Hypocrisy In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter
Pearl Highlights Hypocrisy in the Scarlet Letter
In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Scarlet Letter, Pearl undergoes a dramatic transformation from a devilish infant to a sagely child. Born into a society full of judgment and hypocrisy, Pearl, a bastard child, is unable to escape her predetermined role. Pearl lacks a traditional family; her mother is the sole provider, a direct attack on Puritan standards designating this young family as outsiders. Furthermore, Pearl, unlike her peers, establishes a reputation for being strange because she does not adhere to conventional norms. Despite her apparent shortcomings, Pearl is more perceptive and compassionate than members of her community. Predestined by stringent, oppressive Puritan standards, Pearl is outwardly …show more content…
viewed as wicked, but, in truth, is wiser than her years and more merciful than her own minister father.
The narrator presents the society’s perception of Pearl as evil. Pearl’s personality is robust, and the narrator acknowledges her strange, impish tendencies while she sits with her mother. The narrator details her certain wildness, “Whether moved only by her ordinary freakishness, or because an evil spirit prompted her, she put up her small forefinger and touched the scarlet letter” (88). Pearl is defined by her “ordinary freakishness” because she was born out of wedlock in a Puritan community, hence, her normal state of being is automatically perceived as sinister. Hawthorne uses an oxymoron to further the notion that Pearl’s customary behavior is oozing with sin. Denoted by the adulteress actions of her parents, the narrator captures community sentiment of Pearl as inherently demonic, likely possessed by an “evil spirit.” Though only an infant and presumably free of earthly sin, Pearl’s intuition directs her “small forefinger” to touch the scarlet letter, a symbol of shame and ignominy. Rather than assessing Pearl’s behavior as childish and ignorant, again the narrator reinforces the consensus of the townspeople, who judge her as having an immoral soul. Because of her mother’s impiety, Pearl’s superstitious neighbors view the young girl as possessed with a supernatural evil.
Despite Pearl’s age, she lacks childhood innocence and instead contracts distinguishable kindness.
While atop the public scaffold, Dimmesdale in an act of temporary insanity, shrieks out, hoping to awaken the populace and further cement his guilt. Instead of exposing his secret, Wilson, Hester, Pearl and Chillingworth pass before him. The narrator recounts Dimmesdale’s interaction with Pearl, “there was witchcraft in little Pearl’s eyes; and her face, as she glanced upward at the minister, wore that naughty smile which made its expression frequently so elfish” (135). Pearl, tainted as an outsider, makes matters worse with her unusual mannerisms. Her frequent “elfish” expressions dawn outside the realm of normalcy, especially in 17th century New England. Even in the presence of a minister, a figure of earthly divinity, Pearl’s strangeness shines through. While most young children adhere to reserved behavior in the presence of authority, Pearl flaunts her peculiar nature with a “naughty smile.” Innately rambunctious, Pearl’s boisterous demeanor ignites public sentiment that she is doubtlessly sinful. Despite society’s distorted perceptions and the fact that Pearl is an illegitimate child and the fact that Pearl is an illegitimate child, she possesses generosity and compassion, the integral qualities of a supposed true
Puritan.
Beyond the outward misconceptions, inside, Pearl certifies her intuition, for she is more understanding than her years would predict. As Hester returns from a contemptuous conversation with Chillingworth, Pearl plays with grass on the forest floor, making a letter “A” and placing it on herself. The young girl grasps the importance of the emblem, but she is unclear as to why the insignia troubles Hester. Pearl persists for an explanation and although impressed, Hester resists, reasoning “that the child might really be seeking to approach her with childlike confidence, and doing what she could, and as intelligently as she knew how, to establish a meeting-point of sympathy” (156). Pearl shows unforeseen wisdom and depth of character, more profound than Hester could imagine or a child that age could bear. Her years are not a reflection of her intelligence but an implication of her extreme maturity. Pearl is perceptive and recognizes Hester’s uneasiness, she works “to establish a meeting-point of sympathy” revealing her desire to comfort. Pearl’s intellectual complexity extends to other facets of her personality. She divulges her compassionate disposition in an encounter with Dimmesdale. The narrator states, “Pearl, that wild and flighty little elf, stole softly towards him, and, taking his hand in the grasp of both her own, laid her cheek against it; a caress so tender…” (102). She sympathizes with her culpable biological father in a tender caress, a sign of mercy for his disposition. Although his true identity remains concealed from Pearl and the rest of the community, her sharpness is discernable. Additionally, the empathetic act distinguishes Pearl as a thoughtful character, willing to show gentle passion regardless of her typical sprite-like behavior. With her wisdom, compassion and sympathy, Pearl genuinely embodies the quintessential qualities of a Christian.
However, the Puritan community, marked by rigidity and myopic thought, casts Pearl, the product of a sinful and abominable coupling, aside. From the beginning, society judged Pearl based on her mother’s degenerate acts, staining the child as inherently evil. Adding fuel to the public’s opinion, Pearl’s bouncy and rollicking ways provide proof for their preconceived notions. Instead of embracing Pearl and Hester with Christian charity, the community expunges the mother and daughter, offering no absolution. The Puritans preach the teachings of Christ, a firm believer in forgiveness, yet they dispose no forgiveness of their own. Hawthorne uses Pearl to highlight the hypocrisy of Puritan society. The merry child symbolizes the insincerity of Puritan dogma.
