The Scarlet Letter (Chapters 7-8)
Literary Devices
Themes
Symbols
Character Development
Language and Voice
Pearl
Unlike the other Puritans, Hawthorne speaks highly of Pearl, illustrating her as "rich and luxuriant beauty; a beauty that shone with deep and vivid tints" (97). This is a stark contrast from the voice that he used when describing the Puritans' view of Pearl. Instead of calling her a "demon" (96), Hawthorne depicts her as an angelic and beautifully complex person. Because of his description, the reader can connect the dots to figure out who Hawthorne is truly in favor of.
Pearl
Effects of Sin
Personification
A sin as great has adultery is one that someone cannot escape from if the commit it, especially in a strictly rigid Puritan community. After Pearl begs her mother to look in the mirror, Hester notices that "the scarlet letter was represented in exaggerated and gigantic proportions... the most prominent feature of her appearance... she seemed absolutely hidden behind it" (102). The symbol of sin, the scarlet "A", has completely consumed Hester and filled her soul. The reader is able to get a glimpse of what the Puritans see when they look at Hester- sin, simply sin. The effect that sin has had on Hester is that it has taken over her and made her a symbol in everyone's life, instead of just a person who made a mistake.
Once again, Pearl is seen as a symbol in the novel. The townspeople believe that she is "of demon origin" (96). In Hester's eyes, the devil was taking over his body and manifesting his soul, but now the tables have turned because Pearl is believed to be the devilish. The sole reasoning behind the Puritans' belief is that Pearl is the product of the most frowned upon sin so she must be a living, walking, breathing sin. However, the Puritan community had faith that they could transform Pearl into "one of them" if they changed her moral compass and put her under the roof of better guardianship than Hester Prynne. On a different note, Pearl is also a symbol for the passion that existed between Dimmesdale and Hester in the moment that she was conceived. The passion, so vivid and extraordinary, in Pearl was like a "fire... she seemed the unpremeditated offshoot of a passionate moment" (98).
Hawthorne personifies the embroidered crimson velvet adorned on the small body of Pearl. He describes how she lit up in the fabric, "[The] strength of coloring... made her the very brightest little jet of flame that ever danced upon the earth" (98). Fire can't actually dance because it is a human characteristic of an inanimate object, however, this powerful personification and imagery entices the reader to want to know more about Pearl- a passionate girl who lights up the world.
Distasteful Diction
Curiosity
Hawthorne provides a sense of comic relief in the scene of the servant permitting Hester to walk into the Governor's humble abode (100). He notices her scarlet and embroidered "A" and assumes that she is of royalty or great power. The humor is that this is quite the contrary. Hester is considered the scum of the earth and the lowest of the low. Unbeknownst to her crimes, the servant welcomes her in with awe.
Red Rose
Upon seeing the vibrant rosebushes, Pearl throws a tantrum in order to pick a flower (103). The vivid, bright red is a symbol for danger, energy, and passion, while the rose is a symbol for love. Later, Mr. Bellingham calls Pearl a Red Rose because she is dressed in scarlet. This name is symbolic because Pearl was made in an act of passion, energy, lust, and love.
In chapter seven, the reader can see how strong and brave Pearl has become. Due to the circumstances that she lives in, Pearl is ostracized from the Puritan kids her age. On the way to the governor's mansion, Pearl and Hester are tormented by a group of young children. Proving her bravery and strength, Pearl drives off the kids with her screams. Hawthorne calls Pearl a "dauntless child" after she uses gesticulation and threatening noises to scare off the tormentors (98-99).
Dimmesdale
Once again, Hawthorne has a very negative tone in his voice when he is describing Governor Bellingham. He claims that Bellingham makes the impression of a "rigid and severe" man but his personality does not fit his worldly estate (104). Hawthorne continues on for a second page illustrating the group of men that Hester and Pearl were waiting for but his negative attitude towards the men does not change.
Contradiction
Hawthorne explains how Hester worked "an analogy between the object of her affection and the emblem of her guilt and torture" (98). This quote proves that Hester has a contradictory nature about her. She is torn between the scarlet "A" on her chest and her daughter, Pearl. She loves her daughter but feels burdened by the weight that her daughter carries because of that fact that she is a constant reminder of the sin Hester committed. The same goes for the scarlet "A" on Hester's chest. She feels attached to it, as if it is burned into the crevices of her body, however, their bond is created because of her sin.
When Governor Bellingham meets Pearl, he is amazed by her presence and curious about her. Dimmesdale and Chillingworth also find her interesting. However, they feel afraid of her because every Puritan in Boston believes that she is of demon origin, due to the circumstances she was born in. They call her an "elf child" because of their enchantment and fear of her. Even the title of chapter eight, "The Elf-Child and the Minister", alludes to the fact that everyone views Pearl as an imp and elf-like character (104).
Bird
Hawthorne twice makes connection to birds in chapters seven in eight. When Governor Bellingham is looking at the scarlet vision of Pearl for the first time, Mr. Wilson asks, "What kind of little scarlet-feathered bird is this?" (105). This question represents how innocent and naive young Pearl is because she is unaware of the public's opinion on her. She flies like a bird throughout her life, blissfully oblivious of the glares and stares around her. Hawthorne again mentions a bird, stating that Pearl looked like a "wild, tropical bird, of rich plumage, ready to take flight into the upper air" (107). The bird is a symbol for the beauty and exoticness yet scariness and wildness of Pearl.
Hawthorne uses negative diction when talking in the point of view of Mr. Wilson. He claims "what has ailed thy mother to bedizen thee in this strange fashion." The use of the harsh word "bedizen" furthers the point that Mr. Wilson is attempting to hurt Hester emotionally. Instead of being discourteous and judging Hester's actions like the rest of the Puritan community, Mr. Wilson takes a stab at the way that she dresses.
The reader sees the kind side to Dimmesdale when he persuades Governor Bellingham and Mr. Wilson to allow Hester to keep her daughter. This event foreshadows the fact that Dimmesdale is the father of Pearl, so he is going to protect is lover and their child in order to stay in contact with him. Dimmesdale, once seen as a harsh man and indifferent to others, changes his persona.
Sunlight
When Hawthorne writes scenes with Pearl in it, he always mentions that there is sunlight cascading down her face. The sunlight is symbolic of her innocence and happiness. When Hester appears in the scene, a shadow comes in order to symbolize the happiness and innocence being stripped away from Pearl. When Hester committed adultery, she denied Pearl the right to have innocence. Hawthorne writes that "while the shadow of his figure which the sunlight cast upon the floor, was tremulous with the vehemence of his appeal" (92).
Metaphor
When Governor Bellingham is exclaiming that Pearl looks like a ruby or rose because of her bright crimson red outfit, he utilizes a metaphor (106). He compares red objects to her red get-up in order to indirectly state that she is a product of passion, similar to how rubies and roses are usually objects associated with passion. When the magistrate says, “Women, it is thy badge of shame” (107), another metaphor is proposed. Once again, the badge of shame is a metaphor for the scarlet letter that Hester is forced to wear on her chest.