Pearl is Hester’s companion and her reason to live.įorest - The forest is a symbol, which the Puritans associate with evil.

Pearl has gone everywhere with Hester, and even endured Hester’s pain when standing on the scaffold. Without Pearl, her mother would not have someone to comfort her. Pearl is more then that, Pearl is her mother’s reason to live. Pearl is seen by the Puritans to have evil within her because of her devilish appearance. Pearl is also considered to be an elf-child. If Pearl was never conceived, then her mother’s secret would still be buried like it was with Dimmesdale. The most obvious meaning for Pearl is that she is a child born strictly from sin. Pearl - Pearl is an ever-changing symbol. In the end, the letter comes to represent many things other than sin and evil.

Over time, Hester gains the respect of many and woman often come to her for help and advice. One day in the market place, a Native American saw Hester and thought that the letter meant Hester was of important status. It is because of Pearl that Hester’s sin was no longer a secret, and Pearl not fully understanding, feels that the scarlet letter represents her own existence on earth. The letter also represents Pearl and her life. However, that is not the only purpose of the letter. The scarlet letter automatically makes Hester an outcast in society and Hester feels emotions that are not felt by any other woman in Boston. Shame, Despair, Solitude!” (Hawthorne 137). The Puritans want the letter to inflict pain on Hester because of the sin she committed, which it does, “The scarlet letter was her passport into regions where other women dared not tread. The scarlet letter is a piece of red cloth, embroidered in gold. Scarlet Letter - The scarlet letter A plays a huge role in the novel The Scarlet Letter. 'Symbols are objects, characters, figures, or colors used to represent abstract ideas or concepts'

Scarlet letter scaffold meaning