The English Dork Club: A real-time ongoing conversation for Readers, Writers, Thinkers, and Discussers in English 4
Sunday, October 26, 2014
Pearl = Scarlet Figure
"The Governor, in advance of his visitors, ascended one or two steps, and, throwing open the leaves of the great hall-window, found himself close to little Pearl... 'What have we here?' said Governor Bellingham, looking with surprise at the scarlet little figure before him" (98, in The Elf-Child and the Minister). I found this line very interesting and almost suspenseful, because at first I had no idea what the phrase "scarlet little figure before him" was referring to. At first, I thought it was just going to be Hester's scarlet letter, just laying alone on the floor. When the paragraph continues and reveals that the "scarlet little figure" is referring to Pearl, and how red her face gets when she is most likely just blushing. I thought the choice of words was just interesting, how the whole book is about Hester and the scarlet letter, and the Governor happens to describe Pearl as scarlet, the same as her mother's letter. Does the Governor do this on purpose, in a way shunning Pearl because he actually knows who she is and is saying she is scarlet, saying how she is in a way, another scarlet letter that Hester must carry with her at all times?
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i like the point you made about their now essentially being two scarlet letters. One of course being the actual scarlet letter that is sown onto Hesters clothes but the other being Pearl, the bad that was a result of Hesters sin. That not only does she have one shameful item on her at all times but she is carrying the other one in her hands and that one is her baby.
ReplyDeleteI agree with both Madi and Jacobs statements. As i was reading i was thinking the same thing about how there is more than 1 scarlet letter. Even though pearl didn't have a choice of how she wanted to be viewed by the townspeople her mothers actions created an image for her. This leads me to think that Pearl is an even more powerful representation of the scarlet letter because she is the byproduct of Hester's actions. If Hester has both the scarlet letter and pearl she can never get rid of her image. Sure she can just throw out the shirt with the letter on it but Pearl will be a everlasting symbol of Hester's actions.
ReplyDeleteI agree with all these statements. The idea of Pearl being a second scarlet letter is also portrayed on page 92, in the chapter, The Governor's Hall. "lavishing many hours of morbid ingenuity, to create an analogy between the object of her affection, and the emblem of her guilt and torture. But, in truth, Pearl was the one, as well as the other; and only in consequence of that identity had Hester contrived so perfectly to represent the scarlet letter in her appearance". In this passage, Pearl was portrayed as Hester's guilt and shame. Yes, this is true, but Pearl is also the best thing Hester has. If you were in Hester's situation, would you give up the baby to a family where the townspeople would at least think she was a part of the community and would not be as much of an outcast, or keep her and carry her around where everyone sees her as a disgrace and "of demon origin" (90).
ReplyDeleteI find the different ways that the term "Scarlet" is used throughout the chapters we have read are very interesting and different. on page 92 it reads: "Behold, verily, there is the women of the scarlet letter; and, of a truth moreover, there is the likeness of the scarlet letter running alongside her!" Here is another time in the book where Pearl is considered "Scarlet" this time along with Meghans quote it is in a more shameful way. In your quote it is arguable that the term is used in a more positive way. Im interested in other ways that people/things or maybe even events could be considered "Scarlet."
ReplyDeleteI agree with the statements above saying that their are two Scarlett letters. One being sewn to the bosom of Hester Prynne's dress, and the other being the result of the shame of the scarlet letter, Pearl. Although the big red "A" sewn to Hester's dress is easily seen by the puritan people, Pearl is a stronger presentation of the scarlet letter and Hester's shame in Puritan society because she is the result of Hester's "sin" and goes against the views of the puritan society in which she lives.
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