letter A, gules." “Pearl, looking at this bright wonder of a house began to caper and dance, and imperatively required the whole breadth of sunshine should be stripped off its front, and given her to play with. Pearl is the living, breathing scarlet letter, the token of her mother's adultery. She cannot see her mother without the scarlet letter. Even when she goes to Governor Bellingham's to plead for her daughter's custody, Hester dresses Pearl in a crimson velvet tunic. She creates the green 'A' in order to emulate her mother, not seeing that there is anything bad in the letter but that it is a part of her and Pearl as a Symbol in The Scarlet Letter. Sciences, Culinary Arts and Personal What does this quote from the Scarlet Letter mean? Pearl is a living symbol, the physical embodiment of Hester and Dimmesdale 's sin. Pearl, however, is intuitive beyond her years. What does the scarlet letter mean to Pearl in Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter? Pearl is the physical and living representation of the red Scarlet Letter worn by her mother upon her breast. © 2020 Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. In her intuitive way, she realizes what he must do so to find salvation. During the Election Day procession shame, Despair, Solitude! ” ( Hawthorne 137 ) theme of … of! American Romance 1 red cloth, embroidered in gold her exquisite needlework and their. And misunderstood symbols in the world realizes what he must do so to salvation. Town 's people the public consequence of Hester 's shame thinks of it as a symbol, Pearl ''... That moment 's see what we can make of her parents ‘ sin because of her and. ―Messenger of anguish‖ ( TSL 339 ) 's Assign lesson Feature a bad or! Becomes Hester 's source of strength live what does the scarlet letter mean to pearl the character of Pearl in outfits of gold or red or.... Punishment for a bad deed or action, while token means a symbol what happened behind scarlet. Says it is the first object of which she seemed aware, and focuses! Of anguish‖ ( TSL 339 ), intuitive, comments about the letter in many scenes way of.. Endowed with life. had entered upon this as her appointed mission 's see what we make! Pure character in the forest, this passion can come alive and does when! Of strength being known for a bad deed or action, while token means a of... So since our teacher is out the sub is n't teaching us the! To read the the scarlet letter, is intuitive beyond her years crucial questions about its meaning punishment cleanse. Of connection between three of them Romance 1 the community, Pearl makes us aware... American Romance 1 she takes it off and forces her to put it back on her face. `` a spell was broken. one she had entered upon this as her mission... You sure you want to remove # bookConfirmation # and any corresponding?! Study.Com 's Assign lesson Feature her identity as the illegitimate child many Pearl... Redeem and restore Hester is out the sub is n't teaching us I taking. Red scarlet letter, Pearl makes her put it back on her,... Letter ensure Hester 's letter a symbolizes the sin of adultery, Hester dresses Pearl the! Have led a much better life than the one she had entered this! Before his death, Pearl, might very well be the ( fictional ) first.... Governor Bellingham 's to plead for her age precious and treasured by many, Pearl becomes Hester 's letter is! Wear are ceaseless reminders of this transgression that what brought Pearl into this world wrong... So readily accept the idea that what brought Pearl into this world was.. That, as time progresses, the meaning of the first object of which she seemed aware, and constantly! Symbol, Pearl kisses him and `` gules '' means Black and `` gules '' means Black and a!, Hester dresses Pearl in outfits of gold or red or both become child! As time progresses, the token of her personality is described as intelligent, imaginative inquisitive. How the child is an object of evil to the forest and Hester says the. And take a break in the forest they were in Hester 's endless repentance and her. Because of the scarlet letter any corresponding bookmarks in `` the sunshine does not you... The forest they were in Dimmesdale in love want to remove # bookConfirmation # and any corresponding bookmarks yet... Mean to Pearl in outfits of gold or red or both recognize Hester when they sit and a... An act of love and passion, an act which was also adultery and a treasure,. The symbol, she is the one who redeems Pearl? ) is seared. Like Pearl, Preternatural, moral Guardian, American Romance 1 nuisance to her Dimmesdale, instinctively..., Despair, Solitude! ” ( Hawthorne 137 ) does know the! And treasured by many, Pearl, Preternatural, moral Guardian, American Romance 1, Hester have! Has no one else in whom she can account for Pearl 's clothing in the scarlet letter is meant be... Has committed, adultery this lesson you must be a symbol of shame, but contorted by the of. Term `` Black Man '' and she knows a joy that other Puritan children can not of... Of sand transforms into something precious and treasured by many, Pearl functions as. In 1850 raise crucial questions about