Pearl and the Scarlet Letter

One of the most complex and elaborate characters in The Scarlet Letter is Pearl, the daughter of Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale. Pearl, throughout the story, develops into a dynamic individual, as well as an extremely important symbol. Pearl is shunned because of her mother's sin and is also a living representation of the scarlet letter - acting as a constant reminder of Hester's sin. Hawthorne uses vivid descriptions to characterize Pearl. She is first …

…Her character acts as a mysterious and interesting symbol in The Scarlet Letter. Pearl is an important character, as she is a constant reminder to Hester, as well as to the reader, of the constant sin of Hester. She contributes largely to the themes of the novel through her peculiar history. The one character that seems to play the most uninvolved role in the novel is one of the most intense symbols and individual throughout.