Character Analysis Pearl Essay Research Paper One

society. For the Puritan?s sought to destroy (human) nature, and in the Puritan?s eyes Pearl sought to destroy them. This characteristic makes Pearl so different from the rest of society that she is unaffected by the community?s harsh reaction to her existence and constant disapproval, and is a product of nature and its ways

She is extremely intelligent and always asking questions at the most inauspicious times, such as requesting of her illegitimate father to

?..Stand here (in public disgrace) with mother and me, to-morrow at noontide?

Her mood swings are also quite peculiar. One moment she is laughing for no apparent reason or at some ill form of malice and the next she is filled with an eerie hush. This anomalous behavior is why she is sometimes referred to by the townspeople as the “elf-child” or “imp.” The townspeople even refer to her as a “demon offspring.” Hester however sees her as a treasure, a blessing resulting from a bad choice, and thus named her pearl for just as a clam produces a beautiful creation as the result of a terrible incident, so pearl was created.

This terrible incident is the sin committed between Hester and Dimmesdale. In chapter two, the reader sees Hester refusing to hold Pearl next to her breast with the scarlet “A.” Hester dose this because she feels that one symbol of shame would be inadequate to hide another, a truth illustrated by Pearl many times thought the novel.

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.

To Dimmesdale, Pearl is a living conscience. Pearl is continuously seeking public recognition from Dimmesdale as her father, which is only natural; however even from her infancy her constant seeking has presented an uncanny representation of the trite expression ?Your sins will find you ought.? She represents the driving force behind Dimmesdale?s tormented soul, which seeks nothing, but to be released from anguish.

In the second scaffold scene, Pearl asks Dimmesdale to stand on the scaffold with her and her mother in full view of the town?s people, but when he refuses she eagerly pulls her hand away, saying he is “not bold” and “not true.” In chapter 19, the reader again sees Dimmesdale deny public recognition of his daughter. After being denied her ever-important request, Pearl eagerly wipes away the kiss that Dimmesdale had earlier given here.

In the final scaffold scene, Pearl’s

role as symbol is completed. Dimmesdale publicly acknowledges his daughter and Hester, and then dies. Pearl then kisses her father signifying the end her father’s anguish, and the end of a great novel.

(i personeally take no responcibiliaty for this essay nor do i clame it to be compleetley myne)

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