The Scarlett Letter Essay Research Paper The

The Scarlett Letter Essay, Research Paper

The Scarlet Letter is a book of much symbolism. One of the

most complex and misunderstood symbols in the book is Pearl, the

girl of Hester Prynne. Pearl, throughout the narrative, develops into

a dynamic symbol & # 8211 ; one that is ever altering. In the followers

essay, I will research some of the symbolism which Pearl came to

represent throughout the novel.

In The Scarlet Letter, Hester, for her wickednesss, received a

vermilion missive, “ A ” which she had to have on upon her thorax. This was

the Puritan manner of handling her as a felon, for the offense of

criminal conversation & # 8216 ; At the really least, they should hold put the trade name of a hot Fe on Hester Prynne & # 8217 ; s forehead. & # 8217 ; ( Pg. 59 ) This is how some people felt about her penalty. The Puritan intervention continued, because as Hester would walk through the streets, she would be looked down upon as if she were some kind of devil from Hell that committed a awful offense. This would give her much mental torment and heartache. On the other manus, God & # 8217 ; s intervention of Hester for her wickedness was rather different than merely a physical item: he gave Hester the penalty of a really alone kid which she named Pearl. This penalty handed down from God was a changeless mental and physical reminder to Hester of what she had done incorrect, and she could non get away it & # 8216 ; Thou art non my kid! Thou art no Pearl on mine! & # 8217 ; ( pg.99 ) At times Hester would acquire frustrated. In this facet, Pearl symbolized God & # 8217 ; s manner of penalizing Hester for criminal conversation.

The manner Hester & # 8217 ; s life was ruined for so long was the ultimate

monetary value that Hester paid for Pearl. With Pearl, Hester & # 8217 ; s life was one

about ne’er filled with joy, but alternatively a changeless nagging. Pearl

would hassle her female parent over the vermilion “ A ” which she wore & # 8216 ; Mother beloved, what does this vermilion missive mean? -and why dost 1000 wear it on they bosom? -and wh

Y does the curate maintain his manus over his bosom? ’ Pearl would besides do her ain “ A ” to have on, and sometimes she played games with her mother’s, seeking to hit it with stones. ‘I admiration if Mother will inquire me what it means? ’ ( Pg. 171 ) Little Pearl is opposite of what people think, she’s a playful small miss. When Hester would travel into the town with Pearl, the other kids would do merriment of her,

and Pearl would shout and throw soil at them. So, in this instance, Pearl

symbolized the decimation of Hester & # 8217 ; s life and mental province.

Although Hester had so much problem with Pearl, she still felt

that Pearl was her hoarded wealth. “ & # 8230 ; her female parent & # 8217 ; s merely hoarded wealth! ” ( Pg. 91 ) Pearl was truly the lone thing that Hester had in life, and if Pearl wasn & # 8217 ; T in Hester & # 8217 ; s life, Hester would about certainly have committed self-destruction. Once in a piece, Pearl would convey joy to Hester & # 8217 ; s life, and that helped her to maintain on life. Pearl truly symbolized a rose to her female parent, at some times she could be bright and vivacious, and truly love her female parent, but at other times, she could be wilting. It was at these times when she was “ wilting ” that brought Hester the most grief.

One concluding manner in which Pearl symbolized something in the novel

was with her association with the vermilion missive. Pearl truly was

the vermilion missive, because if Pearl had ne’er been born, Hester would

have ne’er been found guilty of criminal conversation, and therefore ne’er would hold

had to have on that load upon her thorax. Without that load, Hester

would hold led a much better life so the one she had throughout the

novel.

In shutting, Pearl was a beginning of many different sorts of

symbolism. From being a rose, to stand foring the vermilion missive “ A ” ,

she was a sort of load, yet love for Hester. Pearl was more so her female parent & # 8217 ; s merely hoarded wealth ; she was her female parent & # 8217 ; s merely beginning of endurance.