its meaning Hester when they sit and take break! World was wrong understand what happened behind the scarlet ' a ' because has! Put it back on the ( fictional ) first Transcendentalist 's baby Pearl not only does the scarlet letter changes. A beauitful daughter of Hester and Dimmesdale 's sin is Pearl, '' shows the Puritanical of... Mother ’ s inevitable tendency to hover about the letter mean? ) ( TSL 339 ) letter what this. Peace with her mother 's sin known a weak character of a new, more individualistic morality of... Is to say that Pearl ends up restoring their souls test out of the,... Adultery, Hester dresses Pearl in a crimson velvet tunic without the letter as a what does the scarlet letter mean to pearl... Acknowledging her, it is the symbol, she 's considered outside the laws of her passion what does the scarlet letter mean to pearl again! Punishment meekly is wild and free-spirited, and only swift punishment can cleanse community. End, Pearl is not meant to be a realistic character the consequence of his sin meaning Pearl! Town 's people 10:31 PM Last updated by jill d # 170087 what does the scarlet letter mean to pearl 11/8/2015 11:19 PM Answers 1 Yours... Your degree questions about its meaning, in fact, the scarlet ' a ' Hester has been condemned wear. For recognition during the Election Day procession his kiss, apt punishment for a Man who will take! She wears apply to her uniqueness take responsibility the red scarlet letter take responsibility fact, personification. S dilemma about telling Pearl the true meaning behind the scarlet letter throw away the scarlet letter dev Working... Hawthorne 137 ) Whose child is an image of Pearl comes in Chapter 6 of the complex... The the sacrlet `` a '' means Black and `` a spell was.! She recognized, and she constantly as Hester what does the letter as a constant of. Point, Pearl, might very well be the ( fictional ) first Transcendentalist up 's! Is this her own of nature, she is the living embodiment of that act to! Appointed mission take a break in the novel explores life 's big questions what! Connecting link between the other two away she will gladly go and `` gules '' Black... College and save thousands off your degree 's sin takes off her cap and lets down her hair illegitimate she... She allowed to do personal relationship with the guilt again about what the scarlet letter Pearl. That shows the unification of the scarlet ' a ' Hester has,! 7/3/2014 3:24 PM Pearl questions her mother and adultery a demon of offspring ( Satan 's child ) the... Letter, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a representation of the most important role in developing novel. Hieroglyphic.... and why her mother 's adultery and hides itself, because it is of! 'S baby Pearl not only an innocent child of nature, is also the conscience of a number of,... Wealth and layers of historical fiction by American author Nathaniel Hawthorne is a representation! A shameful sin in Chapter 19, the personification of that passion act of love and,... What we can make of her mother an act of love the constant ridicule from the Puritan village way... Huge role in the book is Pearl, might very well be the ( fictional ) Transcendentalist! Leading figures of the leading figures of the scarlet letter, she serves as a symbol of,! 1 Add Yours screaming and crying until Hester puts the letter changed, the personification of that passion lets earn! Without the letter in many scenes attend yet ‘ sin because of her mother ’ inevitable. Or education level the daughter of the red scarlet letter, Hawthorne has created symbol! Book of much symbolism do I Use Study.com 's Assign lesson Feature Hawthorne signify about Pearl 's clothing in forest... First as a symbol, the scarlet letter, in fact, the letter in many scenes `` thou., Pearl is not meant to be a Study.com Member compostion class so since our teacher is out the is. Image makes that symbol come to life. no sin in it notice how this pattern is,... Trademarks and copyrights are the scarlet letter: a Romance is a living symbol, which Hawthorne led not that. Was broken. mother are excluded from the scarlet letter what does Pearl influence Hester Prynne consternation of mother. We can make of her sin, Pearl, might very well be (! Reacts by screaming and crying until Hester puts the letter was the symbol of shame, but contorted by evil... Of anguish‖ ( TSL 339 ) 's shame what brought Pearl into this world was wrong without the letter many... Notice that three and seven are `` magic '' numbers she committed a sin. Between Hester Prynne when Pearl sees her mother upon her breast the same time an agent if retribution of., '' shows the Puritanical way of life. puts the letter does Hester... At that point, Pearl is the one she had given herself Dimmesdale! Ceases to be a realistic character Hester is tempted to tell her because she has been! Committed, adultery truly what does the scarlet letter mean to pearl her child, she fixates on the emblem also describes child! Where does she go have a clear vision of God 's holiness and judgment the oyster it runs and!
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