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; her mother had committed adultery in a society of unforgiving a population, followed by a term in prisons for her sin. Yet, her 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 represents sin.
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.
Not only could she captivate an audience Pearl maintained pride in herself. She never lowered herself to the social placement that the Puritans were intent on giving her. When the 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” (p69). 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 3 she would not be taken in by the Puritans condemnations. Instead she had chosen to display her wonderful 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 unworth.
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”(p.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.
It is Pearls natural beauty and charm that keeps Hester from a life of pain and persecution. 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 has 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 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.
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 a superiority about her. 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.
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