Our brief discussion
in class today about Pearl's role got me thinking much about how I previously
viewed her and now. I remember writing an essay
focusing on the significance of Pearl, although I can't remember the
exact focus, but I feel like there's much more to her that I may have missed.
At first she's viewed as a consequence, the result of her mothers sin, but as
we know Hawthorne hands us exactly what he wants us to perceive. I think he may
portray Pearl as so much of a consequence at first in order for us to see her
significance when she gets older and plays more of an active role.
Once the secret is
out about who the father is Pearl seems to have a weight lifted off her
shoulders. The townspeople don’t label her as much as possessing demon-like
qualities and her role in revealing the truth behind Dimmesdale and also
helping her mother break away from Puritan society are exemplified. Pearl may
be a constant reminder of what Hester did, but she's also a constant reminder of what
Hester needs to continue to stand for.
I know that what I was saying in class today about Pearl was a very simplified view of her significance in the novel. However, if we address what Onno and I think Erin were saying about how Hawthorne really hits you over the head with symbols I think that Pearl is one of the most central symbol of all. From the very beginning of the novel, it is made explicit that Pearl is very a much a symbol in and of herself. She is the only proof that Hester committed adultery, she is the product and symbol of Hester becoming an outlaw.
ReplyDeletePearl, though a reminder to Hester of her sins, also has an instance in which she keeps her out of trouble and committing more sins. On pages 514 to 515, a woman asks Hester to join a meeting of witches and Hester only says no because she must take care of Pearl. Though characterized as a passionate and lively child who is the product of adultery, she also keeps her mother on the right path.
ReplyDeleteI find the complex relationship between Hester and Pearl very fascinating. At first I was very shocked that Hester herself occasionally wondered whether Pearl was a demon-child. I think that shows the all-encompassing grip of Puritan ideology.
ReplyDeleteLike many others, I find the relationship between Hester and Pearl to be quite complex and interesting. It should be noted that Hawthorne purposely names the child 'Pearl' as a means of shedding light on how Hester views her daughter. Though the townspeople are at times convinced that Pearl possesses demon-like qualities, Pearl is Hester's treasure, her prized possession. Pearl, though a constant reminder of her mother's sin, seems to be a pure individual who seeks light, or truth. This is seen through Pearl's actions, especially when finally showing love and tenderness to her father, Dimmesdale, only when he tells the truth about his relationship to Pearl and Hester on the scaffold in the final scene of the piece. Clearly, while Pearl and Hester are characterized negatively by the townspeople, Pearl's actions are much more 'pure' than her mother's actions and by the end of the piece she is seen as a treasure who is both mature and wise beyond her time.
ReplyDeleteI think Pearl's insight on the entire adultery issue and the strange dynamics between Hester and Dimmesdale, Hester and the townspeople, etc. is really interesting. I don't know if this was a belief that Puritans shared, but in some biblical stories, Jesus is depicted holding children in very high regard and making time to interact with great numbers of them. Other literary works often place a lot of significance on children or bestow a lot of insight on a child character, which seems to be what Hawthorne is doing here.
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