Childhood Sensitivity and Alienation: An Analysis of Pearl Prynne

Children are, by nature, incredibly sensitive creatures. In literature and art they are commonly portrayed as beings capable of sensing the emotions experienced by the adults around them simply by observing one’s body language and facial expressions. Additionally, children are born with an innate sense of curiosity which drives them to discover the cause of the feelings they detect. Some children experience heightened levels of empathy and curiosity that can alienate them from their peers; such is the case with Nathanial Hawthorne’s Pearl Prynne in The Scarlet Letter. Conceived in sin, Hester Prynne’s daughter is viewed by the Puritan community of Salem as nothing more than a demon in an angel’s clothing; she is an unholy creature who not only

Reoccurring uses of words such as imp, elf, devil, and demon are an attempt on Hawthorne’s part to portray an element of Puritan society and culture that opposes allusions to anything supernatural, otherworldly, or magical; in other words, the Puritan people shun that which does not comply with their beliefs. By no means is Pearl a wicked mythical creature. She is merely a curious child, and until one separates Hawthorne’s fictitious references towards her demonic soul from her true, intelligent nature, a character analysis of the young girl’s identity cannot be created. It is this separation that the Puritans fail to make when assessing Pearl that initially creates a rift between the Prynne child and the rest of the

Through observation of the dialogue and actions of others, she seemingly makes connections between these behaviors in order to draw conclusions about her relationship with other members of the community when these are not explicitly explained. After the custody battle in which Hester fights for the right to remain as the guardian of her child, "Pearl…stole softly towards [the reverend], and taking his hand in the grasp of both her own, laid her cheek against it" (78). This appears to be Pearl’s act of gratitude towards the Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, yet it is interesting that this otherwise short-tempered and spunky child behaved in such a gentle manner towards the man. Perhaps she notes her mother’s frantic voice and posture as Hester pleads with the men who wish to take Pearl away, establishing that her relationship with such men is not a pleasant one. Pearl may also notice Dimmesdale’s request that the child remain with her mother, followed by the softening of Hester’s face as her crisis is brought to an end; it is evident that the relationship between this man and her mother is more sympathetic than the aforementioned one. Without hearing a single word uttered, Pearl realizes that Dimmesdale has, in a way, saved both