The Symbols of Pearl in The Scarlet letter
裘 健
Abstract: "The Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne was first published
in 1850, this paper considers the character of Pearl, the daughter of Hester
and Dimmesdale, a girl looked on as a kind of evil spirit - the perverse offspring
from a moment of unholy passion. In this paper, it shows a detailed look at
symbolism of Pearl, taking Pearl as a representative of Original Sin-----adultery,
the decimation of Hester's life and mental state, a rose to Hester and the only
living symbol of the scarlet letter "A"!
Key Words: Symbol, adultery Pearl, The Scarlet Letter "A", sin
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a book of much symbolism. One of
the most complex, elaborate characters and misunderstood symbols in it is Pearl,
the daughter of Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale. Pearl, throughout the story,
develops into a dynamic individual, as well as an extremely important symbol------
one that is constantly changing. Pearl is involved in a complex and elaborate
history and background., and as a result is viewed as different and is shunned
because of her mother 's sin. Pearl's mother, Hester, was punished for adultery,
therefore Pearl was the result of her sin and is involved in Hester's history
as well.
In closing, Pearl is amazing child, and perhaps one of the only many-sided
characters in this novel. The real Pearl, the inquisitive, intelligent, and
beautiful creature she is, becomes a source of many different kinds of symbolism
in this novel. Pearl is an offspring of sin and "filthiness," whose
life revolves around the affair between her mother and Reverend Dimmesdale,
yet she possesses traits that make her an amazing child. Indeed, Pearl is the
rosebush which grows near the prison door: she is the one bright spot the prisoners
of this novel see as they watch from their small windows in the dungeon of their
minds. Represented the scarlet letter "A", she was a kind of burden,
yet love for Hester. And as a final note, Pearl was more then her mother's only
treasure; she was her mother's only source of survival. Due to her mother's
intense guilt during her upbringing, she is not able to become more than a mirror
image of her surroundings; like a chameleon, she is a part of everything around
her, and the changes that occur externally affect her internally. It is only
once the sin is publicly revealed that she is liberated by the truth. Pearl,
the bastard-daughter character, represents the world of nature (truth), a nature-friendly
pre-Christian time in mankind history and the struggle between the town (societal
taboos) and the simpler way of forest (respect for the truth). Her name is extremely
symbolic. It was stated in the novel that she was purchased at a great price.?
Bibliographies:
1. Jroum: "Pearl: A product of Nature"
2. Deperlee: "Scarlet Letter: Pearl"
3. "Evil in the Scarlet letter"
4. Classic Note on The Scarlet Letter
5. Cerebia Notes: "Scarlet Letter"
6. Dr. George Bailey Loring: "The Scarlet Letter and Transcendentalism"
7. Graham: "An Essay About The Scarlet Letter, Finding One's Own Truth"
8. 《自然人与社会人的冲突------我看霍桑的<红字>》 杨志宏
Websites:
Http://www.gradesaver.com?Classicnotes/Titles/thescarletter/
http://www.theatlantic.com/unbound/classrev/scarlet.htm
