The Puritans, or also called precisionists, were a reform group from the sixteenth century, who fled England to escape persecution and traveled to the New World. When they landed in Massachusetts Bay Colony all they had was their beliefs and faith. The Puritans shared two beliefs; their society was the predestination, the Elect, and to be self-disciplined with continual hard work. They had very strict rules as a result of their beliefs, such as their rule adultery; which when committed came with a harsh punishment. In 1636, adultery became a capital crime. In 1658, a law was passed which added on two other punishments for adulterers; the punishments were either a public whipping or a scarlet letter sewn onto a piece of clothing. Nathaniel …show more content…
Pearl grew up in a very harsh society where others treated her as an outcast because of her mother’s mistake. Pearl was put in a situation where she has to mature quickly and she was a very intelligent girl. Pearl knows she is an outsider and the children she would chase after would make rude comments towards her mother and Pearl’s instincts of flee or fight kicked in and she chose to fight. Which is a common reaction for a child who is shunned by society. As the novel progresses, Pearl acts out less violently and becomes calmer, especially in nature. She could feel at peace in nature because it reflects her wildness. Also, the forest symbolizes an area of freedom away from the townspeople and their rules; she feels safe there since there are no children bullying her there. This could just be a sign of Pearl maturing and understanding the situation her mother put her in. She would pick up on situations very quickly; she may not have to complete story but she could make connections. One instant where she made a connection is when she asked her mother why the minister always “keeps his hand over his heart” (189). Pearl has also made a connection between Hester’s scarlet letter, Chillingworth and Dimmesdale. It shocks Hester that Pearl has caught on so much and even starts wondering whether or not she should tell Pearl about the scarlet letter when Pearl asks about it on the beach. Hester chose to wait a little while longer because it would be “the price of the child’s sympathy” (188). She is not ready to take away Pearl’s childhood and innocence. Even though Pearl is coming of age where she could be told about her mother’s sin, she is still not
Puritanism was a religious and social movement that began in 16th century England and later spread to the United States. The Puritans were a group of Protestant Christians who believed that the Church of England was not sufficiently reformed and sought to purify it of its Catholic influences. They placed a great emphasis on hard work, and the importance of the Bible as the ultimate authority on matters of faith and morals. Many Puritans began to migrate to the New World in the early 17th century in search of religious liberty and the opportunity to practice their faith as they saw fit. Puritans had a major part shaping the political, economic, and social structure of New England Colonial life.
Truly, Pearl is an important character in the work and is both the cause of Hester’s salvation and Dimmesdale’s public confession. Pearl allows her mother to live her life freely and prompts Dimmesdale to be true to his family. She acts as the moderator in both of their lives giving them peace and hope while also making them realize reality. From three months old to adulthood, she had an effect on their lives that outweighs that of any other person. Children may be young and innocent, but they are a foundation for many people in times of
First of all, the Puritans were reformed Protestants from England in 16th and 17th centuries, who wanted to purify the church from Roman Catholic practices. They were dressed in simple and modest clothing; Puritans spent most of their time praying. They believed in the notion of predestination, which means that every human’s fate is known at birth. Moreover, many Puritans moved to America fleeing from religious persecution.
The Puritans believed word from word what was written in the bible, they put their religious belief into their laws and believed that all sins should be punished by hanging or thrown in jail. Not only did they extremely focus on religion but there was already tension between Salem Village and Salem Town, where they were far wealthier. As the accusations of witches started in Salem, the Puritans religious belief and the conflict between Salem Village and Salem Town caused the Salem Witch Trials. Puritans are colonists who were seeking religious tolerance, so they left England and settled in the American colonies. Their goal was to create communities that was centered around the church to support their Christian way of life (Salem Witch Trials).
The Puritans were religious extremists who believed they were chosen to be the saviors of the world by bringing Christianity to others, which they did by enforcing their religion on others and
The Salem Witch Trials, occurring between the years of 1692 and 1693, consisted of persecutions, arrests, and hysteria through the village of Salem, Massachusetts. In determining the source of the mass hysteria during these trials, it is necessary to look from a societal point of view. Religiously, tensions began to form and alter the village in ways that were for and against their beliefs. Changing morals of the village brought forth ideologies that were based with selfish intentions. Social structures altered to weaken and divide the town and its people.
In the Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Pearl starts of as a secondary character as the novel progresses Pearl becomes significant to many of the key events of the story. Some examples of this are the scene in the scaffold at night, when Hester meets Dimmsdale in the woods, and when she makes the connection about the letter in her mother's bosom and the reason why the minister holds his hand on his chest. Pearl is a very intuitive, smart, wild and clever child; and at her young age is impressive how this child knows who to trust. She is acts as Hester's conscience as the novel progresses in many ways. Pearl is a very intuitive character making her more interesting.
She is the living embodiment of the A and serves as a reminder to her mother of all that she has done. When upon the scaffold Hester resists the urge to cover the scarlet A marking her chest by using Pearl, but realizes she would just be covering her sin with more sin. Pearl is very insightful and imaginative. She is curious which can be seen when the girl perseveres throughout the novel by questioning her mother about the ever present A blossoming on her chest. We can see how she is the embodiment of the A by the way Hester dresses her, in pinks and reds just as the scarlet letter that Hester wears.
Hawthorne states, “... Hester could not help questioning at such moments whether Pearl was a human child. She seemed rather an airy sprite…” (Hawthorne 52). Even though some people see Pearl as a child of the devil, she is actually just a little kid whose mother’s actions reflected badly on her life and made people’s views of her distorted.
She thought that everything she did was in the act of the devil. Even when Pearl would do small things like laugh, it would make Hester “more doubtful then before” that Pearl wasn’t sent by god just to be a punishment (Hawthorne). Pearl misbehaves so much that Hester believes God had sent her as a punishment for her sins. Pearl misbehaving so much has a major impact on Hester. It also doesn’t help that Pearl makes Hester keep the scarlet letter on.
The great scene of grief, in which the wild infant bore a part, had developed all her sympathies” (Hawthorne, 352). He goes on to express her sorrow through illustrating her tears and grief. This loss clarified for young Pearl that though she might have appreciated her father before, she loved him more than
Pearl’s happiness allows hester to be content with her life, and have hope for a better life. Her daughter’s happiness and beauty brings Hester happiness, which is greatly needed in Hester’s life. By using vivid imagery, Hawthorne conveys Pearl as a child of unwavering beauty and
Hester went to plead that the officials of the town leave Pearl in her care and not take her away to be raised by any one else. When it seems that Hester is losing this battle she asks Dimmesdale to speak in her defense which he does quite passionately. This desire to protect the mother and daughter bond of Hester and Pearl is what seems to draw Pearl to approach Dimmesdale and take “his hand in the grasp of both her own…” and lay “her cheek against it; a caress so tender…” (The Scarlet Letter, Chapter VIII) Dimmesdale’s defense and Pearl’s reaction are two cues that lead the reader to begin seeing the truth of who Pearl’s father
Through all the torturing, she continued to keep her baby’s father a secret. Even though Chillingworth knew before any of the torturing began. Pearl was able to grow up, seen as a precious gift in the world and not just some sinful reminder of Hester and Dimmesdale. She’s going to be able to grow up and be whatever she aspires to be.
She also feels guilty for Pearl’s friendless and shameful life. When she sees that Pearl has no friends and that she is a living symbol of sin she feels bad for bringing Pearl into the world.