of which Pearl seemed to become aware was the scarlet letter on Hester's bosom! One day, as her mother stooped over the cradle, the infant's eyes had been caught by the glimmering of the gold embroidery about the letter' and, putting up her little hand, she grasped at it, smiling not doubtfully, but with a decided gleam." (Hawthorne, 88). Beginning when she was conceived, Pearl served as a reminder of the Scarlet A on her bosom. Hawthorne shows this symbolism various times. In Chapter 7, Pearl and Hester go to the Governor's house and Pearl's attire "inevitably reminded the beholder of the token which Hester Prynne was doomed to wear upon her bosom. It was the scarlet letter in another form; the scarlet letter endowed with life!" (Hawthorne, 93). Pearl is dressed in a scarlet dress with gold fringe exactly resembling the Scarlet A on Hester's bosom. Pearl had a natural preference to focus on the Scarlet Letter, which is show in Chapter 15. "...Pearl took some eel-grass, and imitated, as best as she could, on her own bosom, the decoration with which she was so familiar on her mother's. A letter, the letter A, but freshly green, instead of scarlet!" (Hawthorne, 163). In this scene, Hester eventually has to deny its significance to
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