Hester Prynne Character Analysis In Scarlet Letter

In The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne one of the main characters in Hester Prynne. She is a convicted adulterer, and the story follows her starting in 1642 in a Puritan town. She and her illegitimate daughter, Pearl, along with her lover, Dimmesdale, and husband, Chillingworth, are the main focus of this dramatic tale. Through her actions and words, Pearl is a “device” to move the consciences of her parents to end their sinful situation. Pearl’s physical obsession with the scarlet A torments her mother, at one point making her physically put it back on, all while forcing her to confront her sins. Pearl also pressures Dimmesdale into acknowledging her as his daughter, and admitting his sins. Pearl is an important aspect of this tragic
Hester and Pearl are seen in their own separate pools of light in the forest, a symbolic separation of mother and daughter. Hester plans to run away from her sin, but Pearl serves as a reminder that she can never really flee without repentance. She has to admit and face her sins head on, or they will always be following her in the darkness. Hester puts the A back on, and is overcome with a feeling of dread and regret. However, Pearl responds gleefully,”Now thou art my mother indeed! And I am thy little Pearl!” She does not truly recognize Hester without the A. Truthfully, the A was always with her, even when she was not wearing it. The A, and Pearl, are currently a physical representation of her
Hester was convicted of being an adulterer, and the novels follows her story in a 17th century Puritan town. The tale focuses on Hester, her daughter Pearl, her lover Dimmesdale, and her husband Chillingworth. They are all enduring their own battles with sin, some coming out of it better than others. Pearl is a physical version of Hester and Dimmesdale’s consciences. Pearl serves as a living version of the scarlet A on Hester’s chest. She torments Hester, and pushes Dimmesdale to acknowledge his sins. Pearl serves as a major character in this classic tragedy, and leaves the character better off than they