Question

In the Scarlet Letter, what does the scarlet letter mean to Pearl?

Answer 1

To Pearl in 'The Scarlet Letter', the scarlet letter symbolizes a part of her identity and her mother's sin, bringing about curiosity and a sense of being an outcast within the Puritan community.

Step-by-step explanation:

In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, the scarlet letter is a powerful symbol of sin, shame, and guilt. However, to Pearl, the daughter of Hester Prynne, the scarlet letter has a different meaning. For Pearl, the scarlet letter is a part of her identity, as she has never known her mother without it. She is fascinated by it, and it arouses her curiosity about their relationship and the society around them. Pearl is a manifestation of the letter itself, a living symbol of her mother's sin, and she too becomes a sort of outcast and enigma within the Puritan community. Her understanding and interpretation of the letter evolve as she matures and begins to understand the complex social and moral structure in which they live.

Answer 2

Pearl is the living, breathing scarlet letter, the token of her mother's adultery.

Step-by-step explanation:

She is the being that made her mother's sin known. Both Pearl and the scarlet letter 'A' Hester has been condemned to wear are ceaseless reminders of this transgression.