Scarlet Letter Character Analysis Essay
Throughout The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne establishes the character Pearl as having tenacity and peculiarity in her personality and traits. First, Nathaniel Hawthorne exaggerates Pearl’s qualities to establish her as an odd child and a separate person from the Puritan town she lives in. In chapter 7, after the governor asks Pearl who created her, she answers by saying ‘no one created her rather her mother plucked her from a wild rose bush near the prison.’ Hawthorne follows Pearl’s remark with, “This fantasy was probably suggest by the near proximity of the Governor’s red roses, as Pearl stood outside of the window; together with her recollection of the prison rose bush, which she had passed in coming hither.” (Pg. 77) Adults are not
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First of all, in many instances the reader sees how Pearl wishes for Arthur Dimmesdale to stand by her and embrace her. In chapter 12, the reader becomes accustomed to Pearl’s insistence in seeking a desired response. In this chapter, Pearl continually asks Dimmesdale whether he will stand with Hester and herself, despite his denials. Secondly, Hawthorne stresses Pearl’s rebellious nature in a couple of occurrences, one of which happens when Hester takes Pearl with her to the Governor’s house. In chapter 8, when Governor Bellingham questions Pearl as to whom created her, implying that it was God, Pearl smugly responds that she “had not been made at all, but had been plucked by her mother off the bush of wild roses, that grew by the prison door.” (Pg. 76) Knowing full well that her answer will result in a maddened reaction from the Governor, Pearl proudly claims that her mother specifically chose her. This comment illustrates Pearl’s rebellious nature and disregard for what others think of her. Lastly, Pearl repeatedly demonstrates her inquisitive manner when interacting with main characters such as her mother. In several cases, Pearl continually pesters Hester, inquiring about the scarlet letter on her chest until Hester dismisses the question or remarks such as, “Go now, child, and thou shalt tease me as thou wilt another time.”(Pg.128). Furthermore, when Pearl posed a question to Hester, Pearl
First of all, in many instances the reader sees how Pearl wishes for Arthur Dimmesdale to stand by her and embrace her. In chapter 12, the reader becomes accustomed to Pearl’s insistence in seeking a desired response. In this chapter, Pearl continually asks Dimmesdale whether he will stand with Hester and herself, despite his denials. Secondly, Hawthorne stresses Pearl’s rebellious nature in a couple of occurrences, one of which happens when Hester takes Pearl with her to the Governor’s house. In chapter 8, when Governor Bellingham questions Pearl as to whom created her, implying that it was God, Pearl smugly responds that she “had not been made at all, but had been plucked by her mother off the bush of wild roses, that grew by the prison door.” (Pg. 76) Knowing full well that her answer will result in a maddened reaction from the Governor, Pearl proudly claims that her mother specifically chose her. This comment illustrates Pearl’s rebellious nature and disregard for what others think of her. Lastly, Pearl repeatedly demonstrates her inquisitive manner when interacting with main characters such as her mother. In several cases, Pearl continually pesters Hester, inquiring about the scarlet letter on her chest until Hester dismisses the question or remarks such as, “Go now, child, and thou shalt tease me as thou wilt another time.”(Pg.128). Furthermore, when Pearl posed a question to Hester, Pearl