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Example research essay topic: Scarlet Letter Hester Hester Prynne - 1,012 words

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The Scarlet Letter In Nathaniel Hawthorne s compelling novel The Scarlet Letter, Hester Prynne is forced by the townspeople to bear upon her bosom the scarlet letter A as a constant reminder of her adulterous and shameful act. Pearl, Hester s illegitimate daughter, consistently displays peculiar behavior in response to this scarlet letter A through the course of the story. Thus, a connection between Pearl and the elaborately designed letter can be inferred. Pearl s relation to the scarlet letter is that she is the product of her mother s adultery and sin. In a sense, Pearl is the scarlet letter in human form; like the letter, Pearl also serves as a continuous reminder of Hester s adultery and shame.

Pearl s connection with the letter is illustrated in her rebellious mannerisms and her brilliant semblance, in Pearl s arrangement of the seaweed, and in her response to Hester s removal of the scarlet letter from her breast. Throughout the novel, Pearl demonstrates a strong connection to the scarlet letter, particularly through her defiant behavior and her dazzling appearance. For example, when Pearl and Hester are at Governor Bellingham s house, Hester, in contriving the child s garb, had allowed the gorgeous tendencies of her imagination their full play; arraying [Pearl] in a crimson velvet tunic of a peculiar cut, abundantly embroidered with fantasies and flourishes of gold thread (95). In this quote, Pearl is described to be adorned in a crimson velvet tunic trimmed with gold thread. Crimson can be described as an intensely bright and fiery shade of red while gold can be described as extraordinarily brilliant and shiny hue of yellow; both colors imply a sense of passion and intensity. The scarlet letter on Hester s bosom is also made of the same fine red cloth surrounded with an elaborate embroidery and fantastic flourishes of gold thread (49).

By using the words crimson and gold to describe Pearl s attire, a reference is made to the red cloth and gold thread of the scarlet letter; Pearl s fiery and elaborate attire reflects the passion and intensity of Hester s sinful act of adultery. Furthermore, Pearl s rebellious mannerisms continue to illustrate the connection between her and the scarlet letter. For example: If the children [of the town] gathered about [Pearl], as they sometimes did, [she] would grow positively terribly in her puny wrath, snatching up stones to fling at them, with shrill, incoherent exclamations that made her mother tremble because they had so much the sound of a witch s anathemas in some unknown tongue (87). The notion of Pearl snatching up stones to fling at [the children] illustrates her lack of social skills and failure to interact with others; Hawthorne s exaggerations of Pearl s shrieks as sounding shrill further assert Pearl s love for mischief and disrespect for authority. In addition, by comparing Pearl s exclamations to a witch s anathemas, Hawthorne is subtly implying that Pearl is potentially evil and baneful. Her defiant and rebellious mannerisms exhibit an uncontrollable intensity of emotions similar to the sinful passion of Pearl s conception, which is represented by the scarlet letter A.

Another way in which Pearl demonstrates a connection to the scarlet letter is through her arrangement of the seaweed. While at the seashore with Hester: [Pearl s] final employment was to gather seaweed of various kinds and make herself a scarf, or mantle, and a headdress, and thus assume the aspect of a little mermaid as the last touch to her mermaid s garb, Pearl took some eelgrass, and imitated, as best she could, on her own bosom, the decoration with which she was so familiar on her mother A letter the letter A but freshly green, instead of scarlet! The idea of Pearl creating a headdress, possibly to cover her radiant and luxurious hair, refers to how Hester similarly keeps her hair hidden underneath a cap. In addition, by Pearl strangely creating her own letter A, she tries to mirror the image of her mother. The notion of Pearl creating as best she could a letter A similar to the one on her mother s bosom implies that Pearl has grown accustomed to the scarlet symbol. Her familiarization with the letter clearly indicates her strong connection to the scarlet letter.

Lastly, Pearl s connection to the scarlet letter is evident in her reaction to Hester s removal of the elaborate symbol. When Hester, without the scarlet letter on her bosom, calls for Pearl to come to her mother, Pearl: [points] with her forefinger; and a frown gathered on her brow as her mother still kept beckoning to her and arraying her face in a holiday suit of unaccustomed smiles, the child stamped her foot with a yet more imperious look and gesture (202). The image of Pearl pointing at her mother s bosom and a frown [gathering] on her brow shows that Pearl is very accustomed to Hester wearing the scarlet letter. Each and every day of Pearl s life, she has always viewed her mother with the elaborate symbol placed upon her bosom. Therefore, for Pearl to see Hester without it, the elf-like child s behavior becomes disobedient and almost tantrum-like, which is illustrated Pearl s displeased facial expression and the stamping of her feet. By Pearl reacting the way she does, she is demonstrating the connection she has with the scarlet letter.

In The Scarlet Letter, Hester Prynne is forced to wear upon her bosom the elaborate scarlet letter A to serve as a reminder of her sin and shame. Pearl is the epitome of this sin and shame. For Hester, Pearl is the living version of the scarlet letter. However, Pearl exhibits peculiar and strange behavior regarding the letter A; this due to the fact that this elf-like child is so accustomed to viewing her mother with it.

This strange demeanor asserts the notion that Pearl has a strong connection to the letter, which is evident in her behavior and appearance, her arrangement of the seaweed, and reaction to Hester without the letter.


Free research essays on topics related to: scarlet letter hester, hester, pearl, hester prynne, scarlet

Research essay sample on Scarlet Letter Hester Hester Prynne

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