The Scarlet Letter, written by Nathaniel Hawthorn is a novel which deals much with symbolism and character. The characters of The Scarlet Letter are multifaceted and complex. Hawthorn"s writing is full of symbols describing a character or a theme. Each character has its own role in setting the scene of the novel. An example of this is Pearl, the scarlet letter"s life form. Hester held Pearl tight in her arms on the scaffold. She is not like any other type of character in the novel. In the novel, Pearl is used to convey certain ideas or messages to the reader.

             Pearl is Hester"s sole reason to live. If it weren"t for Pearl, Hester would have probably left the Puritan community of Boston or she would have committed suicide. " 'God gave me the child!" cried she. 'He gave her in requital of all things else, which ye had taken from me. She is my happiness!- she is my torture, none the less! Pearl keeps me here in life! Pearl punishes me too! See ye not, she is the scarlet letter, only capable of being loved, and so endowed with a millionfold the power of retribution for my sin? Ye shall not take her! I will die first!"" This is a good example of how much Hester loves Pearl. This passage is the first time and I think the only time that Hester herself expresses that Pearl symbolizes the scarlet letter. Hester knows she has sinned and Pearl is a constant reminder of her sin.

             Throughout the novel you get a sense that Pearl is associated with wild colors or wild creatures. Pearl is fascinated with the scarlet letter A and everything that resembles it. Pearl is referred to as at least once as an imp, sprite, elf or fairy. This is because she is different from the rest of the Puritan children. Pearl is the product of a sin, she is the scarlet letter come alive, therefore she is like an evil imp, anything but a child! "An imp of evil, emblem and product of sin, she had no right among the christened infants.