What Does Pearl Symbolize In The Scarlet Letter

Symbolism is often used within literature to bring attention to the overall themes and ideas of a story. In the novel The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne uses Pearl as a symbol of Hester’s sin, conscience, and grace to emphasize the theme that there is no escape from sin, and that even though it may affect you, learning from your mistakes can lead to a bright future. Pearl is first introduced in The Scarlet Letter as Hester’s sin, as she is the result of adultery. The reader first views Pearl Hester’s curse, as Hawthorne introduces her in parallel to the devil. He writes: “the infant, during the latter portion of her [Hester’s] ordeal, pierced the air with wailings and screams” (Hawthorne 22). This depiction of torturous screams correlates

When Pearl was first born, Hester names her in reference to a bible verse. Hawthorne states, “she named the infant ‘Pearl’ as being of great price—purchased with all she had—her mother’s only treasure” (41). This biblical relation reveals that Hester still had good morals, and that Pearl would later be worth the price and pain that Hester endured. This statement is later proved at the end of the book, when Pearl is an adult. “Pearl—the elf-child—the demon offspring, as some people, up to that epoch, persisted in considering her—became the richest heiress of her day” (126). Pearl earned all of the things her mother had lacked in her sad and outcasted life, and she rewarded her mother with her achievements. Pearl was similar to her mom in a way that she challenged the rules and came out on top. Her adult life was the life of a woman Hester strived to be, but lacked the opportunity to achieve due to her sin. This proves that Pearl represents Hester’s grace, all of the good qualities Hester possessed. Pearl represents Hester’s sin, conscience, and grace in The Scarlet Letter, and she provides light to the negative connotation of sin. Although Pearl’s happy ending gives the reader joy, this novel is a sad reality of the life of Puritans. Privacy and freedom was not apparent. Although the story ends well for Pearl, Hester’s death and gravestone restated the sad theme of sin; you can never escape it, and it will stay with you