"There was a witchcraft in little Pearl's eyes, and her face, as she glanced upwards at the minister, wore that naughty smile that made its expression frequently so elfish." Pg. 118
When characters such as Hester and Dimmesdale began associating Pearl as being elfish, I simply thought they meant her physical appearance. She is most likely a petite young girl with some mature facial features, so the elf comparison fits. However, these same characters continue to describe her as such all the way until the end of the book, which caused me to take note of this use of epithet. The thought of an elf not only conjures up images of pointed ears and green suits but also distinct character traits such as a mischevious demeanor and a penchant for uncovering the secrets of others. I soon found how appropriate the adjective is for little Pearl, because she constantly questions the relationship between Dimmesdale and Hester in an attempt to reveal the secret behind their connected pasts. She finds, through pestering Hester, that both she and Arthur have been touched by the Black Man, and so connects their sins. I also found it interesting how she acted like an elf when it came to having Arhtur kiss her. She appears very precocious when she refuses to kiss him in the woods but then appears to have the great desire to kiss him in public at the end of the book. To me, it seems as though the mystery behind her mother's affair serves as a sort of entertainment for Pearl, because she is able to characterize, piece by piece, the actions of the adults which have led to the present.
No comments:
Post a Comment