"'He did not send me! cried she, positively. 'I have no Heavenly Father!'" Pg. 74
I believe the inclusion of Pearl in the novel definitely gives it more depth, but also adds to the melancholy and perpetually bitter state of Heter. I personally find it sad that Hester has reserved herself to the fact that she must live a separate life from the village and she is self-conscious everywhere she goes because of the scarlet letter. I almost feel like Hawthorne over-uses the phrase and the image in order to press into the reader's mind the plight she is embroiled in. The inclusion of Pearl does not help the situation. Although the author explains that Pearl's name is such because she does not have the same iniquities of her mother, Hester constantly sees her past wrongful actions portrayed in the child. Besides seeing the devil in the child, she also notes how Pearl is very outgoing and defiant when in conflict with others. She believes these are the traits that led her to sin, and she understandably does not want her daughter to emulate these actions. I feel like Hawthorne should include some more action on the part of Hester to break the situation she is in. I may be getting ahead of myself, and that resolution is to come later in the book, but for the first half she mostly accepts the gloominess and hopelessness as a way of life, and it is depressing.
Even when she is given a choice to leave, she doesn't. This is described as brave in the book, but for the sake of her daughter, a new life somewhere where people did not know everything about them seems like it would have been better. However, mabey she wanted to stay near pearls dad.
ReplyDeleteI think Pearl is the most effective symbol in the book. The letter "A" and Pearl serve the same purpose to Hester. Both are a reminder of Hester's past sins but they also give her hope and perserverance. The letter "A" demonstrated to everyone Hester's talents of sewing. Pearl is a living witness of happiness and joy despite her own sinfulness. I agree with you that Hester does seem more upset and conflicted more than anything else. I think that this character trait will remain pretty consistent throughout the novel as well.
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