The Scarlet Letter: Is Pearl A Child, A Guide, Or A Monster?
Is Pearl a child, a guide, or a monster ?
Pearl is the only child among the main characters of the book, and she doesn't really influence the plot. Nevertheless, she is not less important than the other characters. If we assume that the characters of the fiction are meant to make the reader think, Pearl is meant to make the characters of the story think. Even her mother wonders who she is: " O Father in Heaven,- if Thou art still my Father,- what is this being which I have brought into the world! " (p119). Following the example of hester, let's think about it. Is pearl a child, a guide, or a monster? But can we describe her as only one of those three characters? Maybe the right question is : For whom is she a child, a guide, or a monster? We assume that Pearl is a complex character, and that her curious mind can be interpreted differently depending of the personn looking at her. First, we will look at the relationship between the child and her mother. Then, we will think of the place of such a child in a puritan community. Finally, we will question the position of a modern reader.
Pearl is the alive symbol of Hester's sin. We guess that the fault has been revealed by the obvious pregnancy of …show more content…
That's why I don't really see the scarlet letter as a feminist novel. Hester is not fighting for her rights. She thinks she deserves the punishment. Otherwise she would not wear the letter on her bossom so long, and permanently. She has no asking, except the right of raising her child. This matter to her. That's why the novel is so fascinating, because she's a very complex character, dividing between her faith and her feelings. Ans so she doesn't know how to behave with Pearl, because she doesn't know if this child is a curse or a reward, a punishement or a gift – but maybe also because she's not sure that she can raise her in a proper way. She, the
Pearl is the only child among the main characters of the book, and she doesn't really influence the plot. Nevertheless, she is not less important than the other characters. If we assume that the characters of the fiction are meant to make the reader think, Pearl is meant to make the characters of the story think. Even her mother wonders who she is: " O Father in Heaven,- if Thou art still my Father,- what is this being which I have brought into the world! " (p119). Following the example of hester, let's think about it. Is pearl a child, a guide, or a monster? But can we describe her as only one of those three characters? Maybe the right question is : For whom is she a child, a guide, or a monster? We assume that Pearl is a complex character, and that her curious mind can be interpreted differently depending of the personn looking at her. First, we will look at the relationship between the child and her mother. Then, we will think of the place of such a child in a puritan community. Finally, we will question the position of a modern reader.
Pearl is the alive symbol of Hester's sin. We guess that the fault has been revealed by the obvious pregnancy of …show more content…
That's why I don't really see the scarlet letter as a feminist novel. Hester is not fighting for her rights. She thinks she deserves the punishment. Otherwise she would not wear the letter on her bossom so long, and permanently. She has no asking, except the right of raising her child. This matter to her. That's why the novel is so fascinating, because she's a very complex character, dividing between her faith and her feelings. Ans so she doesn't know how to behave with Pearl, because she doesn't know if this child is a curse or a reward, a punishement or a gift – but maybe also because she's not sure that she can raise her in a proper way. She, the