Scarlett Letter- Blog 3

    Continuing through Hawthorne's novel, The Scarlett Letter, this section deals with the development of two more seemingly important characters. Pearl and Reverend Dimmesdale play important roles in a few key scenes in this section. One of the key scenes is Hester's fighting to keep Pearl. Screaming and begging the men to let her keep her child, she argues that Pearl was God's blessing to her- giving her both joy and happiness, but also torture and a constant reminder of her sin. "'He gave her in requital of all things else, which he had taken from me,'" (Hawthorne 85) Prynne pleaded. Unfortunately, her desperation would not have convinced the governor otherwise. But luckily, the Reverend steps in and defends Hester and hits home the fact that Pearl is a gift the God gave Hester in spite of her sin. Only then do they allow Hester to keep Pearl. Now, Pearl is significant in the very end of chapter. Though she does nothing herself, Hester knows that she is the reason that Prynne could avoid Satan's temptation when Mistress Hibbins invited her to do witchcraft.