Scarlet Letter Pearl Quotes

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Quoted from the online edition of the Oxford English Dictionary, the word “pearl” is defined as “a person or thing of great worth” (Pearl...) “The Role of Pearl” by Anne Marie McNamara explains why Pearl was such a crucial character in The Scarlet Letter. Pearl was one of the most important, if not the most important character because she is what makes Dimmesdale confess, she brings Hester and Dimmesdale together, and she is there to help Hester live with her sin. Pearl was an extremely important part of the forest scene between Dimmesdale, Hester, and herself because she is what really made Dimmesdale realize he needed to change. “Through her act of rejection she has communicated to him the necessity for public declaration of sin as a prerequisite …show more content…
She was the one sole thing that always kept Hester going. “...Pearl’s mission to her mother: she had been sent as a blessing and as a retribution to remind Hester of her fall from grace and to teach her the way to heaven.” (McNamara 86-87) Hester did not have an easy life. She was supposed to be executed, but then had to wear a scarlet letter on her chest for the rest of her life and be shunned by everyone. Pearl brought Hester happiness though. She was the one things that made Hester happy, even when everyone else hated her. The only thing going for Hester was that she had a child that represented her and the father’s love for one another, and I think that is why Pearl is so important to Hester. McNamara is correct in her claim here because Pearl was the one thing that always stayed true to Hester when no one else did. “But she named the infant ‘Pearl,’ as being of great price—purchased with all she had—her mother’s only treasure!” (Hawthorne 91). The name itself justifies for Hester that Pearl is the only thing she has going for her. Everything else in her life is gone and people look down upon her. Pearl is a wonderful and great product that came from a sin. Hester treasures Pearl and Pearl makes her
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