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Nathaniel Hawthorne Use Pearl As A Symbol Of Innocence In The Scarlet Letter

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In the novel The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne uses Pearl to function as a symbol of purity and innocence, but also as a reminder to Hester of her adultery. In the beginning of the story, Hester views Pearl not only as the object of her maternal love but also as a burden and punishment for her adultery. But despite everyone feeling she was born out of sin, Pearl remains happy and playful. She doesn’t let the Puritan obsession with sin stain her life with unhappiness, guilt and fear. Hawthorne describes how all the local children shun her, but she is happy playing by herself amidst the trees and flowers, while all the Puritans torture one another with their strict concepts of sin and morality. Pearl represents humanity without the self-imposed

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