Final answer:
Pearl thinks the minister holds his hand over his heart because of his secret sin, symbolizing inner guilt in contrast with her mother's publicly acknowledged guilt. This gesture has symbolic truth, reflecting his internal struggle and unconfessed sin, similar to religious symbolism like the halo in Christian contexts.
Step-by-step explanation:
The minister holding his hand over his heart is a significant gesture in Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter. Pearl, the minister's daughter, perceives this action as indicative of the minister's secret sin, which marks his soul in the same way her mother's scarlet letter marks her externally.
There is a profound symbolic truth in Pearl's observation. The minister's hand over his heart symbolizes his inner turmoil and the weight of his unconfessed sin, much like the physical manifestation of the scarlet letter borne by Hester Prynne signifies her publicly acknowledged guilt.
The minister's internal struggle is presented metaphorically through religious symbols, drawing parallels with the divine judgement and the quest for redemption, as outlined in the provided excerpts discussing the symbolism of the throne of Heaven, the sacrificial role of Christ, and the halo representing divine authority or connection.