Hester Prynne's Name In The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne
What is in a name? A name defines an individual and some of their aspects. Through the names of his characters, Nathaniel Hawthorne already begins to define their personage and their role within the Scarlet Letter. Hester Prynne, the main character of the novel, leads a life filled with ordeals, but her name hold different meaning. The first part of her name, he, is mainly referred to as the pronoun for the male sex but it can also mean people in general such in the statement: as he should see fit; where he refers to any individual rather than a specific sex. The second part of her name, -ster, is a suffix used to denote occupation. Therefore, her name means “people person”: someone who helps others, and understands them. Throughout
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A pearl is round lustrous orb used in jewelry. It is pure, innocent, and created through the hard work of another. The beauty of a pearl is entirely created through a miracle of nature. Pearls are something extremely special to someone. All of these definitions are the exact personage of Pearl. Early in the novel, Hawthorne states, “But [Hester] named the infant “Pearl,” as being of great price-purchased with all she had-her mother’s only treasure!” (91). Hester’s most prized possession is her daughter Pearl, which is clearly stated. However, in order for Pearl to have an enjoyable existence Hester had to toil in order for such a sinful child to be born. It is because Hester was forced to ordeal for her child, which is what makes Pearl so valuable to Hester. Hawthorne also states, “That little creature, whose innocent life had sprung, by inscrutable decree of Providence, a lovely and immortal flower, out of rank luxuriance of a guilty passion” (91). It is through a “guilty passion” that pearl comes into existence. Yes, it is a sin but it is through an act of nature that she is created and born. Earlier in the exert, Hawthorne then compares her to a flower, specifically a flower because she is so innocent and beautiful. She had just been recently born into a nightmare she is unaware of, much like how a flower is unaware of the larger world around it.
A pearl is round lustrous orb used in jewelry. It is pure, innocent, and created through the hard work of another. The beauty of a pearl is entirely created through a miracle of nature. Pearls are something extremely special to someone. All of these definitions are the exact personage of Pearl. Early in the novel, Hawthorne states, “But [Hester] named the infant “Pearl,” as being of great price-purchased with all she had-her mother’s only treasure!” (91). Hester’s most prized possession is her daughter Pearl, which is clearly stated. However, in order for Pearl to have an enjoyable existence Hester had to toil in order for such a sinful child to be born. It is because Hester was forced to ordeal for her child, which is what makes Pearl so valuable to Hester. Hawthorne also states, “That little creature, whose innocent life had sprung, by inscrutable decree of Providence, a lovely and immortal flower, out of rank luxuriance of a guilty passion” (91). It is through a “guilty passion” that pearl comes into existence. Yes, it is a sin but it is through an act of nature that she is created and born. Earlier in the exert, Hawthorne then compares her to a flower, specifically a flower because she is so innocent and beautiful. She had just been recently born into a nightmare she is unaware of, much like how a flower is unaware of the larger world around it.