Hester Prynne, the main character of the book “The Scarlet Letter” by Nathaniel Hawthorne, commits adultery, is considered a hussy, and has a child as the result of her sin.
She cheats on her husband while he is absent from town and receives a harsh punishment for her behavior already. Hester is forced to wear a scarlet letter “A” on her bosom for the rest of her life. It is now on debate on whether or not Pearl should be taken away from her mother’s guidance.
This is due to the fact that she is a sinner and might not be a qualified mother for her child.It is true, that no matter what you did in the past, a child is a blessing and parents change due to the love they have for their children. Therefore, Hester Prynne is a good mother and she has been taking actions to prove so.
How can Hester Prynne form a good mother figure if she is a bad example herself? Indeed, she commits adultery, and therefore is a sinner in the eyes of the townspeople. However, that has nothing to do with the type of mother she is.
During the three months she is in prison, there was not a single time in which Hester separates from her little Pearl. Hester always keeps her child by her side to protect her, and to not let the evil from prison life affect her. Even when she is sent to public humiliation, she does not leave her child behind, instead she holds Pearl beside her tightly as she walks into the stage to be pointed and looked at.
The Essay on The Scarlet Letter Analysis Of Pearl Prynne
... Pearls clothing are virtually interchangeable. Hester Prynne loves Pearl, but she also hates her. When Pearl was born, she brought joy an inspiration to her mothers ... life and deal with a child born out of sin. Pearl is a constant reminder of Hesters sin. There are many instances ... of adultery was committed and a child was conceived out of a forbidden sin. Pearl is the indicator of transgression that ...
When the physician wants to give a medication to both Hester and Pearl, she does not trust the physician, she is not sure about what he is going to give her baby. Therefore she does not want her little Pearl to take it. Hester does her best to protect her baby, even though she is forced to have her baby take the medication, her concern is what matters, it is what shows that Hester cares about her daughter.
Hester Prynne beliefs she has the absolute right to her child and is ready to defend that right and Pearl to death any time.In chapter 8, Hester Prynne is being told that it would probably be better if Pearl is taken away from her to teach her how to dress appropriately, be strictly disciplined, and be shown how to live truly.
Governor Bellingham asks her what she can do for her child and Hester replies, “I can teach my little Pearl what i have learned from this!” as she points at the scarlet letter burning on her breast. Those words are strong because Hester plans to lead her child through the right path by using her own experience as she mentions in page 94, “This badge hath taught me, it daily teaches me, it is teaching me at this moment-lessons whereof my child may be wiser and better, though albeit they can profit nothing to myself.”
Hester is concerned of the mistakes she committed and wants to make her child a better person than she is by teaching her the consequences of every action. Hester does not want her daughter to make any sin like she did for her to not consequently be in the same situation that she is now. In page 96, Hester makes clear her statement, “I will not give her up!” This shows that Hester wants to raise her child through the right steps and defend her from anyone and anything.
In page 96, Hester says, “God gave her into my keeping.” That is indeed right, God gives this child to Hester for her to take care of. They now have built a sacred relationship in between them, and Pearl can’t be taken away from her mother. “She is my happiness.
She is my torture-but still! Pearl keeps me alive! Pearl punishes me too! Don’t you see that she is the scarlet letter? But I can love her, so she has the power to punish me for my sin a million times over. You will not take her! I will die first!” That are the exact words Hester says as she refuses to have her daughter taken from her.
The Essay on Scarlet Letter Hester Pearl Prynne
"You can tell a lot about a fellow's character by his way of eating jelly beans," said Ronald Regan. Okay, so Hester Prynne does not eat jellybeans in The Scarlet Letter, but her character is a dominating force throughout the novel. Hester Prynne, a compassionate maternal figure in The Scarlet Letter, portrays dauntless determination by conquering enormous emotional strife throughout the course of ...
Pearl is meant as a blessing from God to Hester and Hester recognizes the miracle in God creating her day by day. The naming of her child says it all. Hester sees her child as that small grain of sand that gets formed through pressure and pain into something beautiful, divinely valuable.
Pearl isHester’s treasure, Pearl is her savior, although so young, she has already saved Hester from the Devil. In page 100, after Mistress Hibbins, the governor’s sister asks Hester to partner with her to a party at the forest where she promises the devil that Hester will go; Hester replies, “Make my excuse to him,so please you! I must tarry at home, and keep watch over my little Pearl.
Had they taken her from me, I would willingly have gone with thee into the forest, and signed my name in the Black Man’s book too, and that with mine own blood.” If Pearl is taken away from Hester, The Devil will take advantage of it and drag Hester deep into sin that she’ll end up in hell. This connection between Hester and her daughter cannot be broken. Hester treasures her young one, and sees her as the light of her life. If Hester wouldn’t be a quality mother for Pearl, she would have not cared about the naming of her daughter.
Hester wouldn’t have thought about “Pearl”, she would have just named her with any insignificant name. However she did contemplate over Pearls naming, she wanted her daughter to have a significant name that would show how much she means to her. Hester has proven once more that she does worship her daughter and deserves to have her stay in her safe-keeping.
It is noticed that Hester dresses her daughter differently from the other children in the town. All of Pearl’s clothing are scarlet. However Hester is not trying to make her daughter look like no clown or “mountebank” like Mr. Wilson assumes, neither is she making her child look fatal on them. All Hester tries to convey with the way she dresses her daughter is the fact that her daughter is that constant reminder of her shame, but also the tutor of Hester’s future steps.
The Essay on The Scarlet Letter Hester Pearl Mother
Symbolism is the practice of representing things by symbols. The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, is a book of much symbolism. Set in 16 th century New England, the book starts with the public punishment of Hester Prynne, a convicted adulterer. One of the most complex and misunderstood symbols in the book is Hester's illegitimate daughter, Pearl. Throughout the story, she develops into a ...
Pearl is that strength Hester has to provide the best of everything in both Hester’s and Pearl’s future. Thereof, Hester has the advantage of being able to go to heaven with her daughter. “As it were by the creator’s sacred pledge, that, if she bring the child to heaven, the child also will bring its parent thither!”(pg.100) Hester changed for the good due to the warmth that her daughter has granted her. She is an excellent mother figure now that she has learned from her mistakes and deserves to keep the child.
In the puritan community, religion is really important and has to be taught since a young age. Pearl, being just 3 years old, is required to know basic religion and be able to answer the question, “Who made you?” For Hester, her daughter has no other Father than her heavenly Father. She has been teaching her daughter about God and other religious facts. Pearl would be able to ace any school assessment she is given without giving her the chance to study due to the religious knowledge her mother has instilled in her. Hester is doing her job to educate her daughter. Why shall Pearl be taken away then?
If a child loves his or her parents, they will always care about them and respect them, true? That is exactly what Pearl does, she cares, loves, and respects her mother. If Hester does not perform a quality mother figure, Pearl would not care as much as she does for her. Pearl defends her mother by chasing other little kids around after they insult her.
Also when the young minister speaks up for Hester in why Pearl should stay with her mother, making good points, and allowing Pearl to stay with Hester until further notice; Pearl lays her cheek on the ministers hand as a thankful action. The love Pearl has for her mother shall not be broken.
This evidence shows that Pearl is happy living with her mother and would hate to be taken away from her. Pearl is Hester’s blessing, the reason why she’s alive.She has been serving as a punishment for her mother, although Hester cherishes her child as a treasure, the light in her world. Pearl has been well educated by her mother and will continue being so if she stays with her. Hester has been performing a proper mother figure for Pearl , therefore Pearl should stay with her mother.
