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Scarlet Letter Essay

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The Scarlet Letter written by author Nathaniel Hawthorne is an American novel based on sin and the act of Adultery. This novel is based on the early days of the Massachusetts colony and shows how differently crimes are approached then from now. Hester Prynne commits the unfaithful crime of Adultery and not only does she have to serve for her punishment, but her daughter serves for it as well. Pearl, the symbol of an act of forbidden love and passion has to live with being the reminder of her mother 's misconduct for her entire life. Growing up in a small town with her reputation, it is hard for Pearl to have any kind of normality in her life. Pearl is unlike the other children in many ways, she is an outcast and does not have a friendly relationship …show more content…

Looking at the text in a deeper way, one may come to realize that if Pearl was born in a purer and less sinful manner then she would have the ability to connect with others on a more individual level, and been able to act as her true self. As stated in the novel, “We have spoken of Pearl’s rich and luxuriant beauty; a beauty that shone with deep and vivid tints; a bright complexion, eyes possessing intensity both of depth and glow, and hair already of a deep, glossy brown, and which, in after years would be nearly akin to black.” (Hawthorne 69) This shows factual evidence on how Pearls upbringings have changed her from the young lady she was born to be. Unfortunately, Pearl will always serve as a reminder to her mother of the poor decision that she made with Arthur Dimmesdale. Looking at the situation from a different perspective, it seems that Hester has two scarlet letters to burden her for the rest of her life. The beautifully embroidered one that will forever be placed on the chest of her clothing, and the physical living letter that embodies her daughter Pearl. Even though Pearl Prynne is a secondary character in this novel, she still plays an essential role in the plot. As she is the reasoning for the scarlet letter, without her none of this would’ve happened. She is the visual representation of the sin that her mother committed, and will forever be looked at by the townspeople as a sickening and unworthy person. As Pearl is growing up chapter by chapter it will be a noticeable twist to see how she begins to react to the people who disapprove of her. Pearl still has time in this novel to develop into more or less of the character she is portraying herself to

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