Thomas Horner
12-16-07
There are many symbols in The Scarlet Letter, a book by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Two of the most important symbols however would be the scarlet letter itself, and Pearl. Both are symbols of Hester Prynne's sin, and both symbols change their meaning as the story progresses. Both symbols represent the irony of the consequences of Hester's sin.
Hester is forced to wear the scarlet letter after the town learns of her adultery. She must wear this letter forever, as it is intended as an eternal mark of shame and warning. However, it simply does not work out this way. Hester is not ashamed of the letter – she believes that she had not sinned when she had an affair with Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale. Therefore, she does not cover the symbol up. Initially the symbol is looked upon with scorn and disdain, which was its intended purpose. However, due to the tenacity of her character, she gradually overcomes the animosity others regard her with and eventually the scarlet letter comes to represent something else. For some, the letter might mean “Able.” For others, it is a symbol of dignity and status. By the end of the book, the letter has lost any semblance of its original meaning. This shows the triviality of how the Puritans punish wrongdoers, and how the community perceives it. This shows the irony of the consequences of Hester's sin – they lose their intended meaning and turn into good manifestations of the sin. However, the scarlet letter is only a mere material consequence of her actions. It is entirely insignificant when compared to the other result of her sin.
Pearl is the illegitimate daughter of Hester. She was created through Hester's sin with Reverend Dimmesdale and although a major character in the book, she is also a significant symbol of her adultery. Due to the fact that her function is similar to the scarlet letter's, she may be seen as a consequence of Hester's sin. Much like the scarlet letter however, she is seen more as a blessing. In fact, she represents what caused the sin in the first place and is a living reminder of that. She embodies everything behind the sin – the passion, emotion, and temptation that went into it. She serves as a constant reminder of why Hester is still living her life – without Pearl reminding her why she had committed such a sin, the guilt of it may have eaten her up. And although many see Pearl as a child of the devil, her beauty and wisdom bear resemblance to the scarlet letter emblazoned on Hester's chest. Thus, Pearl is another ironic consequence of Hester's transgressions – although intended to punish Hester, Pearl loses her original intention and ends up as a benefit instead of a penalty.