"The Scarlet Letter"

Paper Summary:

This paper reviews and critiques "The Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne, focusing on the character of Pearl. The author of the paper focuses on Pearl because she is the character most affected by the sin of her mother, Hester Prynne. The paper demonstrates how Pearl is central to the novel's themes of good and evil, love and hate and puritanical suppression. The paper discusses Pearl's physical traits -- she is beautiful -- and how those traits enhance her symbolic significance to the novel. The paper also analyzes her personality traits, noting that at times she is a bit 'devilish'. The paper cites literary critics to supports its theses.

From the Paper:

"The child Pearl is the enduring reminder of her mother Hester's affair with the Reverend Dimmesdale, and so she is a consistent token of sin to Hester. She is a striking child and she is as unique as her mother. Hawthorne describes her as "the beauty that became every day more brilliant, and the intelligence that threw its quivering sunshine over the tiny features of this child!" (Hawthorne 109). Even her name is important, as continues. He says, "she named the infant 'Pearl,' as being of great price - purchased with all she had - her mother's only treasure!" (Hawthorne 109). In fact, she is just about the perfect infant, as Hawthorne notes, "By its perfect shape, its vigour, and its natural dexterity in the use of all its untried limbs, the infant was worthy to have been brought forth in Eden: worthy to have been left there to be the plaything of the angels after the world's first parents were driven out" (Hawthorne 110). It is easy to see that Pearl is the epitome of perfection and yet ultimate sin in the book, but she also symbolizes the great love between Hester and Dimmesdale that culminated in the birth of their love child, but ended their romance. It is true their love can never be acknowledged, but it is always there in the background, and so, it is quite difficult for Hester to look at her beautiful and willful daughter without remembering her love for the minister."

More papers on "The Scarlet Letter":

• Analytical Essay # 142408 : "Hawthorne's "The Scarlet Letter"
• Analytical Essay # 124563 : "Characters in "The Scarlet Letter"
• Analytical Essay # 124489 : "Perspectives on "The Scarlet Letter"
• Analytical Essay # 120733 : "Adultery in "The Scarlet Letter"

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