Scarlet Letter

A detailed Summary of Scarlet Letter

Ambiguity and The Scarlet Letter go better together than two people that have

been happily married for 75 years. There is no exemption in Hawthorne's exquisite

symbolism of one of his main characters, Pearl. The Scarlet Letter A, worn by Hester

Prynne, was a punishment for the immoral sin of adultery she had committed. Following

Hester's act of adultery, she became pregnant with a baby girl whom she named Pearl.

From the first moment that we are introduced to Pearl in Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel,

The Scarlet Letter, we get the sense that there is something strange and unnatural about

her. Pearl acts very differently than the other people in Boston in that she seems to be

much more vibrant than the others. We see this displayed in various different forms like

her dress, her mood swings, her sometimes mischievous behavior, and her constant

liveliness. Throughout the novel, Pearl is used by Hawthorne to symbolize many different

elements, and the ambiguity come together for one significant meaning.

A critic of Hawthorne states, "when depth and ambiguity are much admired in

writing, Hawthorne has continued to offer enough complexity and mystery to hold a wide

variety of readers."(Davidson, 361) Pearl was not acce

forest, which is the home of the "Black Man" or evil, she is symbolizing evil. Likewise,

This explains very straight forwardly how she is evil. Since she is accepted well in the

a decided gleam." (Hawthorne, 88). Beginning when she was conceived, Pearl served as a

feels that his vision was clear, and his feeling about the matter very strong and rich.

possibilities of any character appreciating this symbolization. Pearl was also used to

Pearl is really standing for. Yet, he leads the reader to believe that Pearl's overall

such a dance through the moon-lighted air of his intellect, that the thing cools off, as it

"thing on her bosom". Therefore, this confirms that Pearl constantly reminds her of her sin

a chance to go to the next and final symbolization of Pearl.

Approximate Word count = 1733
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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