'In Defense Of Hester's Punishment To Keep Pearl'
Hester was sentenced for committing adultery back in the late 1640’s and forever punished to wear the scarlet letter on her chest. As a result of her sin, she gained a daughter; Her name is Pearl. Hester has committed adultery and sinned, but they should not remove Pearl from her mother. Furthermore, Hester should keep Pearl because, Hester’s punishment has already been served, she is a constant reminder of her sin, and after all, Pearl is all Hester has.
No one has the right to a child away from their mother. Although Hester’s punishment was very harsh, Pearl has also suffered in that. Pearl even went to jail with her mother even though she was innocent child ; Pearl was only an infant, who had done nothing wrong (Hawthorne,57). Now Governor
Bellingham believes that Pearl should be put in with a better family; a family that can teach Pearl right from wrong. However, no one could teach her more from right and wrong than her own mother. Hester has learned from her punishment. Hester more than anyone else knows how it feels to do something wrong. “ I can teach my Pearl what I have learned from this!” (Hawthorne,89). Pearl is her sin in flesh and in blood, she brings torture in her life, but she is also the source of Hester’s happiness( Hawthorne,90). What’s more Hester is all that Pearl has; she has no one else. Hester really loves Pearl, she even says that Pearl is “her only treasure.” ( Hawthorne,73). Pearl reminds Hester of what happiness feels like, what it means to smile. Not one single person in the town could ever care for Pearl more than her own mother after all, it’s her own daughter who carries her own blood. It is for these reasons that Pearl should not be removed from her mother, but instead kept at her mother’s side. Pearl who is still a growing child needs the care, love and affection from her mother. Despite the sin that her mother committed Pearl is still an innocent child, she is all Hester’s has left and is a constant reminder of Hester’s sin. She is the scarlet letter (Hawthorne,90).
No one has the right to a child away from their mother. Although Hester’s punishment was very harsh, Pearl has also suffered in that. Pearl even went to jail with her mother even though she was innocent child ; Pearl was only an infant, who had done nothing wrong (Hawthorne,57). Now Governor
Bellingham believes that Pearl should be put in with a better family; a family that can teach Pearl right from wrong. However, no one could teach her more from right and wrong than her own mother. Hester has learned from her punishment. Hester more than anyone else knows how it feels to do something wrong. “ I can teach my Pearl what I have learned from this!” (Hawthorne,89). Pearl is her sin in flesh and in blood, she brings torture in her life, but she is also the source of Hester’s happiness( Hawthorne,90). What’s more Hester is all that Pearl has; she has no one else. Hester really loves Pearl, she even says that Pearl is “her only treasure.” ( Hawthorne,73). Pearl reminds Hester of what happiness feels like, what it means to smile. Not one single person in the town could ever care for Pearl more than her own mother after all, it’s her own daughter who carries her own blood. It is for these reasons that Pearl should not be removed from her mother, but instead kept at her mother’s side. Pearl who is still a growing child needs the care, love and affection from her mother. Despite the sin that her mother committed Pearl is still an innocent child, she is all Hester’s has left and is a constant reminder of Hester’s sin. She is the scarlet letter (Hawthorne,90).