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Scarlet Letter Pearl's Bond With Nature

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Though Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote The Scarlet Letter two hundred years after the Puritan era, an insight into their community is still seen. Though some characters embody the Puritan era, others are the opposite. Pearl’s strong bond with nature connects her to Romanticism and individualistic spirit disconnects her from Puritanism, and Hester, like her daughter, does not reflect the Puritan era through her indulgence in clothing and emotional characteristics. Pearl’s bond with nature connects her to Romanticism. Pearl’s connection with nature is demonstrated when she is described to be as wild as a bird (Hawthorne 139). Pearl, through simile, is directly compared to nature, illustrating that like a bird, Pearl is unrestrained. Furthermore, she displays her connection when the forest “ recognize[s] a kindred wilderness in the human child” (Hawthorne 160). The personification of nature shows the close relationship Pearl has with the forest, which the Puritans disapprove of. This disapproval …show more content…

She illustrates this in her beautification of the scarlet letter (Hawthorne 44). Hester’s creation of the opulent letter is unnecessary, disconnecting her from the Puritan belief of simplicity. Furthermore, Hester expresses her indulgence in her creation of gratuitous baby clothing. These creations are so lavish that they would “raise a public tumult” (Hawthorne 203) in the Puritan community, since they value modesty. The abhorrence of extravagance is displayed in Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God. Jonathan Edwards asserts that even kings, who have exuberant clothing and power, are not saved from God’s wrath (216). Edwards shows that clothing has no importance to God, so it is best to remain modest. Hester does give importance to the scarlet letter and baby clothes, so the Puritans disapprove of her. Ultimately, Hester’s creations separate her from the Puritan era, along with her emotional

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