Describe Pearl’s Personality And Appearance.
The Scarlet Letter is a notable literary work by Nathaniel Hawthorne. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, to various questions of The Scarlet Letter.
Answer
Describe Pearl’s personality and appearance in the novel The Scarlet Letter.
Pearl is one of the significant characters in the novel The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne(1804-1864). She has a great influence on developing the plot. She encourages the adult characters of the novel.
Pearl’s personality and appearance
Blessing of Hester: Pearl is the result of the illicit love affair of Hester and Arthur Dimmesdale. She is described as an elf-child in the novel. To Hester, Pearl is the only reason for her existence. This girl is a blessing in Hester’s life. She is the source of her happiness.
A Guide of Hester: Pearl is an intelligent, determined, imaginative girl. After seven years of Hester’s imprisonment, she and Pearl lived in a small cottage near the sea. At that time, Pearl was seven years old. She is a little girl who is excellent at guiding her mother. She is a minute observer of her mother’s way of living.
Reminder of Hester’s Sin: Pearl appears in the novel as a reminder of Hester’s sin. Pearl is the living embodiment of Hester’s actions as an adulterous woman. Hester wears a scarlet letter as a sign of her adultery. But in the forest scene, Hester takes the scarlet letter off and throws it to the side of the sea. Seeing this, Pearl gets furious with her mother and says to wear the scarlet letter. She doesn’t want her to change.
“Let us not look back. The past is gone! Wherefore should we linger upon it now? See! With this symbol, I undo it all, and make it as it had never been!”
Symbol of Love and Passion: Though Pearl is an illegitimate child, she appears to symbolize Hester’s love and passion.
Finally, we can say that Pearl is an influential character in this novel. To Hester, She is the precious gift of God and a symbol of her love for Dimmesdale.