Scarlet Letter: Final Reading Blog Post

While the concluding paragraphs of The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne are filled with action and suspense, I would like to focus on Hawthorne’s depictions of Pearl as a symbol of innocence. In our class discussions, Pearl often represents the sin between Arthur and Hester. However, I think that Hawthorne creates Pearl’s unique personality to separate her from the other characters in the novel. This can be seen when Hester, Arthur, and Pearl join in the forest and discuss their plan of escape. After removing her scarlet letter, Hester sits with the minister and watches Pearl play by the brook and gathers jewels. Hawthorne describes Pearl as, “looking so steadfastly at them through the dim medium of the forest-gloom; herself, meanwhile, all glorified with a ray of sunshine…” (Hawthorne 191). Hester has removed the scarlet letter from her chest, and Pearl refuses to return to her mother. Hawthorne’s depiction of the sin-ridden couple sitting in the dark while Pearl glows in the light shows the child’s innocence, despite coming from an unfortunate pairing. The child of love is embodying light while Hester and Arthur sit in the darkness of public shame and internal guilt. Furthermore, Pearl’s special charm can be seen during election day. As the townspeople gather to hear the Election Sermon, Pearl is in her own world, dancing and galloping among the chaos. Hawthorne uses romantic techniques and compares Pearl to nature. When describing her clothing, Hawthorne writes, “The dress seemed an… outward manifestation of her character…the many hued brilliancy from a butterfly’s wing, or the painted glory from the leaf of a bright flower…her garb was all of one idea with her nature” (209). Compared to the gray garment Hester hides under, Hawthorne decorates Pearl in the reality of her personality. Using “brilliant” and “bright” to describe how Pearl stands out, Hawthorne continues to draw a contrast between Pearl, Hester, and the puritan community which surrounds her. 

Pearl is the result of an unlawful union and that is the reason she is so special. Although she was born as innocently as any other baby, she was raised to endure the crudeness of Puritan culture. Pearl never learned that sin should be a secret because she and her mother were the embodiment of one. Her innocent mind was forced to see sin as a natural thing, and this is what sets her apart from the other members of society.