The Character of Pearl in Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter...

The Scarlet Letter: Pearl Children are incredibly sensitive and can sense almost any emotion of an adult by observing body language and facial expressions. Such is the case with the youthful Pearl from the novel The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne. As the daughter of the adulteress Hester Prynne, the townspeople view Pearl as a demon in an angel’s clothing; who not only knows exactly what the letter A signifies on the bosom of her mother, but as the demon who placed it there, as well. The townspeople believe that Pearl uses this information against Hester by constantly mentioning the letter in order to make Hester extremely uncomfortable. This belief of the townspeople is certainly not supported by the†¦show more content†¦It is important for one to understand these references are an attempt on Hawthorne’s part to display to the reader a fragment of Puritanical society. By no means is Pearl a mischievous child. She is a curious child. When Hester refuses to reveal to Pearl the identity of her father, Pearl’s burning curiosity quickly ignites and forces her to scream out the following demand. Tell me! Tell me!†¦ It is thou that must tell me! (Hawthorne 90) This is not the only time Pearl’s curiosity is sparked throughout the novel. In fact, there are many times where Pearl becomes inquisitive over one mystery or another; this next example is one of them. Why, what is this, mother?†¦ Wherefore have all the people left their wo rk today? Is it a play-day for the whole world? (Hawthorne 208) In this situation, Pearl is overwhelmed by curiosity, as the entire population of Boston is decked in their finery for a reason that is unknown to Pearl. Instead of keeping silent, as a behaved Puritan child would, Pearl spills out question after question in hopes of understanding something that is an enigma to her. While Pearl’s natural curiosity drives her on the quest of discovering the truth behind the scarlet letter, it is her sensitive and intelligent nature which answers a few of the questions associated with the mystery. An example of thisShow MoreRelated A Character Analysis of Pearl in Nathaniel Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter1494 Words   |  6 PagesA Character Analysis of Pearl in Nathaniel Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter Word Count Includes Outline at the End of the Paper The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a book of much symbolism. One of the most complex 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. 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Hawthorne uses everyday objects and places to symbolize many main themes, concepts, and ideas in the lives of Hester and Pearl as well as multiple other main characters. Hester Prynne,