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This is a place for us to discuss openly and honestly the literature we are reading. Here we are all just communicating our thoughts on what we are reading. There are no right and wrong answers. However, you are expected to be polite, mature, and on topic.
7 comments:
The character of Pearl is a reminder to Hester of the sin she commited. Pearl adds comic relief to The Scarlet Letter. Her mischief and quirkiness keep the novel from being to serious. I think Pearl is an innocent trouble maker.
Pearl reveals truths in the novel. It is through her influence that it is first realized that Dimmesdale is the father. Also, she makes several comments that reveal the thoughts of the characters. For instance, when Dimmesdale, hester, and pearl are standing on the scaffold and he refuses to join them on hte scaffold, she scolds that he 'is not bold!- is not true!', revealing his cowardice in plain words. Earlier, when she is questioned as to who her father is, rather than saying God, she says she was born from the rosebush by the prison, saying openly everyone's reason for dislike for her, because she was born in a prison. Also, she is the embodiment of the scarlet letter. She is Hester Prynne's greatest treasure, bought with all she had.
In my eyes, Pearl is Hester's physical manifestation of her sin she committed. She constantly reminds Hester of the adultery, and that she still has a chance of redemption through Pearl. Besides this, Pearl adds comedy at some points. She is extremely innocent, and her comments and actions are, at times, hilarious. Overall, I think she is probably one of the most adorable children in the world, and that the story would not be as good as it is without her presence.
Pearl represents the nature. Since she is from the bush by the prison door she knows of both good in the world and the evil in society. She represents the innocense of nature and children. Also by being "one with nature" she can also see the true "nature" of each individual person. This is how she can easily see past not only the minister's but also Chillingworth's charade. However her mischievious nature shows that sins are not left unpunished. Since she is birthed because of a sin Pearl has to act in some ways "bad". On the other hand, most of her mischievous actions only happen because society still choses to punish an innocent child by never including her to play and telling her how awful her mother is.
Pearl is not only a permanent reminder of the sin that Hester has committed, but also comic relief in the novel. She is said to be an evil child and even she herself believes she came from the rose bush by the prison door. Pearl also provides comic relief in the novel, notably throwing stones at birds while her mother is away on other business.
Personally, I believe that the novel could exist without Pearl. As we discussed in class, if Hester would have not become pregnant with Pearl, no one would have known of her wrong doing. Hester's pregnancy reveals that she is an adulterer. In addition, Pearl symbolizes Hester's sin. Early in the novel, Hawthorne describes Pearl as being dressed like a miniature scarlet letter. She wears a red dress with gold trim. She is the proof and everlasting symbol of Hester's sin and the Scarlet Letter she wears upon her bosom.
Naturally, Pearl serves to remind Hester of her sin; however, Hester does not think of her child as a product of sin. Instead, Hester claims that her child is "her only treasure". Through Pearl, Hawthorn shows that the product of sin is not always evil. Furthermore, Pearl at comic relief to the novel. I think that Pearl is interesting and entertaining because she shows that she understands adult situations that most children her age would not catch on to.
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