Joy And Torture In The Scarlet Letter

Have you ever had something that brings you both joy and torture? In the book the Scarlet letter the main character Pearl punishes her mother by constantly reminding her of the horrible deed that she has done, yet Pearl also brings Hester joy. The author-Nathaniel Hawthorn-uses Pearl as a symbol of punishment and a gift. The author uses symbols and diction to convey the theme that even the most brutal of punishments can be confernting.
Hawthorne uses diction to showhow Hester’s precious Pearl hurts her on the outside. Even though Hester loves her daughter and her daughter brings her joy, there are certain things about Pearl that frighten Hester and torture her. The auther is able to show this in the quote, “It was as if an evil spirit
The diction the author uses also shows how the child hurts and tortures her mother. The words: “evil”, “spirit”, and “possessed” all create the feeling of discomfort and fear. Pearl is able to hurt her mother by emotionally wearing her out. Hawthorne also uses the words: “Peeped”, “mockery”, and “tortured” to create a seance of sarcasm in his writing. He is describing Pearl using teasing diction. By teasing her mother Pearl is able to hurt her and make fun of her. By toying with her mothers emotions Pearl can be a negative influence on her mother. This ties back to the idea that all things can be both beneficial and harmful. Hawthorn also painful diction to describe the painn that Pearl inflicts on Hester. In chapter 10 Pearl constantly hurts Hester with pain by nonchalantly reminding Hester of the scarlet letter and its true hideous meaning. Hawthorne describes Hester when she often gazed at her Pearl, “Gazing at Pearl, Hester Prynne ofter dropped her work upon her knees, and cried out with agony which she would fain have hidden.”(87) Hawthorne uses excruciating diction to describe the torture that Pearl causes Hester. Words such as “cried” and “agony” describe the pain that
In chapter 5 Pearl and Hester have to go to the ministers office because the town leaders want to take Pearl away from Hester. Hester wants to keep Pearl because she loves her. Hester states “ She is my happiness!” (94) Hawthorne uses a metaphor to compare Pearl to Hester’s happiness. This comparison is stating the Pearl is Hester’s everything. Without Pearl Hester would most likely not be able to deal with the daily humiliation that she faces everyday. Hester named her daughter “Her Pearl!—For so had Hester called her; not as a name expressive of her aspect...as being of great price,—purchased with all she had,—her mother’s only treasure!”In this sentence Hawthorn used a metaphor to compare Pearl to Hesters tresure and to describe how much Pearl means to her mother. Hawthorne compares Pearl to Hester treasure. This creates the sense that Pearl is very valuable to Hester. This shows that even if Pearl hurts her mother; Hester still loves her, and Pearl still brings her mother comfert. The line “all she had” shows that Pearl is not just a child, Pearl is Hester. Most people do not spend all there money on one thing, but Hester did-Pearl. Even though Pearl is the product of a sacrilegious conundrum, Hester would not be able to cope with society without her. Like Pearl and Hester, manythings in life have both positive and negative