Is Love Pearl’s Excuse?

Love is a strong feeling that propels humans to do crazy things. Throughout the novel The Scarlet Letter, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, the existence of Pearl and her actions shape the way that Hester lives her life. Many times throughout the story Pearl’s actions get Hester into trouble with the town’s officials, and they almost end up separating the two because they believe Hester is not fit to be a mother of a child. These instances only hurt Hester’s image more and more, and add onto the fact that she has committed the sin of adultery. Although Hester is sometimes negatively affected by Pearl and her outlandish actions, she has also been saved by the existence and the responsibility that Pearl has provided her. In the end, Pearl has given Hester a sense of love while no one else has.

Many people argue that Pearl almost causes the two, mother and daughter, to split up. She also almost causes Hester a lot more trouble when the two are confronted by the town officials. When she was questioned by Mr. Wilson about her very being, Pearl replied that she, “had not been made at all, but had been plucked by her mother off the bush of wild roses that grew by the prison-door,” (Hawthorne, 100).This statement led the group of officials to question Hester’s ability to raise her child. This almost led to the men taking Pearl from her mother to be given to another family that was more appropriate to raise a girl. The men didn’t want Pearl to become like her mother, a sin amongst human kind.

Once readers look past the errors made by the child, she also saves and defends her mother in many instances throughout the book. In the end she will be Hester’s redemption. When Hester travels to Governor Bilingham’s house on an errand, she is confronted by his sister, who is a known witch, and is asked to come to the woods with her to become a witch and escape society. Hester denies the witch with a response that shows us that Pearl’s existence alone keeps Hester alive. Hester declares, “I must tarry home, and keep watch over my little Pearl. Had they taken her from me, I would willing have with thee into the forest, and signed my name in the Black Man’s book too,” (Hawthorne, 105). This small denial of Mistress Hibbons offer saves Hester’s life because later on we know that Hibbons is put to death for witchcraft, and we could only assume the same for Hester is she had joined her. The existence of Pearl saves Hester from a life of crime, misconduct, and even death.

Another example of Pearl defending her mother in her time of need is when the two were blatantly attacked by a group of children who were throwing mud at the mother and child, trying to ridicule them in front of the community. Pearl’s instincts to protect her mother came into play, and she immediately attacked the children in retaliation: “But Pearl, who was a dauntless child, after frowning, stamping her foot, and shaking her little hand with a variety of threatening gestures suddenly made a rush at the know of her enemies, and put them all to flight,” (Hawthorne, 92). This shows us that Pearl realizes that her and her mother are seen as outcasts, and accepts it, but decides to protect her mother who is the only one treated like her. Pearl, the one who was said to be the evil child and Hester’s second downfall, felt obligated to protect her mother, the one she loves. In the end Pearl feels that she has a responsibility to her mother and will do anything to protect her.

These three instances illustrate to us that Pearl is a very peculiar child, but is a child who loves her mother. The towns people regard her as not being a part of this world, but in the end Pearl seems to have a love for her mother that no one else has. She shows a love that propels her to do peculiar and even evil things to protect her mother. The love she shows protects her from the beings that seek to torture her mother’s wellbeing. She is truly the joy and redemption of Hester Prynne.