The Scarlet Letter, By Nathaniel Hawthorne - 1368 Words

Good vs. Evil â€Å"â€Å"There was witchcraft in little Pearl’s eyes, and her face, as she glanced upward at the minister, wore that naughty smile which made its expression frequently so elvish.† (Hawthorne 145) This, is a misleading description that Nathaniel Hawthorne depicts of Pearl, the daughter of Hester Prynne, in his classic novel The Scarlet Letter. Pearl is the living product of sin for her mother. Born out of wedlock, Pearl is a unique child that tends to be very moody and unpredictable. However, Pearl, at such a young age, demonstrates outstanding knowledge and exhibits curiosity to her mother’s scarlet letter, and the hypocrisy of Puritan society. Although Pearl portrays devilish characteristics and performs mischievous behaviour, she†¦show more content†¦This causes Pearl to refuge and bond with nature. To her, nature is her only home; a place where she is free from the malicious prejudices and ridicules of society. Nature offers Pearl hope, when she s ees loved ones struggling with the truth; comfort, for when she feels the innate burdens that came with her birth; and growth, allowing her to become even more perceptive, and explore and ponder in thought. In nature, when she plays with toys, she uses â€Å"[t]he most unlikeliest materials- a stick, a bunch of rags, a flower- [these] were the puppets of Pearl’s witchcraft, and, without going any outward change, [she] bec[omes] spiritually adapted to whatever drama occupied the stage of her inner world.† (Hawthorne 89) Here, the sticks, rags, and flower symbolize nature and purity, since they are associated with God. Perhaps it is the power of the natural world that allows Pearl to become so intellectual and perceptive for her age. Had she always been stuck in a normal society, her train of thought would be influenced by those Puritanism. Whereas in nature, there is no one to influence her but God. But how can Pearl be the devil if she is constantly connected with nature? For nature is pure and unmodified; and ultimately created by God. Thus, Pearl is associated with God and the earth, not Satan and the underworld. Along with nature, Pearl is specifically linked with the sun, hence, light. Light is a symbol of truth -- which Pearl