The Scarlet Letter
Symbolism is the practice of representing things by symbols. The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, is a book of much symbolism. Set in 17th century New England, the book starts with the public punishment of Hester Prynne, a convicted adulterer. One of the most complex and misunderstood symbols in the book is Hester's illegitimate daughter, Pearl. Throughout the story, she develops into a dynamic symbol - one that is always changing. Pearl represents her mother's punishment, a rose, and the scarlet letter. In The Scarlet Letter, the Puritans forced Hester to wear a scarlet letter "A" across for her chest, for the crime of adultery. The punishment continued as Hester was treated as outcast and mocked by the town. "Tomorrow wo
However at other times, she could be wilting. She becomes a contradicting factor in her mother's life. uld bring its own trial with it; so would the next day, so would the next," the narrator explained. While Hester and Pearl walked through town, someone announced, "There is the woman of the scarlet letter; and, of a truth, moreover, there is the likeness of the scarlet letter running along by her side!" In conclusion, Pearl was a source of many different kinds of symbolism. From being a rose, to representing the scarlet letter "A", she was a burden, yet consolation for Hester. "She named the infant Pearl as of being of great price-purchased with all her mother had," the narrator says. It was at these times when she was "wilting" that brought Hester the most grief. Pearl grew to be a very passionate and lively young girl. The child was a constant mental and physical reminder to Hester of what she had done wrong and how she could not escape it. The townspeople began to notice the similarities, also. And as a final note, Pearl was more then her mother's only treasure; she was her mother's only source of hope. To her mother, Pearl symbolized the rosebush outside of the jail, because at some times she could be bright and vibrant. That, combined with a vivid complexion, gave Pearl the appearance of the scarlet letter. One final way in which Pearl symbolized something in the novel was her association with the scarlet letter.
Common topics in this essay:
Letter Puritans,
Hester Pearl,
Pearl Throughout,
Nathaniel Hawthorne,
Hester Prynne,
scarlet letter,
,
pearl symbolized,
times wilting,
Scarlet Letter,
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