In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Scarlet Letter, Pearl undergoes a dramatic transformation from a devilish infant to a sagely child. Born into a society full of judgment and hypocrisy, Pearl, a bastard child, is unable to escape her predetermined role. Pearl lacks a traditional family; her mother is the sole provider, a direct attack on Puritan standards designating this young family as outsiders. Furthermore, Pearl, unlike her peers, establishes a reputation for being strange because she does not adhere to conventional norms. Despite her apparent shortcomings, Pearl is more perceptive and compassionate than members of her community. Predestined by stringent, oppressive Puritan standards, Pearl is outwardly …show more content…
viewed as wicked, but, in truth, is wiser than her years and more merciful than her own minister father.
The narrator presents the society’s perception of Pearl as evil. Pearl’s personality is robust, and the narrator acknowledges her strange, impish tendencies while she sits with her mother. The narrator details her certain wildness, “Whether moved only by her ordinary freakishness, or because an evil spirit prompted her, she put up her small forefinger and touched the scarlet letter” (88). Pearl is defined by her “ordinary freakishness” because she was born out of wedlock in a Puritan community, hence, her normal state of being is automatically perceived as sinister. Hawthorne uses an oxymoron to further the notion that Pearl’s customary behavior is oozing with sin. Denoted by the adulteress actions of her parents, the narrator captures community sentiment of Pearl as inherently demonic, likely possessed by an “evil spirit.” Though only an infant and presumably free of earthly sin, Pearl’s intuition directs her “small forefinger” to touch the scarlet letter, a symbol of shame and ignominy. Rather than assessing Pearl’s behavior as childish and ignorant, again the narrator reinforces the consensus of the townspeople, who judge her as having an immoral soul. Because of her mother’s impiety, Pearl’s superstitious neighbors view the young girl as possessed with a supernatural evil.
Despite Pearl’s age, she lacks childhood innocence and instead contracts distinguishable kindness.
While atop the public scaffold, Dimmesdale in an act of temporary insanity, shrieks out, hoping to awaken the populace and further cement his guilt. Instead of exposing his secret, Wilson, Hester, Pearl and Chillingworth pass before him. The narrator recounts Dimmesdale’s interaction with Pearl, “there was witchcraft in little Pearl’s eyes; and her face, as she glanced upward at the minister, wore that naughty smile which made its expression frequently so elfish” (135). Pearl, tainted as an outsider, makes matters worse with her unusual mannerisms. Her frequent “elfish” expressions dawn outside the realm of normalcy, especially in 17th century New England. Even in the presence of a minister, a figure of earthly divinity, Pearl’s strangeness shines through. While most young children adhere to reserved behavior in the presence of authority, Pearl flaunts her peculiar nature with a “naughty smile.” Innately rambunctious, Pearl’s boisterous demeanor ignites public sentiment that she is doubtlessly sinful. Despite society’s distorted perceptions and the fact that Pearl is an illegitimate child and the fact that Pearl is an illegitimate child, she possesses generosity and compassion, the integral qualities of a supposed true
Puritan.
Beyond the outward misconceptions, inside, Pearl certifies her intuition, for she is more understanding than her years would predict. As Hester returns from a contemptuous conversation with Chillingworth, Pearl plays with grass on the forest floor, making a letter “A” and placing it on herself. The young girl grasps the importance of the emblem, but she is unclear as to why the insignia troubles Hester. Pearl persists for an explanation and although impressed, Hester resists, reasoning “that the child might really be seeking to approach her with childlike confidence, and doing what she could, and as intelligently as she knew how, to establish a meeting-point of sympathy” (156). Pearl shows unforeseen wisdom and depth of character, more profound than Hester could imagine or a child that age could bear. Her years are not a reflection of her intelligence but an implication of her extreme maturity. Pearl is perceptive and recognizes Hester’s uneasiness, she works “to establish a meeting-point of sympathy” revealing her desire to comfort. Pearl’s intellectual complexity extends to other facets of her personality. She divulges her compassionate disposition in an encounter with Dimmesdale. The narrator states, “Pearl, that wild and flighty little elf, stole softly towards him, and, taking his hand in the grasp of both her own, laid her cheek against it; a caress so tender…” (102). She sympathizes with her culpable biological father in a tender caress, a sign of mercy for his disposition. Although his true identity remains concealed from Pearl and the rest of the community, her sharpness is discernable. Additionally, the empathetic act distinguishes Pearl as a thoughtful character, willing to show gentle passion regardless of her typical sprite-like behavior. With her wisdom, compassion and sympathy, Pearl genuinely embodies the quintessential qualities of a Christian.
However, the Puritan community, marked by rigidity and myopic thought, casts Pearl, the product of a sinful and abominable coupling, aside. From the beginning, society judged Pearl based on her mother’s degenerate acts, staining the child as inherently evil. Adding fuel to the public’s opinion, Pearl’s bouncy and rollicking ways provide proof for their preconceived notions. Instead of embracing Pearl and Hester with Christian charity, the community expunges the mother and daughter, offering no absolution. The Puritans preach the teachings of Christ, a firm believer in forgiveness, yet they dispose no forgiveness of their own. Hawthorne uses Pearl to highlight the hypocrisy of Puritan society. The merry child symbolizes the insincerity of Puritan dogma.