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Rina Dixon

Miles

Pre AP English

17 October 2017

A Red Hue

In Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel, The Scarlet Letter, there are many symbols that help in

the development of characters. Hawthorne's mystical word choice helps develop the character

Pearl, by showing her likeness with the scarlet letter. This similarity affects Pearl by isolating her

from society and stunting her emotional growth.

Governor Bellingham describes Pearl as having a crimson aura: “Pearl?- Ruby, rather!-

or Coral!- or Red Rose, at the very least judging from thy hue!” (Hawthorne 91). Many of

Pearl’s internal characteristics are derived from the scarlet letter, but her physical appearance

also symbolizes her mother’s sin. Hester clothes Pearl in bright red garments that resemble the

scarlet letter, which even further shows their semblance. Pearl has a beautiful side to her, but also

a dark side that depicts her as an “elf child” or “imp”. She is depicted as having magical and

mystical qualities as well: “...a stick, a bunch of rags, a flower, were the puppets of Pearl’s

witchcraft.” Pearl’s duplicity develops her character by establishing that she is not like the other

kids. Because of Pearl’s scarlet nature, she gained a negative reputation just like her mother. This

directly influenced her childhood experiences, which in turn, affected the way that she reacted

towards the townspeople when talking about her family. This is shown when Hawthorne writes:

“If the children gathered around her, as they sometimes did, Pearl would grow positively terrible

in her puny wrath, snatching up stones to fling at them, with shrill incoherent exclamations…”
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(Hawthorne 78). Pearl didn’t grow up like other kids, and didn’t develop her emotions the same

way. She has a lack of empathy for the other kids because of the isolation that she grew up in.

Pearl is shown to be the living scarlet letter through many symbols, which are enhanced

by the tone and diction, to help develop her character. She is a living and constant reminder of

Hester’s sin, and gives off a literal scarlet aura around her. This aura helped shaped her character

and emotions due to the hate and fear surrounding her family. She is depicted to be magical and

whimsical but dark because of the mystery surrounding her origin and the letter itself. Overall,

Pearl, being the living and breathing scarlet letter, isolated from society, affected her emotional

growth negatively.