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…
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
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…
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