Hester Prynne Is Not A Good Mother Essay

There is a debate whether Hester Prynne is or is not a good mother, and if she should or should not keep Pearl. Hester Prynne is a good mother and should be allowed to keep Pearl. Hester has regret for her sin, Pearl is her happiness and shame, and she still has done a decent job at raising her. Hester repeatedly has mentioned her regret for her sin. She mentions it every time the letter brings the letter into focus. One example is shown in chapter 5, in the quote,”From first to last,in short, Hester Prynne had always this dreadful agony in feeling a human eye upon the token; the spot never grew callous; it seemed, on the contrary, to grow more sensitive with daily torture.” The fact that she regrets her sin proves that she wants to be the best she

can be for Pearl. This makes her a good mother. Pearl was born into Hester’s sin. She gives Hester happiness and shame all at once. Pearl and the scarlet letter are frequently paired. Hester sees her sin in Pearl and debates whether that makes her an actual being, or a symbol of her guilt. Pearl is described as a rather feisty child, shown in chapter 6, in the quote,” If the children gathered about her, as they sometimes did, Pearl would grow positively terrible in her puny wrath, snatching up stones to fling at them, with shrill, incoherent exclamations that made her mother tremble, because they had so much the sound of a witch’s anathemas in some unknown tongue,” When it explains her way of dealing with the other kids of the community.

Pearl still brings Hester happiness along with the shame, because of the fact that Pearl loves her dearly. Hester is also a good mother because she has done a fairly well job at raising Pearl. They have had a shelter to live in, Pearl is treated well, and is in good condition. Hester has also tried to teach her some lessons, like the example in chapter 6 on the last page when Hester is stating,”He sent us all into this world. He sent even me, thy mother. Then, much more, thee!” This is when Hester is trying to teach Pearl about the Heavenly Father, and how he has sent us all here into this world. Hester is a good mother and should be allowed to keep Pearl. She has regret for her sin, Pearl repeatedly gives her happiness and shame for her sin which makes her a constant reminder of it, and although Pearl is very protective and feisty, Hester has done a well job of raising her. Others would argue and say that she is not a good mother, because of her sin, but I believe that the fact that Hester regrets and is put to shame for it make up for her sin. She loves Pearl, even if she doesn’t quite know what she is. These components all contribute to a good mother, therefore, she should be

allowed to keep Pearl.