‘Pearl’
Pearl is a strong force in The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, her entrance in to the world took place in a dismal and unforgiving time and place, but in the end she lives up to richness of her name;
Her mother had committed adultery in a society of unforgiving a population, followed by a term in prisons for her sin. Yet, Pearl's name represents luster and beauty, denoting her shinning presence in a place of dismal gloom. Hester, her mother cherished the infant Pearl even though she represented her own sin. “’Pearl’ as being of great price, [was] purchased with all she had, her mother’s only Treasure” (61).
Her mother had committed adultery in a society of unforgiving a population, followed by a term in prisons for her sin. Yet, Pearl's name represents luster and beauty, denoting her shinning presence in a place of dismal gloom. Hester, her mother cherished the infant Pearl even though she represented her own sin. “’Pearl’ as being of great price, [was] purchased with all she had, her mother’s only Treasure” (61).
Pearls ability to demand notice of her importance began as a new born. Her first introduction to the towns people was marked by the pride that her mother took in her when Hester wore the scarlet Letter of, "fine red cloth, surrounded with an elaborate embroidery and fantastic flourishes of gold thread"(40). When visited by the practitioner in the jail her writhing cries "made it of peremptory necessity to postpone all other business"(51) the practitioner may have had. She seems to be able to captivate any audience that is in her presence even though she is condemned to evil.
Hester maintains a vision of Pearl that adds to Pearls self-worth and strength. Rather than dress Pearl in the drab attire of the Puritan belief she clothes her in garments that would be fitting for a princess. In turn, Pearl seems to have superiority in her presence. This proves to be an advantage in her adult life that helps her to achieve a high station. Furthermore, "some people , up to the epoch, persisted in considering her, -became the richest heiress of her day, in the New World"(164), even though she had been called the elf-child and demon offspring by these same people in her earlier years.
Not only could she captivate an audience Pearl maintained pride in herself, even though the Puritans were intent on giving her a lowly social placement. When the antagonistic towns children threatened to" fling mud at them"(69), Pearl did not fall from their torments. Instead, she proved to be, "a dauntless child, after frowning, stamping her foot, and shaking her little hand with a variety of threatening gestures , suddenly made a rush at the knot of her enemies, and put them all to flight” (69).
In an ensuing event, Mr. Wilson impelled her to speak wrongly, but instead Pearls rebuttal was that she, "had been plucked by her mother off the bush of wild roses that grew by the prison-door"(76). She knew very well where that she had come from God, but even at age three she would not be taken in by the Puritans condemnations. Instead she had chosen to display her charismatic traits that were as bright as a ray of light. Even though Pearl was faced with a multitude of adversity from the Puritans she never lowered herself to a place of shame and unworthy.
Hawthorne’s description of Pearl in the forest is a beautiful representation of her worldly presence; “Pearl set forth at such a great pace, and,... did actually catch the sunshine, and stood laughing in the midst of it all brightened by its splendor, and scintillating with the vivacity excited rapid motion”(119). The flowers, a squirrel, a fox and even a wolf all accepted Pearl within their forest. Nature seems to be in love with Pearls beauty and bewitching personality.
Pearls natural beauty and charm keeps Hester from a life of pain and persecution. As a protagonist Pearl brings freshness and hope in to Hester’s life preventing her from a life of the loneliness of an outcast. They are not allowed to reside in the security of the town. But, instead they must live in the forest, a place less desirable by the Puritans. Being outcast, they are not a part of the daily bonds that the town’s people share. However, with Pearl by her side Hester is never alone in her world. Even though she believes Pears to be born evil, Pearl gives Hester a reason to exist, and shares the joy that she experiences in her live.
It is Pearl that insists that Hester’s torment come to a conclusion. She seems to be more comfortable with Dimmesdale than the reported visits would portray. Pearl has a close enough relationship with him to repeatedly make such comments as, “Will he go back with us, hand in hand, we three together in to town?”(136). By speaking up she faces the external conflict before her. It is with these comments she entices her parents to stand with her on the scaffolding revealing the truth about the adulterous act that tortured her mother. This act causes Hester’s to be more accepted in the community and ends the self-inflicted torment that her father has endured. Even though her father’s life came to an abrupt end shortly after this, the three of them had established that they had a family bond.
Even though Pearl’s a product of adultery and a symbol of sin in the Puritan society, she is also a symbol of the love that is between her birth parents. Pears presence serves a purpose to Hester by reminding her of the sin she committed and giving her a purpose to continue to improve her and Pearls lives. Pearl brings joy in to Hester’s isolation and is a companion.
Not only does Pearl serve a purpose in Hester’s life, she also has a place in Chillingsworth and Dimmesdale’s lives. Both men have made allowances for Hester and Pearl throughout their young life. Furthermore, both have a love for Hester that she is unreceptive to, but Pearl is receptive to. Chillingsworth focuses on Pearl in prison and in the end gives up all of his worldly worth to her. Further complementing her, Dimmesdale is able to relinquish some caring emotion on Pearl, when she does not shy away from him as most children do.
With her inheritance from Chillingsworth, “Pearl…becomes the richest heiress of her day, in the New World” (164). This combined with her unique upbringing placed Pearl ahead of her time in the woman’s movement. She was able to be financially independent, and the power and attitude to flourish as a self-sufficient young woman.
Unable to return to England with Dimmesdale, Hester and Pearl were able to make the journey a short time after Chillingsworth’s death. After living there for many years Hester traversed the ocean once more to the New World. Roomer was that Pearl remained in England when her mother made the journey. Hester chose to live out the remainder of her life near Dimmesdale, her one true love. Many years later, “a new grave was delved near an old and sunken one… one tombstone served for both that read, ‘On A Field, Sable, The Letter A, Gules’” (166). Out of the darkness of their battle, it was the scarlet ‘A’ that bound the love that enticed Hester to finally lie by her daughter’s father for eternity.
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