Character Analysis Pearl

A detailed Summary of Character Analysis Pearl

One of the most complex and elaborate characters in The Scarlet Letter is Pearl, the misbegotten offspring of Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale. Throughout the story Pearl, becomes quite the dynamic little individual, as well as an extremely important symbol- one who is constantly changing. Pearl's involvement in the complex history of her parents inadvertently forced her to be viewed as different and is shunned because of her mother's sin. Pearl is a living scarlet letter to Hester, Dimmesdale and finally the reader, acting as a constant reminder of Hester's, as well as humanity's shortcomings.

Hawthorne uses vivid descriptions to characterize Pearl, as he dose to every character thought the story. Pearl is first described as the infant;

"...Whose innocent life had sprung, by the inscrutable decree of Providence, a

lovely and immortal flower, out of the rank luxuriance of a guilty passion." .

From the beginning of her life Pearl is viewed as the result of a sin, and as a punishment. Physically, Pearl has a

"Beauty that became every day more brilliant, and the intelligence that threw its quivering sunshine over the tiny features of this child."

Pearl is described as beautiful, with a

By acknowledging the letter on her mother's chest, Pearl plays an extremely active role in Hester's penance rather than a passive one. In Chapter 15, the reader sees Pearl try to emulate her mother by placing seaweed in the shape of an "A" on her own chest, once again suggesting her active role in Hester's punishment.

"The truth seems to be, however, that the mother-forest, and these wild

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Approximate Word count = 1168
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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Character Analysis Pearl

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