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Scarlet Letter Mindmap Ch. 1-8 #2 Ch. 6 (Language (Contrast ("God had…
Scarlet Letter Mindmap Ch. 1-8 #2 Ch. 6
Character Development
Pearl
Pearl is born the sin that she was conceived from, she is the salvation and punishment in her mother's life
"Day After day, she looked fearfully into the child's expanding nature; ever dreading to detect some dark arid wild peculiarity, that should correspond with the guiltiness to which she owed her being. pg 138
The conflict in Pearl
Beautiful, covered in brilliant robes but wild and rebellious, like her mother during her sinful era. She has her mother's spirit, and that both makes Hester pleased, and terrified.(Obviously, Hester doesn't want her fate for her own child)
The child could not be made amenable to the rules pg. 140
decoration of the dresses which the child wore pg. 138
Void of sentiment
caprice
Pearl is cold as a bone- she is fearless, nothing daunts her because she has already been through the worst.
Is this an effect of the lack of human interaction referred to earlier and later in the novel?
Hester
Guilt
Guilt that her daughter could not be with other normal children/ be a normal child, solely because of her own sinning.
Is constantly reminded of her mistakes by the scarlet letter (how soul crushing would this be? to make one mistake and have it thrown into your face for the rest of your life?)
Hester feels guilty that her daughter has to bear the burden of her's mistake.
Loves and hates her daughter because her daughter embodies her sin
letter A flower incident with Pearl pg 152
Pearl throwing flowers at Hester's scarlet letter was symbolic of how Pearl is the sweet smelling flower in Hester's burning inferno of punishment. Pearl is the flower in Hester's life- the only reason why Hester continues.
Hester doesn't enjoys when Pearl throws flowers at her scarlet letter, because Pearl bears the burden of the sin as well, and Hester wants to bear the burden herself. She accepts her punishment and does not want to daughter to suffer from it.
Language
Contrast
"God had given her a lovely child." Pg. 138, but "Pearl was a demonic offspring" pg. 154
Pearl's diversity is a characteristic also seen in her mother- like mother like daughter. Pearl has a depth and shallowness to her that reaches beyond that of dresses or outside appearance. She has a strong bond with her mother, which separates her more from society, and pushes her further away from normal Puritan beliefs, even as a child.
Comparison
Compares Pearl to Martin Luther, both rebellious, and both cast out from society for radical behavior
Imagery- Child's eyes passage on Pg. 150
Pearls eyes are cold mirrors, furthering the beautiful demonic look of pearl, her emptiness as a child. The lack of sympathy in Pearl's character enhances the concept behind how cold Puritan society had been to them [Hester and Pearl].
Themes/ Motifs
The scarlet letter
Shame
Hester is so shamed by not only the letter, but by Pearl
Her daughter is a constant reminder of the beauty and of the sin present in the life of Hester. The shame Hester has of her sins effects her pride and self-assurance, making it so that Pearl is one who is strong for the both of them. Pearl braces with her mother's burden on her back, and her mother hugs her tightly for it.
Heavenly father
Questioning God
"She knew her deed had been evil; she could have no faith Pg. 138
Pearl states she has no heavenly father- furthering her devilish embodiment of Hester's sin.
Pearl has taken the persona of a devilish child in Hester's eyes because whenever Hester looks at her daughter, she only sees the folly of her own mistakes. Pearl, on the other hand, takes it in stride. Pearl is strong because of this "devilish" behavior due to public shame. She does what she wants and how she wants, and does so without regard to the opinion of others. (I like pearl's character because of this trait, and hope that girls around the world can also have out looks on life like this.)